Intro and first surgeon appt tommorow
Hi posted saturday to make sure I was in the right place, but did not really introduce myself. I am 49 and have been overweight since I was a baby. I was adopted at birth and my parents were both very thin, but mom was a great southern cook, and we all know how that can be. Like many of you I have tried every diet out there only to gain it all back within a year.
in 2008 at 45 I had a major heart attack, but I smoked and had uncontrolled hightblood pressure as well as being overweight. I never smoked another cigarette, and because the symptoms of the heart attack were classic, we called EMT right away and I was getting an emergency stent within 90 minutes... All that to say I had no real permanant damage to my heart.
Prior to my heart attack, I would yo-yo between 160 and 190 but after I quit smoking I have gained up to 225 and have not been able to do anything about it in the last 4 years and I am miserable!
I have been researching about 6 months and have gone to two seminars for competing programs and attended couple of support groups as well. I have made up my mind that WLS is definitley for me, but I cant make up my mind between the VSG and RNY.
I go to see the surgeon tommorow as well as finding out what all the clearences and pre-op testing I need will entail, I have already seen my PCP and My Cardiologist and they both are very supportive and think it is a great idea.
I have searched the boards and composed a list of questions for the appointment tommorow.
Since I am self pay, this is really going a lot quicker than I thought it would. Once I turned my initail paperwork in and I was "accepted" I got an appt in 2 days cause they had a cancellation.
I look forward to getting to know everyone, this by far looks like the best board on this site! I will be able work wise to have the surgery in either august or November, so I guess I will figure out with the docs help which surgery would be better for me.
Did anyone else have a hard time figuring out which surgery to pursue?
in 2008 at 45 I had a major heart attack, but I smoked and had uncontrolled hightblood pressure as well as being overweight. I never smoked another cigarette, and because the symptoms of the heart attack were classic, we called EMT right away and I was getting an emergency stent within 90 minutes... All that to say I had no real permanant damage to my heart.
Prior to my heart attack, I would yo-yo between 160 and 190 but after I quit smoking I have gained up to 225 and have not been able to do anything about it in the last 4 years and I am miserable!
I have been researching about 6 months and have gone to two seminars for competing programs and attended couple of support groups as well. I have made up my mind that WLS is definitley for me, but I cant make up my mind between the VSG and RNY.
I go to see the surgeon tommorow as well as finding out what all the clearences and pre-op testing I need will entail, I have already seen my PCP and My Cardiologist and they both are very supportive and think it is a great idea.
I have searched the boards and composed a list of questions for the appointment tommorow.
Since I am self pay, this is really going a lot quicker than I thought it would. Once I turned my initail paperwork in and I was "accepted" I got an appt in 2 days cause they had a cancellation.
I look forward to getting to know everyone, this by far looks like the best board on this site! I will be able work wise to have the surgery in either august or November, so I guess I will figure out with the docs help which surgery would be better for me.
Did anyone else have a hard time figuring out which surgery to pursue?
Hi Angela,
I don't have a date scheduled yet, but I am getting the VSG. Can totally relate to the life long weight struggles. My surgeon suggested VSG because of my BMI(37)and health issues(hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides).
I wish you luck and look forward to hearing your decision.
E.
I don't have a date scheduled yet, but I am getting the VSG. Can totally relate to the life long weight struggles. My surgeon suggested VSG because of my BMI(37)and health issues(hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides).
I wish you luck and look forward to hearing your decision.
E.
Welcome to the LWs. Sounds like you are well on your way to a great, healthy life ahead.
I had the choice between RNY and band that my insurance would pay for. I had heard too much bad about the band so I chose RNY and it has been a great match for me. Not many Drs do DS but i think I would have done well with that or sleeve. I actually wanted a sleeve so I still could take NSAIDs but the insurance wouldn't pay. Gina has information about the major surgeries and which one works best for what kind of issues. LWs can be very successful with any surgery.
Hope you have a great visit tomorrow and get your questions answered.
I had the choice between RNY and band that my insurance would pay for. I had heard too much bad about the band so I chose RNY and it has been a great match for me. Not many Drs do DS but i think I would have done well with that or sleeve. I actually wanted a sleeve so I still could take NSAIDs but the insurance wouldn't pay. Gina has information about the major surgeries and which one works best for what kind of issues. LWs can be very successful with any surgery.
Hope you have a great visit tomorrow and get your questions answered.
66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance
Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board. the Lightweight Board
Welcome, welcome. :)
My doc had originally suggested the band but I wasn't interested. Then he mentioned VSG. I was not at all familiar with the VSG so I said no thank you and chose RNY. I know several LW's who have had great success with the sleeve. I really wish I had researched it more when he suggested it. My doc was concerned that I would lose too much with RNY given that I was a LW. That certainly has not been the case and I almost wonder if he was conservative with how much he bypassed. I guess I'll never know, but I think it's a good possibility and that makes me feel cheated.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
My doc had originally suggested the band but I wasn't interested. Then he mentioned VSG. I was not at all familiar with the VSG so I said no thank you and chose RNY. I know several LW's who have had great success with the sleeve. I really wish I had researched it more when he suggested it. My doc was concerned that I would lose too much with RNY given that I was a LW. That certainly has not been the case and I almost wonder if he was conservative with how much he bypassed. I guess I'll never know, but I think it's a good possibility and that makes me feel cheated.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Julie Extended Abdominalplasty & Breast Lift 6/22/11
fitby40something HW 240/CONSULT 238/SW 225/CW 170/GW 138
"Get busy living or get busy dying." --Shawshank Redemption
Hi Angela,
Welcome to the LW board! I'm from Suwanee, GA. Which center are you going to? I went to Dr. Richard at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth.
I chose to get RNY (I'm 11 days out and doing great!) because I am diabetic and wanted to try to get that under control. I also have hypertension and mild sleep apnea. My blood sugars have been within normal range since I was in the hospital and my blood pressure has been fine, as well. I'll go to get another sleep study at the 6 month mark and hope to lose the CPAP machine.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm sure your surgeon will be able to answer all of your questions that you might have. I know that mine was very willing to go over all of the surgeries that he did and explained all of my options to me. The band didn't appeal to me, the sleeve wouldn't help my diabetes without a substantial weight loss, so RNY it was for me.
Kateri
Welcome to the LW board! I'm from Suwanee, GA. Which center are you going to? I went to Dr. Richard at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth.
I chose to get RNY (I'm 11 days out and doing great!) because I am diabetic and wanted to try to get that under control. I also have hypertension and mild sleep apnea. My blood sugars have been within normal range since I was in the hospital and my blood pressure has been fine, as well. I'll go to get another sleep study at the 6 month mark and hope to lose the CPAP machine.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm sure your surgeon will be able to answer all of your questions that you might have. I know that mine was very willing to go over all of the surgeries that he did and explained all of my options to me. The band didn't appeal to me, the sleeve wouldn't help my diabetes without a substantial weight loss, so RNY it was for me.
Kateri
Hi Kateri, I am going with Wellstar Kennestone. they seem to have a great team and have been extrememly helpful with all my questions. Good to see another metro atl person on here. So good to hear about your story and how it is helping with your diabetes. That is one thing I wanted to prevent, and at the rate I was goin, I am sure I would be headed down that road one day.
Hi Angela - and welcome! I've read many of the other boards and find this to be the most focused & helpful.
After visiting with 2 surgeons I was told that RNY was my only option - I have severe acid reflux that is complicating a chronic lung disease. Both surgeons told me VGS or the band would only make the reflux problem worse. I have done lots of research and have not found anything that does not support their opinion.
I do not have a surgery date yet either. My original request was denied and the appeal was submitted today. So I am praying and crossing my fingers it is approved this time!
Good luck with your journey!
After visiting with 2 surgeons I was told that RNY was my only option - I have severe acid reflux that is complicating a chronic lung disease. Both surgeons told me VGS or the band would only make the reflux problem worse. I have done lots of research and have not found anything that does not support their opinion.
I do not have a surgery date yet either. My original request was denied and the appeal was submitted today. So I am praying and crossing my fingers it is approved this time!
Good luck with your journey!
Chris
Don't quit before the miracle...
Don't quit before the miracle...
Good luck today Angela.
My insurance would pay for band, RNY or DS. I was thinking about lapband because I knew a person that had it and was very successful. I went to two surgeons(neither did the DS) and both recommended RNY for me due to Diabetes. The surgeon I chose told me if I wanted more info on DS he could recommend someone for me to go to. I really liked him and it was close to my parents so I chose RNY and have been very happy with my decision.
Do lots of research of each surgery type before you make your decision and if you decide on RNY or DS be sure you are ready for the committment on vitamins and lab work that you will need for the rest of your life so you will stay healthy and enjoy your new life!!
Linda
My insurance would pay for band, RNY or DS. I was thinking about lapband because I knew a person that had it and was very successful. I went to two surgeons(neither did the DS) and both recommended RNY for me due to Diabetes. The surgeon I chose told me if I wanted more info on DS he could recommend someone for me to go to. I really liked him and it was close to my parents so I chose RNY and have been very happy with my decision.
Do lots of research of each surgery type before you make your decision and if you decide on RNY or DS be sure you are ready for the committment on vitamins and lab work that you will need for the rest of your life so you will stay healthy and enjoy your new life!!
Linda
14.5 lost pre-surgery 5'1 1/2"
Welcome! My insurance covered RNY, lap band, or sleeve.I did tons of research and decided on RNY 
HW-298 SW-251 Loss/Month post RNY(1)-23.5,(2)-23.3,(3)-9.9,(4)-10.6,(5)-8.9,(6)-7.7,(7)-4.2,(8)-7.5,(9)-1.7,(10)-10.8*first goal reached*,(11)-6,(12)-1.3,(13)-0.3,(14)+2.9-*changed scales that weigh 2lbs heavier*,(15)-0.3(16)-4.7(17),+5.8(18)-1.5,(19)+4.4,(20)-+4,(21)-1.2,(22)+3.5,(23)
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