Kind of a newbie!

I registered here a few years ago, but I'm hoping to be more active now.  Previously, the only surgeon who took my insurance was in Chicago, and since I'm near Carbondale, I was too afraid to make that move.  Now, there is a surgeon in Herrin so I'm getting excited about it.  I am signed up to attend a seminar on March 26.  

I'm 31, married with three kids at home, ages 4, 4 and 3.  I hate to say that I've tried everything for weight loss, but I do feel like that.  I've done Curves, low carb, Xenical and Alli.  The low carb is the only thing that worked, I lost 70+ pounds but gained it all back plus a lot more when I became pregnant and went off the diet.  At this point, I feel like weight loss surgery is my only option because with all diets I try, I just gain it back.  I am at 270 now.  I started Alli on January 1, weighing 276 - my highest weight ever.

I'm fighting an uphill battle because I have to take Provera for prolonged and heavy menstrual cycles with bleeding lasting 4-7 weeks.  The Provera really makes it hard to lose weight, I've always gained with it.  I'm hoping maybe weight loss will also help my condition improve, allowing me to go off of Provera and avoiding a hysterectomy. 

I'm fortunate not to have a lot of health issues.  I developed hypertension with my first pregnancy and it kinda stuck around.  After my last child was born, I also developed a heart murmur and a vitamin D deficiency.

My husband is a bit worried about my having surgery.  He said he's not worried about the surgery itself, but long term complications. 

I had a c-section in 2004 as well as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 2 ERCPs for gallstone removal and stent removal after gallbladder surgery, and another c-section with a tubal ligation in 2005.  I had no serious complications with any of these.  During my second ERCP, I 'woke up' for a minute, and during my last c-section, the spinal didn't take well and I could feel everything so they had to administer more anesthesia. I'm hoping that my lack of complications in these procedures would mean I would do well with weight loss surgery.

Let me give you a warm Wecome back to the board!
My family was worried too and so far I have not had any complications, and I would do it again in a heart beat!
I had lapband done and it's been 2 yrs now and I feel wondeful!

Karen

Hi Lisa and welcome back.

Please have the surgury done. You will feel much better and be alot healtier.

Please come into the dayly roll call when you are able to. A lot ofus post every day.

As you know, diets don't work. This tool will help.

Hugs,

Lisa

Welcome to the board, stop by the roll call when you can.

Let me comment to your husband that not every patient has complications. There are some issues that some of the members on this board and on other OH boards have had but for the most part it is a safe surgery. If this was such a complication filled surgery do you think that doctors would be doing it? Yes it is dangerous to do surgery on a SMO or MO person but if you go to a doctor that is well versed in what s/he is doing and how to prevent them then you will be fine. Take for instance my DH was SMO and I was MO we both came through with flying colors. We both had prior DVTs and each of our doctors knew of our prior history and made sure that we did not have a problem. You need to go to a doctor that knows what s/he is doing with WLS also, not just a doctor that does this surgery now and then. You need a doctor that has a well rounded pre op and PO program that takes a holoistic approach to the patient. You can ask the doctor about his complication and death rate for WLS. It is more than acceptable. You might have to go through to a few more clinicians to have you check out to make sure that you are in top notch condition to undergo surgery. It will be well worth it to know that you are healthy.

Good luck