Beginner?
Glad to hear you have your consult coming up in a few weeks. I am not a newbie, but we all are newbies at some point. I had WLS on February 14, 2011. I lost 150 pounds in the process and have pretty much kept it off for these 4 years. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I don't check in here real often, but I'll come around and check on your process, if you like.
They plan on either a RNY or Sleeve surgery for me. They are not sure which is the best approach because I am on a prescription NSAID for arthritis which I will not be able to continue if they do an RNY. Also, I had a previous belly button hernia which could cause minor complications in doing the RNY which may lead to a sleeve instead.
I am taking myself off the NSAID as of today and trying to use Tylenol arthritis and see if I can handle that as my pain reliever. That way I will be able to tell them whether or not that is going to be a huge issue for me. You will also get a psych consult which I found a little different. They mostly wanted to know what you knew about the actual surgery and what happens during the surgery more than they wanted to know if I was mentally stable. ;-). I assume I must have been stable enough that they just wanted to make sure I understood the implications of the surgery and what happens to my stomach during the surgical process. Read up on that as they will, according to my psychologist, ask questions prior to the surgery about specific knowledge of the particular surgery you are having.
HW: 336.5 (March 1, 2015), Height: 5'11", Birthdate: November 8, 1955
VSG: July 1, 2015 288.0 lbs, University of Iowa Hospitals -- Dr. Isaac Samuel
CW: 196 lbs, goal: 186
8/2/15 -- 263.8 | 8/30/15 -- 256.0 | 9/20/15 -- 248.6 | 11/1/15 -- 240.6 | 11/29/15 -- 233.2 | 1/3/16 -- 227.4 | 1/31/16 -- 218.6 | 2/28/16 -- 211.2 | 3/27/16 -- 204.6 | 5/2/2016 -- 206.6 | 5/30/2016 -- 203.8 | 7/7/2016 --198.8 | 8/1/2016 -- 197.8 | 1/25/2017 -- 196.3 | 3/23/2017 -- 194
well, just listen to the doctor or his assistant - ask lots of questions - There is a huge difference in doctors. Some, unfortunately, are in for the money - and just want to rack up as many surgeries as possible. I was fortunate to have a taste of both. At the time I was frustrated but it turned out for the best. My first doc turned out to be more interested in the number of surgeries he could do and did not seem all that interested in the patient. It felt like a factory - an assembly line. My second doc was like night and day. My I learned more from my second doc's staff than I ever knew from the first team. It was worth it. I had the Roux-n-Y surgery and have had good success. Knowing as much as you can about your choices sure helps a lot, I think. I lost 150 pounds and have kept most of it off.
