Read and advice needed...and a hug..and a COOKIE!!!!

I went to see Dr. houston yesterday...approved for my lap band and ready to rock and roll..then I went and said that I had a big ole hernia...he said WHOA! now I gotta go get an ECG done on Friday and had to call BCBS and see if they would switch approval from Lap band to RNY....I had totally ruled out RNY and gone gung ho for lap band but then I got all scared about the hernia and the band and my heart.....and I was told that I really needed to do the RNY because I wanna and needta lose 200 pounds. I am making peace with the RNY but I'm scared outta my stinkin mind....any words of wisdom? My family is SOOO great and totally behind me...Dr houston and Holly were awesome! I'm just not as knowledgable about the RNY...like.... 1. what is recovery time for a lap rny? 2. how fast does the weight come off if I follow the rules? 3. what do i do to try and prevent the skin flap'ola? 4. anyone else start at a band and change this late in the game? Help!!! i cried with holly yesterday because I do n't know how to not be the fat funny girl...i'm scared!!!!

Don't be scared. Here's your (((HUG))) but cookies clog up your computer! I was in the hospital for 2 nights following surgery. I went back to work 12 days after my lap RNY - desk job, no lifting, no small kids at home. For the first 6 months you lose weight fairly rapidly. After that it slows down some. Everyone loses at a different rate so try not to compare yourself with others. You may lose faster or slower than others on this board. I've lost 90 lbs in 9 months and I'm 52. Others on this board have lost much more in that time frame and there are some who have lost less. I feel good and the weight is coming off, that's all I care about! If you find a way to prevent excess skin ... bottle it and sell it! I know that age, genes and starting weight all factor in to the amount of excess skin you will have. As far as I know there is no way to really avoid it though. Exercise will help with muscle definition and give the skin a better foundation. Plus it will aid in weight loss and metabolism. I never even considered the band. I knew I needed the restriction AND the malabsorbtion of the RNY with the amount of weight I had to lose. I did consider the DS until I compared the long term effects and possible complications of DS versus RNY. Trust your surgeon. Come here often. We are here for you! Susan

Hey, I kind of know what you are feeling...I was going to have the lap RNY and found out last week that I have to have the open RNY so I was upset as well. I think Susan hit the nail on the head when she said to keep coming here and reading. Check out the RNY forum messageboard. When you post any questions on that one especially, you get a huge response within a short time. Remember, we are here for you!

Don't be scared!!! You'll get through this, and come out a whole new person. I am so thrilled that I have had this surgery, it changed my life!!! Maybe I can help a lil with your questions... 1. I have heard that you can go back to a desk job in as little as a few weeks. I am a student so going back to work wasnt a problem, but for me at about a month out I felt good enough to go and get around, so I'd say plan to take at least a month off. 2. Weight comes off at different rates for everyone!!! Age, starting weight, and the amount of exersicing that you do will all come into play. On the 18th I will be exactly six months post op and as of today I have lost 94 pounds. I have heard of people loosing way more than that though, like I said it depends on the person. 3. I would say exercise!!! And at least for me I would rather have skin than fat anyday. I personally have just accepted the fact that when I get to goal weight I will need a tummy tuck.... but that's just me! I did think about having the lap ban done very early on. I was attracted to it because it seemed like a less serious surgery. I also know that it doesnt normally produce quite the same level of weight loss as the gastric bypass, and because of the amount of weight that I needed to loose I felt that the rny would be better for me. It's a personal choice, but I know you will make the right one!!! Good luck with everything, and keep us all posted! Hugs, Jacqueline

Hi Kendra, what are you afraid of? I can honestly say that you will love having the gastric bypass. Two years ago I was 299. Bound to a power chair, and miserable. I was 277 when I went in for my surgery January 9, lap rny, I am now 10 months out as of tomorrow and I weigh 149. I have 19 to go to my goal, and I know when they remove the excess skin in my thighs, and tummy I'll below my goal. I look and feel great now, and would stay at this weight, but until next July before my weight will stablelize, plus I am dealing with leukemia and cancer now. The cancer is eating off the fat in the flabby skin so even though my scales haven't moved, I have to continue buying smaller clothes. I love me now. I didn't love me 3 years ago or even 2 years ago. I am not on high blood pressure meds since surgery, nor diabetic pills. With the amount you say you have to lose, I would say the RNY is for you. You will lose it faster, like the others have said some lose it faster, some slower, but if you do everything your surgeon says plus workout every day you will lose it, and love yourself. It's a real power trip looking in the mirrow and seeing the pounds and inches just rolling off you. May God travel with you on this journey, Kathy

Kendra, Take a deep breath. Dr. Houston did my surgery Monday. He does not like to do Lap Band on anyone with a hietial Hernia of a large size. I had to have a EGD and Upper GI. When you have you EGD he will try to come over and take a look for himself, if it doesn't conflict with his surgery. His reasons are very valid. He will not let you have a surgery that could be worse for you. Now take another deep breath and wait that hernia may not be that big. Mine wasn't.

Kendra, I have had an hiatal hernia since 1992. When I had my surgery in January, my surgeon fixed it so it no longer bothers me. I still have to take one previcid instead of two but that's because of the chemo pills can cause errosions in my new pouch. Plus real low potassium and I am very sick to my stomach all from the chemo pills. But my pouch is protected by taking the previcid and taking my pills with milk instead of water. I was 18 with 2 liters of oxygen at night for sleep apnea, I am no longer even referred to about my sleep apnea, the study I had recently showed I didn't have it at all. A lot of health problems will clear up after surgery, mine I went in surgery with Leukemia, so I am different from the others, but I have had no problems what-so-ever from the surgery. You'll do fine, trust us and your surgeon. He will probably fix your hernia while in surgery. Because of where the pouch is, the neck to the pouch is tightened, and the acids that cause acid reflux are in the main part of the stomach not the pouch, it's totally cut away from the main stomach. Just remember this much, register with Medic Alert after your surgery. The number is easy to remember 1-800-ID-ALERT, you can never have the n/g tube forced down thru your nose to your stomach. It's over 4' and will damage the new pouch, this is for life not just while you are healing. Medic Alert is aware of this and will send you a paper that you carry with you. If you are unconcious, and the ER doesn't know about your surgery, they may try to force that tube (metal) down into your stomach to pump your stomach out, it will kill you. Several of us are registered with medic alert for this very reason. It has saved my life several times over. If you have any other questions please feel free to let us know or email me. I've been on the board the longest. Always let God travel with you on this journey and you'll be fine. Kathy

Kendra, Take a deep breath! Initially, I wanted the lap band b/c it is less invasive. However, I wanted the weight off now... so I went with the RNY. It was the best decision I ever made. I went into the hospital weighing 366 on April 11th. Today, almost 7 months out, I weigh 236. I'm a completely different person. My personality hasn't changed and yours probably won't either. I too have been known as the fat funny girl and the thought of me actually being of "normal" size is very intimidating. The extra attention I've received has been frightening because I don't know how to react to it because I have never been the center of attention nor have I ever desired to be. Recovery time for me was a piece of cake (no pun intended) I was back to work full time in two weeks (10 working days) I have lost 130lbs in 7 months and I've followed most of the rules Now granted I have had bad eating days and weeks where I don't get much exercise in. But I know I'm not perfect and I vow to do better the next day. I've been in sort of a funk this past week. I don't know why, but I do know I need to snap out of it and get back on track. I think we all have those moments. Bad habits are certainly hard to break. As for the skin...well I thought it wouldn't be as bad as it is b/c I'm young but its bad. But, that can be fixed later if I choose to fix it. My number one priority is being healthier and happier with myself.

(((HUGS))) I was back at work teaching school two weeks and four days post-op. This was after I took a one-week vacation to Floriday at 10 days post-op. For me, the recovery wasn't that big of deal. I'm hovering around -47 today--I've been in a mini-stall for about five days. As for skin and such, that is dependant upon so many things--how much you exercise, genes, etc. Work it and hopefully it will be minimal. I'm with you on the fat funny girl thing--it is going to be very difficult for me to adjust to being someone "different".