The straw that broke the camels back.

Great question Gary!  I had thought about the surgery off and on for about 3 years.  I was so sick of the insulin and the glyburide/Metformin and the horrible (sorry!) diarrhea that went with it and kept me a prisoner in my home, the DDD getting worse daily it seemed like, the fibro, the high blood pressure, the sleep apnea and so many other things...I had 9 co morbidities and a few that were not even listed. But when my PCP came right out and told me that I had been lucky so far...but likely would die in the next 3 years....well that did it and my mom pushing me to do it as well.  I will be  forever sad that my father did not live to see me as I am today...he was so proud of me for doing this. It has not been an easy path for me since surgery but I am improving daily and I can now say I am glad I did it.

Gena

I was on a professional photo shoot and when taking pictures I stood on my ladder that I always have and it broke in half in front of everyone and I feel.  I was humiliated, had no ladder back up and surrounding people were laughing.  At that point, I had enough.

Thanks for the question.  :)

My PCP was mentioning insulin and that was the turning point.  I hate needles and just didn't want to be sticking myself.  I also thought it would help with the arthritis and shoulder issues.  Anyway, it got rid of the diabetes but the arthritis & shoulder issues got worse the more weight I lost.  Why??  Probably because they had too much weight on them for too many years and I was too darn active and the whole thing just interacted to screw my body up. 

Shoulder issue is being taken care of on Thursday though.  I move to AZ and that does help with the arthritis along with a hot tub.

Am I glad I made the decision to do RNY?  You bet, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

HI. I guess the deciding thing for me was going to Dr. Blackstone's info session and hearing about so many people who had been helped. I was at the stage where I had given up hope of ever losing the weight and I am so unhealthy. Diabetes, severe neuropathy in my feet, retinopathy in my eyes. arthritis, really sore hips and feet that make it almost impossible for me to walk any distance, a huge pendulous belly that gets in my way and hurts my legs etc.  I had resigned my self to an early , probably uncomfortabel. death. I am tentatively scheduled for RNY with Dr. Blackstone on Oct. 29.  I live in Canada so it is a bit more difficult for me to get things in order to get the surgery done but so far so good, except that my provincial health care won't fund it, so I will be self-pay . I feel now that there is hope for me to live and see my grandchilderen grow up and be able to play with them.  I am 58 years old.  Eydie in Okotoks, Alberta

I am still awaiting my lapband but what did it for me, well several things.  As I get older, I am getting bigger.  It's not as easy to get up and down the stairs in my home without discomfort.  I cannot do the things I enjoy without working harder and completing without so much pain.  I am getting illness' for longer, my body isn't fighting them off like it once did.  The big kicker was when my children started to see me as fat, as they got older.  We go to the fair and at 194, they doubted I could get on a ride because I was too big. I weigh more than that now.  I had not realized I had put that much weight on.  I wake myself gasping for air because of the apnea.  I went to the Dr due to an unrelated situation, in otherwords not my weight and my Dr told me I wouldn't live to see my youngest child graduate at the rate I was going.  That hit me so hard, for my children are my world.  He gave me the referral that visit to look further into wls.  Here I am... waiting to hear from the Dr's office to tell me if they have everything they need to send my request off to my ins company. They should have it all now but they have not contacted me to tell me that or not.... I don't want to seem impatient but it would be nice to know if they are moving forward or what at this point.

My moment was 5 years ago when I had already been researching programs all over the valley (there were not very many then).  My husband and I were walking on the beach in Mexico, and my knees hurt so badly that I could not continue to walk with him.  When we returned home from that trip is when I made up my mind. At 358lbs.,  I found Dr. Magary at PVH and decided RNY was for me.  I was lucky that from the time I started the process to having surgery took approx 3 months. It was a brand new program at that time, and I was the 4th patient out of the first 6 completed that week.  We all had trust in Dr. Magary and made the decision to be the first to start the bariatric program at PVH.  It was unfortunate that the program closed approx 2 years later.  Most of the patients were lost in the transition, but now since it is up and running again with Dr Simon and Dr. Schlesinger, we hope to assist past/present and future patients.  Now, 5 years at 170 lbs lost, I still believe in WLS as it has saved my knees and has given me a more fulfilled life.

Gary, that is a great question. But I first want to say you look so good. I would have to say last winter I had so much knee pain in my knees from oteoarthitis. I said to myself I can't live with this pain any more and I have to do something about. I have a pain specialist I see and we were running out of options. My orthopedic doctor said I have to loose atleast 100 lbs before he will do surgery. I had my ERNY July 2. 2008 and I have some knee pain that is tolerable. But this winter will be the test. When I loose 100 lbs my knee's may not be that painful and I will post pone surgery. I have to say that my Fibromylagia is much better. My Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is alot better. I have so much energy that I can't even sleep at night. It is good to hear postive stories from everyone. Dawn