Clint This summer I went to a theme park in northern Idaho with my two sons. I had not been to a theme park in twenty years. Tears welled up in my eyes as I sat in the roller coaster car and fastened down the seatbelt. I thought about all the years of fun and enjoyment I had missed with my sons and daughters because I was overweight. I realized then that I had made the right decision to have weight loss surgery. I struggled with my decision to have weight loss surgery because I did not know if I was ready for such a drastic life style change. My health was not good. I had diabetes, a bad back and bad knees. As I contemplated surgery I thought about how much better I would feel, and how easy it would be to move and get around. I thought about all the opportunities that had passed me by. I knew I had tried all the weight loss programs and none were working. So I decided to go ahead with the surgery and set up an appointment with the surgeon. The day of my appointment came and I entered the surgeon's office. I was nervous because I did not know what to expect. I was greeted by a friendly staff that made me feel at ease. I then met Doctor Jim Valentine who was the surgeon in charge of the weight loss surgery. I was immediately impressed with Dr. Valentine. I could tell that he genuinely cared about his patients. Dr. Valentine's staff was so supportive and understanding, and were knowledgeable in the subject of weight loss surgery. The weight loss dietician is located right in the office and knew exactly what help and recommendations I needed. It has been 11 months since I have had weight loss surgery and I have lost 180 pounds. I know without the support of my family, friends and the caring staff in Dr. Valentine's office this would not have been possible. Clint back to top

Jeff

I have two Birthdays!

My name is Jeff Stoppenhagen, and I have a confession to make! I have two birthdays! "How can that be?," I am sure you are asking yourself!

Of course, I count my day of my birth as the "original" date! But on October 24th, 2006, I experienced a "rebirth," for that is the date of my gastric bypass surgery by Dr. V and my "rebirth" to the new and improved person I am today!

Let me take just a few moments of your time and explain to you my two worlds...

Pre-surgery
I was at 6' 4," able to hide or disguise my obesity OK. Many People said I looked a little big, but at that height I had the advantage of being able to spread it over my frame. What it (the extra weight) didn't disguise was what it was doing to my body. I was on medicine for borderline hypertension, my ankles swelled during the day because I was on my feet all the time, and I just felt worn out. I had no energy at all to do the things I wanted to do when I got home from work.

I also had to buy all my clothes from the big and tall section of the store, and was frankly embarrassed to keep having to buy bigger clothes as my weight crept up. I longed to be able to buy normal size clothes, as the selection and style was so much better than what I could find in my size. I wanted to be the size I was back when I got married over 22 years ago. I wanted to be healthier, and I wanted to feel better about myself. I needed help.

Post-surgery
It has been almost 9 months since my "second birthday" and I am down an amazing 135 pounds! My self-confidence has been restored and it is like I am the same person I always was, just in a new wrapper! There have been two main areas of benefit after the surgery, the first is my health and second, the visual.

I am happy to say I am off of all meds related to my obesity, and my blood pressure and cholesterol are in the normal range! I also have so much more energy! In fact, I am happy to say I am working with a personal trainer 3 times a week to build muscle and can do so much more physically than I could do just a few months ago!

And then there is the visual! I've lost 12" in my waist and can buy clothes again in the "normal size" department! Nothing has been so statisfying than getting to buy new clothes that fit well and make me look like a new person! People say they hardly recognize the new me, and that makes me feel great! I'm proud of the new me, inside and out.

Dr. Valentine and his staff of caring people have been so great to work with. Every day I look in the mirror, or get on the scale, or miss taking all those meds, I realize and celebrate my two birthdays. Thank you, Dr. V., for your support, encouragement and new lease on life!

I did it, you can too!

Jeff

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Candace

My journey began after the birth of my second child. I spiraled into a severe depression and began eating for comfort. Over the next 28 years, I continued to eat for a variety of reasons—when I was angry, afraid, bored, anxious, sad, and frustrated. I ate my way from 95 pounds to 287 pounds.

Then on November 8, 2005 I had gastric bypass surgery. After the surgery I was so euphoric I felt like I had hope for the first time in my life. As days became weeks the weight fell off seemingly overnight at times. 

There were a few bumps in the road. After 4 months I started having to fight depression and most often win the battle. Now it has been 6 months and I feel overwhelmed by my feelings. There are times I want to eat myself sick to escape the emotions that seem to bury me alive! But I can’t and I don’t really want that. This is my life, my hope and if not always at least enough to keep me strong, it is my joy. I thank God for this surgery and doctors who are willing to give hope to so many.

Candace

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Eddie

Where to begin? Shall I start with my birth? I don’t remember it. My adolescence? That would bore you…getting married? Having children? That would bore my wife. Suffice it to say I found myself overweight in my youth and that weight increased slowly year by year. By the summer of 2003, I was 6 foot and 390 lbs at the age of 27.

What still amazes me, is how my body got away from me and how bad it got before I woke to it. You tell yourself you are stocky, big boned, a ‘Big Daddy’ (I had all their catalogues). The week before I finally broke down to the wise counsel of my wife and went to meet Dr. Valentine, I had gone for a walk with her and not a long walk either, perhaps a mile or two. Afterwards, I had to go to the emergency room—my knees in such pain it was difficult to walk—to have my knees drained of fluid from swelling. I asked the ER doctor what caused it—before that moment it truly did not occur to me that years spent hundreds of pounds overweight could do that to joints.

I cannot put into words the full extent of how this single event jarred me. A man should be able to go on a walk with his loved ones without fear of physical ailment. I was 27 not 72. That day became the opening of a door to a dark closet where I kept a great many things from myself.

I took inventory and found some other disturbing facts. My blood pressure was reaching a point where medication was needed. I had never heard of sleep apnea but I had it—and bad. I did the ‘head bob’ all day if I had but 30 seconds or so of inactivity. I was very dangerous on the roads when driving and am amazed I did not cause accidents. At night it reversed—I would be awake every 20 minutes or so and in the bathroom 5 or 6 times a night. It would take all my energy just to be at work all day, later I would have no energy for my wife, my two girls or myself.
Oh, and it’s not as if life were happy either. I was miserable. What did I have to look forward to except aches, pains, trying to stay awake during the day and trying to stay asleep at night. Seeing people was depressing because I was bigger every time I saw them.

Now, I am no psychologist, and don’t care to be. I didn’t care how I got where I was. I had finally reached the point where I was ready to get out. How do I get out? I really thought I was beyond the point where I could fix it…I was too far gone…I was beyond the point where I could fix it myself; is it irony that though I was ready to commit to exercise I was so overweight my body would not let me do so without physical abuse? That is where I was. 

Now, gastric bypass is not for everyone. Some are at higher risk of having complications than others. There are a plethora of factors and I could not begin to understand all of them. I do know education is everything. Know what you are getting into. Please, PLEASE be prepared, study and do not treat this as cosmetic surgery, as it most certainly is not. Dr. Valentine and his outstanding staff, are incredible at this. They offer support groups, dieticians and a multitude of pre and post surgery support.

I myself had multiple complications with the surgery. In fact, in that first year, I had three surgeries. One surgery was the bypass, then a day later another surgery to repair a leak which was quite painful, one of the worst days of my life. I also had a third surgery 9 months after that to repair some adhesions in my bowels which had been causing rather painful stomach/bowel pain after most meals.
Was God testing me? If so, my dear sweet wife would say she and my girls got the shaft in that end of the bargain. If I wasn’t also such a sweet and lovable guy, my mental, emotional and dietary moodiness that first year out would have been unbearable for my dear family. My wife never once showed the frustration outwardly that I know she felt inwardly. There really is no substitute for a supportive family and friends. The more education and involvement they have, the better.

Do I tell you these things to scare or discourage? No I do not. On the contrary, I say it as words of encouragement, as words of empowerment. I say it so you know I am not a textbook, streamlined example of the perfect gastric bypass. I hit most every bump in the road. In fact, if there was a different road with more bumps, I would sometimes detour to that road too. I tell you this so you understand the power of these words, “I would redo it again in a cold second if I had to make the choice!” I really would. That is how sneaky obesity is. That is how depressing and destructive and miserable it was for me, and the terrible tragedy is that being severely overweight can make seeing those truths harder. I did not know it until after.

How could I not see it? As I said, the weight can sneak up on you, but it affects every aspect of your life. It is a prison, in the end shackling you from joy because it takes your hope away. What is man, without hope? My girls were making a fort out of the kitchen table last week, and I crawled under there with them, which I could not do before surgery and I transformed into the tickle monster—that too, is a miracle of happiness for me. (There should be a law somewhere that parents do that with their kids.) 

As I type this, I am 2 years post surgery. Dr. V estimated at the beginning that I would get from 390 to about 220-230 lbs. At least, that is what the surgery would probably do for me. I took that as a challenge and was determined to make it to below 200 lbs. Now don’t misunderstand me, when I started this, I would have considered anything under 300lbs a success. But if you want to walk on the moon, you have to set your sights on the stars.

I was weighed today on my 2 year mark…wait for it…wait for it…drum roll please…I weight in at 199 lbs. It was actually 199.6 but Dr. Valentine’s medical assistant Rikki rounded down instead of up because I asked her to. For that and a million other little reasons all along the journey, I will love and respect Dr. V and his whole staff like a second family. After all, they helped me change my life, all for the better. And do not doubt it; it is not a cosmetic, but a life changing surgery. Or, rather, it should be. They were integral in dropping a very large monkey off my back.

I have reached that slightly paranoid stage were I have lost most all that I would lose, and do not want to gain a pound back. A small amount of paranoia, if it leads to action, I do not begrudge. And now, the burden does roll heavily from Dr. Valentine, the dietician and the support group to me. Though they will always be there, the responsibility is mine.

Am I perfect? Heaven’s NO! Am I close?...allow a pause for dramatic effect…NO!!! But I am eager. I am alive. I have energy. I have a positive view. I eat right, I exercise. I bike to work everyday. I taught my kids to ride their bikes too. Along with my dietary changes, they eat better and less also. My wife has a husband again instead of a dead weight, for do not doubt, I was a monkey on her back too. That is the empowerment; to now be able to act more fully for myself and take control of my body, goals and happiness. There lies the hope for the future.

The big question: Is gastric bypass right for you? I do not know. But asking Dr. Valentine or your physician is a great place to start. Even if it isn’t for you, obesity is one bull you absolutely must take by the horns. So, my advice, grab it now. Don’t wait, get help now. I lost years of my life, where the quality was so poor as to bring pain and depression. Though I have no regrets, I would love to have those years back now—feeling the way I do now.

In 2 months I turn 30, and am close to the best shape of my life. Though I may never wear a bikini, (and all the world cheers at that for a multitude of reasons) I have not felt this good since I was very young. That is what makes it worth it. I come home from work on the bike and I don’t crash on the couch, I play with my kids. Or spank them,…I have energy for both—but I jest.

Will I put some weight back on? Probably I will—eventually. But I will never again be what I was. To that, I promise myself for my own sake. At the age of 27 I was told I was a few years from high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart attacks and chronic health issues of every nature. As I creep on to 30 I am looking not just to live, but to do so with high quality. While there are many factors in that, weight loss surgery is no small part of it. My life has hope again. Will losing the weight bring everyone who does this that hope? I don’t know….But I hope it will…

Half the man I used to be.

Eddie
Obesity Survivor

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Ashley

Hello, future and present Gastric Bypass patients my name is Ashley and I would love to tell you about my success with the surgery.

Before I get into what I weigh now and how I have kept the weight loss off, I would like to tell you a little about me before the surgery. I was a 5'10, 315 pound 25 year old girl who was frustrated with trying to lose weight. I would try a variety of weight loss programs and try to exercise everyday. I would get so discouraged because I would lose a few pounds but gain it back. I was an active girl; I played basketball and volleyball, run cross country and track in high school yet I would go back to weighing the same. I gave up because I was tired of sweating my brains out just to lose a measly 10 pounds only to put it back on. Then a friend of mind told me about her experience with the surgery and how it has helped her health.

I placed my appointment with Dr. Valentine and on April 12 I went under the knife. I now weigh 190 pounds with so far a weight loss of 125 pounds in 6 months. I feel full of energy, my self-esteem has gone up and I am a confident person. I was feeling so confident that I got a membership at Gold's Gym adding on a personal trainer starting in April.

This is how I have been able to lose weight and maintain it. Getting a personal trainer to help set-up a program where I would tone areas I wanted to tone and maintain the weight loss was the best thing I did. They listened to my concerns and have supported me along the way. Now don't get me wrong I do watch what I eat and I don't snack at all. I don't eat any bread, pasta, and anything with flour in it. I stick to the regiment that was given to us by the nutritionist, 30-40 grams a day of carbohydrates. I also watch my fat content, especially now since my stomach is starting to stretch and I can eat more. I still do have cravings and just started playing with the head game. I have found a way to stop the cravings. I just look at an old picture of me and ask myself do I want to look like that again. Also the thing that works for me best when my head starts to play tricks is to drink lots of water. It fills me up and I don't feel the urge to eat. It also helps when you have the support of your friends and family. My mother is currently going to have the surgery on Nov. 2 and has helped me through my struggles. My boyfriend is a bodybuilder so I have a motivator to get me to exercise when I don't want to. He also eats a lot of protein like myself so I am not around fatty foods.

The surgery was the greatest thing I have ever done. Dr. Valentine and his staff have been wonderful through this process and I thank them. I have had a rough time with it but never regret getting the surgery done. It has made me a new person and I have self-esteem finally that is the greatest gift a person could ever receive.

If you are deciding to do it or waiting for your surgery date, just know it is tough and you have to change your lifestyle otherwise you will fail. If you follow the guidance of the doctor and instructions the nutritionist gives you, you will be successful.

Ashley

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Lori

I was born heavy and I have always been heavy and have struggled with one diet after another since seventh grade. Coupled with polycystic ovarian disease and genetics, I did not really have a fighting chance of being thin. There are a lot of thin people in my family, but then again there are mostly large family members. Mom always filled our plates as kids and we were to finish everything she gave us whether we liked it or not. Bad habits learned very early on became part of my life. Holidays, celebrations and get togethers were always surrounded by lots of food. It became the ultimate license to eat too much. I think my body has always starved for nutritious foods. I grew up on peanut butter sandwiches, macaroni and just a lot of carbs.

I went on several diets including Diet Center, Weight Loss Clinic, doctors diets and the pounds would come off but they didn’t stay off...I would gain those pounds back and they would bring more with them. It’s been a lifelong battle. I managed to keep the weight off pretty well until I hurt my back and hip. At that time in my life, I spent a lot of time in bed and just started gaining the weight back. I began looking at a possible surgery for weight loss in 1988 but at that time the insurance would not budge on covering me no matter how many doctors recommended it. In July of 2005, I had a very sobering visit with my family physician and found myself at an all time high of 440 pounds. That scared me and woke me up to the fact that I needed to take action, to get going on this weight loss or I would not be around very long to enjoy my life. I began losing weight with the help of some medication to curb my appetite. In the meantime, I made an appointment to meet with Dr. Valentine. I am very glad and very thankful that times have changed. So with the process in motion, I was able to get approved for surgery but needed to accumulate some funds for my portion of it. So I was at that point in a waiting game...but I lost fifty pounds while waiting. When I was able to schedule the appointment for surgery, I can’t tell you how happy I felt. I knew it was going to be a long road but it’s a very happy long road because I know I will win this battle. I think I woke up smiling in the recovery area. The nurses told me I shouldn’t be awake yet, but there I was just grinning. If anyone tells you that this is the easy way out...they are dead wrong. It is not easy but we have some of the best guides you could have to go through this process. If you follow what you are supposed to do, take your vitamins, drink your fluids and eat what’s on your list, you will do very well. I am now seven months out and I can hardly believe it has been that long. I am down a total of 160 pounds and feeling very well. I have been more active and am enjoying life! Isn’t that what this is about?

Lori

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Paula

I started thinking about weight-loss surgery in 2000. From 2000 to 2001, I searched the internet, bought books, and watched documentaries on television. I thought I wanted to do this but when I talked to friends they “knew” of people who were not looking “well.” These people throw up all of the time, their complexion was gray, they gained all their weight back etc. I then checked with my insurance company and found it as a big hassle to get preauthorization for weight-loss surgery. At that time, I weighed a little over 200 pounds. I’m 5’6” tall. In 2003, I started thinking about weight loss surgery but soon changed my mind. In March 2004, because of things that happened in my life, I started therapy. In June 2004, I again started investigating weight –loss surgery. By October I had “interviewed” two surgeons and wasn’t comfortable with either one of them. At this point other weight-loss surgery patients in my area that I had contacted, referred me to Dr. “love.” These patients had heard really good things about him. I couldn’t find Dr. “Love” online or in the phone book. I knew he did surgery at Mercy Medical Center, so I called the hospital. The nurse I spoke with laughed when I asked if she knew a doctor “Love.”

She said no, but she knew Dr. Valentine. I made an appointment with Dr. Valentine. When I walked into his office, I felt like I was at home.
The staff was welcoming and friendly. Dr. Valentine was personable, approachable and friendly. My psychologist performed the required testing and I had my gastric bypass surgery on March 22, 2006. I was the first patient of Dr. Valentine’s who was followed through the entire procedure by the hospital’s “higher-ups.” It was the beginning of the hospital’s certification as a gastric bypass surgery center. 

The hospital stay was a little rocky but I received excellent care and the only pain I had, that I can recall was gas from the laparoscopic surgery. Have I been successful? Yes!! I weighted 265 pounds on the day of surgery. I now maintain my weight between 135 and 140 pounds. I can’t believe how successful I have been. I feel my success is due to several things:

I was prepared psychologically for the surgery.
I knew I had to do something. If I was on my feet for three hours, I would be in so much pain I had to take pain medications. I hated myself and my body. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and acid reflux disease. I had arthritis and thyroid disease. In short, I was killing myself.

I was willing to follow directions to the letter.

Following directions was essential. I’ve talked to several people who “bent the rules.” They have not been as successful as they wished. I think all three of these conditions were of equal importance.

Did I have realistic expectations? No way! Dr. Valentine told me I could expect to lose about 70% of my excess weight. I was 130 pounds overweight. He thought a weight loss of 70 to 90 pounds was realistic. I thought weighing 135 pounds was achievable. 

Did I have any problems? Yes!! When I was in the hospital, I was given Popsicles that contained sugar. The result was explosive! The diet was so restrictive that it became boring very fast. I only ate what Dr. Valentine’s nutritionist said I could and the quantities specified. Artificial sweeteners became too sweet! I had tried lots of protein drinks

(you can buy samples at bariatriceating.com) and had purchased what I liked before surgery. I thought I was prepared for this, but I wasn’t.

I developed an unusual problem for weight-loss surgery patients. I couldn’t stop losing weight. When I got down to 132 pounds, I actually had to concentrate on eating more often. This is not usual with most patients. I still must eat three meals and two snacks a day to maintain my portion sizes, which is easy to do when you get full so fast! I still don’t really get “hungry.” If I forget to eat, I get shaky and don’t feel very well. When this happens, I tend to eat too fast and then I can’t eat enough. 

I have lost 50% of my body weight. I went from size 3X to size 4 pants and size small tops. Every time I look in the mirror, I can’t believe what I see! I am so sorry I didn’t do this sooner! I’m now off all my medications except thyroid! I feel wonderful and happy! I would choose to do this again in a microsecond! Thank you, Dr. Valentine, Annie and the rest of the staff!

Paula

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