OK! My Okie people, here I go again!

Kim:

I think this decision is the hardest one you will ever have to make in your life.  Even though it FEELS selfish, when else has it been necessary to be this selfish?  We take care of everyone, we do everything, WHO is going to do it if you are not healthy enough or (God forbid) not here to do it for them?

I truly think this pre-op time should be a time of reflection, discovery and introspection.  It is a time for prayer, frank discussions and YES it is a time to be selfish so that you can understand and accept what changes are going to be made - lifestyle and body wise.  If you don't go through this questioning period before surgery, what is going to happen when you are unprepared for what is happening to you? 

I agree, those who complain always are the loudest!  I hope you know that some of the information shared here(OH in general gang) is drama to the nth degree.  And Michael is so totally right (I am so proud) - we don't know the background of WHY they had issues - did they cause the issue themselves or what? 

I'll share a little bit of my personal history with you - I had laproscopic RNY on 7/5/06.  Eight days later when I returned to work I was terminated.  The reasons don't need to be shared, but I look back now and think it was for the best.  Within 10 days from that I was having issues drinking and eating ANYTHING including water!  If I had been working I would not have been able to continue because I needed the time to HEAL!  Over the course of the following 2.5 months I had 3 EGD (scopes) and they found a stricture and ulcer.  I basically didn't get out of the mushie stage until late November of that year.  HOWEVER, I survived.  I DO have a reoccuring gastric ulcer that I treat consistenly now - it put me in the hospital in 2007 as well for 5 days (gee thanks!) and yes I had to have blood and 2 additional EGD's.  BUT....given that I have been so much healthier even with these issues versus BEFORE - I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

I have lost approximately 195 lbs.  Yep!  And I still have about 20 more until my personal goal.  However, if I didn't lose another lb I would still be so much better off than I was before my surgery!  I was miserable!  I made everyone around me miserable!

So if you WERE NOT scared to death, I would worry about you. I know that some talk about a "calm" that comes over you as you get closer to your surgery date. I have heard this from MANY patients.  The overall complication rate for bariatric procedures is approximately 3%.  The rate for a gall bladder is (I believe) 5%. 

Make a pro & con list. Write in a journal what you want to accomplish and set some goals (make them reasonable & achievable).  TALK to your family and make them a part of the journey and decision.  But ultimately this is YOUR decision, YOUR life and YOUR health.  Whatever you decide, we will always be here for you.  We don't discriminate if you decide it is not for you!  We will still be in your corner fighting your fight with you no matter what the fight is.  Yes, it is a difficult decision and I don't think you will find anyone who thinks differently OR who would make a different decision than the one they finaly decide.

(jumping off my soap box)

Ruth

Ruth
You did a mighty fine job on your soap box!  LOL!  Thank you for sharing your story and giving me more to think about!  I know I have to make the final decision!  (Yes Regis thats my final answer!) LOL! 
I am doing some research on VSG.  I don't know if that will be the right surgery for me or not but its something to think about!  I'm not even sure if my insurance pays for it, most don't!  I will check in it if I think it will work for me!
Thanks again for sharing!  I'm gonna take everything everyone has said to me into consideration!  I have lots to think about!
My OH family is great!
Hugs
Kim

You have gotten some wise advice and insight here. Let me just add that I did not want to have the surgery until my head was on straight. I mean that I asked God to give me peace about what ever the outcome would be from WLS. AND I kept that up for quite awhile. Then one day, the peace came. I knew it would be OK and the rest is history. I am feeling great and loving life again. Please be kind to yourself and do your research....best of luck in everything.

Thanks so much!  I am doing my research and REALLY considering VSG.  I hope my insurance will pay for it.  I'll check on it tomorrow.
I think I read too many negative posts!  It scared the beejeebies out of me!  LOL!

Hi, Kim.
When I began researching WLS, I was immediately attracted to the VSG. There appear to be fewer complications, over all, and I just didn't want so much messing with the internal workings. I, for one, couldn't stand the thought of having a band inside me, so the VSG was the choice for me. Of course, there is risk with any surgery, as well as various complications that can arise. Go for the calm, because once you have that peace, you'll know that you can face whatever happens. I wanted this so badly, I was willing to be self-pay. 18 months to pay, with no interest, sounded do-able to me. You'll make the right decision for you.
Blessings,
Mary

Thanks Mary!  I'm so happy for you and your approval!  I have researched all evening on VSG.  I have an e-mail in to my surgeon's office to see if they know if my insurance covers it.  I will probably call my insurance tomorrow.  I think the Re-routing of my stuff is scaring me a lot!  I haven't totally given up RNY.  I just want to check out other options and cover all of my bases!  I want to use my insurance because I know I will need some PS after this is over!  (That scares me too!)  I could us PS now!  Girl, I have issues!  LOL!  But if my insurance will pay for my surgery I know they don't pay for PS.  SO my money will go for that! 
Thanks for your kind words! 
Kim

Keep heading toward "the calm," Kim. It will come.
Blessings,
Mary

First of all (hugs). Now, breathe. Stay off the main forum pages. Some people love to tell those stories. We all freak out when we get close to surgery. Give it to God is great advice. You have a surgeon you trust or you wouldn't have chosen him. My philosophy was, "If I die on the table, then it's my time to die. At least I tried." Contact a prayer warrior, meditate, reflect, whatever...but stay off that main board. My surgeon had and still has an excellent track record. I trust Dr. Walton with my life, and I owe him my life.

Yes, complications do happen. The one I had was an infection in my main incision that had to be packed. That's it. I went in for the RNY at noon on Friday, Oct. 18 and went home at 6 on Saturday, Oct. 19. I would've been home at 10 that morning, but DH had gone to take DD back to Enid after my surgery. I

I walked and walked and walked and...well, you get the picture. That helps move everything around and get the gas to leaving and the pain to go. I walked out of the hospital in no pain whatsoever. Actually, I walked out with a spring in my step ready to face the next chapter of my life. I'ts normal to panic. It is major surgery. I'd do it all over again.

I am self pay as my insurance at the time paid for no one. It' s my understanding that most ins. companies won't pay for VSG. It's a great surgery, so I hear. They call the RNY the "gold standard" because they have 25 years of stats/research, etc. on the surgery. The VSG's still outweigh us RNY's. It had just started being done when I had my RNY. If I had the choice today, I'd still choose my RNY. I'm happy with it and it was what was best for me. Dr. Walton and I made the decision together as to what would work best for me and my eating habits/lifestyle.

OK YOU ARE PERFECTLY NORMAL FOR WORRYING. I WORRIED RIGHT UP TIL I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THINKING I WOULD BE THE ONE PERSON IN THAT SMALL % THAT WOULD GET DEATHLY ILL OR THE SURGERY WOULDN'T WORK BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!! IN A HEARTBEAT!! THE PROS DEFINITLY OUTWEIGHED THE CONS FOR ME. IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING SOON I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULDN'T BE AROUND FOR MY SON AS HE GROWS UP. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I WANT TO WATCH HIM ACCOMPLISH. YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE PREGNANT AND EVERYONE HAD TO TELL YOU ALL THE HORROR STORIES BUT YOU PROBABLY WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN WOULDN'T YOU? JUST GIVE IT BACK TO GOD AND LET HIM HANDLE IT. YOU WILL BE FINE!! GOOD LUCK IN YOUR DECISION AND I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU!

Kim, I don't have much to add that the others haven't said. You have been given some great advice. You and only you  can make this decision and feel at peace with it. I will tell you that when I came to work for FBH when we opened, I was totally against WLS. If you haven't read my story yet, please do so because it pretty much tells it all. Also watch my you tube video. The link is on my signature. Once again, I think the key here is for you to do all the research that you need to to feel comfortable with the decision that you make. If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to give me a shout. Best of luck, Rita