Newbie - Having RNY surgery early next year!

Hi!  My name is Sandy, and I'm in the northern Virginia area.  I'm with Kaiser, and I'm going through the process leading up to surgery now.  I should be eligible in February, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to have my surgery by May or June. 

I'd love to talk to anyone who can help me out with getting ready for surgery, tips, support groups, and just getting to know anyone who wouldn't mind sharing their story with me.  I'm so excited and want to do this right!

Hope to hear from someone!

Hugs,

Sandy

Welcome to the VA boards. I am in the Richmond area. What kind of surgery are you having?

I'm having the laparoscopic RNY.  Part of me is terrified, and the other part is so excited!!

Sandy,

Hello and welocme to the VA boards!  I look forward to getting to know you.  I had open RNY 3.5 years ago and am having the best possible life post op imaginable!

I am not familiar with any support groups in your area.  I would contact Jackie Thodos as I know she runs an awesome one in Fredericksburg.  She is great!

As for getting ready preop...make whatever changes you can now.  Stop drinking sodas, stop using straws, cut out as much sugar as possible, dont drink 30 before or after or during a meal, get on a vitamin routine, up your protein, etc.

You have come to the right place and I look forward to learing more about you!

Sandy - What surgeon are you using?  I actually just called today to schedule a consult with Dr. Anez at Fairfax.  Would love to have a surgery buddy.  I've been contemplating this surgery for a long time and have actually been scheduled for it and chickened out twice.  I really need to get over my fear. 

Donna

Hello to you too!  :)

Welcome! 

Hi, Sandy:  Welcome to the Va. Board!  I read that you are getting a Lap RNY -- I had that a little over a year ago, so if you have any questions, I can certainly try to answer them for you.  You haven't indicated where in NoVa you are, but there are a lot of terrific surgeons in the area, and several support groups.  Feel free to PM me, and I will try and help!  :)

Hi Sandy!

Like everyone else, I also wanted to welcome you to the boards.

I'd also like to ask you about Kaiser... how did you get everything started? My boyfriend (at least in my opinion) is a good candidate for surgery,  but I don't know how to steer him in the right direction. (I was self-pay, 2.5 years ago, and I've seen SO much difference in the way things are done these days....)

Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I hear you have to jump through a significant number of hoops before you can get approval.

Also, about the support groups. In this immediate area, I know of two. There's "Journey Together" which meets in the conference room at Fair Oaks hospital on the 3rd monday of the month (which yes, means you missed this month's meeting just last night), and there's also the "Staple Club" which meets in the Sully Government Center (remember the police station where those poor officers were shot not too long ago? That's where it is.) on the second Monday of the month. I believe that both of these meetings have a 6:30 start time.

Good luck with everything!

Julie

Hi, Julie - thanks for the heads up on the support groups!  I'm excited about getting involved with one!

Kaiser surprisingly has been a breeze so far.  I just requested a nutrition appointment from my primary care physician.  When I met with the nutritionist, I told her I was interested in surgery, and she set me on the path to meet their requirements.  I have to meet with her monthly, attend a couple of classes, keep a daily food log, and lose under 10 pounds.  I will have met all the requirements by February, and she then sends my file to the board for approval.  Then I get my surgery scheduled.  Hopefully I'll be able to get it done by May or so. 

Let me know if I can answer any more questions!