An Official Howdy!
Hello! I'm Melissa.
I've been reading the boards periodically since January of this year, and I figured it was about time to come out of hiding and introduce myself. I think that having a strong support system is key in any major life change, and from what I've observed, this is an incredibly supportive and wonderful community. :)
I'm a wife, mother, and photographer living in Minneapolis. My story is posted on my profile if you're up for a lengthy read!
Since learning about weight loss surgery, I've been looking towards the Lap-Band, but I'm slightly up in the air about Lap-Band over RnY. This indecisiveness came fairly recently, and I'm hoping it's just a case of excited nerves. My heart says Lap-Band, my head says RnY, and my stomach says FEED ME SEYMORE. :) I started meeting with a nutritionist in January, and I'm meeting with a surgeon, Dr. Pierce at Fairview Southdale, next week! I thought that having to wait 7 months to have surgery would feel like an eternity, but the time has miraculously flown by.
Well, that's me. Now I can officially post on the boards, eh? :)
I've been reading the boards periodically since January of this year, and I figured it was about time to come out of hiding and introduce myself. I think that having a strong support system is key in any major life change, and from what I've observed, this is an incredibly supportive and wonderful community. :)
I'm a wife, mother, and photographer living in Minneapolis. My story is posted on my profile if you're up for a lengthy read!
Since learning about weight loss surgery, I've been looking towards the Lap-Band, but I'm slightly up in the air about Lap-Band over RnY. This indecisiveness came fairly recently, and I'm hoping it's just a case of excited nerves. My heart says Lap-Band, my head says RnY, and my stomach says FEED ME SEYMORE. :) I started meeting with a nutritionist in January, and I'm meeting with a surgeon, Dr. Pierce at Fairview Southdale, next week! I thought that having to wait 7 months to have surgery would feel like an eternity, but the time has miraculously flown by.
Well, that's me. Now I can officially post on the boards, eh? :)
Hi, Melissa!
I'm Sarah, and I usually lurk here, too. Just wanted to welcome you to the board! I also wanted to urge you to really research the different methods (ALL of them) and figure out which one is best for you and your life. I started out going for the RNY with Dr. Benn, one of Dr. Pierce's partners at FSWLS. I really liked the program there, and I firmly believe that they are one of the best in the state. I chose another procedure that was ideal for me called the Duodenal Switch, which they don't do at FSWLS. I would be happy to tell you more about it- PM me if you are interested. Whatever procedure you choose, research twice and cut once. make sure that you are getting the procedure that is right for you. Welcome!
I'm Sarah, and I usually lurk here, too. Just wanted to welcome you to the board! I also wanted to urge you to really research the different methods (ALL of them) and figure out which one is best for you and your life. I started out going for the RNY with Dr. Benn, one of Dr. Pierce's partners at FSWLS. I really liked the program there, and I firmly believe that they are one of the best in the state. I chose another procedure that was ideal for me called the Duodenal Switch, which they don't do at FSWLS. I would be happy to tell you more about it- PM me if you are interested. Whatever procedure you choose, research twice and cut once. make sure that you are getting the procedure that is right for you. Welcome!
Hey Melissa! Welcome! I'm one of the bandsters here and wanted to welcome you! I am one year out and 100lbs down from 304lbs! I love my band! Glad to have you here!
Hi Melissa, Welcome! Good for you getting through your 6 months, I assume you've got BCBS? I did too. Did Dr Pierce do your info session? He did mine and I really liked him, which is part of the reason I chose him, but my OBGYN also recommended him. Keep us updated on your insurance approval and when you get your date!
Kristy (weight loss below does not include 16lbs lost during pre WLS diet)
START: 325 Day of Surgery :309 GOAL: 180
Welcome to the MN boards. I'm also from fairview I had the RNY with Dr. Benn. I absolutely loved him. I have heard great things about Dr. Pierce. Wishing you all the best as you make this decision as to which surgery to go with. It is a hard decision and one you have to look at at all levels.
God Bless, Angela 
"You can't love if you don't love yourself"
"You can't love if you don't love yourself"
Thank you for the warm welcome! :)
I should probably clarify a couple of things I said regarding surgery. From the moment I learned that weight loss surgery could be an option for me, I was looking towards the band. I'm a girl whoo* researches everything before I make a decision (even on the small stuff), and when I think I've made up my mind, I do more research just to be sure. My nutritionist and Doctor both think that under the circuumstances* in which I gained the weight, and my clean bill of health, the band is the best option for me as well.
But at my last meeting with my nutritionist, she said something right before our meeting was over (so I couldn't ask more about it) that made me question my decision-- that it was easy to "eat around" the band. I'm not weak-willed, but I definitely have weak moments, and the idea of being physically restricted from tossing back a 500 calorie mocha is appealing to me. I don't want to be able to "eat around" anything. Of course I know that changing my ways, and staying strong through weak moments has to come from within me, and WLS will not cure my Starbucks fiending, but I want WLS to help. Her comment just scared me into thinking that maybe I need to give RnY another look. I can see from my post that I came off as a little uneducated about my decision, or that's how it looks to me anyway. :)
I've since made a list of what I want and what I'm expecting from weight loss surgery. I have a meeting with the nutritionist and the surgeon this week, and I feel confident they will help me calm my fears.
*spelling changed so my words aren't censored.
I should probably clarify a couple of things I said regarding surgery. From the moment I learned that weight loss surgery could be an option for me, I was looking towards the band. I'm a girl whoo* researches everything before I make a decision (even on the small stuff), and when I think I've made up my mind, I do more research just to be sure. My nutritionist and Doctor both think that under the circuumstances* in which I gained the weight, and my clean bill of health, the band is the best option for me as well.
But at my last meeting with my nutritionist, she said something right before our meeting was over (so I couldn't ask more about it) that made me question my decision-- that it was easy to "eat around" the band. I'm not weak-willed, but I definitely have weak moments, and the idea of being physically restricted from tossing back a 500 calorie mocha is appealing to me. I don't want to be able to "eat around" anything. Of course I know that changing my ways, and staying strong through weak moments has to come from within me, and WLS will not cure my Starbucks fiending, but I want WLS to help. Her comment just scared me into thinking that maybe I need to give RnY another look. I can see from my post that I came off as a little uneducated about my decision, or that's how it looks to me anyway. :)
I've since made a list of what I want and what I'm expecting from weight loss surgery. I have a meeting with the nutritionist and the surgeon this week, and I feel confident they will help me calm my fears.
*spelling changed so my words aren't censored.
That is specifically why I chose the DS. It has the best results long term of any of the wls. Please do some more research. The band does not have great long term results. Check studies on pubmed and you will find out.
Research the RNY, DS and the VSG. You will be doing yourselg a great favor.
dsfacts.com and duodenalswitch.com are great resources for information on the DS.
Good Luck to you.
Jennifer
Research the RNY, DS and the VSG. You will be doing yourselg a great favor.
dsfacts.com and duodenalswitch.com are great resources for information on the DS.
Good Luck to you.
Jennifer
Making the decision to even talk to your physician about WLS is a huge step and it took me forever just to take that step!
We're so happy to have you join us :) and look forward to following along with you on your journey. I thought about the LapBand early out, too, because I was very afraid of the pain and severity of any other kind of surgery. I decided to go with the RNY because it was what I was comfortable with. Think about what's going to be best for you, your lifestyle, how much you want to lose, and basically how you want your insides re-routed. haha. Welcome!! :)
We're so happy to have you join us :) and look forward to following along with you on your journey. I thought about the LapBand early out, too, because I was very afraid of the pain and severity of any other kind of surgery. I decided to go with the RNY because it was what I was comfortable with. Think about what's going to be best for you, your lifestyle, how much you want to lose, and basically how you want your insides re-routed. haha. Welcome!! :)
Started research @ 280 pounds
Surgery Date 05/27/09 @ 258 pounds
Hi Melissa,
This is a very hot topic in the land of Bariatric Surgery and with "surgically altered freaks" like us!
I think you have had a lot of good feedback on your post already. The only thing I can add is the process I went thru when faced I was at the same precipice / crossroads that you were at. When I went to my informational seminar at Park Nicollet back in 2007, it was prompted after I visited http://lapband.com after seeing their new advertising campaign. I went to the seminar thinking I was going to get the band. The next week after the seminar, the reality sunk in (for me) that I would be much better off having the Gastric Bypass procedure. My decision for myself was based on my situation. My BMI was extremely high, I travel by airplane almost weekly for my job (lapbands and flying don't necessarily mix... ask Elena about that) and I didn't want to get straddled with having to go for many, many follow-up visits to my bariatric center for my fills, unfilles, and refills.
In terms of the "state of the art" of bariatric surgery - there are two developments that have hit in the past year that you may want to consider. First, lapband procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. This is wonderful! Obviously, YMMV (your mileage may vary). Also, and this will be news to many folks, but according to one nationally known bariatric surgeon (Dr. Ki Hyun Oh of Seattle, Washington) - gastric bypass surgey can be performed to be REVERSABLE! This is new, but according to the folks in the support group I attend when I am out in Seattle, it IS possible. You may want to look into this further. I was shocked when I found this out, because in the Minnesota bariatric community, this has never been a consideration. Apprently, the state of the art of Gastric Bypass surgery is changing and this will be a possibility as bariatric surgeons do their continuous improvements in how they perform the surgery.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
-Alan
This is a very hot topic in the land of Bariatric Surgery and with "surgically altered freaks" like us!
I think you have had a lot of good feedback on your post already. The only thing I can add is the process I went thru when faced I was at the same precipice / crossroads that you were at. When I went to my informational seminar at Park Nicollet back in 2007, it was prompted after I visited http://lapband.com after seeing their new advertising campaign. I went to the seminar thinking I was going to get the band. The next week after the seminar, the reality sunk in (for me) that I would be much better off having the Gastric Bypass procedure. My decision for myself was based on my situation. My BMI was extremely high, I travel by airplane almost weekly for my job (lapbands and flying don't necessarily mix... ask Elena about that) and I didn't want to get straddled with having to go for many, many follow-up visits to my bariatric center for my fills, unfilles, and refills.
In terms of the "state of the art" of bariatric surgery - there are two developments that have hit in the past year that you may want to consider. First, lapband procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. This is wonderful! Obviously, YMMV (your mileage may vary). Also, and this will be news to many folks, but according to one nationally known bariatric surgeon (Dr. Ki Hyun Oh of Seattle, Washington) - gastric bypass surgey can be performed to be REVERSABLE! This is new, but according to the folks in the support group I attend when I am out in Seattle, it IS possible. You may want to look into this further. I was shocked when I found this out, because in the Minnesota bariatric community, this has never been a consideration. Apprently, the state of the art of Gastric Bypass surgery is changing and this will be a possibility as bariatric surgeons do their continuous improvements in how they perform the surgery.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
-Alan
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