Question:
I'm 30, 5'7

I know it's different for everyone, BUT please give me some experiences. My doctor is fairly conservative,(I've heard), and I'm wondering what others experience have been within my weight, bmi, age ect. OR any experiences with the proximal rny. Thank you all!    — LionGirl2k (posted on August 17, 2002)

August 17, 2002
I'm 31 years old, 5' 6 1/2'', pre-op weight 263, had an open distal non-transected RNY on 05/07/02. I've had no major complications and only a few of the "normal" problems associated with surgery, like incision pain, beginning hair loss, some short-term platues etc. I've now lost 61 lbs and feel great. I find that it's not hard at all to control my food intake or take my vitamins and calicium. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
   — Kelly S.

August 18, 2002
I was 32, 5'7" and was 237 in the OR on Feb. 6, 2002. I had VBG and have had a very good time of it. I am down to 169 and just went shopping at the GAP and bought size 14 jeans! The weight loss has been slow and getting slower now that I'm 6 months out, but all in all, I am so happy with it and I know that I will be able to make it another 35 lbs. to goal by my anniversary date. I do believe I have an incisional hernia, which I've found will be a good thing, because insurance is more likely to pay for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) that way. I don't have massive amounts of skin hanging, but I do definitely have saggy, flabby skin on my belly. I had no problem with hair loss or vomiting or low levels of anything. I think the hardest part is working on WHY I want to eat the way I did and still want to sometimes. Dealing with those emotional issues and learning and controling foods place in them is very difficult and draining at times. If you want, email me. Good luck!
   — Carolynn J.

August 18, 2002
Come to local support groups and meet (in person) those who are several years post-op with various types of procedures, or who have had success or problems with the "too conservative" or "too radical" procedures. It's a safe place to share failure AND success (we almost have to hide that in public places, too, for some reason)
   — vitalady

August 19, 2002
5 5 1/2" - 34... 70 pounds lost in 4 months... started in size 24 now in size 14's
   — lindajenkins

August 19, 2002
I am 33, 5'8 and had my surgery on 7/15/02...so 4 weeks and 4 days out I am down more than 40lbs.!
   — Trish R.