Pretty new and pretty scared - can you help?

Hi everyone! My name is Liza and I live in Rhode Island, I have been considering surgery for a few months now and I am about 1/2 way through all my pre-op testing and appointments. I have a friend who had the RNY and she has done wonderful 2 years out. However, in doing my "due diligence" and research before my surgery, I am coming across a bunch of stuff on the internet about people that have had some pretty severe problems since having surgery and it is starting to really scare me. Yes, I know there are risks and I know there are those small percentages of people that DO have complications, but for some reason it just seems like I am reading A LOT about problems people have had lately.

Maybe it's just what I am coming across on the web? Maybe I just had dumb luck in finding all the negative stuff lately?

Can anyone help me out and tell me HONESTLY how many people truly have health issues after surgery???

Also, I would love to find a local support group that I can become involved in. Does anyone know of one?

Thanks, Liza

hi liza!

i'm pretty new to the website too. i actually just went to dr. pohl/dr. giovanni's seminar tonight, but i've been thinking about this surgery for yearsss now. it was first recommended to me when i was 17, i'm now 24.. so yeah! this means i've done a lotttttt of research.

most major complications happen in about 1%-2% of bypass patients. everyone's different and you're going to come across a lot of different things with various people. the surgery is aimed at helping health issues, not bring them on.. and from being on here and going to support groups, etc., i've heard more success stories than horror.

you have to remember to keep yourself healthiest before and after surgery.. follow the rules!! the healthier you keep yourself, the less likely a complication will occur.

i've got a list of support groups if you'd like it. i'm currently enrolled in a montly one in west warwick. last night was my first time and i absolutely loved it. i learned a lot and it eased some of my nerves as well.

feel free to message me on here, too! i'm still learning, but i do know a lot. :)

Welcome to the board!  This is a great place for ino, questions you have, or just a shoulder to lean on from someone who is going through or went through what you are.  As with any major surgery, there are risks, complications.   And as with any news, bad news is always far more exciting to report on than happy news, so you hear much more of it.  Do your research, ask your questions, and don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with

Hi Liza!

Welcome to the RI Forum!

If you send me an email to [email protected], I will send you a list of support groups in Rhode Island. Also, my phone number is listed under the Living Life Group (3rd Wednesdays). You can call me any time with any questions you may have. If I don't have the answers, I will refer you to someone who does. If you need to vent, share your joys or you just need an ear to listen, call me!

Yes, there are complications in any surgery. This one included. I had to 'weigh' the complications of having surgery versus the complications of NOT having surgery. Obviously, eight months out, having surgery was my decision.

I had minor complications five days following surgery. I had a twisted bowel and went back into surgery. I have absolutely NO regrets.

I've lost 120 lbs and ALL my co-morbidities, including severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and some personal issues as well.

Yes, there are health issues. They mostly occur when we don't follow the recommended diet and vitamin/mineral routine. With constant vigilance, health issues are less likely to happen. Including regaining the weight, which in turn, brings back all, if not more, comorbidities we had prior to the surgery.

Congratulations on getting half your testing done! You're a real go-getter!

Let's talk!

Jules

Jules, You've answered a couple of my questions in the past so I hope you can help with this one. I realize that you need to adhere to a strict vitamin/protein/water regimen after surgery and for life. My question is that I work a crazy shift.....I'm a pediatric ER nurse and I was wondering about how to keep my intake up. I want to be TOTALLY compliant because I want to be successful . I guess I can always keep a protien shake handy to sip on and there's a water machine that's accessible. I was just wondering how often you need to take a sip of something to keep up with protien and water requirements?.......Listen to me, I have not even been approved and I don't have a date yet and I'm worried about when I return to work. Just don't want to leave any stone unturned!!!!~~~~~~Kim

Hi Kim!

Great to hear from you!

It's good that you're looking into this now! I commend you for that!

Just out of surgery, you may have a difficult time getting all of anything in. But once you return to work (probably around 4-6 weeks considering your job) you should have no problem getting the fluids and protein in.

As far as keeping vigilant goes. You will develop a routine that fits YOUR schedule. If you send me your phone number on PM and give me permission to do so, I can hook you up with another nurse who's post RNY x3 years. She could probably help you out with the nursing job tips on getting a routine in.

I sip every time I think of it! I keep a bottle with me at all times. Carrying a bottle around is kinda like keep my purse & keys with me. After a while, it becomes second nature.

You know what? We're human so we will have our human days and not get all we are required to receive. We just need to do the best we possibly can!

My vitamin schedule is very easy. I need to keep things as simple as possible in my life. This is what works for me and has giving me great labs from the beginning.

Upon rising:

2 - Flinstone Complete Vitamins w/ Iron

2 - Chewable 500mg Vitamin C

1 - 1,000 IUs Vitamin D3

1 - 400 IUs Vitamin E

1 - B Complex

1 - B12 Sublingual

1 - Prilosec (prescribed by my surgeon for the first six months)

Beginning two hours later:

500 mg Calcium Citrate about every two hours or so.

I hope to meet you at a meeting some time!

Talk to you soon!

Jules

 

 

Julie, Call me computer illiterate but I don't know how to IM......I can put an IV in a 3-4 day old baby but get around on the computer............AAAGGGHHHHH!!!!! But I would like to meet at your Group at RW. I forgot what day that was. Believe me, I want to get involved with as much support as I can before surgery so I can call in the troops when the going gets tough.Thanks again!!!!~~~~Kim

There can be issues. Dr. Pohl and Giovanni will go over all the risks. But, there is a risk in walking across the street or getting a tooth pulled. They have big lists of risks to warn about. However, the odds of developing these things can be very low.

My big issue - dehydration. I have issues adjusting to intaking enough fluids.

Hey Jen!

  

All I can say is.....What does Dory (from Finding Nemo) say????

                                                  

Just keep sipping, just keep sipping, just keep sipping, sipping, sipping.....what do we do? We sip, sip, sip!

And when you're done with that??? Sip some more!!!

Just remember to NOT sip 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after eating.

Jules

 

Hi Julie. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm trying as best I can. I went for my second visit and my options were to go back to the hospital for some IVs or keep sipping :)