How did you decide?
Ok I'm so totally confused... I'm still in the research stage... but HOW on earth do you decide which surgery you want, and how much influence did your doctor have?
I spoke to my GP about the band and he said full bypass will probably do better, but he couldn't tell me why. All he said was go to a doc at St. Agnes. Do the WLS docs sit down and help you figure out what your best method is, and why?
One of my big concerns is that I get migraines each month and the ONLY med we've tried so far that works is Arthrotec - a NASID with an anti-ulcer protective coating.
I'M SO CONFUSED!!! Any and all input would be most helpful...
thanks!!
I spoke to my GP about the band and he said full bypass will probably do better, but he couldn't tell me why. All he said was go to a doc at St. Agnes. Do the WLS docs sit down and help you figure out what your best method is, and why?
One of my big concerns is that I get migraines each month and the ONLY med we've tried so far that works is Arthrotec - a NASID with an anti-ulcer protective coating.
I'M SO CONFUSED!!! Any and all input would be most helpful...
thanks!!
we can give you our opinons but ultimately you need to go to the support meetings there and meet people. my recommendation depends on lots of things. how much you have to lose, what health issues you have, your ability to stick to a eating and vitamin regime and some other things. tell us more about your situation.
I guess I didnt realize I could do support group meetings w/o having any procedures done. Thought they were all for post-ops.
I"m in my late 30's with just under 100# to loose. I'm a type II diabetic... Even with the best intentions, and meds, my A1C remains about 7.3. I do suffer monthly from migraines (menstrual) and have worked with a neurologist for 2+ years. The best meds we've found are a prescription strength NASID. I've lost about 25 lbs in the past year between getting sick and WW. I'm on meds for high BP and cholesterol but otherwise in decent health. Oh yea, I do suffer from some depression and mild anxiety.
After reading on this board I've started taking my Centrum daily chewable and putting protien first but I'm still not making progress.
I do have a nasty sweet tooth that makes it hard to pass up M&M's or Hershey miniatures when I see them...
I work full time and just took a part time retail job to help with $$ so I guess you could say I'm fairly athletic.
I lost 30 lbs with WW in 1988 and then gained about 60-70 back. I also then lost 40 lbs with Phen-Phen way back when and gained 70 back. I want to take it off and keep it off now but am unable to do so without additonal tools. Sometimes my stomach is just hungry.. hard to explain to many people, but it's not just head hunger.
Does this help? I welcome any and all opinions... I do a lot of lurking and know that you all know your stuff very well!
Angie
I"m in my late 30's with just under 100# to loose. I'm a type II diabetic... Even with the best intentions, and meds, my A1C remains about 7.3. I do suffer monthly from migraines (menstrual) and have worked with a neurologist for 2+ years. The best meds we've found are a prescription strength NASID. I've lost about 25 lbs in the past year between getting sick and WW. I'm on meds for high BP and cholesterol but otherwise in decent health. Oh yea, I do suffer from some depression and mild anxiety.
After reading on this board I've started taking my Centrum daily chewable and putting protien first but I'm still not making progress.
I do have a nasty sweet tooth that makes it hard to pass up M&M's or Hershey miniatures when I see them...
I work full time and just took a part time retail job to help with $$ so I guess you could say I'm fairly athletic.
I lost 30 lbs with WW in 1988 and then gained about 60-70 back. I also then lost 40 lbs with Phen-Phen way back when and gained 70 back. I want to take it off and keep it off now but am unable to do so without additonal tools. Sometimes my stomach is just hungry.. hard to explain to many people, but it's not just head hunger.
Does this help? I welcome any and all opinions... I do a lot of lurking and know that you all know your stuff very well!
Angie
well there are people who have less than 100 lbs to lose who do rny but only if they have lots of other comorbidities which sounds like you do w/ the diabetes. and you can go to support groups and will be required to before you have the surgery. there are other types of surgery, although rny is the most popular followed by lap band and ds. but there is something called vsg, where they make your stomach smaller but do not bypass anything.
is there a reason you have to go to st. agnes? maybe go to a couple hospitals. johns hopkins has info on their sessions online. you might want to find out your insurance requirements and what surgeries they will approve. that is a good start. here is johns hopkins info if you are interested.
http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/bariatrics/calendar.html
plus you can hang out with some of us and learn about our experiences. hope this helps.
is there a reason you have to go to st. agnes? maybe go to a couple hospitals. johns hopkins has info on their sessions online. you might want to find out your insurance requirements and what surgeries they will approve. that is a good start. here is johns hopkins info if you are interested.
http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/bariatrics/calendar.html
plus you can hang out with some of us and learn about our experiences. hope this helps.
This really is a very personal decision. You are going to have to do a pro and con analysis on all of the options. Also it is important to consider what kind of an eater you are. Is it just volume or the types of foods? Whch one would be a better tool for the type of eater you are?
For me, I honestly did not know. My biggest fear was any surgery, since I never had any operations prior to this. I put off pursuing this for many years but continued to be unhappy and continued to eat more and more. My health kept getting worse. I had a basket of meds that I took daily for all sorts of things. When I attended the initial seminar, I walked out of the meeting more scared than ever and feeling overwhlemed. When I went for my first consultation with the surgeon, he recommended the RNY because of my size and all of my health factors. He was recommended to me by my primary care MD whom I have know for a very long time and greatly trust. Therefore I decided to move forward with the RNY. There were so many steps to go through I felt I would always have the option to change my mind. Well the further I progressed with the pre-op tests, MD visits, prepatory changes in my behavior, and support groups, the more committed I became that this was the right thing for me. I did not feel the band would work for me because it does not restrict the types of foods you eat. Although it definitely restricts the volume. I tended to eat a lot of sweets, carbs, and fats before surgery. I felt I could work around the band and still get into these things. I can be very manipulative and sneaky when it comes to eating something I should not. I was also severely obese. I felt I needed something that would give me faster results. I was afraid I would become frustrated with the sometimes slower rate of the band. I liked the fact that both surgeries can be done laproscopically. I worried about coming off of my anti-inflamatory meds for my arthritis post-op, but I hoped that the weight loss would compensate somehow. I can now say, it has. I only take one med now and that is for something unrelated to my weight.
I feel great and I am living my life again. I was severely obese. I have lost a total of 220 lbs. That includes 50 pounds lost before surgery in the 10 months of preparation I had before it. I still have 18 lbs. to go until my initial goal. Then I will assess and see what seems to be right for me from there.
Again this is a very personal decision and you have to do what is right for you. Nicole is right, the support groups will be helpful. You will hear from many others who are in various stages pre and post op and you can ask them anything. You can also just listen to their stories.
Best wishes on your journey!
Debbie
For me, I honestly did not know. My biggest fear was any surgery, since I never had any operations prior to this. I put off pursuing this for many years but continued to be unhappy and continued to eat more and more. My health kept getting worse. I had a basket of meds that I took daily for all sorts of things. When I attended the initial seminar, I walked out of the meeting more scared than ever and feeling overwhlemed. When I went for my first consultation with the surgeon, he recommended the RNY because of my size and all of my health factors. He was recommended to me by my primary care MD whom I have know for a very long time and greatly trust. Therefore I decided to move forward with the RNY. There were so many steps to go through I felt I would always have the option to change my mind. Well the further I progressed with the pre-op tests, MD visits, prepatory changes in my behavior, and support groups, the more committed I became that this was the right thing for me. I did not feel the band would work for me because it does not restrict the types of foods you eat. Although it definitely restricts the volume. I tended to eat a lot of sweets, carbs, and fats before surgery. I felt I could work around the band and still get into these things. I can be very manipulative and sneaky when it comes to eating something I should not. I was also severely obese. I felt I needed something that would give me faster results. I was afraid I would become frustrated with the sometimes slower rate of the band. I liked the fact that both surgeries can be done laproscopically. I worried about coming off of my anti-inflamatory meds for my arthritis post-op, but I hoped that the weight loss would compensate somehow. I can now say, it has. I only take one med now and that is for something unrelated to my weight.
I feel great and I am living my life again. I was severely obese. I have lost a total of 220 lbs. That includes 50 pounds lost before surgery in the 10 months of preparation I had before it. I still have 18 lbs. to go until my initial goal. Then I will assess and see what seems to be right for me from there.
Again this is a very personal decision and you have to do what is right for you. Nicole is right, the support groups will be helpful. You will hear from many others who are in various stages pre and post op and you can ask them anything. You can also just listen to their stories.
Best wishes on your journey!
Debbie
Debbie,
You are an inspiration!!!! God Bless.
For me, the doctor's practice that I used would only do lap band/realize band surgery on paitients over 55 years old. So for me, I didn't have a choice, but I didn't want a bypass anyway. It's only been a few days since my realize band surgery, and I'm very pleased with my choice. I have a little less than 100 pounds to loose. I also have friends, older than I, that went to other doctors, and had the by pass surgery. You'll have to do a list of pro's and con's and ask lots of questions. Good luck.
You are an inspiration!!!! God Bless.
For me, the doctor's practice that I used would only do lap band/realize band surgery on paitients over 55 years old. So for me, I didn't have a choice, but I didn't want a bypass anyway. It's only been a few days since my realize band surgery, and I'm very pleased with my choice. I have a little less than 100 pounds to loose. I also have friends, older than I, that went to other doctors, and had the by pass surgery. You'll have to do a list of pro's and con's and ask lots of questions. Good luck.
Jackie
I also have a little under 100 to loose , but first things first start seeing your primary care about your weight loss and keep records of all your attempts most insurances want 6 consecutive months of recorded effort either from physician or weight loss class's or gyms you go to. Then of course you need to check your insurance to see if it even covers it most do if there are co morbiditys, i have diabetes 2 as well as high tryglicerides and cholesterol, but the big thing is surgery has a 98 percent chance of you no longer having those morbidities thats why im going through all this, these women and men on this group are inspriational for all your problems and will help you through it, the lap band has a sucess rate as well but not as quick or as much rapid loss of co morbidities, and you have a forien object in you that may or may not need filled or loosened i know i cant spell lol so bare with me please, the sleeve is not yet as cleared with insurances for payment its hard to get unless its decided on the table . with you being in good health and atletic the surgery for rouen y is a good chance it will be done laproscopically which is a great plus healing time faster back to work faster and minimal stitches. As All of us agree it will be a personal decision you alone with your doctor will be able to decide actually you will after he gives you all your information and tells you which will be most suited for you. Good luck on your journey and we will all be here for you sweetie 
its not an easy journey but its well worth your new life
its not an easy journey but its well worth your new life
Thanks grammom... my primary doc is of NO help here- all he said was 'go check out St. Agnes' PERIOD. I've been wanting to switch primaries for while but have not yet gotten off my butt to look for one I like. Also, I have spoken to my insurance company and they do cover the surgery. I do not have the prerequisite of 6 months supervised diet/exercise. They just require me to be at a certain BMI and/or co-morbidities, which I do have. Thanks for pointing all those items out so I didin't overlook them! :)
Guess my next step is to go to informational seminars and support groups. I just wasnt sure how much input the doctors give you in assisting with your decision. Tough decisions for sure!!!
Guess my next step is to go to informational seminars and support groups. I just wasnt sure how much input the doctors give you in assisting with your decision. Tough decisions for sure!!!
Thanks for the info. My doc said St Agnes only because some of his other patients have gone there and he's heard good things. My insurance is pretty lenient (knock on wood) and approve WLS without too much fanfare, based on my conversation with them a while back. Johns Hopkins and St. Agnes are both in network (United Healthcare Point of Service) so that shouldn't be a problem. I'll have to attend some support group mtgs to get a better feel. thanks!
Debbie thanks for that info. I didn't think about the band and sweets/carbs. Of course I could live off carbs but have made a conscientious decision to put protein first now and choose some less processed carbs.
Do carbs not sit well with the new stomach with RNY? I know sweets and high fat can cause dumping but how about carbs overall? potatos? Bread?
Debbie thanks for that info. I didn't think about the band and sweets/carbs. Of course I could live off carbs but have made a conscientious decision to put protein first now and choose some less processed carbs.
Do carbs not sit well with the new stomach with RNY? I know sweets and high fat can cause dumping but how about carbs overall? potatos? Bread?
I have learned over time that the tolerance level for certain foods truly varies by the individual. Some people can eat carbs just fine (although you should never start them until advised by your MD.) Others can eat one type of carb and not another. And yet others have problems with a lot of them. For the carbs I have tried, I have been OK. I try to stay away from them anyway, sometimes more successfully than others. In this situation I am glad for the size of my pouch to limit me.
The same kind differences exist with other foods, even sweets and proteins.
The same kind differences exist with other foods, even sweets and proteins.
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