Newbie pre-op in Canada...again!

Hey everyone!


So after a 5yr hiatus, I'm back on OH as a pre-op for RNY.  Canadian surgeons are hard to come by, and I've been seeing THE westcoast surgeon since November, but I recently found out there may be another one in my area who I can get a referral to later this week.   

I'm 24 yrs old, 5'2, and my weight fluctuates anywhere between 380-400 lately which puts me at the highest I've ever been.  I've spent many, many hrs on this site researching the surgery and deciding what would be the best type for me.  At my size, I believe that is the RNY (this is also the only WLS in BC fully covered by MSP). I've also spent many more hours looking at before/after pics and hoping for the day I'd get a chance to feel comfortable in my own skin.  When I was 19, the thought consumed me and I was depressed throughout the whole pre-op process...I'm in a different mindset now and never want to go back to that dark place, but I do hit a wall sometimes where I can't get my thoughts to stop spinning and settle. 

At this time, my current surgeon has a wait list that could be anywhere from 1-5 yrs depending on how important he feels the surgery is for me, but he's on Vancouver Island and I live on the mainland...I have to travel quite a ways and I'm supposed to go see him every 4-5 months.  I've been willing to do what it takes, be as patient as necessary and do what it takes this time around.  However, if I can get referred to the newer surgeon in my area, I'm looking at 6 months to a year for someone who was trained by my current surgeon, who can also operate locally thanks to new WLS exceptions in BC as of this year.

I know that I will figure this out and deal with is as it comes, but I've been restless for the past few nights .  I'm so glad to be back here and have a place to talk about it all, though, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know more of you as I work through this whole process :)  Feel free to drop in and tell me a bit about yourself so I can get to know you guys! 

xoxo,

Aleya 

Good luck on this journey Aleya!! We can't wait to have you join us on the losers bench!!

 Thanks Melanie!!! I can't wait, either!

i'm really, really impressed by your positivity or at least what appears to be positivity. i think i would be so depressed if i was in your position so i commend you. i really hope you can get this done with the newer surgeon faster

 Aww thank you Kristine!! That means a lot to me :) I hope things work out...it's my GP who's the difficult one--when I see him on Thursday he's going to give me a hard time about wanting to see a 2nd surgeon! If I can get that referral, I think I might be able to get some sleep again...heh =/

Good luck on your journey!

I would say take a look in to the DS, but having friends in Canada I know they quit giving approval for the DS. Which is a sad shame.

I had the DS 5.5 years ago. Maintaning nicey. Living life, no longer just existing. HW of 402 now 219 (with a good chances of plastics next month to finally take care of the skin). I'm all muscle and bone structure, as I wear a size 10 jean. I wouldn't change one thing and would do it all over again if I had to the DS has been the next best thing I've done in life. The best was getting my one horse, it was getting her that drove me to get surgery ( I missed riding...I and I repeat I quit riding when I hit 280lbs) I refuse to make a horse carry me or anyone at that weight or higher its cruel (and no draft horses can not carry the weight...its actually worse for them). I wanted to live for her cause at the rate I was going she was going to outlive me.

Now I get to be with her and my other 2 horses now till days end. And I could not be happier...I also get to ride and ride alot.

Thank you for being so honest and sharing your story with me, Nicole =))  It sounds like you've come a long way and I'm so happy for you!!! I've never tried riding a horse...maybe I will one day :P

I have looked into the DS, but I don't think it's for me...it's irreversible and still allows for full absorption.  When people ask me why I want the RNY, those are the exact reasons.  The smaller stomach size in the first few yrs is just a bonus to me -- my body needs to be tricked into thinking it has a higher metabolism at this point because of all my co-morbidities...I've been overweight since I could talk and part of the problem is that my body doesn't absorb or break down anything properly to begin with so I overproduce insulin and practically everything I ingest gets stored in fat cells.  I have been seeing specialists for years and only recently figured out how my body works and why I'm as big as I am for someone who eats so little. 

I also have been heavvy my whole life I was 76lbs by 5 years old.

It sounds like you may have the DS mixed with the VSG. The only thing not reversible is the fact your stomach is permently smaller (similar to VSG usually larger in size). The DS is the only surgery that permently changes your metabolism for good and also has a 98% insulin resistance/diabetes/insulin problems cure rate...not just remission.The DS has permanant malasorption of calories, the RNY usually loses most after 2-3 years but permanant malabsorption of nutrients which is why even with th RNY you need to takes vites for life too. No surgery malabsorbs simple surgars(white flour, sugars etc) so we all have to watch thoes. I was lucky that only insulin resistance was my only co-morb going in but also have PCOS that I also had to fight with.

I do wish you the best luck on your journey, as we all are after the same thing WL and a more normal life! I will be watching and having my fingures crossed that everything goes smooth and fast for you!

Thanks for pointing that out! I think I did mix up some of the elements of DS with VSG, especially the info about how nutrients are absorbed, but isn't it still irreversible because of the removal of the rest of the stomach?  All that aside, I am still certain that RNY is the best procedure for me because of all the factors of my health combined with my personal dieting habits.  In addition to that, DS is not an option for me here in BC because none of the surgeons offer it! I am already all too familiar with the need for vitamins and supplements and have accepted that I will be doing it forever -- I've been giving myself b6 and b12 injections for some time now and I take about 14 supplements a day already   


I'm so happy to have this place as a safe, positive place for support and Nicole you've been wonderful! I look forward to getting to know you more as I get reacquainted with this site and the people here :)

You are correct (as I also stated in my other post) that the stomach is the only thing that is not reversable, but the intestinal part is (which is more important to me, as living with a smaller stomach will not kill you heck there are people without stomachs for various reasons living without issues).
 
Wow that is a load of supps to take already, so you should do great with keeping up with that!

Usually it is a safe place. But there are thoes to be worried about, LOL. More now than ever, this site is WAY more active than it was 5 years ago.

I've gotten past the uphoric stage of WL, (so to others reading trust me I'm happy about your wows and stuff but I dont comment much,lol). As most don't realize its the maintenance that really tests your ability to make it work for you. So when folks ask really early out stuff, im 5 years removed from that and don't remember it well at all. I notice most younger WLers drop off once they start losing, and sadly seen many that don't keep up what they should (remember we are young, invincible and know everything,lol)