Hi...looking for information please

Hi,

I'm new to this board. I had gastric bypass surgery over 20 years ago and it was a nightmare. I lost a lot of weight, but was very ill..lost too much and had malabsorbtion. I had a reversal about 9 years ago and have gained a lot of weight back. Most people I know would be horrified that I even think about having surgery again after what I went through...but the truth is I do think about it.

More than that I think about it for my daughter. She is 27 and, although I don't ask, I would guess she is well over 300 pounds now. I have always told her never to even think about surgery because of what I went through...but I'm reconsidering that also. I worry so much about her health and about her quality of life because of the weight.

So here I am...looking to be educated. I know that things have changed dramatically in 20 plus years..I hear that surger is lapiscopictry now (I know that spelling is wrong...but hope you know what I mean). My surgeries had me cut from below my breast to my pubic line.

What are the surgeries that are available in Alberta? Who is doing them...who is good and where are they located? I read on these boards about people changing surgeries...revisions to a "sleeve"?

Just looking for information and opinions.

Thanks for any help.

Morning, there are 3 places medicine hat, red deer and edmonton. There all gd depending on what you meed and amt of support. Not all are done by Lap, it depends on surgeon, type of surgery and amt of abdomen size. No matter all have very long waits so if your interested I would investigate and get your doc to refer asap. Arlene

/Hi there,

Surgery has changed dramatically in 20 years. There are basically three types of surgery done in Alberta. Roux en Y (Gastric Bypass), Sleeve, and Gastric Banding. Most are done via laproscopy but can be done Open as well.

One of my friends had Gastroplasty surgery that opened her from 'Stem to Stern', about 25 years ago. After almost a year, she had lost over 140 lbs but had only spent about 6 weeks at home. She had more complications than anything else. She eventually died from the surgery she had, but it took over 2.5 years.

Complications can still happen, but so much more is known about these surgeries that it's much easier to control the complications.

I had my Roux en Y surgery on August 19/10. It was the best thing I could ever have done for myself. Most of us on this board belong to the Weight Wise Clinic at the Royal Alex in Edmonton. It's a 'One stop shop' for all we need. Counselling, Pschiatric, Nutristional Experts, Occupational, Physical therapists and a whole bunch of nice people willing to encourage, mentor, advise and kick our butts when we need it.

Because the program is so good, I was able to loose over 80lbs prior to surgery.. and am still loosing.

Your daughter would need to have the drive and the will to loose the weight for herself. We cannot make someone else's weight loss dreams come true.

The website for this clinic is http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services.asp?pid=service &rid=1008784

I wish you all the best.

Melody

I am using Dr. Nohr in Medicine Hat. While he is very good at what he does, the wait is really long (my inital consult was in 2010 after a two year wait and my surgery isn't until January this year, so another year wait). He does most of his surgeries open and only the selected ones are done LAP. The major disadvantage with Dr. Nohr in MY opinion is that there is a lack of support, no groups, no clinics etc. I went to a required nutrition class that was 1/2 day before I met with him but have not had to do anything since. From what I understand, I will hear from the hospital 2 weeks prior for my Pre Admin but I will not see him again until after my surgery. There is however a support group in Medicine Hat that I just learned about, I know that Dr. Nohr will be speaking there on October 25 if you are interested in meeting him and gettingm more information on the surgery. He also recomended the book Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies, I learnt alot from that, but honesty the most I have learned is from these boards. Good Luck to you and if you happen to be in Med. Hat, let me know.