Question:
WOW! I watched the bypass surgery on TLC tonight and.........

it really shocked me! I couldn't believe my eyes...that someone was going to be doing this very same thing to my body in less than 3 weeks. It showed everything from cutting the lady open to pulling her stomach out and it even showed them stapling the portions off. Although I've been researching and going back and forth with CIGNA for the past year, I didn't really understand the seriousness of this surgery until tonight. I wasn't even thinking about the day of surgery, etc...I have always thought about the end results. Has anyone ever watched the surgery being performed on someone, how did it make you feel? I still will go through with the surgery, it just amazed me to actually see what happens.    — Karen W. (posted on November 20, 2002)

November 19, 2002
I actually did watch the surgery before I had my own and it almost changed my mind! In my mind, what I saw was a surgeon that was looking to be very rough with the person's insides and just trying to "get in, get out, get on with their life." It scared me to death!!! All the blood and everything thing I had seen. I just got over it by realizing that that was the reality of the surgery I was about to have. I'm still 100% confident in my decsion. I've lost 60 pounds in 2 months! Its great!! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! HUGS
   — Christie N.

November 19, 2002
At the seminar that I went to, we watched a film of the entire lap RNY while every detail was explained to us. The lady next to me got up and flew out of there as she could not handle it. I found it so incredible to watch and was not freaked out at all. During my recuperation I was able to visualize what was going on inside with my new pouch. The surgery I saw was not that messy with the constant suction going on. My stomach is transected and it doesn't bother me at all. My recovery has been uneventful and very smooth. I believe that part of this is because of my being well informed and my outlook very positive. Anxiety will bog a person down and make them tense up and the body is not able to heal properly.
   — Sue A.

November 19, 2002
Yes, I saw the surgery also! It did make my heart skip a few beats, but when I thought about it some more, I knew the open heart surgery and all else that comes down the road with obesity would not be much better. I woke up the morning of surgery ready, very little if any jitters. All went fine. My phych. Dr. said that if I could watch that and still be ready, then mentally, I was ready and that is so true. Actually the hardest part of the whole process was the "head hunger" the first few weeks, once I was past that... it has been a ball. Happy losing!
   — Dana B.

November 20, 2002
hi ! i bet that was cool to see that. i somehow keep missing it. could someone please email me to remind me when its on again [email protected]. i asked my surgeon if they had video taped mine as i would have loved to watch it. to my dissapointment they had not. id really love to see it. im so curious about the whole procedure.
   — carrie M.

November 20, 2002
Does anyone know the actual name of the program it was on? I'm looking at the TLC website (which you can have them send you email reminders of programs) but I can't seem to figure out exactly which show this discussion is on. And when they aired it? The poster has down that she saw it today (11/20) although the TLC site doesn't have any medical shows listed for air today that I can see? Help please, I'm very interested in watching this...thanks so much....
   — chickiewickie

November 20, 2002
When I was 5 yrs post-op, but while my staple line was disrupted & I was awaiting revision, I observed a couple of procedures, one was a revision/TT. And you know, I was JUST as ready to hop on that table RIGHT THEN, compared to the sure weight gain I was about to have due to my SLD. It was fascinating to me. But I wished it was ME, at that point. Mine (revision-only) wasn't til 6 weeks later.
   — vitalady

November 22, 2002
One question - have you ever seen a C-section being performed. Believe me - it's gross (I'm a nurse) I think I can better deal with this than having my uterus plopped up on my belly like a footbal, cleaned out, and stuffed back into my gut (which I did with my last child)...and I was awake while they did it and knew what they were doing. Think of it this way - you will be asleep when it's being performed.
   — Debra L. H.