Question:
Can anyone help me?

I am in desperate need of 6 women and 6 men that have had RNY gastric bypass surgery (open or lap) and have lost at least 100 pounds. I am doing a project in my psychology class in college about the effects of gastric bypass on our post op lives. Your name will not be included, nor will any personal information. In fact, don't even give it to me. I just have a questioneer that I need to email to you and have you fill it out and email it back. I would really really appreciate it! Here is a copy of the questioneer below: If you want you can cut and paste it and email it back to me at: [email protected] THANK YOU! Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability and as truthful as possible. Do not answer them the way you think you are supposed to answer them. Answer them how you truly feel! Do not worry about punctuation or spelling errors. Your name will NOT be included in this project. Be aware that this is not a professional study, just a student project in a college Psychology Class. Sex? Age? Total amount of weight lost as of today? 1. What do you think was the deciding factor for you to undergo gastric bypass surgery? 2. When people found out you had undergone gastric bypass surgery for weight reduction, how did they respond to you? Were they positive or negative? 3. In general, how do you feel the general public treated you when you were morbidly obese? What was an average day like for you? 4. When deciding to have this surgery, what were your main reasons for having it? List in order of importance: a.) health/physical reasons b.) improvement in looks c.) pressure from society or others to lose weight and be thin d.) improvement of your mental well-being. 5. Have you noticed any differences since you have lost weight with regards to how you are treated by the general public? If so what are some of the differences? 6. How have friends and family members responded to your weight loss? 7. Do you feel you receive more attention or flirtations from the opposite sex now that you have lost weight than you did when you were morbidly obese? 8. If you have a spouse or significant other, how have they have responded to your weight loss? 9. If you work, have you noticed any changes in how your work colleagues treat you since losing weight? If so, how? 10. Has the medical community (doctors, hospitals etc.) treated you any differently since losing weight? If so how? 11. Do you feel that you have gained more of a social life since losing weight (ie: going out more, attending more social events and functions etc.)? 12. Do you think people are friendlier or more helpful to you since losing weight? If so, in what ways? 13. Do you feel that you have more friends now or less friends since losing weight? If so, why do you think that this is? 14. What is an average day like for you now that you have lost weight? 15. Would you have the surgery again? Why or why not?    — Shawnie S. (posted on April 4, 2003)

April 4, 2003
I guess I'm confused.. your paper is about 'gastric bypass' and yet all you want is information from RNY patients? I think "Gastric Bypass" is a term that covers ALL of the surgeries that involve an internal reconstruction (IE permanent alteration or removal of parts of the stomach and/or intestines).. that included the RNY, the BPD, the DS and I believe the VBG, technically it might even include the Lap Band. I realize that the RNY is the prevelant surgery in the United States, but please don't discount those who've chosen other surgeries. Not angry, just confused about the terminology. Best of luck with your paper.
   — Joscelin

April 4, 2003
Well the VBG cant be a BYPASS since nothing is bypassed.
   — bob-haller

April 5, 2003
I would be interested in doing your survey. I will email to you my responses to your questions. As a psych/math major myself, it does sound like you are trying to keep the sample as consistent as possible. Good luck with this and maybe you could post later with your results!
   — Yolanda J.

April 5, 2003
I am not trying to discount or discriminate any various weight loss surgeries. They are all very beneficial and wonderful, and have good results. However, I have to limit it to one type, so the results are consistent with each other. I simply chose RNY since that is the surgery I underwent myself, and already knew the most about. I apologize if anyone gets offended. :) Also the reason I ask that the person has lost at least 100 pounds, is because I want to examine the impact of how society treats us once we have lost a very sigificant amount of weight. I appreciate all the emails I have received so far! I am still in need of about 4 more men, so please email me! Thank you! **God Bless**
   — Shawnie S.

April 5, 2003
Thanks, I wasn't upset, just confused. Which is also why I said I wasn't SURE on the VBG or band. Thank you for the clarification. ~Peace
   — Joscelin