Question:
Are there any RN's or MD's who have had the roux-en-y?
Reason for asking is because I would think it would be harder for someone in the medical profession with all the knowledge of possible complications including further down the road, to made a decision on having this procedure. I could be totally wrong though because the complications from morbid obesity are huge too. Just wondering if there are any RN's or MD's who have had this procedure and was it especially difficult to made that decision? — Jane B. (posted on March 2, 2003)
March 2, 2003
My wife is a RN, and had the surgery. I have met and talked with Dr Rosser
who does TV surgeons on TLC? he had it too, and is one of my surgeons
patients. He is doing great. I know a local ER doc who had the surgery, he
was a super morbid and after some problems early on is doing MUCH better.
Used to see him professionally all the time when Jen was in the ER with
breathing problems pre op. <P> All of theese folks just like me are
scared of surgery, but more fearful of the long term effects of remaining
MO. Loosing the weight gives us a chance to get old, which we wouldnt of
had remaining MO. I am told the long term effects are manegable thru
vitamins and close monitoring. I know some long term post ops doing well,
one a RN at presby is over 20 years out. She looks great, isnt a skinny
model but is healthy and happy. For me and Jen the alternative to WLS as a
poor quality of life and a early death. Surgery was the BEST thing we ever
did.
— bob-haller
March 2, 2003
I am an RN, and the decision, once I decided to look into the surgery, was
pretty easy. I felt like life was passing me by, I couldn't do the things I
wanted to do, looked awful in my clothes, and generally felt unhealthy and
like I was going down the tubes at a relatively early age. I am 47, and
was on Glucophage XL 2000 mg every day, two blood presure medicines, a
medicine for high cholesterol and a few others. Now I am off the Glucophge
completely, off one B/P med and on the lowest dose available of the other,
and off the medicine to lower cholesterol. I am not worried about
complications down the road; I try to be as compliant as possible with my
diet, exercise, and remaining medications, including the vitamins I will
need to take for the rest of my life. I walk a lot, don't smoke (never
have), and generally try to do all the right things to prevent
complications. If something comes up down the road, I'll deal with that
then. Also, I work for an insurance company and I can tell you that quite
a few nurses are having this surgery, as we self-insure a system of several
hospitals!
— koogy
March 2, 2003
I'm an RN. I had a DS in 10/01 and have lost 136 lbs.
— dantevolta
March 2, 2003
The head RN of the obesity clinic where I had my surgery had the RNY. I
can't say anything about her decision and whether it was hard for her, but
for a long time was a huge encouragement to most of the people who had the
surgery with these surgeons and hospital. She was also head of the support
groups as well, but unfortunately is no longer associated with the clinic.
She seemed successful, had the surgery about 5 years ago.
— Lezlie Y.
March 2, 2003
I am not a RN but I work in the medical field at assisted living homes and
know the Dr that takes care of our patients well and told him my plans and
he said I would feel ever so much better. I also purchase juice plus
vitamins from him as well. He cetainly wouldn't tell me this if he didn't
think I was making the right choice. In fact he told me of a gal here in
town that holds support group meetings and I have attended them ever since.
They are connected to out of state program but that is okay too. Good Luck
with everyone!
Barbara
— Barbara T.
March 2, 2003
Dr. Maremar in Ft. Lauderdale, FL is a baratric surgeon who has had the RNY
and his wife. I have heard his son is going to have rny as well.
I also know of another pulmonologist(sp) who had RNY and I know probably 20
nurses who have had the RNY.
good luck
jen
open rny, july 22, 2002
-100+
— Jennifer S.
March 2, 2003
I am a registered nurse and I had the r n y. Yes, it was difficult to make
this choice to do it. I had the old intestinal bypass in 1981 and had an
emergency takedown of that surgery and a bowel resection last year in Feb.
I nearly died but all the weight I gained since with no way to lose it and
beleive me I have been on a diet all my life and nothing worked. I felt
like this was the only thing i could do and now at three weeks out, I can
wipe my butt again, play with my grandson tie my shoes, no blood pressure
meds since surgery and getting better everyday. But it was a very
difficult thing especially for me and knowing how close to death i came
last year.
— Delores S.
March 2, 2003
U.S. Bariatrics in Ft Lauderdale, Flordia: Dr. Marema, His wife; Dr.
Benetiz, and many of the other staff members.
— faybay
March 2, 2003
Dr. R. Bryan Freeman of Anniston, AL had it done and is doing fine. I
believe his website is freemanandco.com. If that is incorrect he is listed
on this site under finding a physician.
— becky
March 2, 2003
I'm an RN and worked OR for many years. Many of the patients we had in OR
who developed complications were the healthy ones that we didn't even
suspect would have problems. I was well aware of the risks, but compared
with the risks of obesity and my family medical history, it really wasn't a
tough decision for me. My only regret is that I was obese for such a long
time and didn't do this sooner.
— Deborah R.
March 2, 2003
My older daughter and I are both RNs and have had lap RNY surgery. After
years in the critical-care field, I did months of research before making a
final decision on the type of WLS and the surgeon. There are now five of
us in our family who are RNY patients and the surgery has been the best
decision we ever made. This wasn't at all a difficult decision for my
husband and me since our co-morbidities were slowly killing us. We chose
the RNY because we felt that it was important for us to have a surgery that
would be self-limiting in the amounts and types of foods that we put into
our bodies for the rest of our lives. VBG and lap-banding have a high
failure rate because patients are dependent only on their will-power to
prevent them from eating high-calorie food items....we knew we had no
will-power! From a medical standpoint, I felt negatively about the
increased malabsorption/malnutrition issues associated with DS surgery, and
also did not wish to have a surgery that carried with it the psychological
"placebo" of being able to eat whatever you want, and still lose
weight....we had had a lifetime of eating high-calorie, high-fat foods and
for us, it was simply time for a healthier lifestyle. These were purely
OUR observations and motives. Lots of folks are very successful with
varying procedures. Be a proactive consumer and do all the research
possible....then make a choice that meets YOUR specific personal needs.
Best wishes!
— Diana T.
March 2, 2003
I'm not only an RN, but a surgical RN....and happen to work for BTC in the
surgery department. Like you pointed out, the risks of health-related
problems due to obesity are so much higher than having surgery, so that
never crossed my mind when I decided to have surgery. I've seen many
postings here by RN's who've had RNY and none that I can recall ever
regretted it. Good luck to you
— Lynette B.
March 2, 2003
I'm an RN who had the RNY in May 2002. I saw many, MANY more people dying
from complications of obesity than I did patients with complications from
wls. I was usually the biggest person in the ER, which meant I was usually
the one who ended up doing the chest compression on the MO patients who
came in in arrest. Seeing those people die, not always in later years, from
obesity related diseases really helped encourage me to save my life by
having this surgery. Good luck! I've met lots of nurses over the years who
had various forms of wls. Most of them have told me that would do it all
over again!
— NicoleG
March 2, 2003
Another R.N. Open RNY 9/01 down 115lbs
— Denise W.
March 2, 2003
Another RN here-I made my decision the instant I heard it was available in
my area. I haven't regretting it a moment.
— Bobbi G.
March 2, 2003
My surgeon had roux en y surgery himself about a year ago. Dr. F. Harris
in Sioux Falls, SD. He's lost a lot of weight and when he gives
informational seminars he can answer your questions both as a surgeon and
as a WLS patient.
— Laura K.
March 2, 2003
There are alot of physicans, nurses and others in the medical field who
have had WLS. I met with physican who herself had WLS and she did great and
highly suggests it. Since then met quite alot. Great advances have been
made now a days then say 20 yrs plus ago. Hope this helps some.
— Paulette R.
March 2, 2003
Another RN here. I also did alot of research before making my decision.
It's a decision I don't regret. I had my lap RNY on 1/16/03 and I'm back
at work and feeling great!
— Molly C.
March 3, 2003
I am an RN too. I have to say I was comfortable with having the surgery
with of course some fear too. However I think RN's and Drs are able to put
the risk of complications into the proper perspective.
— **willow**
March 5, 2003
Jane, I am a RN and having a very difficult time making a decision even
though I have been researching for almost 2 years! I noticed you live in
Wausau, WI. I don't live far from you (about 60 miles), and wouldn't mind
getting together to discuss our concerns. Actually, I will be coming to
Wausau late Friday afternoon (3/7/03). Email me if you're interested at:
[email protected] Best of luck to you with your decision!
— Patti S.
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