Jeff Keeping It Real!

Wanted to give my pre-op data.

Jeff Blankenship
Age: 35
Vertical Gastrectomy Surgery
Surgery date: August 30, 2005
Pre-Op Height: 6′ (72 inches)
Pre-Op weight: 325.5 pounds
Pre-Op BMI: 42.9
Pre-Op Fat%: 39.8%
Pre-Op Fat Mass: 129.5 pounds

Good afternoon:

I have one week left before I check myself in at CPMC in SF. My weight has been flucuating by 3-5 pounds over the course of the last 3 or so days. I feel good other than all the medication I am on for my heart. Today I read that a SF Forty Niner player died after there game. He was only 23 years old. Cause yet to be determined, I hope this guy was not on drugs. If he was not and it was due to being over weight and has sleep apnia it will be a shame. Received an email from Barbara Metcalf at PacLap and she asked if I wanted to go public with my issues. I told her if the WLS surgery helps my heart like we hope then heck yes. This is a serious problem, young people are dying for no appearent reason. Well it is due to a problem they have had for years. It is called morbide obesity and sleep apna. My journey will begin in one week I am excited, yet nervous inside. I think I have everything in order/ready. I look forward to writing about my journey and who knows maybe I will be a spokesman for something. Stranger things have happened.

Take care and look forward to writing soon.
JB

I thought I had better write about my issues prior to having Vertical Gasrectomy weight loss surgery.  In 2003 I was at my heaviest of 392 pounds. I normally don’t have a problem with my weight, but I started to grow concerned. I decided to diet, I had never wanted to diet but decided I better. I went on the Atkins low/no carb diet. Over the course of 8 months I lost 71 pounds. I was feeling better than 392 but still not right. Then I had an oppurtunity to move with the company and moved to Redding, CA.  I could never get back on track, I would say over the next 3-5 months I gained 30ish pounds back. Then July of 2004 I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy/congestive heart failure (CHF).  I went on speacial care and meds. Did okay under care but never again did I feel 100%.  I was fatigued a lot and my back and knees were killing me. Of course joints hurting was nothing compared to cardiomyopothy and CHF. Then May 2005 I had a serious heart problem. Wound up in the hospital for 5 weeks. See August 7, 2005 blog entry for more details.

Lets list problems associated to weight.

Joints hurting and deteriorating
Major Heart issues – Cardiomyopothy and Congestive Heart Failure
Sleep Apnea
Always Fatigued
Kids embarrassed with size of Dad
Had to buy special clothes (5XL in shirts, 50+ in pants)
Well that is life before WLS. We will see what happens over the next few months.

Later.
JB

I am 12 days away from having Vertical Gastrectomy (VG). I have to go do preop stuff 8 days from now. I am anxious to get this done, but not so anxious about the preop stuff my cardiologist wants to do.

I am back to work and hanging in there, I get real tired by the end of the day.

I switched our cell phone service from Nextel to Cingular. That is new since last writing. I will try to give updates from the hospital using my Blackberry. I want to try to keep my feelings and emotions in check and be able to recount my experiences during this new life changing event.

Take care.
JB