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Surgeon: Dr. Aniceto Baltasar, Alcoy, Spain
Surgery date: July 24, 2001
Pre-op weight/BMI: 415.1/64
Current weight/BMI: 183 (as of July 13, 2004)
Personal web page: http://ww.wls4aj.homestead.com

Latest update: July 13, 2004

 
Above: before weight gain; Above right: 1988

 
Left: Pre-op (336lb.) in 1999; Right: November 28, 2001 (down 93lb.!)

Above: July 2004 (183lb.)

by AJ:

2/01
I've been overweight almost my entire life and I can't do much more about it without taking a drastic step. I always thought I'd never do anything as drastic as surgery but after seeing the changes in Carnie Wilson I began doing research to better understand the new ways of WLS. I was really surprised at all the information available and have really gotten much of my knowledge from other pre and post op people. I think my life is worth making some changes and my happiness depends on it. I used to be very outgoing and now am where I don't like anything about myself. My whole life seems to revolve around my weight. It's my excuse for everything, the reason I don't like me, a source of constant embarressment and shame and the reason I stay single. I want my life back. I want to feel good about who I am. I want to be healthy and happy. I want to see my child grow up and take bike rides, hikes and other fun things I can't do now. I want to play with my 3 young nieces before they are grown and gone. I want to do things I can't do now. I made a list of the top 101 things I want to do in my life and if I do this surgery I will. Many are things I can't do now even if I wanted to or had the energy and desire. I am looking forward to horseback riding, bike riding, hiking, clothes shopping (getting what I like not what fits), working in my yard all day, scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees (pretty bad when you look forward to that one!) and so many other things. I have appts for my pre evaluations with Dr Patterson so the ball is rolling. I'm really stressed out about the insurance as its the only way I can afford to do this.

After being made to feel stupid and unwanted by Dr. Patterson's office, I made an appt with Dr. Heap in Richland and the office staff are so wonderful. The girls you talk to you are great and informative. I feel that office is much more client friendly and I have alot more confidence with them. I'm going in on 3/23 at 11:30am and my parents are going to so they can hear what all he says.

3/26/01
Had consult with Dr. Heap and waiting on insurance

4/01
Insurance denied my surgery, working on appeal

06/25/01
Well I'm going to be denied again and have to face up to the fact that my insurance SUCKS and really could care less what I need in life. I was really depressed and then my parents said they would help me find the money. After debating the cost here in the US I am deciding to go see Dr Baltasar in Spain for my DS. He is very well liked, very capable and I'm sure I'll do great. Not to mention its so much cheaper. It really is sad I have to go out of the country. This man cares more about me than my insurance company does...at least he's been nice to me. I am going to be having surgery 7/24 if all goes well.

8/07/01
I'm back to the US. I had my surgury and all went really well. No complications and eating so far is not bad. I'm able to tolerate just about anything. Quanity wise, 3 to 4 bites does it for me. I'm still tired alot and have no energy but that will change as the time goes by.

08/13/01
I am fighting depression and tiredness. I think thats all norm for the situation. I started back on my anti depressants. No reason to suffer!! I'm still very happy I did the surgery, but am still learning my body all over. Now I never know what to expect! I have really had a good recovery, with nothing major to complain about. I went and worked 6 hours today and did okay until gas hit me and put me in pain for a couple hours. I ate bread so I think that was the culprit. I'm fighting to get my protein in so I'm going to buy some liquid protein to help myself out. I also am doing great with different foods. I only have a small amount of nausea and find its usually if I'm over full...something I'm learning to not do. That head hunger can be tricky!!!

08/21/01
4 weeks out today and things seem to be healing and getting better each day. I have little pain anymore...seemed like things were not quite shuffled around where they needed to be but have now settled down. My incision is almost healed completely as are the two drain holes. My energy level is almost normal and I'm on my second week back to work full time. Last week I just did work and then home to lay down but this week I seem to have the stamina to do more so I'm trying to get back to my old self...well that is my old self less the 28 lbs I've lost so far! I am weighing myself every couple weeks because I know I'll obsess over the scale.

Spain was wonderful. Dr. Baltasar is the greatest and warmest I've ever met in the medical profession. I say we can use alot more of them here in the US. I arrived at the clinica the night before my 3pm surgery and had dinner, met Helen who was having surgery that day and her husband Tom. We visited and then Dr. Baltasar came in so I got to meet with him for a while and discuss my health and what was going to happen. One of the few drawbacks to using this clinica is they still use some old fashioned equipment, so if you don't like enemas the old fashioned way...be prepared...LOL It really wasn't that bad..LOL Ok it was, but the nurses were professional and treated me well so I survived! I spent much of the day curled up in a fetal position on my bed and just kinda snoozed and tried to get myself into a safe, stressfree zone. At 3 I had someone come get me and I walked up the stairs to the next floor. All I remember is alot of people standing at the top of the stairs and they were all talking and laughing. Dr. Baltasar took my hand and walked me into the OR, telling me not to touch anything as it was all sterile. I don't remember alot other than there were more people and they all were running around doing things. Dr. Baltasar had me take my nightgown off and a nurse or assistant held up a sheet to cover me so I wouldnt be uncomfortable. I was allowed to wear my underwear but not a bra because they scrub you up to your breasts. I laid down and Dr. Baltasar held my hand and talked quietly telling me what was happening as I got my iv and then began to fade out. He kept rubbing my hand and made me feel very safe...a good way to go into la la land. The next thing I remember I was awake and felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I was in alot of pain and I really wanted to take it all back and go home. Course I couldnt and after what seemed like forever I was taken to my room. The only part that was worse was going over the elevator door because it bounced the bed. Then I was in my room and lots of people were running around getting everything set up. I think i was in and out of it and kept asking for my pain meds, although I think I already had them. In all honesty, the first 12 hours were horrible...but its just a fuzzy memory now. My surgery was 110 minutes, I had my gallbladder and appendix out also and a liver biopsy. All standards of Dr. Baltasar. My common channel is 65cm. I was up that night a few hours after surgery and I asked to be dressed (you come back to the room with just a sheet over you and your underwear.) and the nurses did that for me. I got up and walked to the bathroom, did my business and returned to bed. That wiped me out and hurt but not like I thought it would. I slept off and on during the night and then the next day was up and walking again. I did have a slight fever so Dr. Baltasar said I needed to be up as much as possible. One thing during the first night you are on a meter that measures your oxygen and it was always going off. I remember over and over Marian telling me to take deep breaths. Its hard, you seem to want to breathe shallow I guess because its less work or less painful, but that got better after a while and I did sleep. My fever did not linger and I was up and down most of the next few days. I tried to walk alot and I visited with other patients. I had 3 women and 1 man from the US switched the same week I was. It was great to have other Americans to talk to as the nursing staff knew very very little english. On the fourth day Dr. Baltasar removed 1/2 my stitches, and then on the 5th day, I had them all removed and also my two drains removed. I expected that to hurt really bad but it just felt funny. I think about the time I thought...Hey that kinda hurts, it was out and that was it. He put big thick silcone type bandages across my stomach to hold it all together and hold the incision now that it had no stitches. Other than one drain leaking to much and soaking thru I didn't have any other problems. That happened about 3 days after I left the clinica. I was discharged on the 5th day to a hotel in Alicante. It wasn't a bad place but eating was hard as I was to have puree and that didn't leave much available to me. I did the best I could and survived!! Coming home on the 14th day I'd been gone was exhausting but I was so looking forward to getting home. We walked three airports the first day and the second day we had Amsterdam Airport which is HUGE! It was great to see my family and now at 4 weeks out...I'm eating a bit more so I'm staying full longer, I can tolerate just about anything although I can't find a protein drink I can drink without getting sick, I'm walking abit, working full time, cleaning (not with alot of bending though) and my BM's have been getting more and more predictable. So I consider this a success and am anxious to see how the next few months go! If anyone wants to know more about Spain, I'm always willing to share the experience and information I have. If you go to my website listed above there is a page and I'm working on posting pics from the trip and there are pics of the staff and clinica.

09/14/01
I passed 7 weeks and am doing super! I have so much energy compared to before surgery. I went to the Civic Center her in Bellingham for the big gathering of prayer for the events from Tuesday...BY MYSELF! I would never ever have done that before surgery. My parents say I'm a different person and I think its because for the first time in many many years I have hope for a better, healthier future. I feel better, I can do more and its been worth every little ache and pain to get here. I pretty much eat what I want...which is mostly meat, cheese and salads. I do eat a few sweets but not everyday (like before) and everything is in nice proportions. I feel normal!!! I've lost 42 lbs as of 9/10/01! I couldn't be happier with the results so far or what I did for myself!

10/11/01
Another month and I'm down 58 lbs!! I am fitting into things I've not worn in more years than I can remember! The best news is I've met someone. We had our first "date" last week on the 4th. He comes to my support group with his mom who had an RNY in September. Life is continueing to get better. I have been having some bathroom issues...not sure if its the stress of a new budding relationship (I had IBS prior to surgery and it only is a problem when I'm stressed) or something I'm eating. Time will tell I guess!! I did email Dr. B and he said to go on Flagyll for a bit. I went into my regular dr and he put me on it and we'll see what happens!

0/17/01
Had the urge to weigh today so I did and I'm now down 62 lbs. I find it incredible that I am losing. I went to Catherines on Sunday and ended up with a pair of jeans 2 sizes smaller. I definitely don't see myself shrinking and am amazed when something fits! I am having alot of trouble with my IBS or something because its becoming a problem. I am going to the dr tonight after work to see if I can do anything about it. I still am feeling really positive though about this surgery and would do it again if I had the choice to make over.

10/25/01
73 pounds...and fitting into clothes I've not fit into since 97. I am only 12 lbs from my lowest weight since 1996. This is very exciting and I am realizing I could hit Christmas under 300!!! UNBELIEVABLE

11/19/01
87 LBS. Just when I feel like I'm no longer losing, I notice its been another chunk of weight. I'm still doing well...eating pretty much what I want and trying to focus on protein. I've got a great sinus infection at the moment but otherwize feel great. I am only 27.5 lbs from getting out of the 300's and 12.5 lbs from my 100 mark!!! I still see though that my insecurity is still here and there are things I'll need to work on as I lose more. This doesn't fix your entire life but sure helps get rid of one of the biggies!

01/14/02
Wow its been awhile since I posted here. I'm down 108.1 lbs, 100 inches!! This is so great and I'm feeling so much better about things. I am into a 3x in most everything and 26/28. I started school (I've got 7 classes to finish my AA in Accounting) and I notice I run all over campus without any problem. Last year I barely could walk to my classes...I'd be so out of breath I thought I'd drop dead. I'm eating most anything I want, while still doing protein first. I'm taking supplements pretty regularly and my hair stopped falling out. That was very good news...LOL Well off to work and school I go!

Looking for a Bellingham area support group for weight loss surgery!! We have one!! Check out our website (www.wlsbellingham.homestead.com) to get the dates and time we meet. We look forward to meeting you and the group is fun, informative and very friendly!

4/08/02
I've finally started to really see how the weight loss can change my life. Two weeks ago I bought myself a new bike and began going for bike rides with my family. In order to understand how important this is, my son is 12 and he's NEVER done anything with me that required me to do more than walk a few feet and sit. This has been huge to him! He always wants to go when I go and has commented on it to my parents. I feel once again that I'm so lucky to have been given this opportunity. If nothing else, my son will have memories of me being an active participant in his life rather than someone that seemed to never want to go places with him.

My mom also commented that she never realized my reason for not doing things came from the fact that I couldn't do them. She didn’t realize I was unable to do the most basics because of my weight. I think she has a much different attitude about me now. She realizes it wasn't that I didn't care to do things with my son, but that I couldn't.

Last week, I went to his science fair and for once didn't feel like an outcast. I'm now wearing 26/28 or 3x but have started to be able to wear some 24x pants and 2x tops. That is so exciting! I actually like clothes again! I haven't for a long time since it only depressed me.

I'm in my last months of college and will graduate with my AA in Accounting. I never thought I'd do it but I am!! I have four classes this quarter and will do the last one fall qtr this year. I also am getting married soon! So things are DRAMATICALLY different than they were 8 1/2 months ago!!!!!

08/07/02
Here I am...over a year out from surgery and feeling like I am really alive again! I'm taking trips, working and improving things in my life and just generally feeling like a happy person. Who knew losing weight could make so many things change. I expected to feel better health wise but to be honest I had no idea how huge a difference emotionally I would feel. I've lost about 70% of my excess weight so medically I'm successful, but I also am personally. I still should drop more over the next year but to be honest, if I land here, I can live with it. I'm able to go on rides, go places, ride a bike, take a bath, fit in booths, airplane seats, etc. All the things I couldn't do prior to my surgery are now things I don't give a second thought to.

I have found out I'm not a lazy person, but a very motivated one that always has way more to do in a day than can ever get done. I want things in life and now I feel like I can go out and get them. I'm in the process of buying the house I live in. I'm working on getting out of debt (nothing serious but more than I'm comfortable with). I am finishing up school and just enjoying life more. Tomorrow night I'm going to a Heart concert in Seattle. I'd never have done that a year or so ago. I'm filling out the paperwork for my class reunion and going to send in a picture and everything. !!!!! That is huge...if things hadn't changed, I'd have ignored it. I probably won't go but only due to finances (83 bucks a person!) but I do want to get my info out there in case anyone wants to contact me!

So for all the post ops that went before me, you are fantastic. You are the reason so many of us find the way to this happiness and better health. For all the pre ops and people still trying to decide, keep researching, ask questions, email people, meet for lunch or dinner (I did that!!) and get serious. This can be the answer, it really can! There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow so go for it and find your rewards. I want everyone that is in the shoes I filled prior to surgery to get to feel the things I've felt this year...we deserve to be happy, healthy, socially accepted and able to go 100%!!!!

02/20/03
-202 lbs. Who ever knew it was possible! My life is the opposite of before this surgery. I used to go to work, come home and sit. I'd dust a room and be wiped out. I'd never go out if I could find an excuse to stay home. I didn't want anyone to look at me. Walking even into a store became painful. Now almost 19 months later I never NEVER sit home. I go out at night with friends, I dance, I shop and anything else that comes up. Now I don't get my house cleaned every week not from being unable to physically do it, but from not having enough hours in the day! I have a few issues with going to the bathroom alot but I want to strongly mention that I had IBS before surgery and between the DS, having my gallbladder out and the IBS I'm sure this is normal. Its been better and I've been finding things that contribute so I think I'm on the right path. I'd still do it again. I'd still do exactly what I did. Life is good. Life is worth living again. Now on to part two and seeing if I can get my plastic surgery done!

7/13/04
Current weight: 183

WOW...so much has changed since my last update over a year ago! I'm married now for a year to a wonderful person who has really added so much happiness and stability to my life. I've been trying new things such as drag racing! My husband races and I had to try it out! Talk about fun! I for sure would NEVER have done that before my surgery. I've lost more than 232 pounds. I just returned from Brazil where I had a mons lift, extended vertical tummy tuck and my upper arms reduced. For the first time in over 15 years I've been outside in tank tops...my arms are freaked out! They haven’t been bare since I was probably under 25 years old! I'm so busy and active I can't keep up with myself most of the time. The DS surgery is the best thing I've ever done for myself. I am LIVING...not surviving. Every day I wake up with a positive attitude and am trying to fill my life up with things that I've always wanted to include in my world. I'm going to concerts, races, BBQ's etc. I no longer hide from the world and miss out on the things I enjoy. My plastic surgery really helped me stop seeing myself as fat...hopefully next year I can finish by doing my thighs and boobs...but if not..I'm so okay with how I look right now that I'm amazed. I never thought I'd feel okay about myself. If you are thinking about surgery and can't decide..realize you deserve to live life to the fullest and this surgery can give you that ability. It can free you from your cage if you've hidden yourself away. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity and I wish this success for everyone.

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