Arnot Ogden anyone?
Congrats on your weight loss, it's awesome!!
Thank you for responding, It's good to find others that are experiencing what I am, or what I will be at the same place!
May I ask why you chose Open RNY instead of laparscopic? I was diagnosed with Stage 1B Grade 3 cervical cancer last February and went to Roswell for a radical hysterectomy. I was cut from the pubis to just above my belly button (they went around my belly button, not right through it). I ended up getting an infection in the incision and it was horrible. I had to have the wound cleaned and packed daily and it took forever for it to heal. With that experience I definitely do NOT want to have open RNY, but I understand that even if they plan to do it laparscopic, something could go wrong during surgery and they still end up having to cut me. Of course, as I don't go to see Dr. Rahman until tomorrow, I don't even know if they can do it laparscopic. I had a previous surgery in 2004 for endometriosis on my abdomen wall which required me being cut hip to hip, had an emergency c-section in 1998 when the twins were born and had a tubal in 2000. I'm so hoping I'm not told I have too much scar tissue!! I don't know if I could actually go through with the surgery if I'm told it has to be done as Open RNY.
I have to drive for about an hour too... but then, it doesn't matter where I go, it would be a drive as we don't have any surgeons that do WLS in our local hospitals... which is just as well, I wouldn't go to them short of an emergency anyway!
My fiance is going with me to this first appointment. I know I have a ton of questions for Dr. Rahman. I don't know if Rick really understands the depths of what I am going to be going into and I'm not sure how to educate him. For me, I'm obsessed with reading everything I can get my hands on about this entire journey, but then I'm the one actually taking that leap. I'm a bit concerned that he may unintentionally derail my efforts though. He tends to like to snack at night and that's a habit that I've been working very hard to break. I still ocassionally join him, but it's rare. Yet I wonder what will happen when I'm going through the food withdrawal and there he'll be eating a dish of ice cream or tortilla chips with salsa cheese. I can see me getting upset with him and he getting upset because I'm mad at him, yet how can I ask him to change his lifestyle when I'm the one that has the weight problem, not him. Don't get me wrong, he's very supportive of me having this done... I just don't think he realizes how severly my life is going to change.
Those are good questions... and ones I do have on my list to ask!
Kristina
As for food withdrawls start now, eliminate something here and something there. Dont do it cold turkey because its almost impossible. What your doing now is a good idea about snacking late. I was the worst when it came to that. I cut out soda and that was a monster battle but I havent had soda in over 5 months now and dont miss it. Then I cut out something else that wasnt healthy. I started a food journal I wrote everything down that I ate even if I stole a french fry from the kids, youd be surprised after a couple weeks the things your consuming. And most of all I started working out. That is a major one, trust me you will feel so much better after a workout. And attend support groups like my faithfully buddy Sessa said lol. Support groups are a EXTRAORDINARY way of getting information, sharing fears and accomplishments and just meeting people. You form bonds that cant be broken because your all there to help each other. I love all the people in the support group I attend which is in Vestal. The group is wonderful and they are the best I wouldnt trade them for all the money in the world!!
As for your surgeries that is something you need to talk to Dr. Rahman. Hes a good surgeon and he will go over it with you and for a piece of mind hes not going to be the only surgeon in the room there is another surgeon in the surgery with you as well so theres 2 sets of hands and eyes making sure everything is going good for you. I sure hope you get the answers your looking for and if you want to chat or vent, Im a great spring board. Take care of yourself and good luck hon.
PS sorry so long lol.
I'm not that much further than you in the process. I met with Dr Rahman Aug 17th and had my 4 hour intake meeting Sept 23rd. My husband had open Rny with Dr. Cole in the same office this past January. Dr Cole is wonderful but only does his surgery open. If you go that route I highly recommend him. The entire office is great. We found that everyone is very willing to answer questions and they make you feel like a normal person.( I've had doctors who were not so nice and treated me with disgust because of being obese). I to was not looking forward to having another surgery. I had a large abdominal tumor weighing over 5lbs removed from my upper abdomen. They thought it was a rare cancer but a month later decided it was benign (Praise God). I am cut from below my sternum to a little above my pubic bone. I also have half my abdominal muscle removed. I was scared to have someone cut me again. I also wanted a quicker recovery time that you have with the laproscopic procedure. I met Dr Rahman and really liked him. He will explain all the options you have and answer all your questions. He did tell me it will be 50/50 if he can do it lap because of the scar tissue. You may find that to be true in your case as well. When you go to your 4 hour intake meeting they will also go over the program what to expect and what is expected for you to do. This office really helps with getting everything together for the insurance company so you can be approved. The length of time for the process can be anywheres from 4 months (my SIL) to 7-8 months(my husband). The norm is at least 6 months. My next step is one hour appointment with the nutritionist and a one hour appointment with the psychologist. I will be away for a Little bit, so mine is not scheduled until October 22nd.
We decide to travel to this office because we like their program. What is also important is to attend support group meetings. They will give you a list of sites. They meet once a month and you can get a lot of information from people who are at all stages . You can meet some great people and make friends who understand where you are coming from because they have gone through it. The one we go to is in Vestal NY. Sorry this is long . Hope this helps....
Tressa Ü
I am a patient of Arnot.. and would go back there for anything I needed in a heartbeat! I had Dr Cole perform my open RNY June 18, 2008. I went with Dr Cole because I had heard wonderful things about him. I met with him after a referral from my PCP and loved him to peices. He was open, honest and straight forward.
I havent had a lot of questions but when I have, the office gets me answers. They have been an awesome support when I needed them. when my glucose dropped they gave me the number to contact Dr Cole in the other office he was in for the day and then fit me right in to be seen.
My recovery time was right on key with what Dr Cole felt it would be..I feel that I would reccommend the office hands down over others in the area.
I had my appointment on Friday and met Dr. Rahman. I really like him, he's so soft spoken and really took time to explain everything to me. He did tell me that because of my previous surgeries that he doubted they would be able to do my surgery laparscopically, which was a major let down as I'm so scared I will get another infection like I had with my hysterectomy. He said that because they did so many cross sectioning of my lymph nodes to test for the cancer, I was going to have a lot of scar tissue.
He also told me about the LapBand surgery and that he would be able to do that one lapascopically because it wouldn't require any rerouting work. When I left there I was all excited about the LapBand procedure, but by the time I got home, I talked myself right out of it and since then have been back and forth.
I know that regardless of what surgery I have done, it is simply a tool and it is going to take me working my tool to make my story one of success. I also know that both procedures can have complications. I know that with the Lapband I won't have to take vitamins for the rest of my life, but I also know that I won't have my pouch to help me out if I should eat something I should not be eating. I know I have to change my eating habits, but with the band, I can pretty much eat whatever in very tiny portions. I don't think I have that kind of control... because if I did, would I weigh 334 pounds?
Sorry if I seem to be rambling here... I'm just trying to make a decision and I feel like I'm on a freaking teeter-totter. When I went to my appointment, I had it all set in my mind that I was going to have the bypass... now I have another option I have to explore.
Thanks for listening to those of you who didn't get frustrated with my rambling and exit this tread.
Kristina
I'm glad you like Dr. Rahman. There are pros and cons to both procedures. Go onto the different boards so you can get more information. I think the website for the band they are using is lapband.com. I originally was going for the band but after searching out information and talking to others I decided on RNY, but everyone is different and have their own unique cir****tances. So read up on things and go from there. There are alot of books you can get for both types of surgery.
Good Luck with whatever procedure you decide.
Tressa Ü
