New WV guy here
HI all in my northern neighboring state peeps.
I heard about this site from a friend, we are together trying to research about WLS for her.
Before anyone recommends the WV board I think the last post was from Jan 6 2012 and before that it was Oct 15. I found this one by accident but it seem more active than the WV one.
We leave near Morgantown so any and all information would be nice. Our main concern is depression and support groups. She is not sure what type of WLS she like to have, but look for physician in our or the Pittsburgh area.
Thank you
Welcome to the PA board! Not sure what info you are looking for exactly. I'm in the Philly area and we have great support groups. Depression? HA! Actually, I stopped being treated for depression after my RNY. Life has never been better for me. Not that it's always easy, but I haven't struggled with clinical depression since my life-changing surgery.
Blessings, Jill
WLS 5/31/07. Maintaining a weight loss of 141 pounds and feeling amazing!
Welcome!
I am actually living in FL now but LOVE the PA board and have gotten a ton of help here!
A support group is one of the real keys to long term success after WLS, not to mention a great source of information before and during the process. So if you can hook up to a good group, do so! And if the going gets a little rough - that is time to RUN to support group, and/or to post here. We are very good at listening...offering suggestions...and kicking ass when necessary!
The OH board and her research with doctors will help to determine the type of surgery that is best. One thing I have seen quite often is that someone will get an idea in their head that they would like to have "x" procedure - only to find out that insurance only covers "y" procedure, or that the surgeon recommends "z" procedure. Above all, listen to the doctor you choose! This is a life changing medical procedure - very different from picking a diet book off the shelf.
As for depression - it is not uncommon to experience some depression a few months post op simply due to changes in the endocrine system as the body loses fat very rapidly. This is why a pre op psychological eval is often required - one reason anyway! If your wife is prone to depression now, she needs to speak very openly with her doctor about her concerns. Emotional well being goes hand in hand with physical well being throughout the weight loss journey and both need to be addressed.
Best wishes - what is your wife's name? Will she be posting here?
I am actually living in FL now but LOVE the PA board and have gotten a ton of help here!
A support group is one of the real keys to long term success after WLS, not to mention a great source of information before and during the process. So if you can hook up to a good group, do so! And if the going gets a little rough - that is time to RUN to support group, and/or to post here. We are very good at listening...offering suggestions...and kicking ass when necessary!
The OH board and her research with doctors will help to determine the type of surgery that is best. One thing I have seen quite often is that someone will get an idea in their head that they would like to have "x" procedure - only to find out that insurance only covers "y" procedure, or that the surgeon recommends "z" procedure. Above all, listen to the doctor you choose! This is a life changing medical procedure - very different from picking a diet book off the shelf.
As for depression - it is not uncommon to experience some depression a few months post op simply due to changes in the endocrine system as the body loses fat very rapidly. This is why a pre op psychological eval is often required - one reason anyway! If your wife is prone to depression now, she needs to speak very openly with her doctor about her concerns. Emotional well being goes hand in hand with physical well being throughout the weight loss journey and both need to be addressed.
Best wishes - what is your wife's name? Will she be posting here?
Hi Scott!
Welcome to the PA boards.
Just want to say my hubby and I when we travel on our Harley have spent quite a bit of time in Morgantown....love it there!!!! I don't know many doc's out in the pittsburgh area, but do know we have a few folks from that area that do check in so hopefully they can let you know what docs are out that way.
My surgeon helped me decide what was the best surgery for me. My PCP suggested lap band, my surgeon said the Rou N Y was the best. Most of my friends who have had surgeries have also discussed with the surgeon who usually recommends the one they fell is best for the patient.
Both my hubby and I have had WLS. He had his 4 years before I did. When he decided to have the surgery we knew it was going to be a big change for us and our family system. We spent a lot of time talking through everything. When I decided to have my surgery due to failing health it seemed as if my surgery and recovery was very uneventful becasue I already knew what to expect. To date neither of us have had any problems with depression, or transfer addictions. Neither of us drank prior to surgery and still do not. My hubby is a therapist so that is also very helpful to us. Support groups are wonderful tools as you guys are going through this. Finding a practice that has an active support group I found very helpful. The surgeon I used did not have a good active support group, however, there was one in the area which I utlized. The folks there have become my family moreso than my birth family is to me.
Good luck in your search for a surgeon. If you even need anything, someone to bounce ideas off, someone to talk to don't ever hesitate.
Ida
Welcome to the PA boards.
Just want to say my hubby and I when we travel on our Harley have spent quite a bit of time in Morgantown....love it there!!!! I don't know many doc's out in the pittsburgh area, but do know we have a few folks from that area that do check in so hopefully they can let you know what docs are out that way.
My surgeon helped me decide what was the best surgery for me. My PCP suggested lap band, my surgeon said the Rou N Y was the best. Most of my friends who have had surgeries have also discussed with the surgeon who usually recommends the one they fell is best for the patient.
Both my hubby and I have had WLS. He had his 4 years before I did. When he decided to have the surgery we knew it was going to be a big change for us and our family system. We spent a lot of time talking through everything. When I decided to have my surgery due to failing health it seemed as if my surgery and recovery was very uneventful becasue I already knew what to expect. To date neither of us have had any problems with depression, or transfer addictions. Neither of us drank prior to surgery and still do not. My hubby is a therapist so that is also very helpful to us. Support groups are wonderful tools as you guys are going through this. Finding a practice that has an active support group I found very helpful. The surgeon I used did not have a good active support group, however, there was one in the area which I utlized. The folks there have become my family moreso than my birth family is to me.
Good luck in your search for a surgeon. If you even need anything, someone to bounce ideas off, someone to talk to don't ever hesitate.
Ida
IdaMae
Hi and welcome to the PA Board, which is rich in support and welcoming to all, as you might see from my avatar, I live in NJ and your WV board sounds much like the board I started on, which was populated by wonderful people, but the postings were few and long in between and since I live on the boarder of both states, it was suggested I go to PA, it was in researching there I was led to the surgeon who did my surgery, now to address your questions. . .
As you've already heard, the type of surgery is dependent on many factors, research should start with your insurance carriers as to what their requirements are for WLS, some require a 6 month pre-surgical approval doctor supervised diet, some limit the types of surgery they will pay for and yet others don't allow for these procedures at all, which from my understanding, can be gotten around if it is about a host of co-morbidity's (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, such things of that nature), after finding that information out, then it is best to see what surgeons in your area perform WLS and this is most important, the amount of procedures they've done and if you can find out what their track records are. Another aspect to consider is lifestyle and being honest with oneself in knowing whether or not the person considering the surgery is willing to be compliant with the lifestyle change that will come with the procedure they are seeking. Being in the Pittsburgh area, I am sure there are many good surgeons with sound experience that perform WLS, I even know a couple of women that don't post on here anymore, but live in that area and they have done well.
With regards to your questions on support and depression, you don't say whether she suffers from and is being treated for depression, or as many people do, has an occasional blue period, either way, because women store estrogen in their fat and as we lose weight it is released and can cause hormonal stuff, for some, even menopausal symptoms, depression can be had and for most it is a passing thing. However, if your wife has experienced bouts with depression, or is currently on meds for such, then she needs to disclose that information and realize also, dependent on the surgical procedure she has, with some procedures, you cannot take time released meds, as they do not work post-WLS, in particular, that holds true with RNY surgery, not sure about others, but you would do well to seek out information, if needed, before hand.
Support groups are a wealth of information, based on personal experiences with the process, both the before during and after, at least where we meet. Some places that offer the surgery, have their own, sometimes it's as simple as finding others who have had the surgery locally who can give you such information. I know, personally, that support is key to my continued post-op successing (a coined phrase by one of the former Support Group Leaders in my area, meaning that we don't just arrive at a number on the scale, or any achievement and succeed and be done, but that it is a continual process and that is me paraphrasing her thoughts on successing) and we are lucky in that we have a group that meets several times a month and offers support, based on personal experience to any who wish to attend, no matter the procedure, the place they had it or if they are just seeking information on what we do as post-WLS people, we celebrate those simple things that "thin" people take for granted, such as not needing an extender for an airplane trip, or being able to sit in a booth as opposed to a table, to the joy of someone do something they never thought they could do while being trapped in an obese body, to sharing the trials and struggles of those further out that have lost their motivation and/or way, we are a community who understands one anothers language, simply because we have been there and experienced it.
Today there are a great many doctors performing this life changing surgery, experience is what you need to seek out and trying to find patients that think of their surgeons as the best is a good idea.
I wish you both well as you find what you need to know to get to the place where life becomes much fuller and richer than what I knew before my life changing surgery.
Laureen
As you've already heard, the type of surgery is dependent on many factors, research should start with your insurance carriers as to what their requirements are for WLS, some require a 6 month pre-surgical approval doctor supervised diet, some limit the types of surgery they will pay for and yet others don't allow for these procedures at all, which from my understanding, can be gotten around if it is about a host of co-morbidity's (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, such things of that nature), after finding that information out, then it is best to see what surgeons in your area perform WLS and this is most important, the amount of procedures they've done and if you can find out what their track records are. Another aspect to consider is lifestyle and being honest with oneself in knowing whether or not the person considering the surgery is willing to be compliant with the lifestyle change that will come with the procedure they are seeking. Being in the Pittsburgh area, I am sure there are many good surgeons with sound experience that perform WLS, I even know a couple of women that don't post on here anymore, but live in that area and they have done well.
With regards to your questions on support and depression, you don't say whether she suffers from and is being treated for depression, or as many people do, has an occasional blue period, either way, because women store estrogen in their fat and as we lose weight it is released and can cause hormonal stuff, for some, even menopausal symptoms, depression can be had and for most it is a passing thing. However, if your wife has experienced bouts with depression, or is currently on meds for such, then she needs to disclose that information and realize also, dependent on the surgical procedure she has, with some procedures, you cannot take time released meds, as they do not work post-WLS, in particular, that holds true with RNY surgery, not sure about others, but you would do well to seek out information, if needed, before hand.
Support groups are a wealth of information, based on personal experiences with the process, both the before during and after, at least where we meet. Some places that offer the surgery, have their own, sometimes it's as simple as finding others who have had the surgery locally who can give you such information. I know, personally, that support is key to my continued post-op successing (a coined phrase by one of the former Support Group Leaders in my area, meaning that we don't just arrive at a number on the scale, or any achievement and succeed and be done, but that it is a continual process and that is me paraphrasing her thoughts on successing) and we are lucky in that we have a group that meets several times a month and offers support, based on personal experience to any who wish to attend, no matter the procedure, the place they had it or if they are just seeking information on what we do as post-WLS people, we celebrate those simple things that "thin" people take for granted, such as not needing an extender for an airplane trip, or being able to sit in a booth as opposed to a table, to the joy of someone do something they never thought they could do while being trapped in an obese body, to sharing the trials and struggles of those further out that have lost their motivation and/or way, we are a community who understands one anothers language, simply because we have been there and experienced it.
Today there are a great many doctors performing this life changing surgery, experience is what you need to seek out and trying to find patients that think of their surgeons as the best is a good idea.
I wish you both well as you find what you need to know to get to the place where life becomes much fuller and richer than what I knew before my life changing surgery.
Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Thank yo all for the info and would relay it to my friend. Told her she has to decide for herself what is healthiest and best for her.
She is on another board her other friends told her about.
No not my wife or GF but close friend I do care about. We grew up together and always been there for each other.
She is on another board her other friends told her about.
No not my wife or GF but close friend I do care about. We grew up together and always been there for each other.
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