I'm New Here

Hello Everyone, my name is Karen, I live South of Boston.

I have been hanging in the background for a few weeks now, reading all your post.  You all have been very helpful, as many people have the same questions that I had.   I am in the process of getting all my appointments done and hope to have a surgery date by next week.

On Thursday I see a doctor, who will hopefully give me an "All Clear" for surgery.  I have had several major open abdominal surgeries in the past, and was not sure I would even be a candidate for bypass, but it's looking pretty good so far.  The surgeon was kind enough to meet with me before any of the other appointments required, to assess my scars and determine if it can be done.  He said it would have to be open surgery and I would have to go into Boston to have it done, but i'm good with that.  The more professionals around me the better.  I had an Upper GI done last week and they found a Hiatal Hernia, so I have no choice but to move forward now, regardless of how scared I am to go through another open surgery.

Well I just wanted to introduce myself, and tell you all how much I enjoy reading all your post.

Welcome! You're going to be really happy you've made this decision.

Thank you, I know it's the right decision.  And i'm looking forward to a healthier me.

Hello! Welcome. There are many very smart people here to learn from. If it had happened, someone here has seen it.

Good luck in your journey.

Thank you Gary.

I know this is a huge process..... but many of us here have had multiple prior abdominal surgeries and still were able to have it laparoscopically. One of my prior abdominal surgeries was a hysterectomy and I had so much scar tissue it took the surgeon 6 hours instead of 2 hours...but she did not open me up..... make sure you understand why open is necessary for you....

Not in anyway to rain on your parade- as you didn't really say what your scarring is... just something to think about as the recovery is different.

Good Luck. You will be happy once you are past the recovery and on the other side..

I had a hiatal hernia discovered and fixed at the time of WLS.  I am so happy - I thought the heart burn was stress related - but no, it was the hernia.  No more heartburn!  That was almost as good as losing the weight. 

The morning after surgery, I had a Upper GI with contrast and the staples from both the RYN and the hernia repair showed up.  I told the tech I wanted to see it when he got a good shot on the computer screen.  It was cool.

Hi Karen, I have had many surgeries as well; the longest this spring with the surgeon apologizing for running in to complications--let me take them on for you and enjoy a complication-free surgery with years of healthier living.  

Thank you everyone.  I had a ruptured colon due to diverticulitis, followed by a colostomy take down and then two years ago surgery to repair 7 hernia's and mesh placed in my abdomen to prevent future hernias.  Years ago I had a hysterectomy and gall bladder surgery.  The surgeon wants to do open surgery because of the mesh and trying to get around it.  He also said I would have a lot of scar tissue, which I'm sure I do to.  I had severe adhesion's after the hernia surgery, which I will probably get this time as well he said.

This is just another bump in the road, but i'm looking forward to finally getting healthy and living my lift again.

Welcome!  Best of luck to you :)