RNY Surgery Approved & Basically Freaking Out

Hi All,

I have just received approval for the RNY surgery.  I have been overweight most of my life and it is now really negatively affecting my life (high BP, severe osteoarthritis, etc.).  I am starting to 2nd guess my decision, I'm sure out of fear of the unknown.  I have been able to loose weight, but never keep it off - this makes me feel like I could even fail with this after having my gut rearranged...

Will I ever be able to have a beer again?  I enjoy getting together with friends for a happy hour from time to time.  I don't want to be sick?  I guess I am more worried about fixing my head, truth be told.

Also, I am in debilitating pain without Celebrex for the arthritis (just had hip replacement in July) and am scared I won't be able to manage pain (also suffer from migraines). 

Please give me some advice so I can make a more confident/informed decision

I also suffer from very frequent migraines & A.S. (which is arthritis of the spine).  I just had RNY on 11/19.  I personally say it was the best decision I have ever made.  My back hasn't hurt one day since surgery.  I have had some migraines (due to the huge influx of hormones going crazy in my body after surgery) but I was given Imitrex nasal spray which gets rid of them immediately.  I had blood pressure & left the hospital still on my meds.  2 days later my blood pressure was super low & I'm now off my blood pressure meds.  I'm only 2 weeks post-op as of today, and even though I'm still experiencing some pain from the surgery I definitely don't regret my decision. 

You may want to go to the VGB surgery board & ask others on there how their surgery went & how they were feeling afterwards.  Maybe you could meet with your surgeon to go over any last minute questions to put your mind at ease, or you could meet with a psychologist to go over the issues running through your mind.  Just know that you're not alone in having pre-surgery jitters & talking it out with the great people on these boards is a great way to know you're not alone!!

If you'd ever like to chat just shoot me a private message...I'm here to talk anytime!! 

You will NOT be able to take Celebrex, or any NSAID, after RnY surgery.

I have severe Psoriatic Arthritis.  I can not function without my NSAIDS.  That is one of the many reasons why I chose to have the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (aslo known as the Sleeve Gastrectomy or just the Sleeve).

With that surgery, the weight loss is comparable to that with the RnY; the rate of keeping the weuight off at 3 and 5 years is better than with the RnY.

Plus, you can take any form of oral medication without any problem.

I personally take 800mg of Motrin 3 times every day.  I take it with a little food or milk, and i have absolutely no problem with it at all.

Just something to think about.  Oh yes, I have also lost 164.5 pounds over the last 14 months, and I am still losing weight.  I revised my goal downward another 10 pounds, because it is still coming off nicely.

Hi there.  I hope that in addition to gathering opinions from OH you are also expressing your fears to your surgeon.  Believe me, you won't be the first person to be unsure and afraid.  It's a big decision. 

I had my RNY four years ago.  I didn't have any comorbidities other than arthritis.  I've lost over 200 lbs. but the damage was done.  I've had two knee replacements and have arthritis in my feet, hands, shoulders, and hips.  I don't take and NSAIDS but do find that fish oil and Tramadol occasionally get me through the winter.  I have my aches and pains, but after what my body dealt with for so many years, I just accept it.  Even with the aches, it is nothing like the real pain I had pre-surgery. 

I drink a small amount of wine every so often--never was a beer drinker--but don't do it regularly.   I have a friend who also had the wls *****fuses to drink beer simply because she likes it too much and fears it will be too tough to quit.  She does drink wine though.  So, the surgery in itself really isn't the issue, it's how your body responds to alcohol and how you "use" it.  There is documentation about transfer addictions--over eating into over drinking or over shopping for example. 

So, all in all, do your research, talk to your doctor/s, read postings (with a grain of salt so to speak), and make the decision that is best for you.

Good luck.

I had roux-en-y gastric by pass and owe my boys to it. Though I have issues gaining the weight back it is because of the doctors making me gain weight during pregnancy the diet they made me use was rigoroud during pregnancy eating and drinking arround the clock. This dilated my stoma and now I must repare it to get the weight back off. Please be sure you understand it is a life comitment. Do not drink alchohol one of my friends had 1 beer and got alchohol poisoning from it he didnot realize the effect would have changed from b4 the surgery. Listen to your doctor donot eat sweets they will losen your bowels, donot eat high fat foods they make you vomit. donot eat more than you are supose to because you will get ill. donot drink 30 minutes b4 or 30 min after you eat because even though it helps push the food through it stretches the stoma and the stoma doesnot bounce back . These are tips that were not given to my but I gave my mother and cousins who had it after me. they had an easier time keeping the weight off my cousin who had it b4 me gained all her weight back and then more messed her up bad because no one told her those tips. Noone told us pregnancy was not to occure until after 3 years of surgery either this messed me up because once my weight was off I got married had 1 miscarrage then got prgnant again with twins 1 didnot make it due to malnutrition the other was very healthy, then 10 1/2 months later another boy was born 20 days early. Birth control doesnot seem to work well after surgery . Keep this in mind. I donot regret it. I love my boys My ex doesnt not see them or want anything to do with them so I am all they have. Review what is important to you look at the facts and then make your desision. Some the gastric by pass is right some the lap band some the duadenal switch others can manage the old fashion way. You should deside what is best for you. If your insureance approved it then clearly your health is at risk. Good Luck.

Hello there. Don't second guess yourself, it will be the greatest gift, you'll ever recieve. I too was approved just 2.5 yrs ago, and have lost 180+ pounds. I was 315 when I went to surgery (size 26) down to a whopping 149 lbs (size 8). You'll be so glad you did it! Trust me, you deserve a second chance at life, and that is what it feels like! God Bless You!    Rhonda

I had my RNY surgery June 22, 2009. Trust me I think we all have 2nd thoughts, I know I did right up until they told me to start counting backwards! =) I will tell you that 110 pounds down since I started my journey that I personally wouldn't change anything. Its good to have 2nd thoughts. Take a deep breathe - make sure you ask all the questions you need to ask - and then take the leap. =)

As for drinking after surgery - I was told that I wouldn't be able to enjoy a beer or glass of wine after surgery and I listened until a month ago. Then my mom came from out of town for a visit and brought a bottle of my favorite wine so I couldn't resist just trying. I was fine and have continued to enjoy a glass from time to time without any ill effects. The only thing I noticed about drinking is that pretty much it stops my weight loss for a few days. So it really isn't something I want to do very often.

I too suffer from migraines - like the other poster I got them to prescribe me the nasal spray and it seems to work just fine. I will be honest it doesn't work as quickly or as completely as previous treatments but the weight loss makes up for any down side.

Good luck!