Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Hello out there! I am considering having a RNY (Open) because of all
things GERD. I originally was sent to a surgeon for this problem and
because of my numerous other health issues and about 75 lbs
overweight, the Dr. suggested this would be better. I am praying to
make the right decision regarding and could use your help and
support. I feel most of my friends would not understand my taking
such drastic measures because I’ve lost 35lbs on my own since last
year after I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Both my primary
care and gastro Dr highly recommend this surgeon and I felt very
comfortable with him. I guess my question would be to you all out
there for anyone that had problems with GERD, if the surgery helped
you in that regard. I’ve read about all the other side effects and
am really leaning toward this surgery if it is approved by my
insurance. If this could improve my quality of life, then I’m all
for it. My other health issues are SLE(Lupus), arthritis, gout, HBP,
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Okay there is an article in Family Circle Magazine November 4. 2003 that
features one of their editors — Judy Watson-Remy — as well as Dee Tinker
(which
I believe I recognize that name — maybe from this list) and her daughter.
Judy had the RNY and Dee had the BPD/DS. The article IMHO is very well written
and gives the risks and benefits of the surgeries and an overview of the
surgeries currently available including VBG, LapBand, DS, and RNY. If you get a
chance to buy the magazine or read the article (most libraries carry Family
Circle)
do so. I do not know if the article is available online. But just wanted to
inform you all that it is out there.
Denise Rasley

Has anyone on this list tried cooking/baking with almond flour? I
heard it mentioned on another list and I am curious how it tastes.
Thanks
Shelly
LapRNY 3/3/03
258/155/???
5′3 37yrs.

I am wondering if there is a site on the web that gives you the amout
of protein in different types of food? I really watch my protein
grams each day, and would like to find a counter of some sort.
HELP!
Kim
Lap RNY 12/19/02
343/168/135

Hi,
I am pre-op and would hope to have RNY. The Dr that I chose performs only
open RNY. I would love to have lap, but the Dr is very good. I am concerned
about a scar. Is it really big? Does it look better with time passed? For
those who had open, do you wish you had lap?
Thank you so much for you advise!
EG

The next meeting of the WLS Butterfly Network will be held on October
24, 2003 from 7-9 pm at Bethesda Oak Hospital, 619 Oak Street
Cincinnati, OH 45219. Park in the June Street Garage. Use
www.mapquest.com for directions. Featured speaker will be Mr. Glenn
Blind, member. Glenn has lost over 150 lbs. Come listen to his
exciting story!!! If you have questions please email or post them to
our website at www.wlsbutterflynetwork.org

Help me people I am so frustrated. I had my surgery April 2,2003 and have
lost 58 pounds since. I’m OK with that but I lost 45 of that in the first two
and
a half months and since then only 13 pounds. That is when the doctors put me
back on insulin shots twice a day. My doctors have gone over everything with
me and are telling me that my diabetes is making me weight loss resistant. They
describe it as my fat being like a pile of bricks that we are working at
taking away and every time we take one brick off then I have to give myself an
insulin shot we throw two back on. They try and encourage me telling me how well
my exercise is going and that I getting healthy but Dang I’m crazed I am
getting left in everyone dust. I feel I work so hard and I am back to the same
starting line I was at before the surgery. Has anyone been through this? Please
help me hang in I am really feeling sorry for myself right now and food is
looking very comforting.
DIANE IN HILLIARD OH
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Hi all,
I am womdering if anyone on this list has been able to tolerate
all foods since having surgery? I have been able to and I worry that
because of this I will fail. I know that I have to work my tool and
eat the right things but lets face facts, this was stomache surgry
not brain surgery and I still crave foods that are bad for me. I
couldn’t stay away from them before surgery and it’s hard to now. It
does make it easier in that I eat much smaller portions, but I still
fear that because I don’t dump that I will fail. Anyone else out
there like me?
Shelly
LapRNY 3/3/03
258/156/???
5′3 37yrs.

Well, I got X-rayed at the Dr’s office (I didn’t realize how many
staples were left inside permanently!) My Dr. thinks I have the
beginnings of an ulcer. Last week, I started having problems with
my arm (I am a computer tech and so I am using my mouse all day) and
the work Dr. had me start taking Bextra. I took it before for my
knee and so I thought it was safe, but I only took it when I had
extreme “can’t move it” knee pain and this time I was instructed to
take it every day, without fail. My internist thinks the Bextra
caused the stomach pain and so now I have to go back to the other
dr. and find out what will happen next.
Anyway for the ulcer, she took me off the Bextra and put me on
Prevacid. Seems like the Prevacid makes me dump, though. I’ll be
watching that. Anyone have a dumping reaction from Prevacid?
thanks,
Mary

Hi everyone, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted so hello to
everyone. Today is my two month post-op anniversary - woohoo!! I feel
so blessed to be on this side of the surgery. I have now lost
approximately 47 pounds. This morning I got on the scale and it read
218…this is the first time in 8 years that I’ve been under 220. WOW!
I feel absolutely wonderful! I am dropping the pounds so quickly that
I can already feel a big difference. I feel healthier and that is
such a wonderful feeling. I spent about 2 years pre-op with constant
migraine headaches (due to hypertension), diabetes and bloatedness.
Today, I feel none of those things and haven’t since the surgery.
This is truly a blessing to me.
Food is something that I consume to live, not live to consume. Don’t
get me wrong, I still get head hunger and probably will for years to
come, but I am getting better and better control of that each day.
There is so much to say and I just can’t seem to get it out so
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