Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Hi Everyone I am asking if there is anyone in the Chicago area who
has had this surgery. Names of Drs in the area who are very good
and Types of Insurances that cover the surgery in the area. I
have a friend who will be looking into having the surgery. She has
yet to talk to anyone about it ! she is moving to Chicago in
August 03 and will start the process then ! I would like to get
her some names to get her started !
As for me I am still Battling this GAS ! I am 4 weeks postop -
40LBS! MY GOD was today bad I layed and cried it hurt so BAD ! IT
has Been three days now with not alot of relief ! I am drinking
apple juice as it caused dumping b-4 for me but as of yet it
has not done a thing ! laying on my left side is the only ting
that gave me some release ! I have tried MILK OF MAG ! GAS-X,
and phayzyme along with malox ! I am drinking apple juice hoping
something happens! I have walked I have exercised I have cried !
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Dawn,
A friend of mine at church just had her tummy tuck after losing 110 pounds
with her RNY. She was very sore for about eight
days……………….returned to church after 10 days and to work after 14
days. She says she’d do it again so it must not have been too badly!
JoAnne N. Junkin

About the staying in the city comment………
I had surgery where Barb did, at Alvarado, and I was required to stay for about
a week after DISCHARGE. I had Lap RNY, and I was one of the very mobile ones
(went to the San Diego Zoo 3 days after discharge.)
BUT, no driving for 2 weeks. I completely agree with this. While I was lucky
post op with alot of pep and minimal pain, the sitting position for driving and
moving your foot back and forth between pedals would have been VERY
uncomfortable on my incisions. I know it doesn’t sound like much movement, but
the position makes it weird. I had to sit in the passenger seat of the car with
the seat as far back as it would go so I could have my legs as outstretched as
possible.
Also, you will PROBABLY be on some type of pain meds after discharge, I was
given Vicodin. That is a narcotic, period. NO DRIVING. It affects everyone
differently, either wires them or makes them drowsy, but EITHER way you should
NOT be driving while taking anything stronger than a tylenol.
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Okay I need to post my progress if only to keep me doing this.
Yesterday i walked a mile in 22 minutes and some seconds… can’t recall the
actual time to the second. I guess i have started the program midweek. Anyway today Thursday is supposed to be no structured walk but I got up and
walked.
A mile in 18:45. Cut over three minutes off of yesterday’s time — yesterday i
was talking on the phone while walking. Today I wasn’t. Not great time but an
improvement in more ways than one.Ways in which this was an improvement:
1) I walked for two days in a row.
2) I walked a mile in less time. I walked it quicker.
3) I actually WANTED to walk today.
Now I am not concentrating on eating this week. Will start to but am not going
to attempt to eat better yet. I want to get in the habit of walking. Today was
not supposed to be a structured walk according to the program but I wanted to so
I dont see the harm. Plus I will be going to Blossom today (a music
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Thanks for the tip Barbara, I’ll make a note to set my alarm on my cell
phone POST op so it chirps and tells me every 15 mins to stop. I think
I’ll take the drive home in 2 parts. Do half the day I am discharged and
then the other half the next day. That way I only have to do a 3.5 hour
drive each day and can take all day to do it (allowing for walks!) We
have a beautiful country here .. maybe I can use this as a chance to
drive and slowly enjoy it instead of hooning along trying to get home to
work to whereever in a hurry like I usually am The plane would be tiny and I would struggle to fit in the seat let
alone stand up (without brushing up against everyone in the aisle) so I
am definately not going for that option. God I cannot WAIT for this not
to be an issue! (flying, I mean) Currently I travel for work and take
my car at my own expense so I can avoid having to be embarassed on a
plane!
As for the “staying in the surgery city” comment, I specifically asked
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I would like to know how much it took to re-coop after your tummy
tuck..I know it vaires..but am close to getting it done and was
trying to find out what I am looking at …..
thanks
Dawn san antonio

WLS Patients are getting together and holding a picnic August 23,
2003 at Ledge Park at Horicon Marsh. THis will be a pot-luck type
picnic for patients, their families and supportive friends. For more
info go to this website: www.randy4242.bravepages.com Hope to see
you there

I am 4 weeks post-op and have had great difficulty in finding a
protein drink that I like. A couple of weeks ago I discovered that I
like and can tolerate the Myoplex RTD a blend of proteins (milk
protein, calcium caseinate and whey protein isolate). For a 17oz
carton total carbs 20g (Dietary Fiber 6g, Sugar 2g). Protein 42g.
Total fat 7g (saturated 0.5g) and Cholesterol 20mg. I usually drink
8oz for breakfast (it takes a while) and the rest during the late
afternoon. My question is whether or not anyone knows if this is a
suitable supplement for RNYers?
Toni
Lap RNY (distal) 4/7/03
-40lbs
BMI 65.4

Okay I have been off the program — really bad. Won’t go into details as why and
bad gets worse but I made a decision today and got up and walked 1 mile. Not a
lot but some. It was because of an article in Woman’s Day magazine.
Anyway, it seems easy. it is not a diet program but rather an exercise/movement
program that is based around walking.
It is the May 27, 2003 Issue on pages 58-61. I encourage you to go to your local
library and photocopy it. Anyway a synopsis of the program is as follows:
Week 1
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday — walk 1 mile. On Wednesday and Friday
attempt to finish the mile in 20 minutes.
Thursday — no structured walk.
Saturday — walk two miles.
Sunday — rest.
Week 2:
Drink more water each day. Start by drinking a glass of water first thing in the
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OK… To hold down the excitement is sooooo hard!!!!!
I have actually reached two goals!
First and the most important goal is I have been classified as a
NON-DIBETITIC by my endo doc. My A1C was a 5.9, it was taken 3 weeks
after my surgery and was 8.7. WOOWOO!!! Man… I just stood up in
her office and screamed when she read me the number, then I started to
ball my eyes out. I said if I didn’t lose another pound I would be
happy. My whole reason for having the surgery was to become healthy!
I feel healthier then i have in years and my blood work is also
showing it!!!!! Life is great! I of course told her that yes I did
want to loose more weight but that is just an added benefit from here
on out.
Oh and when I told my family, my kids it was amazing, my oldest
daughter started to cry. She is 16 and a real ‘hard case’, but there
she sat crying, tears of happiness, saying she has never cried because
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