No More “Big Mac”
Douglas MacQueen
They call me "BIG MAC!" For most of my adult life I have flirted just a few sandwiches short of 300 lbs. I have had a few colorful nicknames in years past (haven't we all). Some that come to mind include the ever popular, "Fatso," not to mention "Lardbutt" and "Leadbelly."
Being the director of a large high school band (North Farmington H.S.) for seventeen years often made me the butt of many jokes and pranks by my students. They were not intended to be malicious in any way. It was simply kids having fun, because they knew I had a sense of humor. Back in the days when McDonalds packaged their sandwiches in labeled Styrofoam boxes, I once found my car covered bumper to bumper with Big Mac boxes taped to the outside. Everybody, including me, had a big laugh about it, but it underscored the fact that I was a"BigDude."
I'm sure you can identify with the familiar, "I tried every weight reduction program on the face of the planet, and NOTHING worked!!" DITTO!!! Then my son- in- law, who was even a bigger fellow than I was, and suffered a myriad of medical issues due to his weight, investigated the possibility of bariatric surgery and the various forms of that surgery. He concluded that the duodenal switch was far superior to the other forms of bariatric surgery, and had the best long-term chances for overall success.
My son -in -law had his surgery with a surgeon who is no longer practicing. I went to one of his meetings, and although he was a fellow Scotsman, I did not care for either his attitude or his smoking (talk about instant COPD). A fellow nursing instructor friend of my wife, who had had the surgery, highly recommended another surgeon and program coordinator. Fortunately for me, I listened to my wife's friend, to whom we both have a great deal of respect for her knowledge. I found the surgeon to be a gifted and highly skilled bariatric surgeon, who passionately cares for both the well being of his patients and the art and craft of well done surgery. He is also highly skilled in pain management, making a patient as comfortable as possible despite major invasive surgery.
The program coordinator's pre and post operation care is highly skilled and professionally presented. There is no slice, dice, and "see ya later" (no follow up) that is so prevalent with the major bariatric surgery "factories" these days. Many of these poor souls have NO CLUE about having to take the proper supplements in order to achieve good health, because they have never been told about it, or why it is necessary to do so. To my way of thinking, that is criminal negligence, and should be outlawed, if only the "big money" interests could be persuaded to allow it to happen. This has a familiar ring to it, in terms of overall health care in this country, doesn't it?? Support group attendance is necessary.
One of the main reasons for having surgery was to help control my type 2 diabetes that I have had for 30 years. I was on 11 prescription meds, including insulin AND Glucophage. I put off retirement simply because I did not think I could afford the meds. I did not want to live a hand- to- mouth existence the rest of my life. I now take ONE prescription med, an ACE inhibitor to protect my kidneys (important for diabetics). Am I still a diabetic? YES!! My ophthalmologist tells me that I still have activity in my eyes that need attention. Once a diabetic, always a diabetic...just ask an alcoholic who has been sober for a long period of time. Diabetes is a disease, and one just has to learn to live with it and be IN CONTROL of it.
I am a year and a half out from surgery. I have lost about 120 lbs., and have reached goal weight. I retired from a 43 year teaching career, but I am able to maintain a full schedule of activities. I am currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Director and Trombonist for the Dexter Community Orchestra, Principal Musician for the 5th Michigan Regiment Band (a Civil War reenactment group), a member of a small brass ensemble composed of family members and friends, and work a couple days a week for Anderson Music Company. In my copious free time I like to hack around on the golf course.
Would I do it all over again? Yes I would and no I am not called 'Big Mac' anymore.