Gastric Bypass

hi allan, your doc can tell you about the early post-op period, but
like i've posted before, i know an 18 month post-op that got a bowel
obstruction. keep us posted on what your doc said.
lori h.

welcome susan, though, you're probably @ the hospital already.
welcome to your brand new life.
lori h.

you go wolfie!! the promises are coming true, eh?
lori h.

Hi,
I'm Cathy and I am scheduled for WLS in January 2004. I live in
Northern VA (Springfield) and have Kaiser insurance. They do all the
pre op evaluations and only send you to a George Washington
University Hospital surgeon for the actual surgery. I went to a
nutritionist with Kaiser for 6 months before the approval. She was
nice, but from what I am seeing in these posts, I did not get near
enough information about what to do about diet and vitamins. I went
to a Staple Club meeting last night in Woodbridge, VA, but that
seemed to be a free-for-all with 60 some folks there and no real
direction to the meeting. I realize I am not prepared for what to do
and that Kaiser doesn't know how to educate folks for this new WOL.
I wonder if anyone knows of a small support group or someone in my
area who would mentor me?
Cathy
Lap RY Jan 04

congrats on the 9 lbs, chris!! staples??? removable staples??? none
here.
lori h.

thanx, kris, this helps. i'm going through w/drawal---my trainer's
getting married (today actually) & i've been w/out her for a week.
any exercise info is welcome.
lori h.

keep up the great work!!
lori h.

Susan,
Welcome and Good luck today :) Not sure that you will get this before you go
but will definately keep you in my thoughts.
Ruth
Postop Open RNY
386/200/???
Oct 29,2002
MA
Susan <ca_hellcat@...
Hi my name is Susan, and I'm a newcomer to this group. I was doing
a search for support groups and found this one. It's almost
midnight and I can't sleep because I'm scheduled to have my surgery
tomorrow at 11:30. I am nervous, but excited at the same time. I'm
sure that's normal. I've studied about this surgery for years.
Contacted several doctors and interviewed them all till I found the
right one. I've struggled with my weight for years. Fought with my
HMO for the last 2 years to finally get it approved. And I'm still
nervous as hell. Anyway, I'll need all the support I can get. Talk
to you all when I get out. I'm looking forward to meeting all of
you.

thanks everyone for your help!
the day of my surgery i called my husband's ex-employer ans asked how long
the insurance premium was paid for.they told me that the health insurance ended
the day he was terminated ( which was the day before ),but that COBRA is
retroactive,and they told me THAT twice,and they also told that to the people at
the hospital,who called them as i was waiting for my surgery on a stretcher with
the IV needle already in my arm.they would have sent me home if they had
gotten a different answer.
we mailed out the paperwork yesterday and made sure we sent it certified.i
don't want anything to go wrong.
as far as the shower goes....my husband jokingly suggested duct tape.i am
actually willing to try it!!!lol
i have very long hair,and washing it had me exhausted,too!!!
i don't think i can take a daily shower yet....it's just too much of a
hassle.every other day,yes,but every day?i don't think i can handle that yet.did
anyone else experience this?
i also wanted to say something about taking garlic and other herbals to cure
a cold.the hospital i went to instructs everyone to stop taking herbal
remedies including garlic two weeks before surgery.garling thins blood,and if
anyone
is interested,i still have the list of the other things and whhy they need to
be stopped two weeks before surgery.
thanks!
astrid

Hi my name is Susan, and I'm a newcomer to this group. I was doing
a search for support groups and found this one. It's almost
midnight and I can't sleep because I'm scheduled to have my surgery
tomorrow at 11:30. I am nervous, but excited at the same time. I'm
sure that's normal. I've studied about this surgery for years.
Contacted several doctors and interviewed them all till I found the
right one. I've struggled with my weight for years. Fought with my
HMO for the last 2 years to finally get it approved. And I'm still
nervous as hell. Anyway, I'll need all the support I can get. Talk
to you all when I get out. I'm looking forward to meeting all of
you.

Wolfie,
WTG!!!! It is so great that your Fiancee is so supportive, I know for me my
husband is my greatest support and motivator.
Keep up the great job, you are doing great :)
Ruth
Postop Open RNY
386/200/???
Oct 29,2002
MA
Wolfeyes205@... wrote:
Well group tonight my fiancee made me weigh because I had been so down about
not losing this week, of course mother nature had her way and won,
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. But I got on the scale and had lost three more pounds. I
almost floated
off the scale I was elated and my fiancee smiled and grabbed me and hugged
me. I was almost in tears I was so happy. He kept saying I told you I could
tell. Your clothes are getting so loose on you! He is the most wonderful man. He
is so supportive and encourages me to drink more water and chew chew chew, lol,
and all the things I need to hear sometimes. He is also an RN and I get that
special care he gives. Such a wonderful man! Life is good people.....Life is
very very good! That now makes 31 pounds since August 27! Skinny Wishes
Everyone!
Wolfie
Leeds, Alabama
Lap RNY
August 27,2003
Dr. Lee A. Schmitt, M.D.
Medical Center East
Beginning Weight: 336
"Keep Em Laughing!"

`i have done all the research ,finished all my tests and am having
surgery on the 15th of December.
While doing my research I read that 2 weeks before surgery you should
really hydrate yourself and do some light exercising to prevent
clotting and pulmonary embolis.
The answer I need is what can be done to prevent bowel obstruction
post op.I have read several cases where pts have suffered from either
a perferated bowel or an obstructed bowel 2 or 3 days post op.What
causes this and can it be prevented.
Allan
Cincinnati,Ohio

Well group tonight my fiancee made me weigh because I had been so down about
not losing this week, of course mother nature had her way and won,
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. But I got on the scale and had lost three more pounds. I
almost floated
off the scale I was elated and my fiancee smiled and grabbed me and hugged
me. I was almost in tears I was so happy. He kept saying I told you I could
tell. Your clothes are getting so loose on you! He is the most wonderful man. He
is so supportive and encourages me to drink more water and chew chew chew, lol,
and all the things I need to hear sometimes. He is also an RN and I get that
special care he gives. Such a wonderful man! Life is good people.....Life is
very very good! That now makes 31 pounds since August 27! Skinny Wishes
Everyone!
Wolfie
Leeds, Alabama
Lap RNY
August 27,2003
Dr. Lee A. Schmitt, M.D.
Medical Center East
Beginning Weight: 336
"Keep Em Laughing!"

hi ann, thanks for the info - i did the alchohol wipe and tape but still no
good - someone recommended calling the co b/c its a common problem and they
are sending me 50 free cover dressings that they swear will keep the
duragesic patch work - i hope so - as of yet i can't tell if this thing is
working - its supposed to be so strong yet i still have pain - keeping it on
will help though....
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

Yes I did Ann and they told me they would get ahold of them and then they called
back and told me the phone number to call and the Cobra insurance email. I have
talked to b/c b/s and Cobra until I am blue in the face. I have tomorrow morning
to get this straighten out before they will cancel the surgery.
Joyce
11/12/03
Frankie319@... wrote:
Joyce
I had my surgery on Cobra, and let me tell you, you have grounds for a
lovely lawsuit. Your fo9rmer employer is - by law- required to send that
letter within the time frame. Have you spoken to them?
Ann
Ann Elliot
RNY with choly July 18 2003
291/248/hoping for 150
I will not give up the fight!!!!

Yeah!!! I'm so happy for you! Can't wait to hear when you get your
surgery date!
Katie W.
Birmingham
Dr. Schmitt
(playing the waiting game)

Hi roomies!
Went in yesterday to get my staples removed after one week post-op. What an
ordeal! Talk about painful. Oh, boy, oh boy. The doctor ended up giving me a
pain shot which didn't take effect until I got home. Something starting with a
T which is the same thing I had in the hospital. Can't remember the name.
Anyway, I felt like I needed anesthesia. My poor GP seemed more frightened than
I did. Everytime I would yell out "Ouch" she would hold my tummy or my hand and
ask if I was okay. She's such a doll! LOL Some of the staples came out pretty
bent up and a couple of my incisions came open or weren't completely healed.
That freaked her out. Me too! I didn't know they used REAL staples. oh, my
goodness, like a staple gun. :-) Anyhoo, I suggested to my GP that she close
them up with steri-strips which she did and something my surgeon confirmed to do
when I talked to him today. She reminded me about infection and told me to come
back if there is any continued redness. I went
right home after that business and took my Lortab. Thank God for pain meds!
I was out like a light between the pain shot and the Lortab. Well, It's sponge
baths for me or put saran wrap over my wounds for 7 days. But the mighty
hallelujah is that: I had lost 9 lbs. in one week!!! I can't even begin to
believe that. A whopping [for me] 9 lbs. I'm TOOOOOO darn excited and made the
staple removal all worth it. Anyone else had a bad experience with their
staples?? Boy, I'm glad that's the worse I've felt since the tube down my
throat was removed. The drain removal in the hospital didn't bother me at all.
NINE POUNDS!! I'm too darn hyped! <running around the house -- virtually --
shouting Praise God!
Chris
LAP 09-23-03
287-278-???

Congrads!! She is beautiful!
Pamela
11/19/02
140 lbs gone!!
Miami

Congratulations to the new daddy and mommy. That is wonderful. There is
nothing better in life than birth:)
HUGS, ROBIN, NY
Age- 41
TTC#4 -
OPEN RNY
10-18-02
378/246/170???
DR.EDWARD HIXSON
SARANAC LAKE, NY
Mom to:
Benjamin & Jonathan
7 1/2 year twin boys and
Madison age 4 1/2 yrs.
Miscarraige August 2001
Miscarraige August 2003
Married to Pup:
15 years this
Halloween : )

hi all.. I havent posted in a qhilw but here is why...
9/30/2003
Rachael Marie Lewis was born ( my first baby )
She is very healthy and very beautiful!!!
http://kevinandtrisha.tripod.com/Rachael/index.htm
Take care!!
Kevin in Pensacola

Joyce, why might it have to be cancelled? just wondering? Janice

Amy,
Are you ready for some home remedies? How do you feel about garlic? If you don't
like the taste the have odorless garlic capsules that you could take. Garlic and
onions have natural antibiotic properties. Also echinacia(sp)10days on 7 days
off will help the immune system. Might be worth a try. Constance
maizyclaire <amyclaire@...
I can't believe it. I'm having surgery on Oct 14 and as my luck
would have it I have a terrible cold and sore throat and sinus
troubles. I went to the doctor and they said that it was all viral
and not to worry it will all be gone by surgery. However I had also
called my surgeons nurse and she seemed a bit more concerned...she
said that just because it's viral now doesn't mean it will go away
and many times viruses will turn into infections. I don't want
anything to get in my way here and I am getting worried. What can I
do to have my health restored so I don't have to put off surgery!!!
Amy

To chime in on the cardio discussions, I emailed with a
personal trainer once (a man) who told me:
The MINIMUM to change your body is 40 min., 3x per week.
Less than that is simply a "maintenance" program.
Take into account that hes talking about average-sized
people or those lucky ones who only have 20 lbs to go. But
its good info to know for down the road and for those of
you who are at a reasonably normal weight. And of course,
the less cardio you do, the less calories you should
consume or else youre at risk of gaining.
For what it's worth,
Kris

Astrid: congratulations!!!!!!! Yay for you! Have your hubby keep after
his ex employer to make sure that Cobra letter gets done.....but like I
told someone else, if they dont they are breaking the LAW. But when I
lost my job, I was already scheduled for surgery too, (HMM,,,,wonder if
theres a connecttion!?!)
so I just kept called at least every couple days until that letter
reached corporate.
Let us know how you are doing, and even tho I am new to this group,
it seems like a very caring and nice one, so let us help you over the
rough times. (IF you have any!)
Ann
Ann Elliot
RNY with choly July 18 2003
291/248/hoping for 150
I will not give up the fight!!!!

In a message dated 10/2/2003 3:58:30 PM Central Standard Time,
eggystwins@... writes:
Just found out. Made a phone call to see where they were in the
process and they told me I was approved!! Yay me!! Also, got my
appointment with the surgeon moved up 18 days. From the 31st to the
13th. It's a good day!
Chelle
282/pre-op
Congratulations Chelle. Buckle up and get ready for the best ride of your
life. Yippppeeee!!!!!
Wolfie
Leeds, Alabama
Lap RNY
August 27,2003
Dr. Lee A. Schmitt, M.D.
Medical Center East
Beginning Weight: 336
"Keep Em Laughing!"

Tanya
Try cleaning the skin first with alcohol or lots of soap and water. Then
use paper tape to cover - or silk tape if you find it works better. As
you know, they usually stick best to upper outer arm but also on chest.
When I was quitting cigarettes the patches would tend to fall off so I
silk taped em (white collar crime, oh my-) and that kept em on. I have
been smoke free nearly 4 years but you know what - I still crave the
nasty things. Psychologically now I have lost my two major "coping"
skills - smoking and food! Heavens!!!!
Ann
Ann Elliot
RNY with choly July 18 2003
291/248/hoping for 150
I will not give up the fight!!!!

Just found out. Made a phone call to see where they were in the
process and they told me I was approved!! Yay me!! Also, got my
appointment with the surgeon moved up 18 days. From the 31st to the
13th. It's a good day!
Chelle
282/pre-op

my old tendencies are just underneath the surface, i try not to
be complacent. i get weighed mainly @ doc's appts & recently i gained
a lb while on a mini vacation. then i went on one of my prot kicks &
lost 8 lbs in 10 days, & another dress size. getting back to basics
works like a charm. one of the things that keep me focused is my
upcoming 18 month follow-up appt & after that, my reconstructive
surgery.
lori h.

did you have lap or open? big waterproof bandaids worked on my lap
incisions. don't be afraid to ask for help, i remember being in
exhaustion city from washing my hair.
lori h.

I can't believe it. I'm having surgery on Oct 14 and as my luck
would have it I have a terrible cold and sore throat and sinus
troubles. I went to the doctor and they said that it was all viral
and not to worry it will all be gone by surgery. However I had also
called my surgeons nurse and she seemed a bit more concerned...she
said that just because it's viral now doesn't mean it will go away
and many times viruses will turn into infections. I don't want
anything to get in my way here and I am getting worried. What can I
do to have my health restored so I don't have to put off surgery!!!
Amy

hey guys,
i have been having a hard time getting my 6-8 cups of fluids in,but today i
am doing really good.i am on cup number four!yesterday i had less than one :-(
things are definetely getting better.
our neighbor,who is a retired nurse,is changing my dressing every day and she
says the incision is healing nicely ( i can't look at it!!! ).
i took a shower this morning and was very frustrated....they told us to put
seran wrap over the dressing and tape it down with waterprooof tape,but this
didn't work for me at all.the tape started coming off even before a drop off
water hit my body!does anyone have any suggestions and tips?
thanks for all your help!
astrid

Thanks , my problem seems to be Kaiser itself. Kaiser doctor is pushing for it -
I went to all the appointments -supposedly. But my Dr and everyone arn't on the
same page. He said I was approved already that he got an email from the higher
up's . Now yesterday I heard from my consultation class that it is not posible
to get approved until after this lady does her paperwork from the class. So I
emailed my Dr a harsh note asking for some
direct contacts and info..I really understand that there are a lot folks heavier
with more issues than I have, but I am still suffering. I know this is a last
resort and am closing in at 300lb- I am 281.5 now- I just can't lose it . I try
every diet I can. I am limited on exercise because it is painful on my feet,
back, and knees. I am trying to be strong-
thanks for everything
Veroncia
Tanya <coprhed@...
hi,
all i can say is fight, fight, fight - it wears you down - i prayed about it
and said God i'm putting this in your hands so lead the way but for now i'm
going to curl up in bed and sleep the day away b/c i'm depressed and tired
of being tired and i went to bed and woke up the next morning with the idea
(wonder where that came from) to have my dr fax me what they faxed the ins
co -- needless to say it was a pitiful jumbled up mess so i went to work
fixing it -- i put each medical problem with its ICD-9 code and what med i
take for it all togeather - anybody could have made a decision and got the
picture the way i arranged it - they way they had it - i'm a RN and i couldn
t make heads or tails of it and would have denied myself -- i went to
walgreens and printed my year worth of medication - wrote a personal letter
from the heart - stressed my lack of quality of life but mainly my children
and how i will cost the system and them big $ if i don't have the surgery
and put an 8x10 family photo in there - in 3 days i was approved -- you know
how they say a picture is worth a 1000 words - do what it takes - i know
they must have a gazillion applications for this and get sick of seeing them
so i decided i had to make mine different in some way - catch their
attention - and i did.....had surgery last week -- also brought that 8x10 to
the OR and told the dr that i'm sure this is just another surgery for him
but not today --- they were talking about it all over the hospital -- do
what it takes.....
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

Tanya <coprhed@...
all i can say is fight, fight, fight - it wears you down - i prayed about it
and said God i'm putting this in your hands so lead the way but for now i'm
going to curl up in bed and sleep the day away b/c i'm depressed and tired
of being tired and i went to bed and woke up the next morning with the idea
(wonder where that came from) to have my dr fax me what they faxed the ins
co -- needless to say it was a pitiful jumbled up mess so i went to work
fixing it -- i put each medical problem with its ICD-9 code and what med i
take for it all togeather - anybody could have made a decision and got the
picture the way i arranged it - they way they had it - i'm a RN and i couldn
t make heads or tails of it and would have denied myself -- i went to
walgreens and printed my year worth of medication - wrote a personal letter
from the heart - stressed my lack of quality of life but mainly my children
and how i will cost the system and them big $ if i don't have the surgery
and put an 8x10 family photo in there - in 3 days i was approved -- you know
how they say a picture is worth a 1000 words - do what it takes - i know
they must have a gazillion applications for this and get sick of seeing them
so i decided i had to make mine different in some way - catch their
attention - and i did.....had surgery last week -- also brought that 8x10 to
the OR and told the dr that i'm sure this is just another surgery for him
but not today --- they were talking about it all over the hospital -- do
what it takes.....
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

Hi all,
I'm not exactly sure how this works, but I'm going to give it a try.
First off, I'm about 2 1/2 years post-op. I've lost a total of 130
pounds and have never been happier. My problem, however, is I'm
beginning to make the same bad choices and fall into my old habits
and sometimes scare myself!! I'm hoping that someone out there has
gone through this and has ideas of how to get back on track. I've
read many stories about people and their battles with WLS surgery and
I have to say I was truely blessed with a simple and hassle free
experience. I decided to have the surgery and went to an
informational meeting on Feb 2, filled out my paperwork and had the
surgery April 11, no hassles or questions asked. My recovery was the
same way, never a problem! I felt great the minute I woke up and
have no complaints since. I beat myself up sometimes when I eat
something I know I shouldn't and think I was given this awesome gift,
how can I possible think of screwing it up?!! I've probably gained
back 7 pounds in the past year which obviously isn't ALOT, but if it
keeps going that way....I don't want to think about it. Anyone know
what it's like?
CP

welcome christy. when i was about 6 months post-op, i saw a news
piece where they interviewed a wlsurgeon & she said that patients have
to be willing to be on a "diet" the rest of their lives. i remember
being enraged, she was trying to say that wls was not for everyone.
but does that skinny doc understand? anyway, since then i've learned
that vigilance is everything. she was right, *&#^%!!!!
congrats on the 130 lbs. & email me if you want a few tips on
dropping the 7 lbs.
lori h.
17 grateful months out

hi,
all i can say is fight, fight, fight - it wears you down - i prayed about it
and said God i'm putting this in your hands so lead the way but for now i'm
going to curl up in bed and sleep the day away b/c i'm depressed and tired
of being tired and i went to bed and woke up the next morning with the idea
(wonder where that came from) to have my dr fax me what they faxed the ins
co -- needless to say it was a pitiful jumbled up mess so i went to work
fixing it -- i put each medical problem with its ICD-9 code and what med i
take for it all togeather - anybody could have made a decision and got the
picture the way i arranged it - they way they had it - i'm a RN and i couldn
t make heads or tails of it and would have denied myself -- i went to
walgreens and printed my year worth of medication - wrote a personal letter
from the heart - stressed my lack of quality of life but mainly my children
and how i will cost the system and them big $ if i don't have the surgery
and put an 8x10 family photo in there - in 3 days i was approved -- you know
how they say a picture is worth a 1000 words - do what it takes - i know
they must have a gazillion applications for this and get sick of seeing them
so i decided i had to make mine different in some way - catch their
attention - and i did.....had surgery last week -- also brought that 8x10 to
the OR and told the dr that i'm sure this is just another surgery for him
but not today --- they were talking about it all over the hospital -- do
what it takes.....
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

Dear Astrid,
Before you get stuck with a whopping big cobra bill, make sure you
investigate when his actual insurance ends. Usually insurance is paid
either monthly or quarterly, in advance, so if his was paid monthly, you
should have been covered under it through September 30th with no problems.
If it's paid quarterly it would probably also still have been in effect
through September. Good luck and heal well.
live each day like it's your last... love like you've never been hurt...
Deb in Hazlet, NJ
"Debbie Dancer"
distal rny
September 3, 2002
386/221/165
BMI 60/32.6/24
-165
-92.5"
Angel to Bill, Debbie (10/14/03) Ilene, Roy, and Ro

Like I said have Faith give your problems to the man up stairs he will help you.
I went on Cobra in September. I have been paying for this insurance for two
months now since I am not working for the company I worked for. I want to keep
this insurance B/c B/s cause they pay 100% my hubbys don't. I found out three
days ago that B/c B/s cancel my insurance cause they never got the letter from
Cobra. I have been on both butts for three days about this. My hubbys insurance
won't pay cause I don't have a letter from B/c B/s saying that they are not
going to pay. I just talked to my surgeons office and they said they might have
to cancel the surgery until next year. I am giving this to the Lord upstairs. It
is upsetting but I will get by with this.
Joyce
11/12/03
veronica buntaran <sin_no_more2004@...
Thank you . This has been a real test of faith. Another set back today .
Yesterday my Dr told me I have the green light. He got word that I was approved
from the group of surgeons. He also said my surgery date would be in 2 months
approx. - Today I learned that nobody has approved anything and I am possibly
out a year. All I can do is cry right now- I have really been mentally trying to
prepare myself , family (hubby/kids) , and work for this upcoming event. I feel
like it is so far out of reach. The lady at the class today looked at me like I
need to go diet and forget about this ....I am currently 140lbs overweight- and
feel like I will be this way forever- in pain, high BP , bordEring DB-
I know I need to get off the pity potty- you all have went thru so much more
than I can ever imagine. I just appreciate all the support- here I feel I should
be supporting you since you are the real heros here.....thanks for the Faith
support-veronica
Joy Muns <joy_ms@...
I am with you Lori. You have to have FAITH. I believe the man upstairs has
helped me so far keeping me alive with the health problems. Now he gives me a
chance to be without them. I am going to take my FAITH and go with it. I know I
will be alright. I pray every day now that I would walk up with out pain and be
able to walk again.
Joyce
11/12/03

sorry veronica. i wish i could say that the road to wls is smooth,
but it wasn't for me either. can you contact ins directly? (i was the
1st to find out i was approved, i made the call & passed on the
authorization code to the surgeon's offc). if someone insinuated that
since you have just 140 lbs to lose, you should do it the conventional
way, don't listen. my excess 109 lbs are gone, & i don't feel like i
was less of a candidate because of it. (if the 1991 NIH consensus said
i'm a candidate, that's good enough for me). hang in there, continue
to be proactive & believe w/ all your might.
lori h.
17 grateful months out

Cheryl
Sorry you have had a bad day with the boyfriend. I think sometimes they get a
little jealous of what is going on with us. like they can't share in the
excitement or something. Oh well I hope everything is OK now. Sheryl

The decision for gastric bypass surgery is a very serious, life
changing decision and one not to be taken lightly. I had to do a
lot of soul searching and a few more full on trys at dieting before
I was totally ready to accept this path.
My intestinal "plumbing" has been changed "forever". It is
definitely a decision to be made ONLY after all other attempts at
weight loss have failed. Looking back, though, seeing how much I
had suffered from this condition, I wish that I could have had the
surgery when I was in my 20's. Perhaps, then, I could have had a
healthier, happier past 20+ years. My dieting history never really
changed during my adulthood, up & down, up & a little down, mostly
up & up & up in my weight. At times, I feel sad about all those
years when I felt like "the living dead" due to morbid obesity....
alive, but not trully out there living life....such a waste.
Morbid obesity sure took a toll on my self esteem and physical
health. I have many physical and emotional scares to prove it. I
thank God each day for my new life after bypass surgery. It has
definitely been the right decision for me! But it definitely isn't
a "cure all" for all my problems, but a MAJOR tool towards improved
health. Suzanne

Mary I am 50. I do have the support of my hubby and I am very happy I meet him.
I am so happy now. You had the surgery and your in a wheelchair. I am facing the
fact if I have the surgery and I still have to be in a wheelchair or diabete,
and have heart trouble. I can say at lease I tried not to let this happen to me.
Cause if I didn't have the surgery I will always wonder why didn't I have the
surgery. Why didn't I try, not to let this happen to me. It will be Gods
decision what my health will be after surgery not mine. I am putting my life in
his hands.
Joyce
11/12/03

Thank you . This has been a real test of faith. Another set back today .
Yesterday my Dr told me I have the green light. He got word that I was approved
from the group of surgeons. He also said my surgery date would be in 2 months
approx. - Today I learned that nobody has approved anything and I am possibly
out a year. All I can do is cry right now- I have really been mentally trying to
prepare myself , family (hubby/kids) , and work for this upcoming event. I feel
like it is so far out of reach. The lady at the class today looked at me like I
need to go diet and forget about this ....I am currently 140lbs overweight- and
feel like I will be this way forever- in pain, high BP , bordEring DB-
I know I need to get off the pity potty- you all have went thru so much more
than I can ever imagine. I just appreciate all the support- here I feel I should
be supporting you since you are the real heros here.....thanks for the Faith
support-veronica
Joy Muns <joy_ms@...
I am with you Lori. You have to have FAITH. I believe the man upstairs has
helped me so far keeping me alive with the health problems. Now he gives me a
chance to be without them. I am going to take my FAITH and go with it. I know I
will be alright. I pray every day now that I would walk up with out pain and be
able to walk again.
Joyce
11/12/03

Ann,
You and I had surgery the same day.....I'm so happy to find a person
with the exact same surgery date. You're doing GREAT!!!!
I too ran into a plateau at around 6 weeks and I was worried that it
would last forever. I find eating very hard to do since the
surgery, and I know my plateau had to do with me not eating enough.
I never thought I would ever say those words, "not eating enough."
LOL My plateau finally did break and I was psyched that the scale
was moving again. It's moving slower now, but it's at least
moving. You're not giving up the fight, neither am I, and I hope no
one on this site does. We will conquer this together and we'll all
live healthier and happier lives.
Take care and good luck!
Beth
07/18/2003 LAP RNY
339/277/150
Boston, MA

I'm very sorry about all your trouble Astrid. But I'm sure your
doctor will make sure the entrance to your new tummy will be fixed
correctly. It may take a little more time to work all the "bugs" out
(pardon me for such a gross analyzation). But remember that his
reputation is at stake here too. He wants to do the best for his
patients. I'm just sorry you had to go through all of this in the
first place. Whenever you are in doubt about the way you feel,
somthing hurts, or something just doesn't seem right---call him. You
paid for the privilege. This isn't like calling the car dealership
about correcting a little noise in a new car, this is YOUR health!
But about the insurance thing? I wish I could help you. You never
know with them. They can be so flakey.
Charlotte
265/243/160
9-24-03

hi ann, thanx - you are right about the nurse thing - we are our own worst
enemy....i have another question - my dr prescribed duragesic patches for
pain b/c my mepergan fortis just isn't working with my new tummy - i guess
it goes through b4 it gets to do its job - i don't know -- but these patches
don't stay on well at all and i know there has to be a secret on something
to put over them or a certain part of the body where they stay better -- if
you can find out let me know....if you ever have a patient who wears them -
ask for me....
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

hi everyone,
i finally made it back from the hospital!
i went in on friday morning and was scheduled for surgery at noon.i
was already on the stretcher with the IV needle in my arm when twp
ladies from the office came running in wanting to talk to me.my
husband had lost his job just the day before ( talk about bad
timing...) and the whole insurance issue was still up in the air.we
finally figured out that we could get COBRA and that is going to be
retroactive,so finally i went in and they did the surgery.it went
very well,but unfortunately the entarnce to my new pouch was swollen
for three days after the procedure,meaning that not even my saliva
could get in ther,and i had to spit everything up again.not a pretty
picture.finally on tuesday i was able to get down some clear liquids
and they devided to send me home.
i burp a lot,and it really doesn't make me feel all that great,and i
don't get nearly as much liquids and calories as i should.but i am
taking the vitamins etc a d my incision is healing fine and doesn't
hurt.it's just the eating that bothers me.all i had today was a half
a cup of broth,a few sips of water and some sugar free jello.the
burping just doesn't stop.last night it went on ALL NIGHT.just little
burps,but still.i hope it will get better soon.
the support from my family and friends was overwhelming,and the care
of everyone involved with the surgery and my care at the hospital was
so wonderful i can't find words!
i am glad to be back home,but very scared of what's ahead of me as
far as eating is concerned.
plus of course now my husband has to find a new job so we can pay our
bills,and hopefully the COBRA thing goes through without any problems
so that we don't get stuck with a $30,000 bill for the surgery!
thanks for reading and thanks for all your support and your prayers!!
Astrid

Hi, all--
A couple of weeks ago I posted asking if anyone had had a suture
granuloma removed, and how long was it before it healed and you were
released to exercise. Just for information if anyone else should
experience this: my incision is almost totally healed and I can go
back to exercising today (2 weeks after the removal).
Oh, and also lost another 4 lbs in last two weeks so YAAAYYY me! :-)
Steve G.
open RNY 5/6/02 Dr. Mark Gibbs
605/336/299
"gettin' there"

Hi Chris :)
I live in Orange County and went to Coastal Center for Obesity (in
Orange) for my surgery. Coastal runs a support group meeting every
Monday night at Western Medical Center (near the 5 and 55 Fwys),
every Thursday night at Chapman Medical Center in Orange (this is a
new meeting) and a meeting (I think monthly) in San Pedro. I have
info about the Western Medical Center one in my profile at the
bottom in my review of my surgeon, and you can also check Coastal's
website for more info at www.CoastalObesity.com.
Hope this helps!
:) Caroline
Lap RNY 5/2/03
367/276/150
My WLS Journey (new photos!) http://tinyurl.com/bkld
I'll be walking in the Children's Hospital of OC's Walk in the Park
at Disneyland this Sunday! I am looking for people to sponsor me :)
If you are interested, thank you for visiting http://tinyurl.com/p9ah

Tanya
I am an RN also, and I think maybe that puts us at a disadvantage, in a
way (except we understand the surgery better!) It is well know we dont
make great patients......nor are doctors! LOL
What you need to do is call your doctors office, or their
nutritionist if they have one, and telll them you need more specific
instructions . Thats what you would tell your own patients, right?
It is hard to answer your specific questions because it seems like
doctors differ widely on their diets. I personally am on all protein til
I lose 75% of my weight (excess that is-) .
But generally, it seems like 3 oz per meal is about right, chew it
like crazy, dont drink during meals (some docs want you to not drink for
30 mins, some 90 minutes!!) Use common sense re caloric foods, avoid
sugar like the plague and also high fat stuff....
You sound just like me. A lb a day is super good. (I get whiney
because I am a slow loser, have been on a long plateau, is why- Whenn I
was first out I lost a half lb a day and I thought that was slow. Its
NOT.
Have faith in your surgery ---it works---and call that doggoned
doctor today and demand your info- its your right!
As you know!!!!!!
Ann
Ann Elliot
RNY with choly July 18 2003
291/248/hoping for 150
I will not give up the fight!!!!

Hi Kerri,
Hmmm.... I would say to go to a different surgeon who accepts
Medicare and Medicaid and get a second opinion. You being fed a line
because there is no pre-approval process (and no required period of
supervised weight loss) with Medicare or Medicaid. It sounds like
this surgeon is simply not wanting to accept Medicare/Medicaid rates
(which are awful).
:) Caroline
Lap RNY 5/2/03
367/276/150
My WLS Journey (new photos!) http://tinyurl.com/bkld
I'll be walking in the Children's Hospital of OC's Walk in the Park
at Disneyland this Sunday! I am looking for people to sponsor me :)
If you are interested, thank you for visiting http://tinyurl.com/p9ah

Some people can. I can. :) I have a few sips of Diet Pepsi every day. I
pour the pepsi over some ice to let half of the bubbles out and take small sips.
Fountain sodas from resturants are good too. It might have something to do with
the 'distal vs. proximal" surgeries. I belive mine was proximal, thus less
gas. right? *sipping a diet pepsi right now* I still experience a little
discomfort, but I get the same amount of discomfort when I drink cold water.
*shrugs* It's something I can live with.
Sharon
RNY LAP 7-17-03
Dr. Anthony Gonzales
315/255/150

Hi Melody and Deb,
Yes, ABSOLUTELY Deb! And to add to this, Melody, believe it or not,
there ARE guys out there who will love you for you no matter whether
you are fat, thin, or whatever. I was also in a really bad
relationship awhile back ago. I also thought I would take what I
could get in a sense. I look back and wish I could have been
stronger and had given him the boot. We did eventually break up and
later, I met my husband who is the sweetest guy I could ever meet.
He TRULY loves me and cares about me, and he's taught me that it IS
ok to love myself regardless of how fat or thin I am.
:) Caroline
Lap RNY 5/2/03
367/276/150
My WLS Journey (new photos!) http://tinyurl.com/bkld
I'll be walking in the Children's Hospital of OC's Walk in the Park
at Disneyland this Sunday! I am looking for people to sponsor me :)
If you are interested, thank you for visiting http://tinyurl.com/p9ah

Melody,
In life we learn the hard way that some people are with us as
morbidly obese people because they are insecure in themselves. By
being with "the fat girl", they feel confident that we'll never
leave them, we'll be dependent on them, etc. But this isn't what
any healthy relationship is about. A healthy relationship is about
wanting the best for your friend, spouse, etc. and your boyfriend
should be wanting what is best for you.
If he doesn't want you to get the surgery because he's scared you
will get sick or worse, that's one thing and if this is the case,
then perhaps he can go with you to some inperson support group
meetings to learn more about the surgery. But from reading your
post, this doesn't sound like what's at hand.
Sweetie, because of our weight, many of us don't feel lovable and
therefore "settle" for unhealthy relationships. But it doesn't have
to be this way.
Please do what is right FOR YOU. You need to be healthy and don't
have to settle for someone who sets ultimatums in the relationship
regardless of how heavy or thin you are...
:) Caroline
Lap RNY 5/2/03
367/276/150
My WLS Journey (new photos!) http://tinyurl.com/bkld
I'll be walking in the Children's Hospital of OC's Walk in the Park
at Disneyland this Sunday! I am looking for people to sponsor me :)
If you are interested, thank you for visiting http://tinyurl.com/p9ah

hi joyce, the bypassing of intestines w/ gb leaves us w/out intrinsic
factor. i once did the sublinguals, now i do monthly shots.
lori h.

My Diet. told me to take 250 gm Vitamin B-12 under the tongue everyday. Has
anyone else been told this? Is it a special Vitamin B-12? I got them but it says
to take one pill by mouth daily. Nothing about under the tongue.
Joyce
11/12/03

Jeanne
Boy can I identify with you!!!! I started a plateau at 6 weeks out and I
am 8.5 weeks now......have lost two lbs this week but thats been it. I
have asked a number of people on different groups and my doc and
apparently it IS normal(but grossly unfair!!!!) . It has to do with your
thyroid, hormonal shifts (whatever that means-) and theoretically your
body just doesnt want to give up its fat. But I am assured it will
pass. NOT everyone loses weight super fast - I am always a bit jealous
when someone writes about how fast they have dropped their weight!
Apparently it wont be like that for me. Best suggestion I have is to
review your eating habits, make sure you are "by the book", drink LOTS
of fluids, take your vitamins, and, weirdly, make sure you are eating
ENOUGH. If you cut back, (as I tried-) your body goes into starvation
mode and hangs onto the fat even more!!!
Please hang in there and keepo reminding yourself, this too shall
pass. I need to tell you plateaus can last from 1 to 4 weeks...... but
they do go away.
Some people swear you lose inches if not lbs during one but this has not
been true for me. :(
Ann
Ann Elliot
RNY with choly July 18 2003
291/248/hoping for 150
I will not give up the fight!!!!

Tanya,
Your are dooing great and the reason you were able to "eat the whole" bowl of
soup is because as you stated you were eating slow and was using a small
spoon. Soooo.. what happend was the soup being liquid simply emptied out of
your
small pouch as you were eating. I did the same thing and figured out that is
what was happening. I told the nurse and she confirmed my theory. Hang in
their girl you will be fine.
Mary A. B.
LAP RNY 3/22/03
Dr. Steve Weinstein, MD.
Mobile, Alabama
BMI 65/54
386/303 - 83 LBS.

Melody,
My hubby was against the surgery 100%. My family doctor said I have to go see a
woman (150 lb lost in a year) who had the surgery before she would let me have
it. So I told my hubby he had to go with me. Just to listen to what she had to
say. The woman was the pastor wife. Which we had the meeting in the church. My
hubby did all the talking. I think I ask only one question. Cause I read about
it on the internet and my friends at work had it. So my hubby did his thing with
this woman asking everything that came to mind. We left there and he looked at
me and said if you really want this surgery I will stand beside you 100%. What a
turn around.
My hubby took off work to go to the first meeting with me. He asked lots of
questions so did alot of b/fs and husbands there at the meeting. My hubby was
really pleased with the meeting. He ask some of the same questions that he ask
Cathy (the woman who had the surgery). They told him the same thing. One thing
my surgeons asked was that we read the book WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY Finding the thin
person hiding inside of you!
by Barbara Thompson. Barbara had the surgery. You can get the book at the
libararies. I got mine thru the Hospital Libarary. Most of your questions are in
the book. Plus there is a chapter that the husband wrote about how he felt about
the surgery. My hubby read it and he said it was him. His greatest fear of
losing me.
If your b/f is really serious about this find someone that had the surgery done
talk to them and have your b/f talk to their husbands or b/f. I know it must be
the greatest fear for any spouse, b/f, or g/f is losing their partner. Or them
finding someone else to love when they lose the weight.
If your love is real he will be there for you. If not after you lose the weight
it is up to you if you want him back. He might not be able to handle this. I
think if he loved you alot.
You didn't have the surgery. Would he be there when the going gets tough then?
He would be there to take care of you when your old? Would he be there when you
couldn't dress yourself, cook for yourself, can't go out of the house cause you
can't walk, fit into a car? Would he be there for you to take your medicine on
time?
Yes this surgery has risk but what if we didn't have this surgery? I don't want
to be like what I said up above. (I ask my hubby them questions when he told me
he didn't want me to have the surgery). He said he would but he is making me
walk now and do things to stay in fit for this surgery. It's not the weight
coming off, it's the medical problems I have. Bottom line you have to find out
what is right for YOU. Do you want to deal with the medical problems or not?
Joyce
11/12/03

Katie,
I suppose I might try the 1/2 a pill for a week or so and see if that helps. I
find myself in a cycle where like last night, I only sleep for about 4
hours...will do that for a few nights and then sleep all night because I'm
exhausted. The whole elavil just isn't cutting it. Sometimes less is more.=), I
started having dreams at the cinema too. I have always been a vivid dreamer,this
is just bringing them back for me. I can't say I mind though, it's like a new
adventure every night. Take care and thanks for the info. Constance
kf wilkins <kfwilkins@...
I take a half of a pill every night. A whole one gets me to sleep alright!
All the way through the next day! It must be helping me get more REM sleep
as well, as I feel like I dream all night long...very vivid dreams at that.
It's like going to the cinema every night. I still wake up sometimes at
night, if I need to go to the bathroom, or the pug is barking, or thrashing
about because she's having a good dream herself. But with the Elavil, I'm
able to go right back to sleep. When I had my consult with my surgeon, he
ruled out the possibility of sleep apnea, because I haven't displayed any
other symptoms before or since I started taking the Elavil. My pcp
prescribed it when she made a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, as new research
seems to tie that in with sleep disorders, and I was definitely having
problems getting in 8 hours of sleep.
I hope all is well with your family. Bummer about the flu, but maybe you got
it over with early this year.
Katie W.

Hi there,
To address the distal v. proximal topic, I asked my surgeon
about it yesterday. He said he didn't think many people
did distal anymore b/c of the malnutrition risks. He
graphed it out and explained it to me and said proximal is
safer. That's all I know.
Also, regarding this post:

a good
support group in the Los Angeles or Orange County area? I
live in
Norwalk, California if that gives you a clear picture of
where I'm
located. Thanks so much for the information.
My doc's office has a support group meeting every Tuesday
at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and a mentor
group every Thursday. Not sure what the diff is since I
haven't been to any yet. But you can call Powell's office
at 626-449-0694 if Pasadena is do-able for you. Both
groups start at 7pm.
I live in the Woodland Hills area so I'll be looking for
one closer to me, I just haven't looked yet. If I find
one, I'll post about it for any other valley girls and boys
on the list.
Kristen :-)

I am with you Lori. You have to have FAITH. I believe the man upstairs has
helped me so far keeping me alive with the health problems. Now he gives me a
chance to be without them. I am going to take my FAITH and go with it. I know I
will be alright. I pray every day now that I would walk up with out pain and be
able to walk again.
Joyce
11/12/03

I take a half of a pill every night. A whole one gets me to sleep alright!
All the way through the next day! It must be helping me get more REM sleep
as well, as I feel like I dream all night long...very vivid dreams at that.
It's like going to the cinema every night. I still wake up sometimes at
night, if I need to go to the bathroom, or the pug is barking, or thrashing
about because she's having a good dream herself. But with the Elavil, I'm
able to go right back to sleep. When I had my consult with my surgeon, he
ruled out the possibility of sleep apnea, because I haven't displayed any
other symptoms before or since I started taking the Elavil. My pcp
prescribed it when she made a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, as new research
seems to tie that in with sleep disorders, and I was definitely having
problems getting in 8 hours of sleep.
I hope all is well with your family. Bummer about the flu, but maybe you got
it over with early this year.
Katie W.

It was great! The surgeon was very nice, good bedside
manner. They are sending Blue Cross the authorization
forms today and said they should hear within a week! And I
have to do some pre-screening before they'll schedule the
surgery so I'm going to get hopping on that. She's booking
through October right now so there's plenty of time since I
want to go on January 8th. I'd probably be out of work
through the 16th since I just have a desk job.
I have to have an upper GI and gall bladder ultrasound to
make sure I don't have gall stones. I was already
scheduled for an ultrasound for 10/10 b/c of the probs I
had last week so I'm going to call the lab and see if they
can do the GI at the same time b/c it doesn't take long.
I also have to get a cardiac clearance from an internist
prior to surgery so I'm going to call the doctor I went to
last week for my pains and see if he can do an EKG and
clear me. Otherwise I have to do the cardiac pulmonary
stress test when they put me on a treadmill and see how my
heart reacts to stress.
I have to get blood work done which will be easy. I can do
that before coming in to work at a clinic around here. And
lastly I have to have a psych eval. They gave me the card
of a guy so I'll call and make an appt for a weekend.
Otherwise I'm good to go! I know it sounds like a lot of
pre-screening but I was expecting more. Since I'm so young
(28) they're not requiring the treadmill test or a
mammogram so I'm a happy girl. I'm going to try to knock
out the appts now though so I can get the surgery scheduled
and relax a little. I'll also call Blue Cross today to
make sure they got the claim.
AND one of my partner's former employees works at the
hospital I'll be going to and said it's very nice. That
makes me feel good, too.
My BMI is 48 and I'm going to try to lose about 20 lbs
before the surgery so I'm a little more comfortable b/c
even my big clothes are a little tight right now. I've
been doing a lot of stress eating while waiting for my
consult.
Luckily I normally work out on a regular basis so my heart
is in pretty good shape. I can do an hour on elliptical
machine at level 9. I'll get back to the gym and keep
doing the elliptical machine so I'm in better shape for the
anasthesia (sp?) and recovery.
Kris :-)
=====
Mrs. Kris :-)
*Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.*
Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've
stayed alive.

Good morning,
I am 7 weeks out now from open RNY surgery and have lost nothing over the
last two weeks. I am resting at 50 pounds. Has anyone had a plateau at this
stage? How long does it normally last?
Jeanne

i can answer your ? with one word: FAITH.
lori h.

talk about changes, doin' great suzanne! i wouldn't give up my
century club card for nothing in the world.
lori h.

sounds like you're already weaning yourself off the stuff. have you
tried c/f? & all docs are different, it seems most advise against
carbonated drinks.
lori h.
17 grateful months out

Suzanne,
Thanks alot for writing that ....i can only dream
and hope i can over come everything that you have
...i just wanted to let u know how much
motovation and hope i get by reading that
...thanks alot ....Misti
open ryn
08/12/03
317/275

You betcha!!! This surgery has saved my life, both physically and
emotionally. I am 20 months postop and maintaining a 100+ pound
weight loss. I don't have diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome,
urinary incontinence, chronic leg/foot/knee pain, shortness of
breath with walking, always feeling hot & tired, or frequent
indigestion anymore. Emotionally, my self esteem has improved and I
like looking at the lady in the mirror looking back. I look decent
in clothes and can shop anywhere with multible clothing choices to
choose from that fit. I no longer wear out the seams of my pants
between my thighs or have frequent skin rashes from my fat rubbing
together. Personal hygiene is no longer difficult to perform....one
on the greatest blessings that I am grateful for!!!!! Walking up
stairs or long distances is no big deal anymore...very easily
accomplished now in a thinner body.
These are just a few results of living in a thinner body for me. My
life long battle "fighting food compulsions" is so much less. I
wish that I could say that it has been or is easy, but it hasn't
been and isn't totally easy today. I work hard at maintaining my
healthier life style. Some days are better than others with my food
choices. I get terrified when I find myself back into some old food
behaviors. I never want to be morbidly obese again. I eat probably
a third of the amount of food that I use to consume before my
surgery. It doesn't take many calories each day to maintain a
thinner body. Oh well. It remains a challenge at times having to
live through "emotional stressors" without turning to
the "numbing", "sedative" aspects of SUGAR/FAST FOOD. Now I have to
just face life's daily stressors head on without "my crutch". I can
no longer blame interpersonal relationship problems or failings on
my obesity. No more excuses! No more people pleasing to hopefully
seek acceptances or approval from others. Changing old "sick"
habits of martyrdom, saying "yes" when I want to say "no", self
pity, etc. are slowing happening as my self esteem/ self worth
improves. Consequently, I feel less resentment and terrible chronic
depression than preop. It is tough work changing my actions and self
talk messages that I tell myself!
Sooooo...... Has it all been worth it? You better believe it!! I'd
have this surgery again in a heartbeat. It has been worth the
surgical/emotional risks. I no longer feel like an "it". I'm a
lovely, attractive, caring lady today! And oh so much
happier!!!!! Suzanne

I am curious. I am told that I will never be able to drick any
carbonated items again. Is this true? I am a total Pepsi-a-holic.
I have gone from 2-3 a day down to 1 every other day or so. Wow, how
to cut the cravings? I quit smoking over 7 yrs ago-no problem. This
may be tough giving up soda without a migraine everyday...help...

thank you so much for sharing. I am going in for the RnY. No date yet. I heard
I was approved today and tomorrow is a 4 hours class /orientation. I am really
afraid of this .
I feel like I am being selfish by getting this done (even if it is for medical
need). So every bit of experience you have helps greatly .
Veronica
txredwls <red75074@...
Hi all, I had an experience last night that I had not read about on
this site, so thought I would share it. I was 10 days post-op and
had noticed that my tummy was swollen a little. I was playing with
my cats when I noticed something liquid on the floor. My wound was
leaking from my navel, it was dripping everywhere! It scared me to
death. Called my doc, found out that it was a fluid buildup in my
wound area that needed to come out. He said let it drain out
completely so I sat on the side of the tub and let it go. The fluid
was part blood, part clear liquid. I asked if I needed to get the
wound resewn, and he said no, it would heal itself from the inside.
After it finished I put a bandage on it and it hasn't leaked again so
far. I'm sharing this so if it happens to others you won't be
alarmed. If it happens to you you still need to contact your doctor,
though. But it apparently is not uncommon with our surgery.
Connie
post-op 9/17/03 open rny

Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

Smone,
I had to change email addresses. Could you please send me yours I need
to ask you something.

hi charlott - i'm one week post-op too and had my appt today and lost 7.5
lbs and was a little bummed and they couldn't believe i thought that was bad
- she said a poound a day is excellent - i couldn't lose b4 like you did -
wish i could have.
i was a little disappointed with my post-op visit - as a nurse i thought
they didn't ask things they should - never asked about a BM - usually thats
all they want to know about....also i am so confused about intake i guess i
have to call them - they gave me an 8 week sheet of foods allowed but not
how much or when so how do you go through the day - i know protein first and
they want at least 64 oz water then they added cream soups today and i had a
reg can of cream of chicken - ate slow with my baby spoon but never got that
"full" feeling and ate the whole bowl --- anybody have a menu daily plan?
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

Keith God Bless and I see all the praaying helped.Tell her
Congraduation and Welcome to the Losing side.I glad to hear she
walking and doing those deep breathing excrises.God Bless and tell
her I'm waiting to see her thin and skinny new life soon.Take Care
and again Thank God healing Great.she's starting her New Life.a
friend debkroll of Iowa God Be with us every step of are journey in
the new
life.

Dear Family, Friends and Associates;
Dawn's surgery today was very successful. The doctor was pleased with the
procedure. Everything went according to plan.
Dawn was very cheerful and trying to make sure everyone else is doing ok. She
was up walking a couple times this afternoon and is working on deep breathing.
Mostly she is resting comfortably.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Keith Besherse

Maria,
I had the same fears you do, I came out of the surgery just fine and I came out
of the surgery just fine. Something my daughter told me a few days before my
surgery that stuck with me -- Mom, take yourself out of the surgeon's hands and
place yourself in God's hands and everything will be fine. She was right.
Blessings on your surgery and a speedy recovery. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Chris
<<Message: 12
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 19:10:09 EDT
From: curkids3@...
Subject: please say a pray
hello my friends:
well tonight is my last night. I have cleaned myself out today and
prayed
about coming home skinny and healthy. I'am scared out of my mind and
think
only of my kids. I must be crazy, but all i think about is them
without me and
i cry. Daddyis very supportive and went to the store to buy me stuff
for
when i come home (GOD WILLING). oh well just thought i tell everyone
that
tomorrow at 07:45 am i will be getting my LRNY PLease wish me luck and
say a pray
rgds maria

Melody,
Melody I know this is a hard decision to make between him and surgery, just
remember you come first. You are not a door mat! Let me tell you I was
heavy my whole life boy life it so different today. I had my surgery Jan.
17, 2001, I was 325 pounds the day of surgery. I never knew what it would
be like being skinny. Today I am 146 pounds and really we could take nine
pounds off of that since I had implants done a year ago. Let me tell you
girlfriend he won't be the only guy. When that weight comes off my goodness
you will see all kinds of men watching you. It is so weird, I walk thru the
grocery store and have men stop just to say hello now. My point is do this
for you and you only. Life is truly lovely on the other side. Best of luck
to you and keep us posted.
Denise Sicoli
1/17/01
RNY-Lap 325/146

too funny, constance! everyone that knows me, plus perfect
strangers & acquaintances that ask about my habits or w l(waiters,
clothing store clerks, my dentist)know i had wls. i wear it like a
badge, yes world i had the courage & vision to get my guts re-
engineered. when i had surg, i didn't know anyone that had it, it
was a leap of faith.
lori h.

Hey Lori H., If you don't mind me being a snoop, does your company know that you
have had surgery, Hit me over the head with a brick but it sounds like they
don't, which is your choice and that's great. Just tell them that because of
your health, you are on a special diet. You can leave it at that and they don't
need to know any more than that and chances are they won't ask questions. I
think it was Dear Abby that said if people ask personal questions that you don't
want to answer, just smile and say"Why do you want to know" kind of turns the
tables on them are they gonna say,"I'm just nosy"." My houseguests would
probably be thinking that I was poisoning them (for not eating what they eat)
LOL but true...heehehheee I kind of like to be a stinker. I have an ornery steak
a mile wide. Have a good night, Constance
wlslori <wlslori@...
explain to visitors that i
can't eat w/ them or can't eat the same things they're eating?
i feel like i'm running a bed & breakfast, family's always coming to
stay with us.
lori h.
17 grateful months out

why is this such a challenge? how do i explain to visitors that i
can't eat w/ them or can't eat the same things they're eating?
i feel like i'm running a bed & breakfast, family's always coming to
stay with us.
lori h.
17 grateful months out

In a message dated 9/30/2003 7:31:30 PM Central Standard Time,
pimpgirl7777@... writes:
melody in ohio
Melody,
Cut him loose. So what if so far he is the only boyfriend you have ever
had? You get the surgery for your health. Concentrate on you and then you will
see the guys lining up. Don't let some wimpy insecure foolish boy of a man
dictate to you what you should do in order to keep him. What is his problem
anyway. Is he one of these men that is afraid that someone else might think you
attractive. Girl life is to short to be burdened down with a so called man like
that. Take your leg and kick backward as far as you can then swing forward and
kick him so hard to the curb you almost lose your foot in his tail. YOU DON'T
NEED THAT BULLSH**!
Wolf
Keep 'Em Laughing

dear leslie what you wrote was a real eye opener and im glad i got so many good
responses from everyone in the gastri family so im doing it for me only me if he
cant stick by me when i need his support then i guess its over and i cant wait
to have me wls so i can feel better about myself and live a healther and happy
me
melody n ohio
leslieileen31 <leslieileen31@...
Melody,
Your not alone. My cousin went thru the same thing. Once her
boyfriend found out she was going to have the surgury he told not to
have it done. She told him that now man is worth her health or her
life. So she left him....
Do this for you and not for someone else. If this is what is
going to make you happy more power to you. If he can't understand
this then hes not worth effort in wasting your time or breath on
explaining to him that this is for you. Maybe he has some issues or
some insecurites that keeping you big is his only way in making
hisself feel good. Making him feel like he has the power.
I wish you all the luck in the world....Do what is best for you
and not for someone else.....
Leslie

Maria,
Be comforted in the fact that you have had the courage to go forward with this
operation to not only benefit your health but benefit your children and your
whole family. The healthier you are the better you will be for yourself and your
precious family. My prayers and best wishes are with you and yours. Please let
us know how you are doing. Constance
curkids3@... wrote:
hello my friends:
well tonight is my last night. I have cleaned myself out today and prayed
about coming home skinny and healthy. I'am scared out of my mind and think
only of my kids. I must be crazy, but all i think about is them without me and
i cry. Daddyis very supportive and went to the store to buy me stuff for
when i come home (GOD WILLING). oh well just thought i tell everyone that
tomorrow at 07:45 am i will be getting my LRNY PLease wish me luck and say a
pray
rgds maria

ive did a heart to heat talk lori but he wont give it a chance i will keep you
posted i hope he sticks around for the healther me but if not i guess its his
lost thanks for replying
melody
wlslori <wlslori@...
melody, choosing wls is choosing empowerment & a better future.
have you had a heart-to-heart chat w/ your guy? is the ultimatum a
result of his fears & concerns? or is it a control thing?
keep us posted.
lori h.

hi maria. if it makes you feel more @ ease, then write notes to
your kids. plenty of post-ops have reported that they've done
this. place yourself in His hands & you'll do just fine.
lori h.

hello my friends:
well tonight is my last night. I have cleaned myself out today and prayed
about coming home skinny and healthy. I'am scared out of my mind and think
only of my kids. I must be crazy, but all i think about is them without me and
i cry. Daddyis very supportive and went to the store to buy me stuff for
when i come home (GOD WILLING). oh well just thought i tell everyone that
tomorrow at 07:45 am i will be getting my LRNY PLease wish me luck and say a
pray
rgds maria

Melody,
Your not alone. My cousin went thru the same thing. Once her
boyfriend found out she was going to have the surgury he told not to
have it done. She told him that now man is worth her health or her
life. So she left him....
Do this for you and not for someone else. If this is what is
going to make you happy more power to you. If he can't understand
this then hes not worth effort in wasting your time or breath on
explaining to him that this is for you. Maybe he has some issues or
some insecurites that keeping you big is his only way in making
hisself feel good. Making him feel like he has the power.
I wish you all the luck in the world....Do what is best for you
and not for someone else.....
Leslie

Hi Melody
No one can make this decision for you. But if you are looking for opinions
(based on the info you've given, which is, admittedly, very little) my
suggestion would be kick his ass to the curb. First of all, anyone who loved
you
would never give you that kind of an ultimatum. Secondly, he sounds like a
controller and no woman needs that. Sounds like he could be insecure, afraid
that
once you lose weight, you won't want him anymore - and if he is like he sounds,
you may not. Maybe because of your weight you have a low self-esteem, but no
one deserves to be treated like he is treating you - and you shouldn't let
him. This is your decision and yours alone. He needs to be supportive of your
decision or butt out.
~ami~
Lap RNY 5-13-03
261/199.6/130
In a message dated 9/30/2003 5:31:30 PM Central Standard Time,
pimpgirl7777@... writes:

could someone please help me my boyfriend wants me to choose the wls or him weve
been together 2 years and have no kids he said if i have the wls hes gone but i
know i need it for healt reason hes the only boyfriend ive ever had so if theres
anyone out there can give me a little help i would really appriacate it thanks
melody in ohio
wlslori <wlslori@...
chris, you're not alone, thanx for taking the time to share w/ us.
(feeling kinda honored.) my prayers are w/ your hubb for a swift
recovery. talk about panic!!
& sorry about your m-i-l.
if you want to chat, email me.
lori h.

Thanks for the tip Sharon, benedryl would be real cost effective too,Constance
Sharon <sharonlynn66@...
prescription)... The PM in the tylenol PM is the
generic form of Benedryl (available over-the-counter).
Just take the Benedryl... That's what I use for
sleeping assistance.
Sharon in Houston
238/147.5/130
Lap-RNY 2/4/03

Katie,
Sorry it's taken so long for me to get back to you. The whole family took turns
with the flu all weekend. I'm laughing so hard about the pug thing. I do believe
that to be true. It even makes a difference with how my children sleep. So half
of a 25mg works better for you than a whole one? Do you take a half all of the
time?Hope to hear from you soon, Constance
kf wilkins <kfwilkins@...
First of all, I too take Elavil/Amytriptaline, totally for sleep. I was
going to sleep fine, but I would wake up around 2:00 and not be able to get
back to sleep. So now I take 1/2 of a 25 mg pill. Second, I read somewhere
that if you watch a dog, it will predominantly sleep with it's head pointing
towards the north because of the magntic field. And watching our pugs has
proven this to be true. Now Constance, I'm not calling you or your husband
dogs (and certainly not pugs), but you may be super-sensitive to the earth's
magnetic field.
Katie W.
Birmingham
Dr. Schmitt
(playing the waiting game and hoping it doesn't turn into the crying game)

Tanya, Thanks for the info. I told my sister-in-law about it over the phone and
she said she would kill me if the tylenol didn't. LOL,Constance
Tanya <coprhed@...
ruin your liver -- get a
sleeping pill - ambien 10 mg works good for me.
Tanya
visit our website
www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html
www.poncetihomes.com

I have copied and pasted the recipe below from an online
diary I found of a guy (Basil White) who had the surgery a
few years ago in New England. He says it tastes like choc
cake batter. I have not shown it to a nutritionist yet and
haven't made it so I'm not attesting to the dietary safety
or taste - just passing on info. I would suggest measuring
ingredients though cuz I don't know what a "scoop"
translates to. So measure to make sure you're getting the
right amount of nutrition for your diet.
**************
· 4 ounces of water (1/2 cup - Kris)
· 2 scoops of chocolate 100% pure whey protein (available
at vitamin stores and some grocery stores - don't let them
talk you into the vitamin-fortified crap)
· 1 scoop of pure soy powder (also available at vitamin
stores and some grocery stores - you need the soy for the
two amino acids that are really hard to find from anything
else on the planet except for soy)
· 1-2 tablespoons of No Sugar Added Nesquik chocolate
powder
· Mix this stuff up until it's the consistency of pudding.
· Add more water until it's the consistency you want.
Mixing the ingredients in this way eliminates little
pockets of dry unmixed ingredients.
Two of these shakes gives me the 60 grams of supplemental
protein a day my nutritionist recommended for male gastric
bypass patients (50 grams for women). It's very yummy, and
eliminates all of my desires for food for about two hours.
It's even better if you mix it with an electric "boat
motor" hand blender (or mixer - Kris). Add a banana if you
have one.
***********************
His diary is very comprehensive if you haven't seen it.
He's a funny guy too so it's fun to read. Especially if
you're pre-op and are freaking out about the recovery
process and first month like me. He talks about it all.
http://weightloss.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basilwh\
ite.com%2Fgastric%2F
If you have trouble accessing the link, go to about.com and
do a search on Basil White.
Bon Apetite!
Kristen :-)

hi lori
thanks so much for the luck, i need it right now at 1:45 pm tues iam home
going to the bathroom every hour. i hope it is al worth it. iscared out of my
mind. iam thinking if i should write notes to my children incase something
happens??? what do you think????? or maybe iam being too crazy. i dont no ,
right now i have mixed emotions and feelings. say a pray for me. i will post
when i get home
maria
305 lbs 10/1/03 LRNY

Whoooohoooo Jess!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you and proud of you!!!!!!
(guess that explains why you didn't answer the phone yesterday, lol) Love
ya!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shannon in Indiana

Well, I went and weighed in at the clinic yesterday and I have lost another 5
lbs. So, so far since starting Optifast 2 weeks ago I have lost 15 lbs. I
know it's not much but it looks like alot I started at 343 and now I'm at 328.
I'm exercising every day and I'm really trying to stick to the plan ( I lick
a spoon every now and then! HA) I haven't actually lost weight in so long
that even 15 lbs feels miraculous, kinda dumb huh,lol. Everybody have a great
day!!
Jessica in MI
328/Pre-op

That is great news!! Im so happy for you
Pamela
11/19/02
140 lbs gone!!
Miami

Im so sorry, I will say a pray for your hubby
Pamela
11/19/02
140 lbs gone!!
Miami

I said a prayer for you and your husband just now and I will later too. I
truely hope everything will be alright. You're in my thoughts.
Jessica in MI
328/Pre-op (tomistic)

maria
i went to see the nutiritionist last week and this is the list that was given
to me
broth (chicken or veg)
gelatin, sugar free
lactose free milk
canation instant breakfast no sugar added
cream soups
light yogurt example yoplait light
low-fat cottage cheese
cream of weat,rice cereal, or oatmeal
diet drinks non carnonated (crystal light)
childrens chewable multi vit
calcium supplement
sugar free popcicles
she said that i did not need to go out and get all of this stuff but you know
just get what you like. for me cottage cheese in any context is gross. so any
way i hope this helps. also i have another list of things a local lady that
went to the same dr that i am going to sent me and this may help you to. so i
will send that. good luck and i will say a prayer for you,
nora
pre-op
10-28-03
williams2614@...

Hi all, I was doing ok as far as the stress level about my 10/13 Lap
RNY until the end of last week....then BAM!!! My hubby got sick with
broncitis. Thursday night my mother-in-law passed away. We left for
New Jersey on Friday to make arrangements for funeral. My hubby was
sick the whole time, progressively getting worse. We got back Monday
night and he could barely make it upstairs to bedroom. We were both
ready to just get in bed and crash as we were both exhausted. He
couldn't breathe and was having severe chest pains as soon as we got
home. So here we go racing to the ER. It took them 4 hours to get him
somewhat stabilized. He has congestive heart failure and pneumonia
with 103.7 fever and he is in ICU on a breathing machine and may be
put on ventilator. The doctors said we got there just in time,
hopefully. I can't be with him and can't see him until 9:30 am so I
came home to try to rest for a few hours, but I can't cause I'm so
worried and I'm alone. I'm just gonna shower, get dressed and go back
to hospital. Please say a prayer for my hubby.
~Chris
Marietta, GA

Hello everyone
10/1/03 wednesday is my big day and iam so nervous. i really need to know
what to get to have in the house for when i come home. i went to a different
nuturinest and she did not give me a list of what to have. Please give me some
ideas. is it just liquid or can i have puree foods like????? thanks anyone
and p.s. please say a pray for me, i'am realllllllllly scared!!!!!! Surgery
will be done in new york North shore University Hospital Dr. Gataleta in Great
Neck L.I
Maria
305Lbs 10/1/03
??????? LRNY