October 2021
Kathy Graham
1. What made you decide to have wls surgery?
I was 184.3kg I had trouble walking, wanyed to quit my jpb, was depressed, anxious and just very un happy.
2. What was your weight prior to your WLS, and... What’s the goal?
After my initalnsurgeons appt, I literally was so upset I just went on got kfc, I was disgusted in myself he wanted me to loose weight before surgery, 15kg I thought I couldnt do it. I did I axtually did 20 kg before surgery.
3. Did you get to the weight you wanted?
I'm still going im now 128.2kg mu surgeon and nurse think 99kg is possable but im happy now in my own skin, I have a much better out look on life and heaps more energy
4. How do you feel now that you have had the surgery?
I'm glad i have had the surgery, I now can walk without a stick. I now have to watch my iron legal but I just keep up the vitamins and drs apprs.
5. Were there any problems along the way?
I recovered quickly and well from surgery. I now have to have iron infusions but they arnt too bad.
6. Would you do it again now that you know what you know?
I wish I had done surgery much sooner. the cost put me off and I did self funding of super, had a great surgeon and all his team were amazing.
7. What are some of the inspiring things you can think of that you have noticed along the way?
My surgeon, George asked me that ....what my goal was, what weight do I want to be, what dress size... I just said I wanted to walk properly, I had developed sever ostio arthritis in both knees and hip, some days I still have pain. But I'm now totally pain meds free, even on my bad days that are very few and far between.
8. Did you have some happy unexpected surprises?
For me I found the non scale victories are better than the numbers on the scales, I can have a bath now, I can climb stairs, I am happy, I do have energy, I can go to a clothes store and have choice, I can wrap a towl around me, people can hug me, I dobt get called the big fat scary woman anymore.
9. What advice do you have for anyone preparing for surgery?
Be prepared for surgery, see a psychologist, yes it is scary surgery but think long term.. think of what you want and need in your life
10. What is the one very best thing that has resulted from your surgery? What has been the hardest part of your journey?
The best thing about my surgery was.. but also the most confronting.. 6 weeks after surgery mt adult daughter died, I needed to take a plane trip to pick up her thing, I hate flying due to asking for a seat best extension, I didnt have too this time, I collected her personal effects, what I didnt know was that my daughter traded her car 2 months prior for a small hyundai getz, butterbox I call them I stood and looked at the car I thought. I need to put thia car on a truck and get ot home I called for a few quotes, it wasn't worth carting.. better sell it quick and get on the next plane home I thpught. I had no fuel. there was a fuel station a block away I put fuel in it.. I disnt think I could fit into it.. the body disphoria was just starting to kick in... I drove my daughters car back from townsvile to brisbane in 16 hours. I drive her car most days.. my daughter bec was full of life. she had left her hiking boots on the back seat.. im so glad I never sold it. I drive it every day and it reminds me of what she would have wanted for me .. I miss her every day but her spirit lives on.