Obesity Surgery WP Blog

In a message dated 4/25/2002 11:35:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Ringlings
writes:
Yes, my mother is 70. She had WLS at Mt Sinai Hospital in Cleveland in 1983.
She was sent home with no idea of what kind of surgery she had (just knew
her stomach was smaller) was told to drink Carnation Instant Breakfast for 6
weeks and that was it. For the last 19 years, she has eaten whatever she
wants, taken aspirin, drank when she wanted and never taken vitamins. She is
as healthy as any other 70 year old you’ll place her next to. She did gain
about 40 lbs back but she looks and feels great for her age. I believe that
as informed as I was before surgery, the way I am followed up afterward and
the diligence I use in making this tool work will allow me the same
“success”. I have told friends and family that if you told me next week, I
had something cause by my RNY that will take my life soon, I will go gladly.
I just had the best year in the last 20 years of my life — and would do it
over in a heartbeat (and, yes, I was one with complications). As I said in a
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I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE
I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE
I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE
I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE I HAVE A DATE
Oh by the way did I tell you I have a date?
I just got off the phone with Dr Grace’s Secretary, Katherine, and
again she told me that they have a cancelation, and did I want it?
Guess when?
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Hi all,
This is a subject I’ve never seen on this site but hope I can get
some input from others.
I had open RNY on 10-23-01, have lost 87 pounds, don’t eat much
but…I am still shopping for the same amount of food as I did prior
to WLS! That means that I waste a tremendous amount of food each
week. I have tried many things to stop this but I still can’t get a
handle on cutting down on what I buy.
I don’t shop when I am hungry. I only take a certain amount of money
to the store. I go with a list. However, I seem to be addicted to the
whole process of buying food…I don’t eat it but I buy it. I stop on
the way home from work just to walk around the grocery store! Is that
sick or what?
Anybody else ever have this problem?

Hello everyone, I was a member of another online WLS support group
but I was one of the oldest post-ops at 11 months post op and feel
like I needed some older post ops to help with my current issues.
Plus that group was a little too fluffy for me, no one would admit to
having different feelings and thoughts now that they were 100 lbs
lighter, I prefer a more realistic group of people. That’s how I
found this group and I hope I can find the answers I need!
I am 11 months post op on May 4 and I have, to date, lost 118lbs.
I’m about 20-25 away from goal. I’ve had a wonderful weight loss and
no complications whatsoever! However, I am at a horrid plateau and I
KNOW it has to do with my carb intake, but I’m totally addicted to
them again I feel like I’m watching my intake but I must be
taking in too much because the past month I GAINED 2 pounds. I was
kind of slacking off with the exercise the past three weeks and have
started back at the gym last night (I was working out like 5 times a
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Hi all, first let me update on my sister Polly. She is recovering fine from the
surgery and the surgeon says they may go back in laparoscopically in a couple of
months just to look around for signs of cancer. Thanks again for all the emails
of support and prayers!! Now, I have a friend who got her surgery date yesterday
for May 14th and hasn’t stopped crying since. She is so nervous!! I sent her to
obesityhelp.com to get some encouragement and there is the tragic news now of
the lady who has had a pulmonary embolism and is brain dead. She also heard
recently of a friend of hers who died of an embolus at 6 weeks post op. AND, the
resident at the surgeon’s office scared her to death with stories of people’s
bodies rejecting the sutures or staples at the anastamosis sites and causing the
bowel to get necrotic. I am a nurse and definately believe in informed consent
but this is too much for her right now. She has given me permission to give her
email address to this list and would love some words of encouragement and
success stories!! I know you guys will respond to her in the great supportive
way you always do! Her name is Rhonda and her email is rhonyoun@…. Thanks
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Hi,
about the person who throws up alot- keep the faith- I started at 300 pound I
go through not eating and throwing up but 4 months later I weigh 205- 199
here I come- let her concentrate on work and sleep- enjoy the ride also eat
one tensy bite then wait 15 minutes so if she feels like throwing up she will
not eat more sloooow is the word and a little and just do liquids for a long
time and let her know she will loose fast!!

Hi,
Does anyone have any information or feedback about the Mini Gastric
Bypass ( MGB ) that is performed by Dr. Robert Rutledge in, I believe,
North Carolina?
Thanks!
Deena

Hi…
I had my surgery 3/5 02.. And had all the symptoms and feelings you have
but include being cold in FLORIDA.. Jeesh.
Anyway… I was terrified to go back to work. Then something magical
happened.. The 6th week.. I did 8 hour shifts 3 days without a problem and
with more energy than I have had in years.. On my 7th week (this week) I
have done another 3 day of 8 hours and I could have done more.. Next week
will be #9 and I am doing 12 hour shifts 3 days a week on nights.. I think I
can (like the choo choo who could) without a problem.. But I plan to relax
for a few weeks.. So much pulling, tugging, lifting and walking that for 2
weeks while my body adjustes I will relax..
The turn around seems 6 weeks. 5 weeks I was still sick.. (go figure)
might have been mental.. Who knows..
I wish you both luck.. I know you will do fine..
Susan from Florida

I think people entering the amazing world of wls need to hear from
those of us who’ve been out and about for awhile. It’s my third
anniversary, so I thought I’d drop by.
First of all, for me it worked. I used to weigh 500 pounds and now I
weigh about 250. My breathing problems are gone. My feet, chest,
back, and legs don’t hurt all of the time. I am no longer completely
defined by my weight. The surgery didn’t just add years to my life.
It added life to my years. I am healthier, happier, stronger, and
more resiliant thanks to the surgery.
I had to get lots of reconstructive surgeries, and there was a
serious complication with one of them. Wound packing (gauze) was
lost in my body cavity and I became very septic. I had other
complications following my RNY, but I believe those problems were
actually caused by a pre-existing condition, not the RNY itself.
Even with everything I’ve been through, I’d do it all again.
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Just got word that she is “brain dead”. Pulmonary Embolism. I believe had
someone been monitoring her, this would not have happened. For God’s sake
the Dr. walked in and found her not breathing while making rounds.
I guess a monitor for her heartbeat and pulse-ox was just too much to ask
for.
Melissa