Recent Posts

merikathryn
on 1/16/11 2:38 am
Topic: RE: Hair loss

In my experience, it is not unavoidable but it is very common.  I had my surgery 12/28/2009 and I am really happy with the results.  I lost a good portion of my hair and, being a woman, it was very difficult to be "thin on top."  After talking with my surgeon, Dr. Baker (I LOVE HIM!), I was able to realize that the problem  was me.  I have kidney disease that I have suffered from for the last five years and I was used to eating my vegetables first and keeping my protein levels low.  However, with the limited amount of food that I was consuming, proten levels were way too low whenever I saved the protein until last.  Really monitor your protein and keep a close eye on your diet.  One little tool that helped me was an application I downloaded for my android phone called My Fitness Pal.  It was free.  I put in my supplements and the amount of calories I want to consume during the day and it keeps up with my food diary for me.  I put in my activity and my meals and it tracks everything.  I put in that I wanted to consume 60 gms of protein a day and I can look at any time of day and check how much I have consumed and how much I need to consume.  I love it.  Being very dilligent to your diet and nutrietional plan that your doctor will give you and keeping up your labs so your doctor can see what is going on is the key to success with the surgery.  I have went from 353 lbs. to 213 at my one year checkup.  This morning I weighed 209.  My goal is to be down to my goal weight (160) by my birthday.  If I make it, I will be elated.  If not, I will not give up.  I will set another goal for me.  Be dilligent and keep working at it.  It is definitely worth it in the long run.  I am preparing for my 3rd 5K and I am thinking seriously about a half marathon.  At this time last year, it took me over 1 hour to walk a mile.  The surgery and the dilligence with following the program has saved my life.

Mschif78
on 1/14/11 2:42 am - Southeastern, MA
Topic: RE: IUD stopping effects of RNY?
Wondering if the removal of the IUD helped?  I do know someone who swears this is her problem also.  AND I have mirena and Im going for WLS
Deb F.
on 1/9/11 11:52 am - East Central, IA
Topic: unable to digest fiber, so low residue diet
Im in the hospital with bowel obstruction symptoms but tests do not show an obstruction.  doc says I may need to go on a permanent low reside/low fiber diet as my systems seems to be having trouble digesting fibers.  Anyone else dealing iwth this?  I'm still trying to figure out exactly what would be causing this, and am worried about a permanent low fiber diet increasinng risks for colon issues in the future.  any  help or referrals to related resources will be much appreciated!

meggieintx
on 1/7/11 10:38 pm - Fort Worth, TX
Topic: RE: Severe, intense chest pain and spasms through to my back
I am NOT making light of your pain but could it be intense gas? I have been to the er 2x with intense abdominal and chest pains and after $100s of dollars sspent it was gas. Have you tried any gas relieving meds? It also could be adhesional pain. I have had surgery several times when my scar tissue had tangled up and was strangling my organs but then I make tons of scar tissue. Just some thoughts and I really hope you get to the core of it! Living with constant pain is the pits!!
Meggie
Megan 
meggieintx
on 1/7/11 10:21 pm - Fort Worth, TX
Topic: RE: Low bp 90/53 p94, low iron, severse stomach cramps, bloated stomach
Question, did YOU stop taking your bp meds or did your doc take uou off of them?? You need to talk to your doc before stopping any meds. Have him check your iron while you are at it. Bariatric advantage makes a delicious chewable easily absorbed iron you can try. Congrats on the 100lbs released!

Meggie
Megan 
Kim T.
on 1/5/11 11:56 pm - Mesquite, TX
Topic: Support Group
Okay, I have been talking about setting up an OH Support group since about October.  Now that the holidays are over, I got it done.  It is still new, and in the works. 

This group is not for people that are just tired of their surgery.  It is for those of us that have had, or are having major problems.  This is a place that you can feel safe.  I will screen everyone before adding them, and read their problems.  It is not a group to judge anything that is said. I want an environment where we aren't scared to talk about our worries or our problems. Advice is always welcome, criticism isn't. I think that we have gotten enough of it from people that don't have complications.  I have it hidden to the public.  It can be found through search, but only people invited to join can see what is said.

My problems were so severe that I had my surgery reversed.  I am now doing better, but I know how it feels.  I have met so many people along my journey that have had major problems, but there is just no place for all of us to come together in a private way.

If you are interested, please send me a PM with a brief explanation with what you are going through. After I screen your information, I will add you.  Please know that trolls will be removed from the group.

Thank You.

-Kim T
jbird1972
on 1/5/11 8:16 am - Cary, IL
Topic: RE: Think I am done
Marie, Julie, and to all others that are suffering out there...I read your posts, and it IS heartbreaking.  I have an awesome family, husband and kids that are so supportive.  It does start to feel like the physical symptoms put you out on an island alone, and it is so frustrating.  I have known this for some time now, but the missing link falls on these doctors and surgeons who practice doing the surgery, which is NOT a complicated feat, but they DO NOT have an understanding of how the digestive system works, and how to recognize the signs and symptoms when what they have done is not working and causing the digestive system to fail!  I think more time and training needs to be taken to prevent these problems and to SEE the problem and not become so arrogant that when a patient become ill, to say that it must be the patient, or worse, to say it is "not real" or "in the patient's head"!  I don't mean to rant, but I think we all need a separate support group or something, for most of us these problems are going to be permanent, and even the best of medical care can only try and do procedures to improve our quality of life.  I have already had my RNY reversed.  I am a medical professional, but not a doctor.  My advice is only based on my personal experience, believe in yourselves, don't let someone tell you that nothing is wrong when you know something IS WRONG.  My experience may not be the same as everyone, but I am struck by the similarities, and that scares me.  I also did a lot of research before having this surgery, attended support group, but in my experience, people don't go to support group to talk about how horribly ill they are after the surgery.  In my environment there is this "cult" of "believers", and a pressure to be a "star" so that you belong to this group of achievers.  I know that sounds extreme, but I am curious if other people have found similar attitudes.  I pray for all of you, and hope in this new year that we all find health and happiness.  I am always open to talk.  Take care, Jules

Jules RNY 10/30/2007

justonelady74
on 1/4/11 4:47 am - TX
Topic: RE: reverse gastric bypass
Hi everyone! I had the RNY bypass appx. 5 yrs. ago and I'm currently waiting for approval from my insurance company for a complete reversal. About a year and a half out I started having complications starting with severe ulcers and underwent 2 major surgeries for internal twisted bowel which is supposed to be rare,less then 5%,go figure. My weight started at 252 and now I'm at 115 which puts my BMI at less then 19% and that is not good. The reason for my reversal was at my dr. sugestion because I've had so many health issues and at risk for malnutrition. My dr. is one of the best dr's I've encountered in my lifetime. He's a very empathetic,compassionate,
wonderful person who has always taken the very best care of me in my worst situations.Theres not one dr. out there whose hands I would choose to put my life in. Hes VERY well known nation wide although I'll keep his identity at discretion. Although he reassures me that the risks are the same as with the RNY surgery I am still scared to death!!  I'd like to hear from anyone out there whos had the surgery and everything about,what they went through, etc. Anything to help put my mind at ease.Its weird that I endured the RNY surgery to help save my life and now I'm having to endure a reversal for the same reason. Please leave me a message on OH because I was unaware we were not allowed to advertise our email in the post as I would prefer responses directly to my address. Thank you!
B. Bap
on 1/3/11 1:32 pm, edited 1/3/11 2:39 pm
Topic: This has been done before but not since May 2010... VSG complications?
As the title reads the last time this discussion topic was discussed was in May 2010. I just wanted to re-posted to see if anyone had any thing they wanted to add or any new challenges that may have come up since May 2010

A little background about me, I am a little more than a week out from getting my date for VSG surgery.  I have my appointment with my surgeon on 1/12/2011

I have done a lot of research and according to the amount of weight that I am looking to lose and all of the factors surrounding the different types of surgery, I decided on VSG. I have my concerns since this is major surgery and a major change in my life.  And at this point there is not much that could change my mind .  BUT I do want to make sure that I address everything that I can possibly  find with my surgeon, Maybe I am searching a little too much, but I want to know as much as possible before going in to surgery.

Any information that anyone could provide would be helpful.

Thanks

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