[FemmeMode]

excepts from my blog....I had to post these...I totally know what you are going thru.....I think our loved ones are sooo concerned...b/c they love us sooo much!!!

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Friday, November 18, 2005

Worries Over Weight-Loss Surgery



It's amazing what kind of 'coverage' gastric bypass is getting. I don't know if it's MORE since I decided to have it, or if I am just MORE AWARE ?!
So...the Wall Street Journal ran a piece in the personal section ...and my best friends boyfriend found it and cut it out....and then she sent it to me. We told them about my choice to have RNY 2 weeks ago...and although he didn't say it when we were having breakfast...he's been processing my decision - and is baffled why I would choose this journey.
I think of my 2 year old...and what I hear is - "how can I continue on this way, especially when she is getting more and more active...and deserves to have a Mommy that will 'go-go-go'...and run in the park with her!" ~ I know that there is risk involved...but, I think that it is so important for her...for me...for my husband.
Well...overall...the article wasn't THAT bad....it stated the known fact that the surgery has a 1 in 200 risk of fatality. That the surgery is especially risky for patients 60yrs....and it goes on. I'm not going to worry about this...
I'm "Queen LaTivo"....I've tivo'd anything to do with or that mentions 'gastric bypass' - little by little I am hearing stories, good and bad. I especially like hearing about people who have had the surgery 4, 5, 6 yrs. ago. It all comes back to - "this surgery is not an EASY FIX...it does get the patient out of immediate risks that are weight related." But, there are sooo many other emotional struggles that take much time and many years to break thru.
I know this now...and want to be educated in how to deal with my eating disorder...and how I deal with food in life...and how I emotionally deal with life thru food.~ ::::sigh::::
It seems that there is a high rising rate of patients that w/in a 3 yr. period have to return for additional surgery. 20.2% of surgery patients were admitted to the hospital the year after surgery. ~ wow this is sooo high! The other percentages are high as well....
I'm praying my way thru this one...


posted by FemmeMode at 10:14 PM

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Letter from Gramm....



Well...I got a letter from Gramm today, and now I realize why I've been a little hesistant in telling my friends and family about my decision in having Gastric Bypass Surgery.

I am soooo "done" with the dieting scene...and this FINALLY has given me a light at the end of my tunnel...The voice in my head is constantly talking...and of course I am worried about being accepted and respected for my decision. I think some people think that 'fat people' go for the knife for an easy fix. It's not that way...in no way will this be an easy fix...It will take A TON of work to get thru the emotional eating baggage that I have...my mind will be the same and that is where the issues are. I just know that if my weight doesn't get off...in 5 years I will be in big trouble. And that is gaurenteed even if I stay this weight at 325!

Both my parents deal with weight issues...my uncle is very heavy...and I know my other family members have dealt with weight...but, as I know....I am one of the 'heaviest' members in my family beside my uncle...and my cousin Kim from my dad's brother. (Although...I think SHE may have had gastric bypass surgery a couple years ago!!~ hmmm...I'll have to check that out....I think she was very very large the last time I saw her...) Anyway...I've told a few very close friends....and all has been well. All were very very supportive! ~ What a blessing. I've told my sister, Kat...my brothers, Rob & Kenn. My Dad & Step-Mom -were sooo great & very supportive! I told my Gramm when I was in SA, at my brothers wedding...and asked her not to tell my Mom....I want the opportunity to tell my Mom...and need some time to prepare myself for if she is against this for my life. (I know she has her own thoughts on this subject...one of the girls in her office had the surgery, and her commits to me were very critical - and it didn't sound too accepting...and she didn't sound like she respected the decision.) I'm afraid this will be my situation as well...so, I think my husband and I have decided that we will sit down and talk to both, my mom and step-dad at the same time over Christmas. ( I think it will be very little time until my surgery by then...so, I won't have to worry if she doesn't approve!

Now…the point – I think Gramm may be concerned about my decision….she sent me a letter and a article about the pros and cons of the surgery…and highlighted her areas of concern. She didn’t tell me NOT to have the surgery…I can just tell that she is worried. It sounds as if she has talked to my aunts on the subject. I just hope she asked them to keep silent…and that I will be the first to tell my Mother…but, now…I’m not sure that will be possible~ oh, well….I’m not going to fret over it…what happens –happens!
I’m still going to have the surgery in about 4 months...I hope!! I go in for an appointment with my Dr. in a few days to hear the results of my CPap testing…and then hopefully I will get a machine and it will not be too costly!!~
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All worked out soooooo well with my family...my MOM was soooo supportive...and now everyone knows and is thrilled. I had dinner tonight with 2 of my best friends and their hubbys....and we had not seen them in a couple of months b/c of all the chaos and my back....it was sooo fun to see their faces...and gasp!!! They are excited for this.....
Everyone will come around....alll will work out!!

[DocSanae]

Deborah, this is a great post.
Looking at the return to the hospital post op ratio, one can see that the percentage goes down as the years go by. I am wonderning how many in that data were hospitalized multiple times. In other words, if you were hospitalized less than a year out, then does the probability that you need to go back to the hospital in the second year and third year go up? Could most of the 18 some and 14 some percent in the second and third year be the same people in the 20 some percent the first year? If this is the case, then it means that once you make that first year safely, the possiblity that you will find yourself needing a hospital stay will not be high, probably not much different from the rest of the population.
You need to know what you are talking about, and how to read the data, to really understand the facts behind the statistics.
Beware of being fooled by the statistics, whether they are favorable, or unfavorable. What is important is how these statistics were taken, what the ultimate objective of the taking the statistics was, and what was LEFT OUT in the interpretations.

(((((((HUGS))))))) to all.

[Kat]

Great rebuttal to NYT article. They are not up to speed as far as "then" and "now" is concerned.
Kat

[wannabethin]

Good morning, everyone. Things are still not going very well with my family. My husband told me last night that he doesn't think I should have the surgery, that "you'll never be able to eat normally again". He keeps talking about diet (which I've done in the past, but always gain it all back) and exercise. I think part of the few family members who know, is the concern is that I don't weigh as much as many WLS patients. I'm barely making the criteria. After the pre-op diet, I'll be below it. I'm certainly not kidding myself, it would just be a very temporary weight loss as soon as I started eating real food. It does help to know most of you have been here, too. It just leaves makes me so apprehensive and sad and keeps me awake every night.

[DocSanae]

Awwww, wannbe, (((((((((HUGS))))))))))
As a nurse, you know better than any member of your family what risks you have if you kept your weight, and how much better things will be for you, even if you have to give up some part of your present life style. Besides, the issue is not being able to eat "normally" again, for, what is "normal" for your husband, anyway? Is it the large portions that you were used to eat up to now? Is it the choice of (unhealthy) food that you were making till now? If your husband thinks that is what "normal" is, then you know he is very wrong. The surgery is a tool to align your body to be able to be satisfied with the healthy eating that you need to do. It is a tool to buy you time so you can lose weight faster than you can put on, then, after you have reached goal, help you keep that weight.
Of course, you are sure to have been told through your pre-op preparations that even if you lose your excess weight through the surgery, in the end, it is up to you whether you can stick with the healthy eating that had been "forced" on you while you are healing from your surgery, and its easy enough to sabotage yourself and make naught of what you have achieved. Which, I am sure, is not what you want to happen.
(((((((HUGS)))))))

[wannabethin]

You're right Doc, I know those things and feel this is what I need to do. Guess it's just hard enough having this surgery WITH family support, sure makes it hard when they think I'm nutty. Which, is NOT true, because the psychiarist said I'm perfectly sane.

[DocSanae]

Originally Posted by wannabethin

Which, is NOT true, because the psychiarist said I'm perfectly sane.

Of course you are. It's the rest of your family who are nutty.

[wannabethin]

I think I'll tell them that

[Kat]

LOL
Kat

[PeggySue]

Wannabethin,
I too, did not meet the BMI thing, I weighed 203, I know some people will say that"thats not heavy" . In my case it probably wasn't, but having just had the surgery 7/20/06 I can tell you how good I feel. I am totally off all my diabetis meds, down to 1/2 blood pressure pill, I went from 12 pills a day to 1, just 1 week later. My health was my main concern, family history is full of all sorts of thing that obesity thrives on. Im sure, Iam older than you are {56} but as I have said before "never ever" did I think I would have this done. My husband had his done 5 years ago and is still maintaining his weight and eats "normal". Normal for him. Do what best for YOU and go with yur heart...you deserve the very best!
Peggy/Fargo