Duke: It's been 2 weeks...

... and it feels like it's been 2 months since I put in my app and have been waiting for my call back for an initial appointment.  In the meantime, I ride an emotional rollercoaster between thinking that an RNY would be the best thing to ever happen to me, and thinking that I'm dooming myself to malnourishment and surgical complications.

Feh.  I wish I didn't have to wait another 2 weeks.

~L

This journey definitly takes PATIENCE, WILL and DETERMINATION. So take this as your first chance to practice these skills. It will continue post op. This Journey is an around the world journey (twice lol), not a run down the road. It will be worth it for your health and well being.
Good luck
Audra

I know what you mean, It's been 4 weeks and one day since I put my app in at Duke.  I can't wait to hear from them as well.  I have tried to pass the time with coming on OH and reading some of the posting and educating myself about the different surgery's.  Good Luck and hope you hear something soon!


 Wendy

I really do understand that you are anxious to start the process, but Audra is sooo right. This is long journey that, to be honest will last the rest of your life. While it may seem like it has yet to start as you await a call from Duke, you actually started it when you made the decision to submit your application. It is normal for your to vacillate between being sure that this is the right thing and worrying about everything that can go wrong. I know I did. That said, I run a very large group in Raleigh... we even have members who come from Winston-Salem and Greensboro... and I have to say that overwhelmingly, members are not only glad that did it, but think it's the BEST thing that they have ever done for themselves. 

As long as you take your supplements faithfully, you shouldn't worry about malnutrition issues. As you peruse the OH boards and hear of people struggling to learn to eat this and that, remember that you are mainly hearing from newbies who are learning the ropes and dealing with new little pouches that are swollen and sensitive. I am here to tell you that the way you eat in the first few days, weeks and even months, really has little, if any relationship to how you will eat once you get a year or more out from your surgery. If you ever come to the Raleigh support groups and meet me you will see that I eat normally... I eat like my friends who were always thin. I eat just about anything I want, but in moderation and I leverage my tool. While I eat what I want, I take care of business first and lead with lean protein. This has really worked for me and if you look at my profile  you will see photos of me before and after. Never in a million years did I think that I would not only wear a single digit size, but i wear a size 4 or 6!!! But that is just the cherry on top. The thing that is AMAZING is that my health issues are resolved and my quality of life has soared through the roof. I am not saying that there are no risks involved in the surgery, but there are with any surgery and for me the risks associated with not doing it were worse than the risks associated with doing it. 

I look forward to getting to know you as you make your own journey. 

 Barbara,
You always have such a great perspective.  I really appreciate your wisdom and experience.  I am doing great at two weeks out.  But sometimes I cannot even imagine how my life is going to turn around for the better!  Thanks for letting me know what I have to look forward to!  

Looking forward to seeing you at the next Raleigh Meet-Up....

Why do you have to wait 4 weeks?  (I don't remember having to wait 4 weeks.)

Also, since you're going to Duke, make sure you check out the DS as an option as well.  Dr. Sudan is the only DS surgeon there so if you want the real scoop seek him out.  (Some of the other docs and Applegate seem anti-DS, so I'd not seek their opinions.)  Dr. Sudan does RNY, DS and the lapband so he can give an unbiased opinion.

Good luck!

Dr Sudan actually presented at our meeting, and gave an overview of DS/RNY/band.  While I realize DS is a more effective procedure (and I have a goal minimum of 150#), some of the 'benefits' are actually detriments for me.  I seem to recall a greater food variety available for DS (am I wrong?  It's been 3 weeks since the meeting) - this is actually a BAD thing for me.  I have chosen RNY over labband because I need the grumpy pouch to give me a kick in the ass if I choose to do things that are not good for me.

As for the 30 days, the intro packet said that it would take them 30 days to get back to me after the application was submitted (4/20/10).  My impression is that it's due to the volumes that they deal with, but I could be wrong about that.

I appreciate all of the responses, folks.  I always have an issue with absence of communication, so instances like this will always cause me more anxiety than other things that require patience.

Hmmmm - I  must have blocked out the 30 day waiting period!  LOL!

Well, my understanding is that with RNY you will need to eat low cal, low fat and low carb.  (Personally, if I could do that I'd have not needed WLS.  I know that for me, I'd not be able to follow that diet forever.)  With the DS you need to eat high protein, moderate to high fat and low carb.  (For me this is MUCH easier to follow and stick to.  I've always been a meat eater.)  You are still limited on your carbs, especially simple carbs.  DS intestines can be "grumpy" and "kick you in the ass" if you eat too much white flour or sugar.  This gives me gas and if I really splurge (I did once) it can give me some unpleasant poos the next morning.

I'm certainly not one who thinks everyone should get the DS, but I do think everyone should take the time to really research it and compare it to the other surgeries.  (Same with VSG since that's sometimes not mentioned either.)  For me, the most important issues were long term statistics with the amount of weight lost and the amount of weight loss maintained as well as the post-op lifestyle and diet required since this is for life.  I also prefer to have a normal, fully functional stomach.

Good luck to you and I hope you hear back from them soon!

I've had my initial appointment with Duke--done all my testing they've required and now it has to be submitted for a surgery date and insurance approval. It's a pain in the rear end to try to get your assigned nurse to call you--the nurse triage line--Yeah--I've left numerous messages and it seems like there hasn't been any returned calls. While I actually spoke to her yesterday because she was reviewing my file--i had to return her call and I can't even get in touch with her..It's really getting old and a little ridiculous. You think they would have a better way to communicate?!!? It just seems like every way I turn it's always something else.

Hope you and I both get some answers soon.

You need to know that while some people have issues with what they can and cannot eat with the RNY that many, I think from my experience, even most do not have dumping issues. So I would not rely on that as they way to keep you on track. As Tessy mentioned below, every surgery has it's pluses and minuses. However, I have to say that my RNY diet is high protein, moderate fat and moderate to low carb; and most of my friends that have had the RNY have the same type of diet. I find that if/when I lead with lean protein first, everything else seems to fall into place. If I start gaining, I find that if I star****ching what I'm eating, I am invariably eating too many simple carbs. When I make sure to lead with at least 3 ounces of protein, my weight drops right back to where it needs to be. I don't find that I have to 'diet' at all; I just have to keep protein at the front whatever I'm consuming. 

I don't know if that helps you or not. 

That said, I would seriously consider all options, including DS before making a decision. If you decide to come to one of our support group meetings you can meet a couple of DS folks as well as plenty of RNY and several other types of surgeries. There is no perfect surgery, but hopefully you will find one that will work best for your own cir****tances. 

Wishing you all the best,