Hello, new to the board :)

Hi, my name is Andrea Mae Markham and I am a 19 year old female (but will be 20 on Jan 3). I live in Huntington, WV and attend Marshall University where I am a Sophomore. I am in the process of having the surgery. (I have been researching this surgery since I was 17 years old, and have finally decided this is the right thing for me to do.) I know I will be approved because my dad's insurance is through the hospital in which the surgery is performed there. I will be having my surgery at St. Mary's hospital, the surgeon who will be performing the surgery is Dr. Tim Robarts. So far all I have accomplished is the packet turned into St. Mary's where I was then told I was a canidate for the surgery and so I was getting appts scheduled. So as of right now I have a psychologist evaluation on Jan 11, 2005 at 3:00p.m. But something that is funny about that is I work at a Real Estate office and this Psychologist's office is 3 buildings down! I told my boss after all he has put me through with having the responsiblity of 4 people (plus baby sit for him) I am going to need to keep this guy on schedule lol! j/p but anyways... So then I have a sleep apnea test on January 19, 2005 at 7:30p.m. which should be fun.. NOT I dont sleep at night... like I go to bed around 2-4am and get up around 6-8:30am! It sucks but with working full time and going to school full time you dont get much sleep. Oh well this should be interesting! But anyways I forgot a few things, I am planning on having Lap RNY. I am not for sure when I should have it because of school and what not, but I am thinking maybe over my spring break. I am sure this is something I will figure out in due time.. well once I ahve a consultation with Dr. Robarts! Thanks a Bunchies Andrea

hey andrea, im meghan. im 16 yeras old an weight 364lbs. im going to have a duodenal switch on april 28th. if you dont mind. id like to encourage you to go with the duodenal switch. its the one surgery where you lose the most excess amount of weight adn then its the one surgery wehre you also get to eat the most amount of food. heres the statistics. rny you lose 50-70% of your excess weight. duodenal switch you lose 70-90% of your excess weight. eating with the rny you eat 1-30oz of food for life. at first with the duodenal switch, you eat 3-8oz of food. your stomach is cut into one of those amounts for you to eat. and then it stretches over time and yet, in the end you get to eat a whole meal and be full. and still manage to lose 90% of your excess weight and this is the one surgery where u get to be more like the people around you and eat more and yet lose more, then with any other surgery,its really the best choice out there. and plus, it has no dumping syndrome!!!isnt that awesome,who in the hell wants to dump anyways?and 2 days after surgery, you get to eat popsicles. so thats quick eating. instead of the 6weeks 6-month trial soft solid food stages.thers nothing like that witht he ds. its easier working witht he food, you lose more, and you eat more. and its also the surgery wehre you most likely NOT I MEAN NOT going to gain the weight back. as with the rny, most people have gained half if not all back by 5 years after surgery. adn with the ds that rarely happens.it also has the longest lasting effects. i suggest you look up the procedure on www.duodenalswitch.com and look it up on www.freewebs.com/duodenalswitch/ . hey, you should also join my teen weight loss surgery groups. you can meet teens your age who have had the surgery. were really active and freidnly. you would like it. please email me at [email protected] or i.m. me at aol/aim sn blitzbabe0053. lots of luv, meghan pre-op dr.henry buchwald duodenal switch surgery date:april 28th 2005 364lbs goal weight 140lbs

Thank you for the information but with my own personal beleifs and what I feel is right I want RNY. This is something I have researched and I feel I would do better with RNY. Everyone is different and has to choose what surgery is right for them, in my case it is RNY. Thanks for your input tho! Oh I dont think I mentioned my weight.. I am 5'4 and weight 275.00lbs. Thanks! Andrea

Just to add, I had RNY lap back in March 04. I am 9 months out and expected weight loss for me is right now 95% of excess weight considering how much i have lost so far.