New to all of this!!!

Hello everyone, I have been looking at the boards now for weeks and reading everyones stories and progress. I just want to congratulate all of you on your hard work and effort. It takes alot to admit you have a problem and make the first step. I am currentlly making my first step in this journey and attending a seminar next week to learn more about RNY and the gastric band. I have contacted my insurance company and they said they covered the procedure I just have to do what the doctor says. I am very excited and can't wait for all this to begin. Has anyone gotten pregnant after they had the procedure? If so can you please let me know what it was like for you. What is the recovery time? Also, about how long from begining the process until the procedure does it usually take (providing there are no insurance issues). Thank you so much for taking time to read this and for anyone that can help me. Karen

Hi Karen, My name is Jen or Jenster as I'm now known on the board. I am about 1 month and 3 weeks out and have lost 34 lbs. I'm glad to hear that you will be going to an informational meeting. Ask lots of questions and bring a pen and paper for taking info on any other questions that other people ask. As for the length of time from the beginning of the process to the surgery, it depends on the insurance you have. I has Oxford and it took about 3 weeks. I was approved within a week and then just had to wait for my surgery date. Some insurances want everything and the kitchen sink. Some want 6 months on a doctor's supervised diet, others want all sorts of tests for co-morbidity factors such as sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. I know my surgeon said that any pregnancy should wait for at least a year after surgery. Doctor's all have different opinions though. My recovery from laproscopic gastric bypass was about 1 week. Please do me a favor though. Do some research about the band. I was certain that that is what I wanted. I then found out that they wear out within 10 years, and then you're under the knife again to have it replaced or removed. With the band, you can eat all the same things you ate before, so how is that really going to help? You can also eat things to bypass the band, such as ice cream and shakes. With the RNY, I love the fact that I am satisfied with so little, and that I might become physically sick if I eat too many carbs or too many sweets. It keeps me honest in my mind and in my mouth. This is just my 2 cents and advice, take what you need and leave the rest as I was told at my last support group meeting. The doctor is your best resource for questions. If you want to talk more or have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail me. Take care, Jen (Jenster)

Jen, Thank you sooooo much for all of your information and congatulations on your weight loss. I never knew those things about the band. I have been doing research and trying to find out everything I need to know. I was only thinking the band because i heard they can adjust it so that you could eat a little more so the baby gets enough nutrition. But I'm not crazy about having them going back in every time it needs adjusting. I have one beautiful daughter already but plan on having one more but want to get healthy first. Good luck and keep on losing. Thanks again. Karen

I agree with Jenster on the band but it has to be an individual decision. Only you know what your eating habits are, how old you are and how obese you are. Getting pregnant was not a factor for me as my kids are now 18 and 19. I think you need to factor in everything before you can make a decision about what will work for you. Some people may go crazy with such a resticted diet. Last night I thought I was hungry had 3 bites of flounder and couldn't get even a sip of water in. Not all days are like that but some are, and mentally it can be a challenge. The RNY worked for me but research everything to be sure what will work for you. You might want to check out the pregnancy forum on here! Best of everything to you! Jean

Jean, Thank you for the information. Everyone's input helps greatly because like I said I'm new to all of this (even the message boards). This might sound crazy but how do I find the pregnacy forum? I just happened to find this one accidently and put it under my favorites so I knew how to get back. Thanks!! Karen

Here you go, this should work, http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/postop_pregnancy/

Hi Karen Obviously I dont know firsthand : ) but there have been several people on the board(s) here at Obesity Help that have gotten pregnant and gone full term, successfully, after WLS surgery. I know that being under a doctors care is an absolute because of the need to monitor vitamin absorbtion and other issues. Good luck in your search for WLS and keep us appraised of your progress, eh? Take care Timmy Ray

Hi Timmy, Thank you for responding. I am very excited to start on my WLS journey. I went to a seminar this past Thursday and learned alot. I have all my appts. scheduled in the next two weeks with the nutritionist, psychiatrist, and the surgeon. I just hope everything works out with my ins. company. Thanks again and congratulations on your weight loss journey. Karen