Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Does anyone know where I can order sugar free Tang on line? I’ve searched and
can’t find it in a store or on line.
Thanks, Kim C
Lap RNY 4/22/02
Dr. Au, Group Health
- 27 lbs so far!

Subject: RE: Surgery coming up
You can go to www.mygastricbypass.com and click on the PreOp FAQ
button. Towards the bottom is a list of things to shop for as well as a
list of things to take to the hospital.
I haven’t had surgery yet so I don’t know about the calming techniques. Good
luck!
Carla W.

Hi all you guys. It’s my first time posting, but I have been lurking and you
being very helpful. And I need more of your help now, that my big day is so
close. Let me tell you about me, I am 27 years old and weight 260 pounds.
All my life I have being struggling with my weight. I live in Miami.
Everything went fast for me. I have a friend who found out that insurance
were paying for the surgery. So she went to her PCP at the begining of
Jan/2002 to her surprise her DR had the surgery done to her and she had lost
150 pounds. Well, to make my story short I started my ordeal on February, at
the end of March I went to the see the surgeon Dr Rabaza here in Miami, I
went very prepare for that appointment so I did not have to go back, just
seat and wait. My Ins. approved me in 2 days and I got the surgery date of
MAY 20.
My problem is this. My friend had the surgery on April 24 and every time I
see her she tells me that she regrets the surgery. The first two weeks she
complained all day and night of having pain. And now she is telling me that
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My surgery has been approved and will take place May 28, just a couple of
weeks away. Does anyone have any advice, as far as, what to take to the
hospital, self calming techniques if you become anxious before the surgery,
etc. Thanks Melissa

Yesterday was the 2 week anniversary of Melissa’s and my open RNY.
So, the first few days at home, I took LOTS of naps. The recliner seemed
very nice. The naps were very deep.
My surgery, compared to Melissa’s, is like we had to totally different
operations. I didn’t care for my binder much, so I didn’t wear it and
didn’t miss it. The pain continued to get better each day (have only taken
two pain pills since leaving the hospital on day five). I was able to sleep
on either side, but have not been able to sleep on my stomach.
The new routine has been a drag. Since I’m on “vacation” from work, I’m
sleeping much later than my normal 5:00 AM. I get up, and immediately eat
something since I’ve not been drinking during the night. Sometimes a little
oatmeal, sometimes some cream of wheat, sometimes a scrambled egg. Keeping
to the breakfast, lunch, dinner schedule has been tough as Melissa and I
were used to eating one, maybe two, meals a day. Drinking constantly is
different, but not too difficult as I’m always thirsty. My breakfast is
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Do we all have to see this many different types of doctors prior to having
the surgery? If so why?
Christine
In a message dated 5/15/2002 12:20:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,
cweinberg@… writes:

Two doctors at All Saints are starting a program, myself and another gal
will be the first ones to have the surgery preformed in Racine
(previously we had to go to Milwaukee or Illinois if you wanted the
surgery).
We are putting together a support group in town, so even if you DID
travel to have the surgery, support will b e closer to home.
If any of you are from the Kenosha or Racine area, please e-mail me so
we can include you in the new group. The more the merrier!
Tressa Prudhom

Your post was beautiful and I have had a similar feeling lately.
It’s wonderful to be able to look in mirrors again without averting
your eyes. I used to only look in the mirror from the neck up, that
was hard enough but now I can look in the mirror and critique or
admire without feeling shame and panic.
Good luck and enjoy making up for lost time.
Donna D.

This is for Patricia carlin and others who may want to respond:
I am curious. You wrote a wonderful piece on the woman in the mirror
and it brought tears to my eyes. You said for the first time in 10 months
but then in the signature you said 7/5/91. So were you operated on 11 years
ago? Did you just start losing again? What is the deal.
I am interested in long term.Everyone is soooooo happy one and two
years out but in talking to a cousin who had this done 10 years ago, even
though she has not regained but 30 pounds of her weight loss, she is having
a lot of health problems she blames on the WLS.
Is there another list of long term post opps who would be willing to
share?
Thank you.
Judy H. Wright
Personal and oral historian,parent educator and coach
Author of over 20 books, international speaker and trainer
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Were you taking cholesterol meds pre-op that you aren’t taking now? My
labs did that specifically because I quit the meds the day I had
surgery. It took about 6 months for the cholesterol to lower into the
normal range… and my latest value was 188… *off* meds.
It isn’t uncommon for some labs to creep up before falling down…
cholesterol is one as is liver values. This is something to keep an eye
on, however, as it might be showing signs of hereditary cholesterol probs
as opposed to food ones.
As always, check with your doc!
Barbara Herrera
San Diego, CA - 41 years old
Open RNY April 5, 2001
Dr. Julie Ellner, Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, CA
04/05/01: 344# / BMI: 63/ Body Fat%: 75%
04/05/02: 172# / BMI: 31.6/ Body Fat%: 28%
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