Life-preserving choice makes Raby a new man

Andy Raby weighed nearly 450 pounds before having gastric bypass surgery. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

In just one year, Andy has lost about 198 pounds. He currently weighs about 250. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Diets and exercise did not work for Raby, an employee of Bedford County Sheriff's Department. About a year ago, he was approved for gastric bypass surgery, a weight-loss surgery in which the stomach is made smaller and part of the small intestine is bypassed, reducing the amount of food a person can eat as well as the amount of calories that can be absorbed.

"I was just really tired of being heavy," Andy said. "Life is too short already."

Relief arrives

Andy's mom said she was very concerned with her son's health, and was very relieved when he decided to have the surgery.

"It's been a blessing," said Andy's mom, Helen Raby. "I thank God he went through with the surgery. He almost didn't."

On July 21, 2008, Raby was admitted to Vanderbilt for the surgery, following six months of dieting. He said the surgery wasn't nearly as bad as the weeks leading up to it.

"The hardest part for me was the liquid diet before surgery," Andy said.

He sailed through surgery and recovery, and has lost 198 pounds in a little less than a year.

New diet

At first, after the surgery, he could only drink liquids. He worked himself up to eating small portions of softer foods.

"I'd go by my palm," said Andy, who stands 6 feet tall. "Whatever I ate, it would have to be smaller than my palm."

Now, he eats just about anything he wants, as long as his stomach can tolerate it, but he eats in moderation. He says he eats normal sized portions now, but tries to eliminate junk food, except for an occasional splurge on chips, his weakness.

"I like broccoli now," he laughed. "I could live off of it."

New energy

Andy also loves to be outdoors, walking alongside his future stepdaughter's side as she rides her bike, and says he tries to work in light exercise such as push-ups and pull-ups. Mainly, however, his weight loss came from a result of consuming fewer calories following the surgery.

Andy currently weighs about 250 pounds.

"I'm where I want to be but my doctor wants me down to 200," he said.

The biggest change in Andy, according to his mom and his fiancee', Brandy, is the change in his energy level.

"You can't keep him still now," his mom said. "He has so much energy."

Risks involved

Gastric Bypass surgery has plenty of pros and cons.

"There are many negative aspects of Gastric Bypass, which include the cost, bad side effects, and postoperative hospitalizations; however, tremendous weight loss, the impact on other diseases, and a higher self-esteem are all positive results that Gastric Bypass can have," according to www.associatedcontent.com.

Though the surgery has its cons, and Andy suffered some gall bladder complications following surgery, he said he'd recommend it to anyone.

"It's definitely worth it," he said.

Future plans

As Andy looks to the future, he's excited to be getting married to Brandy later this summer, the woman his mom says "stuck with him through it all."

He's nervous, though, about something else.

Come summer, Andy is looking into getting surgery to remove the excess skin that resulted from the extreme weight loss.

"I'm looking into getting it cut off, but I'm not looking forward to that," he said. "People say that part is awful."