[RubyRed]

hi , I am new to this site, and was looking for some advice from people with experience of gastric bypass.

I am on the waiting list , should have my op in 6 months.

Just wondering what are your feelings about having had the op done.

Do you think it's the best thing you have ever done ?
Do you feel a sense of loss for your old friend FOOD ?
Can you ever eat a normal size meal again ?
Do you have any regrets about having the surgery done ?

Grateful for any advice.

Thanks

[RubyRed]

oops also forgot to ask, but I guess really it depends on the person -

Is there anything you can do while losing weight to minimise the remaining excess skin after weight loss ?

[fr1endly2]

HI RUBY RED! Welcome to the board...
I am going to answer you ...and no question
is stupid there all welcomed and needed.....

I had my surgery June 1, 2005. TO date I have lost
a total of 134 lbs. I am so happy. I do not regret my
surgery one bit. MY health is awesome and i weigh
less now then i did in college ( i am 43 years old now).

I had LAP RNY gastric bypass. I had no complications and
has a perfect text book surgery and recovery. I did very
well with introducing my foods per my surgeons instructions.
WITHIN the first month i was back on regular foods but
eating much smaller portions then ever. I did well and
didnt really greive the loss of food but did hit some
blues along the way which is perfectly normally after such
a major surgery. MY worst side effect from the rapid weight loss is my hair thinning, but only I notice it and im dealing
with it now. I have gone from wearing 4 x's that didnt fit right to wearing 11/12's right now and that blows my mind.
MY weight is slowing down and comeing off slower now, i find i can eat more but im makeing all the healthy choices
that im supposed to. I have never tasted any sugary foods, cakes, cookies or regular icecream as i fear the dumping....
and if i am in the percentage of people that dont dump i fear
i will loose control of food again and I sure dont want that.

AS for the skin i guess we are all different, i have extra skin and lately i am getting that deflated balloon look in aread but i sure do look hot in clothes so im okay with that. I am sure the younger you are and the less time you been over weight will be a factor on this issue.

I do well with all foods, now and then something dont sit right
or i eat to fast (i am very bad with that) and i get sick but
I am fine with that. MY tool works and so far i have been
such a successful looser. I am very big on going to support
meetings at my surgeons office and talking with others who
had the surgery to help keep on track.
Well i hope i have been of help!
feel free to ask anything!
LISA
310/176/???

[Pillows]

Hey Ruby Red, I am in the process of getting my rny procedure done. My surgery date is set for April 4th. I can tell you that I have talked to a lot of different people with different outcomes from the surgery, and only one of those people has regrets about having the surgery done. I think the reason that he has regrets is that he didn't follow his surgeon's advice very well, and he has issues with the whole excess skin thing. One of the things that I think you would do well to consider when asking people about their experience is to take cetain things into consideration. For instance, how old are they, how much did they have to loose, what was the motivation for them having the surgery, did they have other health factors, and how well did they follow the guidelines their surgeon set for them. As for the excess skin, I have had so many people warn me about it, that my new attitude is, Guess what I already have lots of excess skin, it is just filled out by lots of excess fat! I am starting to work out regularly at the gym starting with 15 min of cardio to start things pumping, and then work out on the weight machines. I figure the more toned muscle I develope the better my chances are of having more toned skin. These are just my theories, just remember that this is a serious decision that will affect the rest of your life, hopefully in a positive way, and only you can make that decision. For me, the life experiences that I stand to gain are way worth the risks that I am taking. I hope this helps you and that you feel comfortable sticking around and letting us get to know you.
Janae

[RubyRed]

Really appreciate your advice. Regular weight people can be so negative about this surgery - alot of people have told me I shouldnt have it done, as it is so DANGEROUS !

I have been out of control with food my whole life, and no one who hasnt can understand that, and the self loathing you feel because you are like that. Nice to be in touch with people who can relate.

I want to do this for my daughter, as what I fear most that I will pass on my self destructive eating behaviours to her, and I would do anything not to.

Roll on September 2006!

[fr1endly2]

I got alot of negative feed back as well but this was for me and I needed to get healthy to be around for my small kids now ages 3,8 and 11.
I have achieved good health quickly and i am very happy. I have battled weight my entire life. LOOSeING just to gain it all back plus more each time. I am now sure with my new tool and healthy eating habits i will never be super obesite again.

FOR the first time i am in control of what i eat and it really feels good. MY birth defect has been fixed and i eat like a normal person does.
I am truly happy of my choice to have had LAP RNY surgery.
I am so excited for you...and feel free to write and ask me anything...
lisa

[Pillows]

I have an idea for you on how to respond to thin people that will have a problem with why you are willing to risk having this surgery voluntarily....Is pregnancy hard? Isn't it life changing? Aren't there many possible things that could go wrong with a pregnancy? Why do people continue to go through with it then? well the answer is similar for us and this surgery. It is hard, it will change our whole life, we will have to sacrifice, there are risks, however why is it so difficult to understand that a person would go through the work and risk in order to live a healthy good life for their child, when you risked and worked hard to bring that child here to earth? When I remind people that pregnancy is also a voluntary medical procedure, it seems to make more sense to them. A lot more people can relate to being willing to do things for the sake of a child. I just tell people that I am experiencing my third and last pregnancy right now. I have cravings, I am emotional, and incredibly anxious to go through the "birth" process so that I know everything is okay and went well. The difference is that I am the one being reborn, I will loose weight instead of gain, and hopefully I won't have the side effect of sore nipples and post partum hormones. Instead of buying new clothes for a baby, I will get to buy new clothes for me! I hope that this helps you be able to come up with your own way to help people understand. I know that it is easier if those around us understand why we are doing it and are there to support us, but like lisa said, you are doing it for you and for your daughter, and that alone should be enough to get you through if you can remember that. My prescription? Visit the website as often as possible, invite friends and family to check out informative websites on this surgery, such as this one, and lots of prayer. You have a great support system here waiting to help you through, but we can only help you if you continue to log on, so keep in touch and let us help you, as we get help in return. Sorry if that was long winded, but I hope it was useful.
Janae

[DocSanae]

RubyRed, welcome to the board.

Many people who do not need the surgery think that someone who opts for this is taking the easy way out, and do not know that it is not so, nor a permanent solution in the sense that post ops can go right back to their old habits once they lose the excess weight and not gain again whatever they do. Nor do they know that conventional dieting is often unsuccessful, partly because the brain will be geared to eat to regain the weight you lost, and it takes a long time for the brain to readjust, so many people lose that battle before the brain clicks in, and even if they succeed in losing a significant weight, they often regain what they lost. This is partly due to a hormone that the stomach releases, which keeps sending hungry signals to the brain even if your weight has reached the level healthy for your body, and the only way to reduce this hormone over a continuous length of time seems to be this surgery.
Of course, you would all know this, since you must have done a lot of research about this surgery, but most people are not aware. Neither are they aware of the restrictions on your diet, and the explicit instructions from your surgeon that you will have to follow post op, and will have to follow the rest of your life. This is no easy way out, and only the most courageous person, willing to tackle your problems because you want better health and better life for yourself and your children, take themselves to this task.
So, be sure of yourself, be proud of yourself, and if you find the need to explain to others, explain that for those who's obesity is a serious life threatening factor, this surgery is the best treatment available, the best "tool" available to realign your life. Not an easy way out, but necessary to continue your life in the best way possible.

The best of everything in your journey!

[Pillows]

anyone that thinks this is the "easy" way out never had to try to get their insurance company to cover it, and my insurance company is probably easier than most! You summed it up well doc. Good to see you busier and happier as usual.
Janae

[fr1endly2]

I will say many do say this is the easy way out but they are clueless. THIS is a tool and without the right use of it ..their is a possibility of failure.

I keep the motto engraved in my brain: NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels!

KEEPs me soo on track
lisa
310/175/???