Should I have RNY or not?

So I went to the info session with Dr. Evanson in October and have been jumping through the hoops to get the insurance to clear the surgery but I really thought that it would take months and months for them to approve it if at all.  My colleague (on the same insurance) just had the surgery in August and it took him 9 months from the beginning of the info session to his surgery date to get it all together. Last Friday, I got the approval letter from the insurance.  SO, now I have to commit to the surgery or not.  I am really struggling with this. I was the smallest person in the room at my info session but I can't spend every day at the Bariatric Clinic in info sessions just to make myself feel better. The truth is my BMI is still just shy of 40, I am diabetic, I have hypothryoidism (which makes it near impossible to lose weight) and I have a very young daughter that needs me to be active with her so that she doesn't also share my weight issues.   How did you decide the surgery was the right thing to do? How long before you could resume taking care of your children (my daughter is 10 mos old)? Also, how do I convince my husband (who says he will support my decision) that is the right decision?

My BMI was 42 and I really didn't care if I was fat but the thing that made me decide was my health. It was getting worse and worse every year. My diabetes was just getting impossible to control and every new med would make me gain more weight. I also have a thyroid condition and very bad sleep apnea. I had the surgery and have done great and feel better than I have in years ( I am six months out.) My sythroid dosage has been dropping and I have not been on drugs for diabetes since month 2. My endocrinologist was thrilled with my Hemaglobin A1C! I am so happy I had this surgery. It has made such a difference in my health!!

I decided to have the RNY due to little things starting to happen. Such as feet hurting, heartburn continuously, acid reflux, back problems and seeing my grandma which is overweight going through what she goes through. She is on a cane and cannot walk long distances due to her weight making her knees bad.  I wanted to be able to do things again that I havent done in a long time due to my weight, such as ride horse, play softball, go swimming, the list goes on.  It was something I wanted to do for myself so I didnt get any worse health wise.  I was starting to get depressed due to being overweight.  Since my insurance paid for it, I was all for it. 

It has to be your decision, and I wont lie to you it is not easy, but it is well worth it.

Jenny

Congrats on your approval. I know it can be a tough decision. My BMI was around 43 but I had no co-morbidities when I had my RYN 11 weeks ago. I am, however, predisposed to high blood pressure and diabetes as well as certain cancers. I have a daughter that will be 2 on Dec 3rd. I had to go through the 6 mo weight loss class, which taught me a TON, and was approved within a couple weeks of finishing it. One of my best friends and her mom both had the surgery done about 3-4 yrs ago and they are doing great. I really never thought of doing it before because I never had ins that would cover it. I started a new job this past Feb and there is was just waiting for me. What scared me the most was the fact that I had lost about 50 lbs after I had my daughter but within a year and a half had gained 60 back. The rate I was going I was going to hit  300 in no time and that petrified me. I was tired all the time and just didn't have the energy to chase my daughter around, who LOVES to run from me! :) I had NO doubts going into surgery but for a few weeks after I questioned my decision. Once I started feeling "normal" again and went back to work and started seeing the weight come off I have not had any doubts since. You have to make the decision for yourself. You already have some health issues and with weight they are and will continue to get worse. A lot of people have their meds reduced or even discontinued all together after the surgery. I am sure you will make the right decision for you and your family. Just think of how you would like to feel when your daughter really starts moving around and wanting to go to the park. Don't rush into it and make any rash decisions. If you are still unsure, just research it and your doctor until you can't research any more! The more you know the better off you will be. Good luck! Julie

 

Just wanted to say "hi" to another Kokomoan!  I had VBG surgery 10-1/2 yrs. ago, but I'm getting ready to have revision to RNY Dec. 17th.   Candy

Kim,

My BMI was 56.8 when I had my RNY..but I didn't know that prior to deciding to have my RNY. I had made the decision to go forward because of the mounting co-morbidities. I knew that if I didn't do something, I would not live to see my grandchildren grow up.  I would suggest that you and your husband go to some group support meetings so that you both have an opportunity to ask your questions. I would not try to 'convince' your hubby..rather, I would let the facts do it for you. There have been times when my husband and I would meet with couples that the wife was looking into having an RNY so that the husband could ask man to man questions to Bill. Your surgeon's office would be a good one to ask about how long it would be before you could really care for your baby. I  know at 10 months, she isn't very heavy, but babies are wiggley and you don't want her kicking open any incisions on you. Sherri

I started to write about the baby question and forgot! I temporarily moved in with my Mom so she could help me out. I had to wait about 2 weeks before I could lift my little girl. She either climbed in my lap or someone helped her up there.  It wasn't bad until she got squirmmy. The hardest part was her not understanding why I couldn't pick her up.  Just ask your doc what the weight limits are. Depending on how heavy, or not so heavy, your baby is will ultimately determine that .  I was able to fix her food and things as they want you up moving around though. Hope that helps a little. :)

KIMMYO ITS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF BUT HERE ARE SOME GOOD POINTS, BEING HEALTHY HAVING MORE ENERGY TO PLAY WITH KIDS HAVING MORE ENERGY TO BE WITH YOUR HUSBAND LIVING LONGER AND JUST FEELING GOOD INSIDE AND OUT

THOSE ARE THE MAIN REASONS I HAD MINE. I HAVE A GRANDSON AND ONE ON THE WAY . I WANT TO BE ALIVE FOR THEM , I WANT TO SEE THEM GROW UP GET MARRIED AND HAVE FAMILIES. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DO FOR YOU AND REALLY NO ONE ELSE BUT HAVING THE SUPPORT OF A LOVED ONE OR FRIEND IS GREAT. GOOD LUCK AND HECK YOU HAVE THE HARD PART DONE WITH INSURANCE AND ALL.  JUST REMEMBER WE HERE WILL SUPPORT WHAT EVER YOU DO .  GOOD LUCK VICKI

First of all, congratulations on your approval! In regards to whether or not your should have the surgery, like everyone else said, that needs to be entirely up to you and for you.  Make sure if you do have the surgery you are not having it to make anyone else happy. Personally, I don't think people should have the surgery if they are not completely sure that they want the surgery--it is simply too big of a change to have doubts.  You don't need to be concerned about being the smallest in the class--but I do understand the concern--obviously you are eligible for the surgery in terms of BMI and comorbities otherwise the surgeon, hospital and your insurance wouldn't have approved you for the surgery.  IF you have questions about whether you NEED the surgery in terms of thinking "maybe I haven't tried hard enough to lose weight on my own" or if you know that you really could eat healthier or exercise more and just haven't you might want to wait a few months to have the surgery and try doing it on your own.  But, if you are like most of us, you have probably tried tons of diets already. Good luck in your decision making!

i know exactly where you are at right now, because i have been there,too....one minute i couldn't wait to have rny, and within the hour, i would be in tears, unsure if i could go through with it...I came within days of rny surgery, only to call it off...i was sure that i could lose the weight without surgery if only i would try harder one more time with traditional diets...that was september 2005---by november i had abandoned my diet attempts, and went to a barix LAPBAND seminar--i knew that day that i would have the lapband, and surgery was preformed on feb. 13,2006---my bmi was 53.3 and i weighed 333--today i weigh 180, and i will be having a tummy tuck on dec. 28---my whole family have changed their eating habits because of the motivation that my weightloss had -- this summer, my 10 year old and i put on over 150 miles on our bikes--amazing considering that preop I had to SIT in an office chair to do the dishes-- I guess the question you need to ask yourself is where your weight will be in 2 years if you DON"T have WLS Best of Luck Theresa R LapBand and Barix saved my life--Thank You Jesus