Question:
Can someone help me with information to share with my mother?

THIS MAY SEEM DUMB BUT MY MOTHER IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!I AM 31 YRS OLD AND SHE KEEPS CALLING ME TO TRY AND TALK ME OUT OF THIS. SHE WORKS IN A HOSPITAL AND I AM PRETTY SURE SHE HAS BLABBED MY BUSINESS TO EVERYONE!! SHE SAYS THAT SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE I WILL BE ALRIGHT. SHE HAS TALKED TO DOCTORS , NURSES AND PRETTY MUCH ANYONE ELSE WHO WILL LISTEN. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL HER HOW MUCH RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS SURGERY BUT SHE INSISTS THAT SOME DAY DOWN THE ROAD I WILL HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS INCLUDING VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES AND NUTRITION PROBLEMS. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS LONG TERM THAT CAN GIVE ME MORE INFO ON HOW THEY ARE DOIND SO I CAN PRINT IT OUT AND HAND IT TO HER? I AM TAKING HER TO MY CONSULT APPOINTMENT WITH MY DR ON 3/18 HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP.    — [Anonymous] (posted on March 8, 2002)

March 8, 2002
I would suggest talking to Michelle Curran. Her profile is on this site. Both she and her husband had the surgery some time ago, and she is a wealth of information. She can be emailed at [email protected]. I am only one year post-op, but my only complication has been a hernia. I have lost over 165 lbs. and feel GREAT!
   — Terissa R.

March 8, 2002
I just wanted to let you know that I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! It might as well have been me writing that post! My mom is totally against it, but her opinion is ignorant. She tries to talk me out of it and basically asks everyone she knows or meets about it. I have given her this website to look on, but I dont think she ever will. It's just one of those things with her. I think she feels that I will regret it and she will be able to say "I told you so." It's a little hard for me to deal with her, so I try and stay away from the subject. She will realize when I have the surgery and am successful!
   — emilyfink

March 8, 2002
Well, maybe I can give you some ammo. Nuritional deficiencies ARE a sure thing if we don't supplement around them. Trying to eat around a disabled digestive system is the REASON we get all that bad press. But we do not have to be sick. We CAN lose wt, be healthy and maintain some sanity. OK, a LITTLE sanity, depending on your life, of course. I watch my labs like a hawk, and am right on top of any irregularity. Only *I* care enough about me to tweak stuff before it gets out of range. There are ways to avoid the pitfalls. Honest. My labs are better now than they EVER were pre-op, because I was always DIETING!!!!
   — vitalady

March 8, 2002
I started my journey because I was severely anemic. My surgeon did a D&C, then during a follow-up visit suggested the bypass surgery. I had it done last September. <p>I take a good vitamin, calcium supplements, and iron twice a day. I had blood work done in February and my blood count was in the normal range for the first time in several years. <P> I don't qualify as "long-term" post-op by most standards, but I think if you understand that vitamins, calcium and iron (or whatever your doctor requires) are as important to your health as an RX medicine, you should be ok. There's a woman who posts occasionally who is 19 years post-op and is fine. Good luck!
   — Sami S.