Just intoducing myself
Hello fellow Michiganders!
I'm new to OH and this Michigan forum. I spend most time lurking about, trying to get as much info as possible. I don't have a surgery date yet, and am still considering if this is the step I want to take. My surgeon has recommended RNY and would love to get local reactions/stories. On the main OH board I get everything from the horror stories to the positive. Just looking for a littlle more input from those who know!
I'm new to OH and this Michigan forum. I spend most time lurking about, trying to get as much info as possible. I don't have a surgery date yet, and am still considering if this is the step I want to take. My surgeon has recommended RNY and would love to get local reactions/stories. On the main OH board I get everything from the horror stories to the positive. Just looking for a littlle more input from those who know!
Welcome!
I also took a long time to make the decision to do this, it is a pretty drastic step. That being said, it is the best thing I have ever done for myself and would do it again in a heartbeat.
My heaviest was 317 (I hate typing that) the day of surgery I was 298 (if I remember correctly). I was a type 2 diabetic on 2 different meds and about to be put on a third. I had high blood pressure on one med but just about to be put on a second for that too. I had GERD and was miserable! I went home from the hospital on no meds but Previcid and have not needed anything since! My diabetes is gone, hbp is starting to creep back up, but no meds needed. I'm working on trying to cut salt out and add high potassium foods to see if I can bring it down naturally.
As far as the surgery itself I did have a post op bleed, luckily it was in my bowels so no further surgery was necessary. I was very anemic for 6 months, but I worked hard on getting that back up and have not had any problems with it since.
The biggest fallacy out there is that this is a free ride. It is not, it is a tool. You have 12 to 18 months to loose as much as you can (and if you follow the rules you will). In that time frame you have to learn why you turned to food as a crutch and learn how to re direct stress, happiness, sadness.....away from food. Or you can and will regain every pound. I believe the stats are that something like 30-40% regain it all. I have regained 12-15, but I'm still at a loss of 100 pounds. Did I meet my goal, no, but I am a hell of allot healthier than I was.
Your doing the right thing joining these boards, get active, ask questions and learn as much as you can.
Good luck,
Edie
I also took a long time to make the decision to do this, it is a pretty drastic step. That being said, it is the best thing I have ever done for myself and would do it again in a heartbeat.
My heaviest was 317 (I hate typing that) the day of surgery I was 298 (if I remember correctly). I was a type 2 diabetic on 2 different meds and about to be put on a third. I had high blood pressure on one med but just about to be put on a second for that too. I had GERD and was miserable! I went home from the hospital on no meds but Previcid and have not needed anything since! My diabetes is gone, hbp is starting to creep back up, but no meds needed. I'm working on trying to cut salt out and add high potassium foods to see if I can bring it down naturally.
As far as the surgery itself I did have a post op bleed, luckily it was in my bowels so no further surgery was necessary. I was very anemic for 6 months, but I worked hard on getting that back up and have not had any problems with it since.
The biggest fallacy out there is that this is a free ride. It is not, it is a tool. You have 12 to 18 months to loose as much as you can (and if you follow the rules you will). In that time frame you have to learn why you turned to food as a crutch and learn how to re direct stress, happiness, sadness.....away from food. Or you can and will regain every pound. I believe the stats are that something like 30-40% regain it all. I have regained 12-15, but I'm still at a loss of 100 pounds. Did I meet my goal, no, but I am a hell of allot healthier than I was.
Your doing the right thing joining these boards, get active, ask questions and learn as much as you can.
Good luck,
Edie
You don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer!
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
www.ibcresearch.org
Welcome . . glad your here!
Like Edie said this is tool . . I lost 130 . . gained back 20 when my son went to Iraq and have been working on that 20 lbs for 2 years. Would I do it again . . . in a heart beat. I had a stricture had to go back in 5 times to have it stretched . . but I now have a life . . I love to compete against myself to walk faster . . move more. . . if you are an emotional eater you will still be an emotional eater. If you follow the rules and take your vitamins you will do great. Doing your research prior to surgery if great . . having a support system behind you is a benefit.
Four years ago I would have never thought I would be loving life like I do. . . that I could do the things with my grand-daughter that I do. Love is great the only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.
Make sure you ask lots of questions.
Find one of Pam T's post here on the Michigan Board and follow her blog it is full of very useful information.
Kristy
Like Edie said this is tool . . I lost 130 . . gained back 20 when my son went to Iraq and have been working on that 20 lbs for 2 years. Would I do it again . . . in a heart beat. I had a stricture had to go back in 5 times to have it stretched . . but I now have a life . . I love to compete against myself to walk faster . . move more. . . if you are an emotional eater you will still be an emotional eater. If you follow the rules and take your vitamins you will do great. Doing your research prior to surgery if great . . having a support system behind you is a benefit.
Four years ago I would have never thought I would be loving life like I do. . . that I could do the things with my grand-daughter that I do. Love is great the only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.
Make sure you ask lots of questions.
Find one of Pam T's post here on the Michigan Board and follow her blog it is full of very useful information.
Kristy
Welcome :)
You have made a good decision by going to GHP. The staff is wonderful and they offer all 4 choices for weight loss surgery. I always encourage people that are looking into WLS to research all of the options out there and decide which one will work best for you. I went into the seminar seeking info on the VSG (not against RNY, but I liked the idea of having a full functioning stomach and keeping the pyloric valve). Once I heard about the DS there and understood it better I knew it was the right choice for me. My BMI was 59, I am diabetic and on thyroid meds so my metabolism was pretty much shot...I felt this surgery would give me the best shot at beating all of this.
Read everything you can. You will see/hear everything around here (good, bad & ugly) and hopefully that will help you make the decision that is right for you.
Someone once said...think twice, cut once...I think that sounds like good advice
Good Luck on your journey :)
Tonya
You have made a good decision by going to GHP. The staff is wonderful and they offer all 4 choices for weight loss surgery. I always encourage people that are looking into WLS to research all of the options out there and decide which one will work best for you. I went into the seminar seeking info on the VSG (not against RNY, but I liked the idea of having a full functioning stomach and keeping the pyloric valve). Once I heard about the DS there and understood it better I knew it was the right choice for me. My BMI was 59, I am diabetic and on thyroid meds so my metabolism was pretty much shot...I felt this surgery would give me the best shot at beating all of this.
Read everything you can. You will see/hear everything around here (good, bad & ugly) and hopefully that will help you make the decision that is right for you.
Someone once said...think twice, cut once...I think that sounds like good advice
Good Luck on your journey :)
Tonya
Welcome to the MIchigander Board. I am glad you have spent time lurking and educating yourself about the different procedures, and what is involved. There are quite a variety of different outcomes with our posters- some great, some not so positive. My surgery was done by the same surgeon whom you are using. I had my surgery way back in 2001- so if you need an "old timer's" view- I can probably help you out.
My weight started at 358 and I now weigh 137. It is a process, execise and avoiding most of the "bad" foods are skills we need to keep forever if we want our weight to stay away.
I would strongly starting some form of exercie program prior to surgery- Find one that you don't "dread" doing- having an exercise plan already in place will help after the "quick" phase of weight loss has leveled out.
Remember the surgery is just an "Aid' to help us get the amount we eat under control. We still need to make the right food choices for life or those nasty pounds will start creeping back.
Best of luck and feel free to ak any questions you may have.
Amy H
My weight started at 358 and I now weigh 137. It is a process, execise and avoiding most of the "bad" foods are skills we need to keep forever if we want our weight to stay away.
I would strongly starting some form of exercie program prior to surgery- Find one that you don't "dread" doing- having an exercise plan already in place will help after the "quick" phase of weight loss has leveled out.
Remember the surgery is just an "Aid' to help us get the amount we eat under control. We still need to make the right food choices for life or those nasty pounds will start creeping back.
Best of luck and feel free to ak any questions you may have.
Amy H
Hi. I am also new to OH and the Michigan Forum. Randal Baker is my surgeon. I had a lap band 3 years ago and BR 1 year ago. I just met with Dr. Baker and will need to have a RNY due to acid reflux. I've tried everything over the past 15 years and he feels this is the best option. He says that he has done this revision many times with many patients for this very reason and it has been very successful. He said a fundoplication laparoscopy would not work with a lap band and if he removed the lap band, then we are looking at me regaining the weight I have already lost. I still have a significant amount of weight to lose.
My concern is that after I lose the weight following the RNY, will I have any breasts left? I just need to mentally prepare myself for this possibility and would be very grateful and would love to have any feedback.
My concern is that after I lose the weight following the RNY, will I have any breasts left? I just need to mentally prepare myself for this possibility and would be very grateful and would love to have any feedback.
thomasfirewife
on 7/24/10 3:42 am
on 7/24/10 3:42 am
Welcome!
I'm fairly new here too. I'm considering RNY also and have started the process thru Hurley. I lurked around for several weeks but overall I've been considering this for a year. I'm like you with wanting to hear it all good and bad but I'm still leaning towards going for it. I want to enjoy more children, my husband, and my life more. It's a hard decison but when you look at some of the alternatives....well.
I'm fairly new here too. I'm considering RNY also and have started the process thru Hurley. I lurked around for several weeks but overall I've been considering this for a year. I'm like you with wanting to hear it all good and bad but I'm still leaning towards going for it. I want to enjoy more children, my husband, and my life more. It's a hard decison but when you look at some of the alternatives....well.
Hello!
I am just finding the MI forum (YEAH!!!!) I am also sort of a newbie on OH. My surgery was July 1st and since then, I have been feeling pretty good! I am really glad that I went through RNY. SOme days, I wonder if I even had it! LOL No, really, if you follow the rules, I think that you will be fine.
I, too, lurked for a while before I had surgery to try to learn about the "after", but there are so many differences! I was expecting more pain, more gas, more - well, lots more. I feel sort of bad that I have not had any bad problems! So remember that you may have a very different experience - better or worse. TIme will tell.
I just keep thinking, in one year, I will look and feel so different! It helps me to get through this 3 week stall, anyway. It lasted a week - I think I am over it now, though, as I dropped 2 lbs this morning - I sure hope I have anyway.
I anticipate another eventually. I have a really good NUT and followed her directions.
Best of luck to you on your decision!
One last thought =my new birthday has become July 1st.
I am just finding the MI forum (YEAH!!!!) I am also sort of a newbie on OH. My surgery was July 1st and since then, I have been feeling pretty good! I am really glad that I went through RNY. SOme days, I wonder if I even had it! LOL No, really, if you follow the rules, I think that you will be fine.
I, too, lurked for a while before I had surgery to try to learn about the "after", but there are so many differences! I was expecting more pain, more gas, more - well, lots more. I feel sort of bad that I have not had any bad problems! So remember that you may have a very different experience - better or worse. TIme will tell.
I just keep thinking, in one year, I will look and feel so different! It helps me to get through this 3 week stall, anyway. It lasted a week - I think I am over it now, though, as I dropped 2 lbs this morning - I sure hope I have anyway.
I anticipate another eventually. I have a really good NUT and followed her directions.
Best of luck to you on your decision!
One last thought =my new birthday has become July 1st.
Moviecat 
Most Active
Recent Topics
