My name is Brenda. I am 40 years old and feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life.

I come from an obese family. When I was growing up, every family gathering was spent discussing my weight even though I was not yet obese. My obese grandmother, aunts, and mother would tell me that if I continued eating like my brothers, I would weigh 300 pounds. I was very thin at the time!  The boys got huge servings of dessert, while I only got a very small serving. Thus began my feeling of being deprived and punished. My grandfather and hero would tell them to leave me alone, and lose their own weight! How I loved my grandfather. But none the less, the words hurt and I began to believe that something was wrong with me!

I married and became a mother at the age of 17. I went on to have 5 children and with each child the weight piled on. I led a very inactive life, the only exercise I got was chasing after my children. I lived up to my relatives prophecy, I topped out at 315 pounds.

I’ve tried every diet I could. Weight Watchers, Atkins, pills, Richard Simmons, Kaiser Medical Program....everything. I would lose up to 60 pounds at a time and then just give up!! It was like the weight had become so massive it was like climbing a mountain without a rope. I could get so far and then slip back down.

In September 2001, my husband became disabled by two heart attacks and my brother who later died of obesity at more than 400 pounds, spurred me to do something! If I didn’t do something about my weight I would die too and my children could be faced with losing both parents. My youngest child was only 3.

I began researching weight loss surgery. My primary care physician was not cooperative and required that I go through the weight loss program offered by my insurance carrier, Kaiser. I did and lost about 40 pounds and then regained 60! I pushed for him to begin the process to allow me to have weight loss surgery. He reluctantly scheduled me for appointments with the nutritionist, the clinic behaviorist and the psychologist. All of them agreed I was a perfect candidate for the surgery. My BMI was 65 (I am only 4 foot 11 inches tall). I had sleep apnea, and a strong family history of heart disease and diabetes.

My PCP reluctantly sent in my first referral. Life got busy and I didn’t stay on top of it. Six months went by and I hadn’t heard anything. I began calling everywhere to find out where I was in the process only to find that they had never received my paperwork!! I called my PCP who told me that since it had been so long I would have to re do my appointments with the nutritionist and psychologist. I did even though I felt it highly unfair since it was his fault. I called and tracked down the correct fax number he was supposed to send it to and finally confirmed that the approval department had received it. I waited 6 agonizing weeks and found I had been approved!!

Three months later I had my orientation and consult with Dr Fisher in Richmond, California. I had my gastric bypass surgery on August 19, 2003 almost two years after initially going to my PCP wanting it!  I had no complications at all. I am very fortunate to have gone through a program that really stresses education and support.

I am now 15 months post op and am down to 148 pounds. I have gone from a 30/32 jeans to a 12, a 3XL top to a medium, and can go into any store and shop!!  My BMI is down to 31 and my sleep apnea is gone! I feel normal for the first time in my life. I had my apron and bat wings removed on September 1, 2004 and love my new body.

My whole life has changed. I don’t worry about if I will fit into chairs. I exercise everyday. I smile more. I laugh and I love each new day. I love to shop!!

This surgery gave me the rope I needed to climb the mountain!! I have 13 more pounds to go to get to my personally set goal and I know I will get there. I am worth this journey!! I would do it again in an instant.

Brenda Duenas
Bay Point, California

Before	After