New Here!!!

Hi y'all ! I'm Misty I'm 25 and from Seymour. New to the forums but not new to the site, I've actually been lurking for a long while. I've been doing a bit of research on WLS and have decided after numerous failed attempts at losing weight that this is the only way to go. My PCP has referred me and I'm waiting on St Vincents weight loss center to call me to schedule my consult! I'm soo excited! I actually asked for a referrel after doing so many months research and he agreed to it which kind of shocked me. I'm currently 304 lbs at 5'2 and have PCOS, Type II Diabetes, Asthma (diagnosed as a child though and acted up long before I gained weight), and GERD. I've been on constant steroids for the past year and hoping that losing weight will help the Asthma to behave as well. I'm not really sure what procedure I'm wanting though, I've been thinking LapBand but then I kind of want something with more immediate results and the thought of something being in my skin that is still accessible is too creepy for me. So I'm thinking more like going with RNY! Any thoughts?? We don't have any children yet but want them in the future and I know that WLS will delay that but I'm fine with that if it helps me to be healthier!

Welcome Misty!! St Vincents is a great hospital... since you don't really know what procedure you want to have yet, you might want to go with a surgeon that does several different ones. Many of the dr's only do one type, but I know there are a few that do several different ones. Then you and your surgeon can decide which one is best for your needs and desires as far as your journey is concerned. I had this surgery just so I can have a baby. I have PCOS too, I was 5' 7" and 315... I'm now down to 274... I tried getting pregnant for a year, I was on fertility drugs and everything, finally go prego and because of the fertility drugs it was a tubal and I lost a tube. Now my chances are already cut by 50% my husband and I decided that this was the best option for us. We may be delaying our family a little bit, but at least we know that I will be a better mother to our child, I will be healthier carrying the child, and there will be less risk of complications... I have also noticed that those of us that have had the surgery and are younger, seem to have less complications and recover a bit quicker with a few exceptions... (Disclaimer this is a dangerous surgery though don't take it lightly) I wanted to be able to provide a healthy life for my kids and I thought how in the world can I do that when I can't even do that for myself. SO here I am... we plan on trying in about a year when i'll be close to 27 and that's ok with me... So welcome and good luck with your decision. But you can get pregnant with any of the surgeries... and have a healthy child, you just need to wait until your one year out (right darrah? LOL ) Jessyca

Hi Misty! My name is Linda. I had RNY November 21st, last fall, and have lost 86 pounds so far. I was thinking about the lap band too at first, but after consultation with my surgeon, changed my mind to RNY. I am very happy with it. My main complication so far has been hair loss Luckily, I had plenty to start with, but I will be glad when I stop shedding. I didn't want to get pregnant after surgery, but I did have high blood pressure, and high blood sugar before surgery, which has cleared up since surgery. Linda Vicory

Welcome Misty this is a wonderful place to be. I had the RNY and I would not trade it, I am 14 months out and have lost 119 lbs and still working on losing alot more. I am also a type II diabete and I am still on my insulin and oral medication but my insulin has been decreased by 80 units in the mornin and 85 units at night. Dr Huse is a wonderful doctor and he is through St Vincent, but I have not heard anything bad about any doctor for St V's. Keep posting. Peggy

Thanks guys (or should I say girls) for the support. I've been researching for a long long long time, I'm thinking that I want the RNY. I know this is a big decision but I'm really ready for it! Did any of you have any problems with your family not being supportive? I've not broke it to my mom and all yet because last timet hey tried really hard to talk me out of it because my dad had gastric bypass surgery in 1980 and had a lot of complications even years down the line, but as I tried to explain is technology is a lot more advanced now. Not to mention he didn't follow a strict diet or anything and ended up gaining all of his weight back. My husband is supportive because he's seen how hard I've been working recently to lose weight and I've not had any success. I will let yall know when I get a date for my consult. Noones gotten back to me yet though, but i'm guessing they will call Monday. My doctors office called and told me they called up there and referred me and that they would contact me.

My family was not supportive at all and were extremely against it... They came around though once they saw that my mind was made up. I didn't tell them til a couple months before my surgery though so I didn' thave to hear their griping everytime we got together. My husband was extremely supportive because much like yours he's seen everything i've done to try and lose this weight... And Dr evanson isn't just "Nice to look at" he's flipping gorgeous!!! Very nice to look at!! LOL Jessyca

Welcome Misty Mostly I lurk also but wanted to come out and say hello. I am going thru my journey of Doctor supervised weight loss. I'm on my fourth month and my psyc Evaluation will be this month also. I can't believe it is going by so fast. I am hoping to have surgery in September or sooner. Robin

Welcome to our growing family here on IN OH. I'm 5'4" and my starting wt was 325. I went to my initial consultation thinking I wanted the band. After hearing all the presentation and talking to the surgeon I decided on RNY and I don't regret it a bit. It was done laproscopically and today (15 months later) I'm down 120 pounds and you can't even see the incisions. (Not that it matters with all the lose skin and stretch marks) I didn't like the thought of having soemthing under the skin lurking etiher. I still have anther 50 lbs I'd like to lose but now I know I can do it. Dr. Evanson was the surgeon that did the presentation when I went down and I decided to stay with him. He is fabulous to talk to (and not bad to look at ). But everyone on here just loves their surgeon so they all must be great caring people. St. V is tops in care. That is why I drove down from northern Ind to Indy to have it done. I had nothing but support from my family. They were not reluctant becasue I have had 3 cousins go thru the procedure there with no complications. I've been fortunate that I also have had no problems. But not everyone is so lucky,complications do happen. You just have to do what you are told to do to increase your chances of quick healing. Good luck with your consultation and keep posting. We want to hear how your journey is going. This is the best support group. MY husband is supportive but it is not the same as my friends on here.

Hi Misty, My name is Ellen, and I'm from Thorntown, about 25 mi. S.of Lafayette. I am 5'3", and started at 271#.I tired all kinds of weight loss,also without much success. After a long struggle to get the surgery-( I was denied the first time & after 10 mo. of support groups & Dr.'s supervision) I had a Lap RUNY on Oct. 25, '05, with Dr. Margaret Inman at St. V's. She is the greatest, but then we all think our Dr. is the best! The reasons I chose to have surgery is because the Dr. said I'd be in a wheelchair within a yr. because my back couldn't hold the weight anymore- had 3 back surgeries in 2 yrs.!! I was on 16 meds. and had other major co-mobidity problems. Since then, I have lost 120#, and 12 meds.- which is a WONDERFUL benefit!! My Dr's are amazed at the changes in my health. I am a 58 yr. old grandma of 8 boys & 1 girl, and can finally play with them, & have a LIFE!! I can do more now than ever in my life, and am healthier than I have ever been! I told my relatives right before my surgery, because I knew they wouldn't be supportive of my decision. I did tell my daughters- *****ally were against it & afraid they lose their Mom, and my Hubby, who was/is so supportive. My daughters are the best supporters/cheerleaders now- they just had to walk thru their fear and see I'm ok! My relatives have all come around- with lots of questions/concerns/fear we had to travel through also. I think the more informed they became the better they were at accepting it, & my new lifestyle.(Plus, I no longer am the brunt of fat jokes, teases, etc.) I have learned so much from the people here. My real "family" are the people HERE, who are so loving, understanding, supportive, caring & "been there,done that-you'll get through it,too!!!" Whatever you decide, welcome to this board.Keep posting, asking questions, join us when we have get-togethers, and best wishes on your journey! ((((hugs))) Ellen

So St V's called today but I wasn't home until after they closed, so I guess I will give them a call tomorrow to schedule my consult.