Archive for December, 2003

6 days post op and doing great!

Saturday, December 27th, 2003

I am 6 days post op and doing great. I had the Lap RNY and was able to stand
up within an hour of leaving the recovery room and walked the hall that
night. I was headed for home within 48 hours of my surgery and was glad. A
hospital is no place to get well! No problems with any foods so far, and I
have already tried many things, mostly pureed of course. I am so relieved to
have this behind me! I have composed a list if the 10 top worst things about
my WLS. They are as follows:
10. Missed “Survivor” cause I was in recovery.
9. Took my Morphine Pump just when it
was getting fun.
8. The hospital had nothing that was sugar
free like pudding, Popsicles, or Jell-O.
7. Tummy hurts a little-feels like a
pulled muscle.
6. The pneumatic hose. They really
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WLS is easier than just dieting

Saturday, December 27th, 2003

You’ll probably get all sorts of responses to your question, but for me, it’s
been very easy! Of course there have been times when I wanted more than one
bite of something sweet, but you have to police yourself or your body will do
it for you, that’s the joy of WLS, your body will tell you when you’ve eaten
too much, sweets or otherwise. That’s why it’s easier than just dieting. I
had WLS so I wouldn’t ever have to DIET again. I now eat healthier than ever
because I want to and have the “built in” self control. There is no way to
describe it, it’s amazing to me. I didn’t think I could ever give up sodas,
sweets and junk food, but I did and really don’t miss them at all. Once in a
while I’ll have ONE bite of cake or something, but it’s so good that one bite
is all I need and I don’t want more cause I don’t want to feel sick from
dumping, that is no fun.
I hope this helps a little bit, it’s hard to condense how wonderful this
surgery is in just a few sentences! Please don’t listen to all the
negatives about the surgery, you still have to do this for yourself and make
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BPd/DS and malnutrition

Friday, December 26th, 2003

In a message dated 04/23/2002 10:47:25 PM Central Daylight Time,
starhead89@… writes:
Yes, but you have to remember that they can consider a low iron reading here
or there or some other vit and consider it a nutritional problem. Also, it
is very important to take our vitamins. I think the term “a lot” however,
does overstate it quite a bit.
In my instance I have a most aggressive BPD/DS (50 cm common channel) and
have had absolutely no nutritional problems. However, if I did, I have read
up on how that should be treated and would insist on it being treated very
aggressively. I have know a few who ended up with severe nutritional
problems, but I would have been very insistent on having treatment that these
individuals didn’t get (or at least yet). An example is having low iron and
a doc trying to bring it up with oral iron or injection for over a year and
not doing anything more. NO, NO, NO, if my iron did not come up quickly from
these treatments, I would have insisted on iron infusions after a couple of
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I am doing it TODAY!!!! ( 24th)

Thursday, December 25th, 2003

OK here I am setting here my last night on the PRE-OP side. My surgery will
be at Mt Carmel West Columbus Ohio….. At 10 AM. My Daughter will let the
group know how things go. My Dr says I should be home Saturday…..
Yes all week I have had fears and have been very stressed about it all….
BUT tonight I got a Blessing and my fears are calmed. I know this is right
for me. I know I will see my lil ones grow and be great people. And after I
can help others like me get through the rough spots…..
Thanks for the support~!!!!!!
Sincerely
Jody….
SOON to be on THE other side………….
I am MOVING UP the LADDER of Success ONLY With YOUR help!!!
I am a Star Recruiter!!! (Thanks LADIES!!!)
Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics
Go to www.marykay.com/jodonnell to see OUR new products!!
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QUESTIONS QUESTIONS QUESTIONS!

Thursday, December 25th, 2003

Yes, I’ve read all about BPD/DS surgery. I do also understand that there
are tons of different surgeries out there. Sorry I didn’t clarify, I was
talking about the Open Proximal RNY Gastric Bypass.
The surgeons I’ve talked to said that DS was associated with a lot of
patients being malnourished… But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I
believe him.
Thanks!
CP

100 lbs vs. 150 lbs

Thursday, December 25th, 2003

I have to say that I VEHEMENTLY disagree with you, Tangela.
I am 37, 5′2″, weigh 210 lbs, and am about 85 lbs overweight. I also
have diabetes, high blood pressure, poly cystic ovarian disease and
heart problems….all caused by my weight.
THANK GOD that my insurance company didn’t even stick to the “100 lb”
mark for me. I’m having open RNY on April 25 and I know that this
surgery is going to save my life.
Anyone who is either 100 lbs overweight, or has co-morbities that
warrant the surgery should have access to it.
Daneene

Subject: the drain

Wednesday, December 24th, 2003

AHHHHH, the dreaded drain. My Doc leaves the drain in for about 3-4 weeks.
But after he came to our support group, and TALKED about it and WHY he does
it…it all makes sense and it was all worth it.
He explained to us that its sort of a “safety” valve. The tube goes into our
“old” tummies in the RNY patient. This part of our stomach is still working
and still a very important and viable organ. It is still producing all its
gastric juices, cups and cups and cups of fluid daily. But after being cut
on…sometimes it can go into SHOCK sort of, and not want really work
properly in releasing the gastric juices. Or…sometimes there are other
complications, like bowel adhesions and such that can cause the gastric
juices to back up and can potentionally rupture the suture line which is
still very vulnerable as it heals.
He has had several patients that things like this has happened to and that
having that tube in the old part of the stomach allows you to RELEASE the
valve and empty any juices before any type of catastrophe could happen. Its
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dizzy/nausea

Wednesday, December 24th, 2003

Perhaps my post was not really clear about being dizzy and stuff….:::::
yesssssssssssssss I did go to the dr, I would NEVER take anything in this or
any other group posting as ‘medical gospel’ HOWEVER, I was more less asking
for ideas that post ops have used and solutions that work for wls patients
regarding nausea….. sorry at the time I was really understanding what I
was meaning, rereading it I admit I kinda wondered off the beaten
path….I’ll blame it on medical delusional brain farts……:::: lol…….
So question stated plainly (smile) …..::
HOW DO YOU, A WLS, PATIENT - GET RID OF NAUSEA/VERTIGO W/O MEDICATIONS -
what works for ‘regular’ stomached people, sometimes is just too much for
wls patients….my wl surgeon says no pepto or baking soda nothing even
remotely close & cola syrup makes me dump (sugar)
** side note: I did see my regular (non wls dr) dr yesterday, lo and behold
I do have whats called Labyrinthitis (virul inner ear infection) no meds
will get rid of a virus and the meds I do have I am not able to use during
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WLS does it really work?

Wednesday, December 24th, 2003

I’m scheduled for surgery next month and have really been following all your
posts. I see so many posts about eating too much or not enough, about plateau’s
and people complaining about not loosing enough weight or fast enough.
I guess I’m trying to say that I’m concerned hearing some of these things, they
sound very similar to complaints when on a diet. What has made this different
for all of you? Why do you think it works? Are there any post-ops out there
who it didn’t work for?
I certainly am willing to put in the effort with this tool. But please tell me
why all of you think it is the best tool available? Sometimes I think maybe I’m
come to a place where I’m dedicated enought to loose this weight on my own, why
do I need this surgery? Then I just get very afraid about putting on even more
weight after yet another failed attempt.
I guess I’m really afraid to fail at this too. Did anyone else feel like this
and if so is it really working for you?
Rechelle
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C. Loyas/the drain

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2003

Hi there-
Just wanted to respond to your drain ??. I had two tubes in the
hospital….one came out the day i was discharged (my nurse told me to
take a deep breath and let it out slowly…I had to do it three times
…IT WAS LONG)…an odd sensation, not painful…just disconcerting to
“feel” it coming out. The other tube, my “G-tube” is still in. My
surgeon routinely uses them to drain from the “old” stomach. Apparently
when he started doing these surgeries, the tubes were in for several
weeks, although I was told to anticipate something closer to about two
weeks. To describe: It is apprx. 5-6 inches, with a stopper at the
end. I was told to “burp” the drain twice a day for 10 seconds each
time…this is to release gas/air/bile. I just empty it into the
sink….this also was a little disconcerting at first b/c (forgive the
graphics here) it it was green…sometimes more “lumpy”, sometimes more
“liquidy”. As far as clothes…I’ve been out of the house a few times
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