Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Greetings Friends:
It has been eons since “we spoke”; I hope you are all doing well on your
“journey”. I am getting ready to celebrate both a chronological birthday and
a bariatric “re-birth” next month; it is hard to believe on both counts.
Weighwise I have lost more than I ever prayed or even imagined being and my
size is one I simply imagined being; never really expecting or even serously
hoping to be at. I bought dress pants in a size 36″ a few months ago and
have yet to wear them for fear that I will quickly grow out of them. I have
been blessed I guess with a pretty efficient metabolism; either that or I am
more stringent with my food than I think. Either way, 36″ or 38″ waist, this
surgery has helped do for me what I could not do for myself. What a powerful
tool this is. Yet, the mind and habits go on, drawing from the past and
resulting in my constant food fears and/or infatuations. I am NO posterboy
for weight loss surgery….believe you me. Slowly, I am finding the concepts
of moderation and when I don’t, my little pouch often kicks into gear.
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joined in on the fun. I am not having much fun! My surgery was 6 days ago,
and I am TIRED
Goodness, girl… you just had SURGERY! with general anesthesia! with cuts
in your belly! with food and liquid and sleep deprivation! probably with
big pain medications! How in the world could you think that it would only
take 6 days to be back to normal or anything even *close* to normal?!? Even
Laps who are back to work after a week or two are still napping weeks after
surgery. Opens sometimes take longer. I was very tired, though more
energetic each day, for at least 6 weeks. I was able to *do* more than I
was pre-op, but I still got very tired very easily. That is to be expected!
Our bodies are healing lots of things we never even consider… our livers,
our incisions, our hormones, our appetites, etc.
BE GENTLE ON YOURSELF! If you need it, get help with the kidlets… or make
them take “rests” as you rest, too (even if they don’t nap)… and take a
nap nap once your partner comes home.
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hi everyone,
just wanted to fill everyone in on how far i have gotten. today i
weighed myself and am officially down 60 lbs and wednesday is my 12
week post-op day. i exercise everyday!!! i am amazed at how much
drive i have again. my skin is not sagging anywhere and i drink at
least 75 oz. of water a day. sometimes i have my days where i eat
more carbs than usual but i get right back on it the next day and i
still lose weight. i do not deprive myself though. if i want it, i
let myself have it. i cut my hair (about 9 inches) into a shag and
have highlighted it really blonde. i have also been tanning a lot
and it is finally really starting to show. i feel so good all the
time. when i go for 3 mile walks, my feet never hurt! i just dont
hurt anymore period. speaking of period, i have a regular one now.
it comes at the same time every month. i went from never leaving my
house to never being home. i am looking for another job right now,
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Hi guys.
Well, I am officially 1 month post-op today. I am thurougly frustrated.I am
down 31.9 lbs and have not lost ANY weight in over a week!
I have now been going to the gym and walking on the treadmill, and I follow my
diet as I am supposed too. The only thing I have been a bad girl with is my
fluid intake. I only get in about 3 glasses a day. Could that be causing this?
Any suggestions? Or am I getting neurotic?
-heather

Your fatique will go away. I felt the same way a few days after
surgery. I needed to eat more. I was not taking in enough of my
liquid diet-especially broth, to give me energy. Also, move more-walk
etc. Moving more raises your metabolism and actually makes you less
tired in combination with ‘eating’ more.
Hang in there. You’ll do fine!! It does get better.
Rita

Hi everyone, I am a new member. I live in Reading, PA. Dr. William
Sweet of the Reading Hospital & Medical Center is my doctor and I am
having the open rny.
I think I am ready. I have read a mountain of material, but it seems
as if there is something new every day.
I am a little nervous but a lot anxious. I have waited for this for
13 months. (originally had problems w/insurance coverage and surgery
cancelled twice).
Stacey

Hi, I ahve been researching this surgery for many years. Always been
overweight, dieting allowed me to lose 100 pounds on;y to be
reclaimed very quickly. I am ready for a tool that will help me keep
my weight down–this past year like many I converted to hypertension,
diabetes, and have had gall bladder episodes. I am lucky, my
insurance didn’t even bulk at the idea and now I am merely waiting on
bated breath for the consult with the surgeon.
I have many questions still, but the easiest and first is what will
help me make a quick recovery and decrease possibility of
complications? I have seen a few postings about balloons, can you
explain more? I also am looking for a support group here in my local
area to meet with as I know that helps a great deal
Fayetteville, NC area.
Appreciate any and all helpful suggestions sent my way.

If anyone could help I would appreciate it. I started off at 246, I
am 5′4.5 and lost about 80lbs in the first 4.5 to 5 months. I am now
8 months post op and have not lost anything for 3 months, despite
sticking to the program. I have to admit that it is getting
increasingly difficult to stick with it now as I am still not
losing. My dieting history in the past was similar in that I would
lose 10lbs and then nothing else no matter what I did, working out
with a trainer 3 times a week and walking every day. I know what I
am supposed to be doing but it isnt working. Any suggestions would
be greatly appreciated, I am at my wit’s end, I do not want to fail
this surgery. My BMI is still registering as overweight and I did
this surgery mainly to avoid health issues that my family have
suffered from. I want to get out of the at risk category. Any
suggestions?

So I’ve been on this list for a while and I’m curious why so many folks
have problems with hernia’s? Any one know?

I had an open RNY Jan.10 2002.During the surgery my Dr. discovered I had active
cirrhosis and did a biopsy. I have tested negative for all types of viral
hepatitis. This is not a recent condition as my liver enzymes had be elevated
at different times in the past 10-15 yes. My doctor felt it was “just a fatty
liver” and if I loss weight it would clear up. I would encourage anyone with
elevated enzymes to follow up and seek out as much information as possible. I
also have other medical problems that become a life threatening as my doctors
dismissed the sxs.as being overweight. I spent 4 weeks in ICU on a ventilator to
treat acute respiratory failure and severe airway obstruction. The obstruction
was caused by my excessive weight around the upper body and chest. My lungs
could not fully expand .I was also treated with a tracheostomy and a ventilator
at night. I still have the trach. but was able to quit using the ventilator
about 1 month after my surgery and a 35# weight loss. All my medical conditions
should improve with my weight loss. If I do need a liver transplant in the
future I can now on the list. I hope I don’t need one .