Kathy's Gastric Bypass Surgery Journal

4-16-2002

Hello and Welcome everyone.  Today I am three weeks away from the first day of the rest of my life.  I am having the open procedure of Gastric Bypass Surgery.  Dr. Blair Rowitz of Anderson Surgical will be performing the surgery.  I will be in Anderson Hospital for five to seven days.  I will then be at home to finish my recovery.  I guess a lot of you are wondering why and how I came to this decision.  Well, I have been overweight all my life and I have tried every diet in the book and some out of the book.  My weight continues to go up and my health has really been affected by it.  I have developed severe Asthma, High Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnea and Depression.  I started praying that God would help me decide which route I needed to take.  I began researching the Gastric Surgery about six to eight months ago.  On February 14, 2002 I lost my job.  I really hated that happened, but it was a blessing for me.  My breathing was bad that I could not go from one room to another and be able to catch my breath.  In this process of my breathing getting so bad I began to have panic attacks.  When I lost my job I knew that was God telling me "OK Kathy, now it is time for you to take care of you".  I had already been to see Dr. Rowitz and a doctor in Augusta, Dr. Engler.  I was waiting for an appointment I had made with a doctor in Charleston, Dr. Byrne, who Michael really wanted me to go to see.  When I lost my job I told Mike that I could not wait till June to see the Dr. in Charleston and that I was going to let Dr. Rowitz do the surgery.  I was determined that Dr. Rowitz would be the one the first day I meet him.  So the surgery is now scheduled for May 7, 2002.  I am so excited.  I have been amazed at the support that I have been getting.  My husband Michael has been the best that any husband could be.  Michael has never said anything to me about my weight, but when I could not go to the restroom at home and be able to breath when I got there he really got concerned.  I could not have asked for anybody to be any more supportive of me than Michael and I love him dearly for that.  My family has been really supportive and concerned.  They are all taking off work and will be there for Mike and I on the day of surgery.  My friends have also been very supportive and I really do appreciate that.  It means to world to me to know that all those people love me and want me to be here for a long time. 

Please continue to pray for Michael and I and our families as we go through this journey together. 

Kathy