Recent Posts

I have a really good friend who went through Dr Villanova for gastric bypass surgery. I actually had my gastric bypass surgery done in Kansas City Kansas last Wed. I have to have all my follow ups in KC and my friend had her surgery 2 years ago so she has not had a follow up in awhile.

Hi everyone!
I am not sure how to use this site.  Some things are very easy to figure out, others are puzzling.  So I am not sure this will go where I want it or a direct message to Mendee.  Anyway, I just joined the group today.  I had RNY surgery on Dec 6 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.  My surgeion was Dr. Christopher Kowalski.  He is an awesome surgeon as is SMMC is awesome for a surgery center.  I chose SMMC for my surgery because of insurance.  My insurance has a rider which denies any weight-loss programs or surgery.  Since I am disabled an also on Social Security, I found I could be covered if I went to a Center of Excellence hospital.  Both hospitals in Wichita are in the approval process, so I had a choice to wait or to choose a "Center" hospital.  I went to the info session at Shawnee Mission, and knew that was the hospital and surgeon I wanted. 
So here I am 36 pounds lighter after 4 weeks.  I am excited!
I am planning on going to the support group tonight at Wesley.  Is anyone else on here going tonight too?
Later,
Steve

Hey Everyone!

I can't believe it, but I did it!  Wednesday, November 10, I had my VSG done!  I stayed overnight in the hospital and gained 3 pounds of fluid.  I was really nervous about the fluid gain, because my patient advocate who had RNY had gained 12 lbs! 

So, how do I feel?  Sore is what comes to mind.  I really thought I would hurt inside, but I don't. My incision sites are very tender, and I can manage the pain with tylenol instead of Lortab.  For some reason, Lortab makes me sick.  Probably because you're supposed to take it with food, and I can't eat food right now!  So, I'm going to try some tylenol tonight to help me get to sleep.

I'm having trouble getting all my fluids in.  I got 64 in yesterday, but my stomach was so distended that I felt miserable!  I'm sitting at about 50 oz now, and I think I'll make it.  I just need to remember to take small sips!  Every once in a while, I will accidentally take a normal drink and ouch!  I know the drinking will be easier as my swelling goes down, but it's hard not to get discouraged!

I know the first few days are the hardest, and I'm still happy I had the surgery, I just need to give myself time to recover!

I was waking up in SICU at Wesley after my RNY and huge hiatal hernia repair. I can't believe it has been 2 years! Sometimes it seems just like yesterday, and other times it seems like an eternity ago. I can say that having the surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself. And yes, I did it for MYSELF, not anyone else.   I am very happy with my results, and would have never imagined I would lose half myself (267 to 135).
There have been a few struggles along the way, but the more time passes, the more those struggles fade. I still get reminded every now and then that I have had surgery. If I eat something I shouldn't eat, or eat too fast, or if I don't get my water in I will be reminded of "the rules". But overall, my life seems very normal. What I eat and the amount I eat seems normal. I don't feel I "eat like a bird". However, observing the volume of food others eat now seems very UN-NORMAL!

I would never tell anyone that WLS is easy because it isn't. And the people who say it is the "easy way out" have no clue! But I can say that any bad times you may have in the beginning all become faint memories as time passes. And soon, you may even forget them entirely because all the new good memories and experiences take their place.

I LOVE MY RNY!!!!

I graduated in 1995.  My sister lived there for a little while and had her kids in school there, and it was so weird to go into their schools and see how they've changed !