Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Hey Guys,
I have noticed a couple posts lately concerning Blood clots!
Well I don’t know about other doctors and people with there experiences but my
doctor Dr. Barry Haicken is now only doing surgery on RNY patients if a IVC
filter Insertion is preformed 7 days pre-op.
Now from what I hear its applied through your Femoral Artery in your thigh, or
your Carotid Artery in your neck. (usually in the neck) While also on thinners,
It is a filter that catches any and all clots before they become a problem.
They say they’re having tremendous luck and very good results where people
benefit from this procedure.
I will also be a candidate for this procedure as well from what I hear.
You have to have a body index of greater than 50 or a certain amount of poundage
to loose. I unfortunately have both.
This might be something to ask your doctors about if you are concerned or
worried about clottings and see if this is something you should have done.
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I thought of one more question…. My bedroom is on the second
floor of my condo.. I was assuming I would not be able to get there
for some time. What is the general concensus on when we can safely
do steps with an RNY? I haven’t seen anything about that in my
reading thus far.
Thanks,
Crystal
crystalbichon@…

Hi,
I’m Crystal and am awaiting my first surgeon appointment (Dr.
Reinhold in CT) on Sept 2nd after a year on a waiting list. I will
be going through the surgery alone, but my sister from California
has offered to come stay with me for two weeks after I get home (she
offered to come before I went in, but I told her I would need her
more after I got home). She asked me for information on the surgery
and how she could best help and what I could eat. Are there any
good sites I could send her to that are written for your significant
others in trying to prepare THEM for the surgery and changes? I
haven’t seen any but the Net is a big place!
Thanks. I’ll go back to my reading of the archives now. Crystal
crystalbichon@…

Hello -
I am 19 months post-op right now and have lost 160 pounds down from a
weight of 290. I’m thrilled with my wieght loss. My knees, lower
back, feet, lungs, etc. are in such better shape now and I’ve been so
much more willing to be involved in life. When I was heavy I just
didn’t want anyone to see me. Now I’m still shy, but I’m challenging
myself to be “out there” and I don’t obsess constantly about my
appearance. Thank goodness.
Anyway, recently I’ve been having some health problems. I’ve had
episodes of severe pain just under my sternum which last about 90
minutes. I can hardly wait them out. I’m fighting constipation and
have been having problems getting in very much liquid because of the
pain. I had blood tests run and my liver enzymes seem to be
fluctuating. I finally got in to see my gastrointerologist
yesterday. He said that this might be one of a couple of things. He
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I felt I needed to respond to your fears and concerns about death or serious
complications during or after wls.
My story is just the opposite .I started the approval process with one dr. Who
quit doing the surgery.During this delay I was hospitalized in critical
condition. I spent 6 weeks on a ventilator with a trach.tube.I required the
ventilator until I began losing weight post-op from an open rny.I truly
believe I would be dead or on permanent disability without the surgery. My
recovery after surgery was pretty routine.I spent all my hospital stay in ICU in
a major hospital mostly because my ventilator was not allowed on a med/surg.
unit. I returned home in 4 days. I got up at the bedside to suction myself to
avoid harsh coughing with in approx. 6 hrs of my return from surg.My
Jackson/Pratt drainage tube fell out on the first day I walked around the room.
the worst part of the hospital stay was the barium swallow(the leak test) I had
some vomiting as I began to adjust to the limited amount of food. I also had
diarrhea post op and still are more prone to diarrhea than constipation. I’m
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I am scheduled for lap RNY 9/10 by Dr. Courcoulas in Pittsburgh. She says I
will be off work for four weeks having the lap procedure. I am an Operating
Room nurse, work four 10 hour days. I am seeking input about how to get through
the first few weeks with being on a soft diet, getting through the long hours
with the fatigue, etc. Can anyone out there help me?? This waiting and
agonizing is really getting to me!!
Thanks to all!
Shari

Well tomorrow is “SURGERY DAY” 7:30 a.m. I’ve been waiting for this
day for the last 6 month. I’m very greatful to have found this board.
So many people have extended kindness and support to me during this
journey. First giving honor to GOD for all the wonderful things he
has done for me in my life, through him all things are possible. GOD
is good all the time, all the time GOD is good. Thank you to all the
people who were there from the beginning and to my newest online
friends, Right now my stomach is doing jumping jacks. I’m excited,
nervous, scared, and happy all at the same time I know there will be
no rest for me this evening. I’m sure everyone that is post-op knows
the feelin. Please say a prayer for me, my family and my Doctor. I’m
post as soon as I get home. See you all on the “other side” God Bless
Barbara

I need some help guys. I just spent about an hour reading memorials
of people who passed away shortly after WLS. I knew I had too much
time to think before Dec/Jan surgery!! I think the website was
obesityhelp.com and it didn’t seem like an anti surgery site at all
but man am I really having second thoughts now. I hate being heavy
more then anything else in the world but to check out at 42 scares
the bejeebers out of me. I’m thinking now why don’t I just starve
myself again and try to get my BMI down. (it’s 55 now) Maybe then
look into the surgery when there are less risks. I really don’t have
any medical problems but some of the people who passed didn’t either!
Those pulmonary embolisms (sp?) seem like the thing that can really
get you. I’m sure many of you post op had to have second thoughts.
I’ve never really been scared of anything before but I have to admit
this is doing it for me really quick. How did you get through these
thoughts? Does anyone know someone who passed away as a result of the
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Has anyone tried the new Nectar fruit juice protein powder? I’m just
wondering if it’s any good. I’m pre-op…2 days to go and I’m already
sick of the chocolate protein shakes.
Thanks everyone!
Tricia
262/?
Lap RNY 08/21/03

Kelly..It is true that people can say such cruel things without even
realizing it but you must realize that you obviously carry your weight in front
which
makes you appear pregnant. I also carried my weight and pre surgery had quite
a few people mistake me for pregnant. I started out at ‘only’ 244.4 and now
am 139. Just keep plugging along and realize that these people are probably
not trying to insult you, they just need to keep quiet. Be realistic about how
your body appears to others and how you carry your ‘fat’ which appears to
make you look pregnant. You have done wonderful…keep it up and don’t worry
about what others say. You don’t need to explain or rationalize to others. One
day in the near future noone will ever mistake you for pregnant..unless you
are!!! I would imagine that since you do carry your excess weight as you
do..you will probably eventually have to look into plastic surgery as I am doing
to
take the skin off the tummy area. Good luck and keep up the good work.
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