Obesity Surgery WP Blog

i visited an area with dr gagner and his patients yesterday and now
cant find it….can you help me…also dont know log in procedure
thanks….kathy

MODERATOR’S NOTE: Hey, Anita! What did your doctor say? You did call your
doctor, didn’t you? Please don’t use this group to receive medical advice. You
are welcome to ask folks to share their personal experiences but PLEASE PLEASE
call your doctor now. Go to the phone and call now! Run, don’t walk!
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I need help!! Any time I eat ANYTHING, I get this terrible pain
right at the bottom, vcenter of my ribcage. It cramps and the pain
comes up through my chest and back and into my left jaw. It is so
bad that I double over. It happens every time I eat and sometimes
when I am just drinking (even water!). I thought that maybe it was
just trapped gas but Gas X doesn’t help. Sometimes I throw up and
sometimes I don’t. Even when I do, it still hurts afterward. It is
not continuous but comes on, grows in intensity, and then almost goes
away just to come back again and again. My doctor’s office just says
I’m eating too much or too fast or not the “right” food but I don’t
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Today is April 21, 2004my eight month anniversary of having the
bariatric gastric bypass surgery (laparoscopic). It is a great day
and I thought I would share with you all the changes that have
occurred in my life in the past eight months.
First, let me start by saying that having this surgery was the
absolute best thing I could have done for my health. To date, all
the issues pre-surgery are gone. No more diabetes, no more high
blood pressure, no more sleep apnea, no more migraine headaches. It
is absolutely amazing to feel healthy. I haven’t felt this good
since I was in highschool. And even then I battled with self esteem
issues (as most highschool students do) and that surely wasn’t good
for my health, at least not my emotional health.
My total weight loss to date is about 87 pounds give or take a
few. I now weigh less than my husband woo hoo! A couple of weeks
ago I pulled on of his pair of jeans by accident and they fit me so
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I’m pretty cautious about them because they usually are sweetened with
Maltitol, and it really gives me stomach cramps! So I stay away from all but
the
Atkins Advantage bars. The problem is that I plan to eat a half and I eat the
whole thing, and then I’m stuffed and feel like I overate!
Karyn
9/8/03
271/164

Hi all,
Over the weekend, I watched a show on Discovery Health covering some stars
who had gastric bypass surgery, Al Rowker, Carnie Wilson and, unknown to
me, Roseann Barr. They also had some of their menu’s listed, and I was
floored to hear that Roseann’s included DONUTS!! How in the name of Sam
Hill can she eat donuts? Even a small amount of sugar like that found in
some otc meds makes me ‘dump’. No wonder she only lost 80lbs compared to
the amounts of 100+ the rest had. Scary, isn’t it? At least it was to me.
I’ve had some issues with carbs lately, but now it’s gone. I tried several
different things, but nothing tasted good, other than the pretzels. Whole
wheat toast, Wheat Thins, Triscuit, and a few others. They all tasted like
cardboard. So, I bought some dry roasted peanuts, reading the label to
make sure there was no sugar in the process, and munch a handfull when I
feel the salt/crunch demon sneaking up on me. It does the trick. I used to
love my carbs. Not any more. I hope that it stays that way. The only bad
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” Due to the high cost in the United States I need to go outside of the
country.
Can someone point me in the right direction, or does anyone have any
personal knowledge of doctors outside of the US? Thank you”
I don’t know you or your situation, but I would be SO careful about
choosing to have surgery outside of the US. Being in the medical field
almost 25 years, I have heard MANY horror stories of surgery outside the US.
Complications can happen anywhere, but at least here, you know there are
some basic safeguards in place. I am sure there are many safe, reputable
hospitals out there, but there are also many, many unsafe places.
I do know many people who have gone to Canada to have some elective
surgery and did very well. Maybe that is a place to look into. Please
research this well. There is no such thing as MINOR surgery. All surgery is
dangerous, and please approach it that way.
Gary in NY
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Has any one been on coumadin before (for pulmonary emboli) and after
WLS? I was on 10mg/day before and afterward we resumed the same dose.
The INR was fine (2.6) till 14 days after surgery (4.6-5.3).
My levels seem to be changing rapidly and would like to know of
others experiences. The doctors are real agressive about monitoring
me but still I am concerned.
Thanks,
Karen
4/2/2004 Dr. Hoeltgen
Highest 286
Pre-op 270
2 weeks 249

I am 18 weeks out from open RNY and down an amazing 120lbs with
absolutely no problems to date. I always read, with interest, the
chatter on this thread regarding the benefits of protein drinks…my
question deals with the current thinking on protein bars? I recently
had a Nitro-Tech High Protein Bar with the following nutritional data:
Net Weight 3.1 oz
Calories 290
Calories from fat 60
Total Carbohydrate 31g
Net Carbs 7g
Sugar 2g
Fiber 4g
Protein 35g
I realize you can get your protein, with fewer carbs, out of a protein
drink but the bars are so convenient. Any experience with bars carrying
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I am new to this and still in the question phase. I have never seen
anyone discuss hunger and feeling anxious. When I have not eaten for
a while I get irritable. Once I eat I feel fine. What happens to
these feelings and feeling hungery long term after surgery?

Hey, everyone!
I have been a long-time blood donor and was hoping to continue this
practice even after my surgery. I take my vitamins and minerals
religiously, and yet when I went to donate blood last week (first
time since my open RNY last November) I was told that my iron wasn’t
high enough to support the donation. I wasn’t enemic, in fact my
iron level was considered as healthy and normal, just not high
enough to donate.
I’m wondering if anyone else has had this experience, and if so how
you handled it? If I have to refrain from donating blood, I’m sure
I’ll survive - it’s just something I’ve always felt so good about
doing and if I could continue (and be healthy), it would be great.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Terri
282/198/160
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