AND THE SURVEY SAYS...

I'd like to see as close to 100% response to this as possible. Your contribution to this post will go a long way in helping us all gain a better understanding of where we're at more than 2.5 years post-surgery; and when we're better informed, we can better inform others, from health care practitioners who haven't a clue about what this is all about, to the pre-surgery patient who's 24 hours away from going under the knife. Please answer the following questions - brief is fine, but please respond: 1. Date of surgery 2. Plastic surgeries performed to date post-WLS 3. Total weight lost (calculate based on lowest weight achieved) 4. Total weight regained to date from lowest weight achieved 5. Obesity-related medical issues pre-surgery 6. Current medical issues 7. Are your current medical issues related to WLS? (Answer Yes, No, Not Sure) 8. What can we do to help you? Folks, this board is not a walking advertisement for WLS - it is a forum of people who share the common denominator of having had WLS at the same time, and who benefit from sharing the knowledge and experiences of that common bond. Answer what you're comfortable with sharing. I truly believe the answers to these questions will provide the basis for moving forward together with renewed energy and hope for long-lasting physical and mental health. Please respond, no matter how inactive you've been on the board, no matter how long you've been lurking. We need you. Love, M.

1. March 8, 2004 2. a. Abdominoplasty and TT; b. Mastoplasty (breast lift); c. Brachioplasty (arm lift); d. Lower body lift, including outside thigh 3. 214 lbs. 4. 6 lbs. regained 5. Diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, GURD, depression 6. Malnutrition, liver function abnormality, chronic exhaustion 7. Yes (malnutrition); Yes (liver function problems); Unsure (chronic exhaustion) 8. Keep posting, keep sharing your experiences, stay connected, stay close M.

1. Date of surgery - 03/09/04 2. Plastic surgeries performed to date post-WLS - Brachioplasty/abdominoplasty 3. Total weight lost (calculate based on lowest weight achieved) - 130 4. Total weight regained to date from lowest weight achieved - 5 5. Obesity-related medical issues pre-surgery - GERD, apnea, high cholesterol, acid reflux, 6. Current medical issues - malabsorption of medications, low blood sugar 7. Are your current medical issues related to WLS? (Answer Yes, No, Not Sure) - yes 8. What can we do to help you? - Just put up with my rants. Connie

1. Date of surgery :3/26/04 2. Plastic surgeries performed to date post-WLS: none to date- pondering panni or whatever lift; eyebrows are very droopy 3. Total weight lost (calculate based on lowest weight achieved): 83 # by last spring when hubby got sick 4. Total weight regained to date from lowest weight achieved: 30# 5. Obesity-related medical issues pre-surgery: sleep apnea, slight gerd,borderline BP 6. Current medical issues: still using cpap-very tired; still on antidepressants;sciatica 7. Are your current medical issues related to WLS? (Answer Yes, No, Not Sure): hoping to improve (apnea) once weight is lost! tired? waiting for bloodwork results. antidep-probably lifelong so- i guess answer is no-not wls related.....the sciatica seems to have started once the weight became redstributed so-???? 8. What can we do to help you? get me my own gym.....smack my fingers each time i snack???? keep my hubby healthy???? find me a diff job??? help me win the lottery-then i could retire!!!! ?? seriously--it's all up to me (and my God) !!!!!!

HI There 1. 3/15/04 2. none (can't afford & ins. won't cover) 3. 135 lbs lost 4. 35 pounds regained (according to Doc still a success) I don't think so 5. sleep apnea, diabetis, bad knees, constant exaustion, high blood pressure 6. some kidney problmes, some weight gain, sleep is lousy, 7. yes, yes, yes. 8. I have no support group in my area, as mine went by the wayside. No one thinks they need support & some of them are farther out than I am. God is my answer to getting through a lot of things that. I still would do it again in a heart beat as I am not 360 pounds & even with the 35 pound regain feel so much better than what I was prior wls. I am looking into a revision as I nevere got below 200 pounds & currently still have over 100 pounds to lose. My Doc did one-type of surgery & did not waiver on anyone no matter how big or small a person was. I feel I needed to be more distal than I was. Marilyn, the Bearlady

I forgot I am also anemic & that is due to wls & malabsorbtion of Iron. Marilyn, the Bearlady

1) Date of Surgery: March 8, 2004 2) Plastic Surgery: None (I just don't want any more "doctoring" right now!) 3) Total Weight Loss: 150 lbs. 4) Total Re-gain: 18 lbs. 5) Medical Issues Pre: Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol,Depression 6) Medical Issues Post: Constipation....Yes that's it.....I'm pretty damn lucky so far! 7) Above related to WLS? Yes 8) How can you help? Continue being here for one another and don't let this board fade away like so many others on this web site! Be well, my friends Mike

Actually my arithmetic is off........Total weight loss was 159 pounds......I'm going to take credit for every one of them Dammitt!! Mike

1. Date of surgery: 03/10/04 2. Plastic surgeries performed to date post-WLS: None...I wish!!! 3. Total weight lost (calculate based on lowest weight achieved): 142 since surgery. 155 from high prior to surgery. 4. Total weight regained to date from lowest weight achieved: None. I'm still trying to get down farther. 5. Obesity-related medical issues pre-surgery: GERD, probable sleep apnea, intensive back pain, hip pain, knees starting to give way, hormonal issues with PCOS, diabetes, unable to sleep more than 4 hours due to pain. 6. Current medical issues: Anemia, B12 deficiency, degenerative disc disease/back pain, hypoglycemia 7. Are your current medical issues related to WLS? (Answer Yes, No, Not Sure): Some are. The anemia, B12 and hypoglycemia are, but so far they are managable if I do things right. I have to take my suppliments more regularly and if I don't eat crap, I don't experience the hypoglycemia. 8. What can we do to help you? Can you extend each day to 48 hours instead of 24? I could really use the extra time in each day!!! Now, I have to say I read this earlier this morning and took a nap. That gave me a horrid nightmare about falling apart after wls! So many people with these issues coming up scares me I guess. I need to be more diligent about my suppliments...as do many of us.

I think this is a great idea. The main message board is where I use to go until I discovered this board a long time ago. About once a month I check into the main board. It is interesting to read and see what I sounded like all those years ago. Plus I feel like I can sometimes answer some of their questions. 1. Date of surgery - 3/30/04 2. Plastic surgeries performed to date post-WLS - none 3. Total weight lost (calculate based on lowest weight achieved) - 120 4. Total weight regained to date from lowest weight achieved - 12 pounds totaled gained, but in the past 2 weeks have lost 5 of those by hard work and diet. 5. Obesity-related medical issues pre-surgery - pain couldn't sleep due to pain hips, knees, arthrist pain pain pain. could breath walking, pain pain pain 6. Current medical issues - none knock on wood none. other than a slight depression from the breakup. 7. Are your current medical issues related to WLS? (Answer Yes, No, Not Sure) - no. 8. What can we do to help you? staying an active board. this board is THE best and has helped not only with questions about the surgery but questions about life. i'm one of the lucky ones (again knocking on the computer desk ut oh is this particale board? excuse me while I find some wood) the medical issues i had before surgery are now dormant. i don't concider them gone. dormant is a better word. I'll take dormant. I can sleep now for 8 hours or more! that was unheard of. I no longer snore. I no longer roll constantly back and forth trying to find a comfortable place to sleep. I'm not in constant pain in my hips or knees. I can run up and down the stairs still talking and breathing just fine. before i had to pull myself up and had to stop many times to catch my breath. good lord i was only 50! i was in worse shape than my 86 year old mother! I can sleep on my side now I've not been able to do that in years. One mornign I woke up on my tummy! I feel wonderful. I've still got my heart palpitations but those are caused by allergies. I can dance! not well mind you but I can dance! I danced last night with a very nice older gentleman. He told me he could feel my heart beat. Wasn't that sweet? I'm sure no matter how old he was he was being flirty but 3years ago he wouldn't have been able to feel my heart beat. It was encased in 120 pounds of lard. Would I do it again. Of course. My benifits out weighed the risks. Even knowing what can or could happen I'd do it again. And if I ever need a revision. Sign me up. Plastic surgery? no I'm too much of a chicken. that plus I'm poor no moola to spend on that.