5 years +

Hi Paula, Congratulations on your success. I have Kaiser so I have to choose a dr. from Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego or Crown Surgical in Corona. All the dr.'s have excellent reputations. So, I feel luck. Thank You, Vickie

Vickie, I am 6 years as of this coming December. 310, 5'4 - today 135lbs The one common thread in every response - is YES they would do it again! Some people have no complications, others have moderate, and some have severe. They all would do it again given the chance. You can continue to live your life trapped in a body that retricts your movement physically as well as emotionally or you can take the risk and do it! We all can identify with what you feel, fear! Fear of the procedure, fear of the complications, fear of the NEW you........ You can ask for feedback and experiences until the cows come home, but the truth is until YOU live it you can't really imagine what it will be like. It IS a completely new life - and worth the journey. Email me at lyonfamily@cableone.net - I have had a lap band/ reversal / DS/BPD - see my story at http://duodenalswitch.com/patients/mileah/mileah.html

Hi Vickie, I am just over 7 years post open RNY. I am very happy with the results of my surgery. I weighed 286#'s prior--and have been fairly stable between 150-160#'s ever since the first year or year and a half I was losing. I wear a size 6 or 8 in jeans and feel that I am at the right weight for my frame and look good. I could tone up a little---I never did get into exercise program or anything I'm ashamed to say--other than running around after my kids and cleaning and stuff of course which IS exercise I rationalize. I did have to have hernia repair surgery but was happily able to combine it with my tummy tuck (I had my surgery when my youngest daughter was 11 months old--so no lifting was out of the question for me so I know I brought the hernias on myself.). I am also one of the lucky ones who can eat almost anything and drink alcohol, and pretty much anything else I want with no dumping syndrome--although I had a little of that the first couple of years, which was a good thing for me. Anyone who has any kind of surgery is, and to a degree should, be afraid. There are always risks for anyone having any surgery. But as an ICU nurse I have seen enough healthy, young people who died suddenly of a freak accident, or a blood clot, or an aneurysm, an aggressive cancer, etc....to say that being afraid is not a good reason NOT to have a surgery that will most likely improve the QUALITY and LENGTH of your life tremendously. I have no regrets about my decision at all. Best of luck to you Vickie, and anyone else out there. Be scared, but be smart, and know that the odds of you being the one who has a serious complication are statistically very low, and any of us could die today if it is our time. Take care, Cheryl