Went to get more info....

I went tonight to an informative meeting to learn more about RNY and to meet others who have already had the surgery. I asked all of the questions that I could think of, but wonder if I should have asked more. What were some of the things that you wanted to know about before deciding on the surgery? Thanks for the input. M

IF I WOULD DIE!! No, really, I had a previous stomach surgery for acid reflux and thought he would turn me down cold. He had to reverse the previous surgery on my stomach and hope that it would hold up and then do the RNY. All I cared about was if I would die. Only you know the questions you want to ask. What is relevant to me is not relevant to someone else. Dr. Byrne is THE best surgeon I could have had, and I lived, and not only did I live, but he was able to do it lap, and that was a huge plus for me. It sounds like you have some fears and you need to work that out. This is forever, and the best advice I can give you is to go read a lot of before/after journals and start in the beginning. I spent months waiting for my appointment and insurance and had plenty of time to read. Please make sure you are ready to do this. I remember there are some people who went to McDonalds after surgery and would shove down sausage biscuits, no kidding and how they did that, I don't know, but they did not lose weight like the rest of us....they just mentally were not prepared. Get your head on straight first. Yes, its forever, and you have to be ready for it, but after the first month, its really not as bad as you think it would be. I really ate a TON of food the last month before surgery..."last meal syndrome". I had fun doing it, but by the time surgery got there, I was glad, cause I was sick of food by then. I had last of everything bad, Ryans, Hershey's chocolate (that was the night before), cheesecake, you name it I ate it!!! Well, I mourned food the first 2-3 weeks, went on some wellbutrin, and then no problemo after the 1st month. I saw weight coming off, stayed on my protein and to this day, I don't cheat. I have had a teeeeeny bite of a cookie I baked for holidays, but when I try to eat a bigger piece, forget about it!! I am layin' with the dogs, sick as a dog. You won't cheat, I promise, so don't worry. Once you try to cheat, you will never do it again....even 14 months post op!! I don't crave those foods anymore anyway. I do want chocolate sometimes, so I have a SF pudding, or hot chocolate. There are substitutions, and what amazes me is how many recipes I have invented that are SF. Go read old posts from last week on this forum for SF thanksgiving subsitutes. Also, do go to a seminar by Dr. Byrne. He is not that far to drive, MUSC and you can't get a better surgeon or hospital ;) Welcome to the board, stay in touch! Deb

It's not that I am scared so much as I want to make sure that I am well informed. I understand that with any surgery there is the risk of death. I had my gallbladder removed about 8 years ago and as with that I wanted to know everything. It is the simple questions that I am worried that I will forget to ask. I have been all over this website and am reading everything I can. I feel confident that I am doing my homework, but I still like to see what others have to say because although what is important to you may not be as important to me, the knowledge is the main benefit. Thanks for answering my questions and for the pep talk.