I’m decided to get gastric bypass surgery. I know that its probably a year before the actual operation is performed but, I am nervous about it.
Now, before my friends all boil over with “no! don’t do it! blah, blah, blah!” I want them to consider the following:
*** Even excercising and being on various diets throughout the last few years, I have consistently gained weight.
*** My past history includes such wonderful things as 12 years of smoking (I started when I was 12) and drug usage. Lots and lots of drug usage, to be perfectly frank.
*** My family medical history falls under “freakishly scary”
*** In fact, let’s recap that history JUST for my dad: morbidly obese (like 350 pounds worth), diabetes type II, hernia from the weight, cyrhosis of the liver (from the weight), breakthrough bleeding in his stomach walls (probably from the weight), CHF (congestive heart failure), high blood pressure, sleep apnea (likely from the weight).
*** This is a decision that I’ve come to after thinking about it for a year and a half. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it since my aunt got it (Dad’s sister – also morbidly obese).
*** I am _morbidly_ obese, according to doctors and the American Health Association.
*** My heart flutters and arythmia over the past two years – while they have indeed mostly abated since I quit my high stress job; I have to wonder whether I would have had them had I been lighter.
*** My BMI is in the scary numbers. And unless I’ve told you personally what it and my weight is – no, they’re none of your business.
I have researched this pretty thoroughly. I already know what the risks are. I also know what the risks aren’t. The surgery itself has become alot safer in the last 10 years. I am ready for it – in fact, if I could afford it I would be strolling into a hospital right now. But I foresee a long and hard battle with the insurance company.
I am asking you now to be supportive in the coming months for me. Please don’t condescend to me by telling/wishing aloud that I would drop this. Please don’t air your objections thinly disguised as “advice”. Respect that I have already thought about this and that my mind is made up.
Thank you.
-Mare
The Process 
If this is something you feel you need to do to be healthy, then you have my full support. Weight and weight loss is such a complex issue – only you can guage what is best for your needs and how best to stay healthy. Good luck with the insurance and everything.
Thank you. I really appreciate the support. This was a very hard decision to make. And I wanted to be completely sure in my mind before I said anything to anyone about it.
I’m behind you 100% if that’s what you really want but I will say this…you are SO not “morbidly obese”. Hot damn, darlin’, I think you’re sexy as all hell the way you are. But if you really want to do this and if you really want support then it’s yours.
Thanks darlin’…but,
Morbidly obese means that I exceed the recommended weight set by various health associations by a certain amount. It also means that I have a BMI (body mass index) at a level considered dangerous.
It really has nothing to do with how I look. I am one of those people that carry their extra weight very well. I am hourglass shaped and alot of my excess falls into my hips and breasts, leaving my waist (comparitively) thin.
As I have been overweight for some time, I also know how to dress to mask it.
I appreciate that you think that I am hot. My hopes are that with this surgery I can also be healthy.
random
3 things:
find an excellent surgeon
play up the diabetes II thing, it will make the insurance company easier to handle
be prepared to change your entire life. My mom did this, she needed it, but even she was not prepared for how much she had to change. It is painful. It is hard. Be very very sure.
All that said, best of luck and may you heal quickly and well.
Re: random
I have found a surgeon to interview. I’ve got a call into his office for an initial consultation, as that is what my insurance requires.
He is by all accounts a very good surgeon. I will determine if I want to work with him after I’ve spoken to him. He is in the Dallas area – I live in Austin but I could find no surgeons here that I thought would be what I want/need. Fortunately, my folks live in the DFW Metroplex.
Also, I do plan to give him an earful on the family medical history. All of it. My dad’s diabetes, his dad’s diabetes, my paternal great-grandmother’s diabetes. You know…draw a nice line so the doctor can see my concerns in a big, bold way.
Re: random
Badcat42077 sent me the link to your journal. I had my gastric bypass 2.5 years ago, and it was the best thing I ever did for myself.
I’m in the DFW area, so my surgeon was in Dallas. Who are you going with? And do you mind if I add you to my friends list?
Re: random
Add away! 🙂 Mind if I return the favor?
I’m going to consult with Dr. Dirk Rodriguez. Texas Bariatric Center, I believe he’s with.
Re: random
Yes, I’d love for you to add me. 🙂
BTC is a good place. I like the fact that they specialize *only* in this type of surgery. I did interview one of their surgeons — not Dr. Rodriguez, but another one (can’t remember his name) and I wasn’t impressed with him. He took offense when I asked how long he’d been doing this type of surgery, and that set off my warning alarms. But I’ve heard very good things overall about BTC.
Let me know if you have any questions about the surgery, what to expect, etc…
— Cyn 🙂
Good luck. 🙂
Thank you very much sweetness.
Have you looked into the Duodenal Switch? That’s the surgery I had and I couldn’t be happier. It’s safer and has WAY fewer side effects and better quality of life afterwards.
I have – that and the Roun-en-Y. I plan to discuss both options with my surgeon and figure out what is the best course of action for me.
*hug*
Now I see how you found me. *waves to *
I had the rny surgery over two years ago, but before I had the surgery, I let friends talk me out of it before I even met with the doctor for the first time. Three months later, I rescheduled to meet with the surgeon again. Being talked out of it allowed me to remain obese for another nine months. Nine months of my life I’ll never get back.
If the risk of the surgery was weighed against the next 10-20 years of being miserable and unhappy, I’d go with the surgery every time.
Stay strong on your “gut” feelings to do what is right for you and for your health.
Like said, if it’s what you need to be healthy, then you have my full support. I’m morbidly obese, by the medical definition, but I don’t have nearly the issues you have that are weight related (which is shocking, given all my issues). What you need to do to take care of yourself is a personal decision, and it takes a lot to decide to do this.
Let me introduce you to , who’s scheduled for WLS in October (I think). She’s a neat person, too.
Thank you phoenix. I appreciate your support.
I took a long time to thing about this; I considered all the ramifications of it and not just the physical ones.
I suspect that it is going be a major emotional/spiritual/mental shock as well. When you cannot overeat to comfort yourself anymore – and I am an emotional eater – that avenue is cut off. I will be forced to deal with those issues as well. I fully plan to acquire therapy as a part of this process.
I will also look up as well and thank you for the introduction. 🙂
I respect that you want to have the surgery, but here are my 2 cents.
I met a lady who had the surgery at the renaissance festival last year. She looked great, and we talked about it a lot over the camp fire as she ended up camped next to us. She said that she regretted having the surgery because it caused health problems that were just as bad as the problems she had due to her obesity… heart problems and things like that. I had been considering the surgery, although I was just borderline morbidly obese at the time, but talking to her convinced me to try something else first.
Have you tried the weight watchers program? That is what I decided to try. I’ve been on program since just before thanksgiving of last year, and I’ve lost just over 40 pounds, and it’s really manageable.
Of course, I know many other people who have had the surgery and are happy with the results, I just wanted to make sure I’d “paid my dues” so to speak, before I went ahead with major surgery instead. My thinking is… if you have to wait a year to have the surgery, why not join weight watchers now and see if it works? Go to meetings for a few months and if you aren’t happy with the results go ahead with the surgery.
Of course, this is all just my opinion, and I will support you whatever you do. This is just my take on WLS. 😀 If you want to read journals of some people who have been through or plan on going through WLS let me know and I’ll be happy to recommend some.
Yes, I know that there can be complications. That is true for any major surgery. But I think that the gradual creeping up of health issues (see my family history) due to weight are for me, much more awful.
Some people hate the changes done to their body – like I said, you can no longer be an emotional eater after this surgery. And there really is no going back. This is a final type decision.
I’ve done WW, actually. I’ve also done the South Beach Diet, the Atkins diet, Body for Life and a couple of others. And I will continue to try and eat healthy and excercise. I walk and swim every day and will do so right up to the day of surgery and beyond. I will also be able to do other things that I am currently too fat to do properly right now. Like yoga. Pilates. Jogging. Walking and swimming in the daylight hours instead of the evening/night hours when no one is likely to see me.
One of the things that really worries me. And I mean, *really* worries me is this: a couple of responses up the line – where I was talking about how well I wear my weight? Yeah, that generally means that at least some of the excess fat is marbled in and around my internal organs, through my muscle. Icky and scary both.
Thank you for the support, I am going to need it. I will be posting as new developments occur. ANYone you want to send my way to talk to I will be more than happy to meet.
it certainly sounds like you’ve paid YOUR dues, so I’m happy for you and wish you luck with the surgery.
My friend just had the surgery about 6 weeks ago and seems very happy with the results so far. She’s lost as much weight since having the surgery as I have on WW in 7 months! had it a year ago. writes novels in her journal, but is also a WLS … survivor? What word do you use for that… heh No idea. had the lapband surgery, but I haven’t read her journal in a while, so I don’t know how she feels about it.
Thanks for not taking what I said the wrong way. It’s scary to try to talk honestly with people online sometimes. You never know what kind of percieved mental tone they’ll put to what you “say” in written communication. 🙂
Hey no problem! I have no issue with folks talking honestly with me. It was more the “no! No!” *sticks fingers in ears* “lalalalalalalalalaaa” types that I was talking about. :O)
I will *def* look up the folks you mention and thank you!
I support you and your decision to do what you feel is most healthy for your body. Everyone’s metabolism is different. This surgery has worked for many people and I trust that it will work for you.
I know what it feels like to want to be the most healthy mom you can be so you don’t pass issues on to the little blonde. 🙂
I would like to pass good eating habits to her. I didn’t get the benefit of them and that’s a legacy I would rather she didn’t have.
She can have her Poppy’s appreciation for life, his laughter, his ability to find the good in every situation. She can have the beautiful skin that he did pass on to me and the good teeth that he didn’t.
She can watch her Mommy learning to eat in a healthy manner. right now I try to urge her to eat only when she is hungry – and to stop when she is full.
She is a bright and beautiful little girl and I want to be here when she presents me with her PhD, her grandchildren and her new book of poetry.
I will support you, of course. I think it will make a big difference in your life, and I am proud of you for making the hard decision. *hug*
Thank you doll. I know that I can count on all my friends to be the support I need. I do need you.
*hug*
Gonna join me some kung fu when I am down a few pounds. 😉
That would be fun—you would really like it.
You know my first reaction. But I, myself, have considered getting a hysterectomy after watching ‘s LJ. So I can’t get too hopped up about major surgery.
May I suggest, since you have a year to wait, that you try 2 things that have worked for me in the past (as long as I kept them up)?
One, the South Beach diet. Just cut out all sweets and starches for 2 weeks, then just eat less of them later. Don’t need to buy a book for that.
Two, the seaweed/herbal mixture I’ve used in the past. It costs about $10 for a full body application, but it does get rid of fat, and it also gets rid of toxins.
I’ve been thinking of those very things in the last few weeks. Once I get settled and a bit of spare cash, I plan to do them again. Neither of them involve any health risk.
I will be eating in a healthful manner. I do – as time/money permits it – eat fairly healthy now. I just need to learn to eat less. Part of the problem with really obese people is that we cannot tell when we are full. Our stomachs have been stretched in such a way that food doesn’t touch the walls, thereby signalling the “full” feeling.
We therefore eat more at a setting, and eat more often because of this. Its a vicious cycle.
I will take you up on the herbal wrap thingie – I’d been planning on doing so anyway, as a toxin purge.
*hugs and support*
Thank you .
Of course, this might mean you are still living with me when all this goes down. 😉
I will make you small amounts of fat free soup and nurse you back to health, then.
It sounds like you’ve done your homework on this, and that you’ll have plenty more time to deal with any what-if’s between now and your surgery date. There are so many resources out there these days for people considering bariatric surgery! Best wishes!
I’ve been doing serious homework on this – letting the idea run through my head. I changed my mind a dozen times esp. after seeing the changes wrought in my aunt.
I think what finally brought me to a final decision was the simple fact that this coming Saturday will be my girl’s fifth birthday party. She is getting so big, so fast. And it made me wonder whether I would be around in a physical, vital way for her in the coming years.
I’ve told John that whatever she wants to persue, I will be there for her. If she wants to be in soccer, fastball, cheerleading, ballet, drama, the chess club – I am there, full suppport. In order to do that, I have to drop the weight.
Otherwise I am going to be like my dad. A wonderful person, parked on the couch.
Thank you for the best wishes! 🙂 I am grateful beyond words for all the support you guys have been showing me.
I’m glad you’re doing what will make you feel better. I have a dear friend who’s been through it, and I will see about an introduction.
Thank you. That would be lovely. :)-
Yay!
Email me at badcatssandbox (at) yahoo (dot) com.
This is the response I got: So many people were there for me when I was doing my research and asking questions, I can only return the favor by helping someone else.
I’ll hook you up with her e-mail addy & suchlike.
Done! :0)
stuff
Since the bandwagon is kinda full, I will make this quick…
After the second knee surgery, I have discovered that the doctors actually DO know a little about what they are talking about. They had me in physical therapy BEFORE the knee surgery, to have the leg as strong as possible at surgery time. That way, the leg was ready to heal and recover that much quicker, and was in better shape. Less loss of tone, etc…
Check with them, once you are gearing up for the medical side of things, about what you can do BEFORE hand to have your bod ready. It makes a HUGE difference, and beforehand toning of the bits and pieces really helps recovery.
But, of course, without an MD at the end of my name, this don’t count for much.
R
Re: stuff
Sounds like sound advice.
Actually, I’ve already increased my physical activity because I am currently teaching Summer how to swim. I’m in the pool everyday for an hour (at least) now.
*hug*
I have been actually contemplating this procedure myself especially after the progress a fellow co-worker has made since her procedure. She has lost over 100 pounds and has another 100 to go. She is very pleased with the procedure; as well as the support group that the doctor established for all his patients past and present.
I thoroughly support you in your decision and more than happy to be a member of your support group as you make this journey.
Thank you doll, I appreciate it.
I really strongly recommend that you go with duodenal switch rather than gastric bypass. I have spoken with people who have done DS and people who have done GB, and all of the people who did DS are happy and have normal lives. None of the poeple who did GB are or do.
had duodenal switch and she’s a great success story.
DS vs RNY
Thank you for the concern , I do appreciate it.
I’ve talked to folks who’ve had both…or rather, I’ve talked to folks who’ve had one or the other. What I came away with was that the DS surgery did NOT have the behavior modification aspect of the RNY. With the RNY I won’t be able to “cheat” as effectively or easily.
So RNY is likely the one that I will have. Right now, I am moving forward with the pre-op appointments that are required. Wish me luck on those!
Blessings,
-Mare
Re: DS vs RNY
What I came away with was that the DS surgery did NOT have the behavior modification aspect of the RNY.
How so? With DS, one has to change one’s way of eating. I know that when Opal first got her DS, if she ate more than the prescribed amount, she would become painfully ill.
Granted, with DS, after a year or more, the stomach gradually stretches, but that can happen with any of these surgeries.
Re: DS vs RNY
My understanding has been that the RNY causes “dumping syndrome” if anything too high in sugar or fat is put into the pouch.
I’d not heard of this sort of thing happening with the DS guys. Have I been mis-informed?
Re: DS vs RNY
You might want to contact Opal, but I recall that when she first had her surgery, she was still figuring out how much she could eat. One day she ate too much and ended up in pain, eventually vomiting. With DS, you stil have a stomach- it’s just greatly reduced in size. When she first had the surgery, she could eat less than 1/4 cup of food.
With DS, the body actually absorbs less fat than it normally would. So you can eat fatty foods (like, say, cheese) in moderation, and your body does not absorb all the fat in them.
If your main problem is emotional eating, then I strongly suggest that you accompany the surgery with some counseling. Emotional eaters who have weight loss surgery often end up in worse shape than before- they end up in pain all the time, and malnourished. You have to deal with your food issues, before you can really be healthy.
Re: DS vs RNY
I am going to be doing both. I’ve already contacted a therapist who has experience in dealing with food issues. I am starting said therapy before I have the surgery. I don’t feel like the surgery is going to be a “magic” bullet – it won’t fix my other issues. It’ll just help me to live long enough and be physically healthy enough to deal with them. You know?
Re: DS vs RNY
Excellent. And yeah, I know- I’ve been battling my body issues for all my life
Food
Here’s hoping/praying/visioning that we (both) come out with our psyches more or less intact and *functioning* rather than “dis”functioning.
I was raised Southern/Texan. And that means food – food for celebration, food for comfort. Weddings, funerals, graduations, and birthdays. Food for every damn thing.
*THEN* I start practicing as a Wiccan – which means that every major holiday centered around food. (Spring…YAY, we get to plant food! ; Lammas – the food is almost ready to eat! ; Samhain – holy crap, are we gonna have enough food?!?)
Re: Food
(Spring…YAY, we get to plant food! ; Lammas – the food is almost ready to eat! ; Samhain – holy crap, are we gonna have enough food?!?)
Thank you, this is very very funny!