Kristianna B.’s Duodenal Switch Story

Hi, there. I’m Kristianna, 38 years old. So, my story: I’ve been overweight my whole life. I was never concerned about it because I had pretty good health just heavy. After I had my son I weighed 276. I felt confident but slowly worked my weight up to 401. My self-esteem went downhill. My mom tried to talk me into losing weight by having gastric bypass like she did. I was very against it because she had so many complications and transfusions. I wanted to know I could do it on my own.

 

 

So, I saw a doctor and told him I wanted to lose weight. He put me on phentermine and I took that for about two years. I lost about 60 pounds and yo-yoed back and forth, finally settling at 362 pounds. Walking was painful. I ate right, but I couldn’t lose weight. My doctor told me I had so many cysts during my pap smear and the results were abnormal; that along with metabolic syndrome and being pre diabetic taking metformin and extremely high blood pressure. He said in all reality, if we can’t take the weight off you may not see your son turn 14. He was 8 at the time. So the doctor put me on contrave. It helped, but I couldn’t get below 341 pounds. It did stop cravings and made me physically ill when it came to greasy foods.

So, in May I started looking into surgeries. I was set on the gastric bypass but I had a consult with Dr. Steven Simper and being that my BMI was 54, I qualified for the Duodenal Switch (DS). It just felt right. The first few months I wondered what I did to myself. I stepped outside the blue book a couple of times and the food made me sick. (I knew this but had to feel it for myself) Smart people learn from others mistakes.

But I have lost 101 pounds since surgery on 7/27/16. I feel good about myself. In fact, I even went roller skating with my son and didn’t kiss the floor as many times. Only once. Now, I am almost 10 months out. I’m not at my goal weight yet, but I have never felt better. I have energy and I can look in the mirror and see what I like. I can even sit in a booth at a restaurant or chair at a movie theater. I haven’t done that in decades.

So, long story short, it was the best decision I have ever made. My cysts are all but gone and no more diabetes. I feel like I have a second chance at life. And I have collar bones.

— Kristianna B.

 

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If you would like to share your weight loss surgery story with others and on Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) other social media outlets, contact Jessica at Jessica@rmapinc.com.

 

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Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
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SLC, UT 84124