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I am new to the board..I am Tina 30 married to for 5 years..I am really thinking hard about the surgery..I am 318 pounds have been overweight all my life but never really thought of lsoing weight until now..I had 7 miscarriages and couldn't stay pregnant my first son was a Clomid Glucoophage baby... In August 2004 6 days after the birth of my fist son I was diagnosed with peripartum Cardiomyopathy(a rare pregnancy related heart condition) I went into to heart failure and was in ICU for a few days...I was told not to have another child but my cardioloigst told me I could have one more..We were going to wait until or oldest was one to try but as fate would have it I was pregnant again when our oldest was 6 months old...I have spend all but 9 months since Dec 2003 pregnant...I have two babies that need me healthy and it'[s not good for my heart for me to be this overweight..I am working out 3 days a week up to 3.1 MPH on the treadmill(only started the 1 st of the year) and taking Topamax..My cardiologist just gave me the go ahead from a heart stand point to have the surgery..Now I just have to find a Dr. I live near spartanburg SC..I am looking at Dr Ross but I want feedback. Tina

Tina - Hi and Welcome. I am glad you have 2 beautiful children now, but I too hope that you find the answers and guidance to help you take care of yourself! This surgery has been a great tool for me and I'm glad i did it. Previously for migraines, I was prescribed topamax.... I hated some of the effects ( mainly being it messed with my memory, made me forgetful and made soda tase like aluminum in my mouth...Hope your experience is better with it than mine. WELCOME

Heather, I was put on Topamax for Bi-polar in 2002 but once I foudn out I was pregnant in Jan 2004 I was taken off of it..During the year and half I was on it I did lose 50 pounds whihc is one of the side effects to it it makes food take like crap...I love the drug and it's the only thing that has helped my bi-polar... My PCP and my DH does want me to wait 6 months to a year before I see a Dr about having Gastric bypass due to the fact that my youn gset son is only 3 months old and my insurance my deny me since I just had a baby..My children are 3 days shy of being 14 months a part..I did lose down to 280 before I became pregnant not much but better than 330... Now in this week I did lose 3 pounds exercising big deal... They don't understand that my Heart can't handle me being this way.. When I went into heart failure in 2004 I went from 325 to 254 over night and that was nothing but FLUID and I gained back up to 298 by the time I became pregnant again 6 months later and I don't eat all that much..I just love soft drinks.... You girls understand not wanting to be a size 6 just to be healthy, I will be happy to be 225 like I was before I found out I was bi-polar and was given Lithium and gained 100 pounds in a little over a year( I was 20 now 30)...I am comfortable at 225 but I would really like to be my ideal weight but I can be happy at 225.. Does any one else have a hubby who loved them being Big? My Dh says he loves me the way I am and is afraid I would lose to much weight(he is 6'4 and 180 pounds thin as a rail).. Thank you girls for the great welcome...I will try to post as much as possible when i am busy with my rug rats... Tina

Dr. Ross is awesome!!! He is a very compassionate man, and really cares about the patients having a better life than putting $ in his pocket. He is doing my surgery on Monday, Jan 30 (I'm getting real excited!!!!). The first thing that you need to do is contact Dianne Smith, program coordinator. Her number is 864-560-6935. You will need to attend a seminar and they will explain everything that you need to do. She has had the surgery and is very helpful with everything. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions that you may have or any information that I can get for you about Spartanburg Regional. Take care... Hugs, Dianne

Tina, Welcome, and I am so happy you are looking into this surgery. It saved my life, and my personal mission is to tell and share with others that this is now a relatively simple procedure, that can save lives! You don't have to suffer anymore, or be sick any longer. This surgery is so wonderful. I am 5 months post op and I am almost 80lbs down. I have about 40-50 more to go. I was 280-ish or more, and now I am 203, and size 14 from a 22/24. Please call Dr. Byrne in Charleston SC, MUSC, he is one of the top doctors in the USA. He is excellent, and I was a super high risk patient. You need to call Joyce, his secretary at MUSC 843-792-3751. I can't say enough about Dr. Byrne or MUSC and the staff. He is a no-nonsense type Doctor, but very good natured, and he really cares about his patients and remembers them...even though he scared the pee out of me the first time I met him. After he did my surgery, and did it laprascopically, when no other doctor would have even touched me much less done it lap, I trust him completely. I am sure others on here will back me up in this. Take care, and keep checking back for more responses! Keep us posted Deborah

DITTO ON MS DEB'S COMMENTS, MS TINA. I WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY FOR WLS EXCEPT TO MUSC, DR BYRNE OR ONE OF HIS SURGERY ASSOCIATES (DR MORGAN & ... HELP ME SOMEONE, I FORGOT THE NEW LADY SURGEON'S NAME). MUSC 6 WEST WING IS THE BEST & THEIR CARE IS TOP NOTCH. I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR BETTER. I HAD LAP PROXIMAL ROUX EN Y WITH PSAT (AN ELECTRICAL IMPULSE PROBLEM IN THE LEFT VENTRICLE OF MY HEART) & CAME THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS. HAD A MINOR HICCUP WHEN I HAD "SLEEPY BLADDER". ONE THING I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW. YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE YOUR MEDS RE-ADJUSTED &/OR CHANGED (WLS PATIENTS CAN'T TAKE NSAIDs, ASPIRIN PRODUCTS, TIME-RELEASED MEDS OR CAPSULES) & THAT CHANGE CAN BE CHALLENGING. BUT, IT IS WORTH IT! I'D HAVE THIS SURGERY AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT IF I HAD TO! IT SAVED MY LIFE & HAS SO IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY BOTH NICK & I ARE WITH THE RESULTS! GOD BLESS DAWN & NICK

Deborah, Hi there. Where did you get that pretty blouse on your latest profile picture? I love it! Thanks, Carla

THAT'S MS DEB'S "HOOTCHIE MOMMA" BLOUSE. YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT THE BLACK UNDER THE BREAST LINE IS ACTUALLY BLACK SEQUINS ... IT'S REALLY PRETTY. WHEN SHE GETS TOO SMALL FOR IT; I'M GONNA SNATCH IT FROM HER! JUST MY STYLE! GOD BLESS DAWN & NICK

If you find out who makes it, let me know. I wouldn't mind getting one either! Can't wait to see your new pics! God Bless!

WELCOME TO THE BOARD, MS TINA! WE'RE GETTIN' MORE & MORE NEWBIES HERE & IT IS WONDERFUL. WE JUST HAD 3 LADIES COME TONIGHT FOR THE 1st TIME TO OUR LOWCOUNTRY BYPASS BUDDIES MEETING. YOU WON'T FIND BETTER PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE THAN RIGHT HERE. WITH ALL YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH ... DON'T "THINK HARD" ... DO IT FOR YOUR HEALTH, & STAYING ALIVE FOR HUBBY & YOUR BABIES!!!!!! GOOD FOR YOU WITH THE EXERCISE!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! GOD BLESS DAWN & NICK