Obesity Surgery WP Blog

I am interested in joining or establishing a support group which
meets in the east part of Columbus Ohio. Does anyone have any
suggestions?

Hello everyone…
I have been following my girlfriend’s research on the different
weight loss surgery procedures that are being done, and based on what
I can see, except for the “lap band”, they are all pretty complicated
and have various unpleasant side-effects.
A thought occurred to me, and I am putting it out for anyone to
comment on:
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Wouldn’t it work to simply shorten the small intestine by some
percentage (maybe 25-30%), and leave all the rest of the “plumbing”
as it is?
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From what I can underst and, the stomach seems to be not much more
than a holding tank for the food to filter out of through the
pyloric valve. The RNY procedure slices off the top of the stomach
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Hi,
I wanted to introduce myself, and hopefully get some advice, both
good and bad. Well hopefully all the advice is good advice, but I
want to hear the pro’s and con’s of the surgery.
I am a 30 year old female, my bmi is 53. I have no real health
conditions at this time, other than lack of energy, shortness of
breath with exertion and sore back/knees feet.
I have tried all the diets, weight watchers, slimfast, atkins, etc.
I have done the best with atkins, but like all the others once I go
off the diet, I gain it all back plus more.
I’m at a point in my life where I realized dieting just isn’t the
answer, and I don’t want to be like this anymore.
I’m calling to make an appt with my dr to talk to him about the
surgery, and was hoping for some good ammunition I can use if need
be, since I have HMO insurance and need his referal.
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HELLO ALL,
I AM ASKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET A COPY OF A BOOK
BY MICHELLE BOASTEN. THE TITLE IS ” WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY STORIES”. I
HAVE JUST FINISHED READING “WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY UNDERSTANDING AND
OVERCOMING MORBID OBESITY” I FOUND THIS BOOK EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND
INFORMATIVE AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO READ HER OTHER BOOK, WHICH IS
SUPPOSSE TO CONTAIN INSPIRATIONAL STORIES. I THINK THIS WOULD BE
HELPFUL IN MAINTAINING A POSITIVE MIND AND SPIRIT AS MY SURGERY DATE
APPROACHES (SEPTEMBER4). IF ANY ONE CAN HELP I WOULD GREATLY
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU
KRISTA

I have a surgery date set for July 31 @ 4:30pm. I have so many
emotions, I can’t even say exactly how I feel. But it is really going
to happen! I was a little P. O.’d that the price went up $2000
dollars, but I’ll come up with the money as I’m sure they are well
aware. Going to have to process that a little so that I’m very
positive and not holding a grudge. After all, how long would it take
me to spend $2000 on junk and fast food?…not very long, not very
long at all.
Is my stomach in knots because I’m excited or because I’m scared or a
little bit of both?
I was just thinkinking…do you think a surgery time in the morning is
better than later in the afternoon. I mean, first thing in the morn
the doctor is fresh anfd later in the day he/she may be tired and want
to hurry up. My surgery is scheduled for 4:30pm. Am I just getting
paranoid and freaking out? What say you all?
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Okay so I was excited and posted the date incorrect and even counted
the days wrong.
My surgery is scheduled for Monday Aug 5th not the 8th and that is
only 18 days away. I guess I need to clam down….
Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support…..Will keep posting
Hugs
Char

From People.com:
Surgery Helps Heart Singer Drop 50
Rock singer Ann Wilson, who, along with sister Nancy shot to
fame in the 1970s in the band Heart, has lost 50 lbs. since
having a “Lap-Band” surgically implanted around her stomach,
Reuters reports. The device is placed around the stomach to
limit how much the patient can eat before feeling full,
according to a doctor for Wilson, 52. Wilson’s weight before
the surgery was not disclosed, Reuters notes, but the doctor
said in a statement that she had lost 50 lbs. in the months
after the surgery and “expects to lose the vast majority of
her excess weight.” This procedure is designed for people
who are overweight by 100 lbs. or more, the doctor said,
noting that he selected this device because the intestines
and stomach are not cut or stapled, as they are with other
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Hello All, I was wondering how most of you were
getting adequate iron. I am a 1 year post-op (6/26/01)
Up until now, I was taking a children’s chewable 2x a
day. It has 18mg iron for a total of 36 mg a day. I
had my 1 year blood work up only to send all of my
Dr.’s into a tizzy. I am severly anemic, dangerously
so. I have no stored iron, and I am almost at the
point of hospitalization. Has anyone else experienced
this? How much iron are you getting? Is two children’s
chewables enough for an adult? My iron has been raised
to 325 mg five times a day for a total of 1625 mg a
day! All other labs were good. I am eating enough and
getting plenty of protein. I was told there was no way
I could get adequate iron from diet alone. I must use
supplements. Any info would be appreciated.
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Can not beleive it came home from work Thursday afternoon, had family
come in from Texas, so forgot to check my answering machine until we
went to bed. There was a message from Dr. Swain’s fofice stating my
Surgery was scheduled for Aug 8th……I was at Dr. Swain’s office
wed and he said in the next 2 months…..not 2 weeks LOL
I am so excited after all this time…..only 21 days away ( 21 has
always been my lucky number) I am just so excited….after all this
time .I will be attending my first support group this Sat at the Mayo
Hospital and hope to meet some of the people and maybe some will be
in this wonderful group. Thanks for all the wonderful things you
have done to help me make it through this long 2 yrs of trying to get
to this point.
Hugs
Char

Well it has now been 1 year since my surgery. I posted a few weeks ago and
had responses from a lot of people, thank you for writing me. I haven’t got
to get back to all because it has been a horrible month. It started with the
sudden death of a family member than I was rushed to the Hospital and had
emergency surgery. I went to the ER for severe abdominal pains and vomiting
the stupid jerk of a doctor sent me home without running any tests saying it
was gastritis(sp). Needless to say I was back that night in worse pain and
vomiting stool. Yeah that was GROSS. The great doctor that was there than did
a CT scan and found a small bowel obstruction. they admitted me right away
and inserted a NGO tube without a scope like I asked. That was a horrible
experience. That was Saturday, by Monday morning I was vomiting every 1/2
hour or so. So they did an emergency surgery. The doc said when they got in
there I was a mess full of adhesions, and my colon was completely white, they
didn’t think it could be saved, but by the grace of God once they removed the
rather large adhesion that was on it, it pinked right up and did OK. Once I
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