[MsVickie]

Hello, Im new to this. I have been overweight just about my entire life. Last year in October. I had a consult with a surgeon. Needless to say I fit the criteria quite well. The only thing that really scares me about this is the fact of me having an abdominal scar already from the bottom my my breast bone down around my belly button. Because of that the surgeon tells me I might have adheisions and it was a possiblity that I might have to be fully opened up. Im 41 now and had this sugery when because of a mistake a surgeon made when he removed my gallbladder when I was 24. My insurance wont pay for the band. So I have to have the lap done.

Have you all seen any post about this?

Also..... I already have thinish hair. How much hair can I expect to lose and what can I do to control this? Also does your teeth suffer from this surgery? I have a good friend who had this done and has now lost 3 teeth. She states this come from malnutriton following her surgery. I have recently spent a load of money on gettting my smile back and dont want to go through teeth falling out.


I am going to see another surgeon on March29. The first one just had a hip replaced and told me he didnt know if he could stand long enough for my surgery incase he had to open me up. Scary ! Not only him standing, but being fully opened. I did this when i was 24 and fit. At 41 being overweight and being fully opened woud be terrible.

I am also a smoker and have been told buy the first Dr. I had to quit for 3 months before he would even consider doing it. Can any one give me advise on how to stop the smoking before hand what worked for them etc? I truly want to have this done...But im weighing all things before hand and getting some facts from people who have done this . Any help you all can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks

[NettiePooh]

I had my gallbladder removed at 20 back in the day when you were left with a 14 inch scar.... My surgeon told me open or not open depended mainly on your BMI. She said she would try to do a lap on me, but, may have to open because of scarring. I'm glad to hear you are getting a second opinion.

As far as smoking, I have to be smoke-free 1 month prior to surgery. I saw my family doctor and she prescribed the new medication. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm filling the Rx today. I am also working hand-in-hand with my family doctor regarding my WLS. She wants me to be in optimum health PRIOR to surgery. She has placed me on vitamins and minerals now so I'm used to taking them beforehand. I've been taking care of kids, and a disabled husband, and parents, and siblings, etc. for such a long time now, it's foriegn to take care of me. Make this your time and work with a couple of doctors for your optimum health.

My surgery is scheduled May 7, 2007 and I can't wait. Have started eating right (with deliberate slips now and again!) and am drinking water like I should post op. The water thing will be a big issue for me.... I do drink a lot of water everyday and am used to gulping it down.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Annette (Nettie Pooh)

[fr1endly2]

HI ms vickie!
WELCOME to the board.
I look forward to getting to know you thru your posts!
ITS an exicting journey and great to be surrounded by people
of all stages of this journey.
AS for the hair loss, hate to say everyone gets it differently and
some not at all so its hard to answer. WAS a tough stage for me but
i got thru it......obesite i took pride in my hair and it hit me hard.


YES its true on the smokeing thing. MOST surgeons wont due the surgery till you have quit for 3 months....its not easy thankfully i quit alot of years
prior...so didnt have to do that for the surgery.

AS for lap verse an open surgery due to previous surgeries. WE are all actually at risk for he surgeons to have to perform the surgery open..even
if were going in hopeing for a lap. I know for me my surgeon really thought
i was going to be difficult being i carried my weight in my middle area and feared i would be an open surgery....but i wound up being a test book perfect uncomplicated procedure. HE even scheduled extra OR time for me
thinking it was gonna be needed!!! BUT all was fine

GOOD LUCK in your deicsion process!
PICK a good capable surgeon sorry personally speaking
a surgeon that cant stand on his feet passed a text book
perfect surgery would scare me....you never know even in the most fit person what can happen in an OR unforeseen in advance!
GOOD LUCK!
and again i look forward to getting to know you !

hugs
lisa

[MsVickie]

Thank you both for the input. Im glad I found this place. Strange wanting to take care of yourself for sure. Putting you self last so many years now thinking about yourself is hard. Thank yall.

[fr1endly2]

THAT is what all us MOMS! dooo!!!!
GLAD your doing the same now!!!!!!
GETTING healthy is what its all about.

ANNETTE i would love to hear how that RX goes!
wish my hubby would quit smokeing so i am curious
maybe this will help him. I lost my mom, she was young
to lung cancer from her smokeing habit so its great for
everyone to quit! GLAD i did or proly wouldnt be around
myself right now and thats hard to comprehend!
NOT being around for my kids
as my mother wasnt able to be around for me.

[Kat]

Hi Vickie. If you feel like you'd like to have a larger selection of surgeons in your area, go to OH (obesityhelp.com). You can view charts of how many and what type of procedures they have under their belt. I picked someone who had over 1,000 under their belt.
Also, I aslo had GB surgery over almost 20yrs. ago. I had a lap RNY last May and to date, no complications.
Good luck in your quest.

[LittleLisaMarie]

Welcome to the board. Great advice above. Speaking as a Mom and a Nurse i neglected my health for a very long time, to busy taking care of everyone else! Its great that you are taking steps to help yourself become healthy now. Good luck and we are here for you.

LittleLisaMarie

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Please pull up a chair and settle in, hope you feel at home here.

For smoking, have you tried nicotine patches? I would say nicotine gums as well, but in your position, gums may not be a good idea.

(((((((HUGS))))))) May your journey go well.

[MsVickie]

Thanks so much for all the insight yall have given me. I still need to know about the teeth issue. I know this surgery will cause malnutrion for a while. Does the teeth suffer or is this perhaps in my cousin who needed dental help to beign with. I just had the deep scaling process and got my gums back nice and pink. Also had a couple root canals. Any help on this would be great.

Vickie

[fr1endly2]

So far for me almost 2 years out my teeth have not changed
in there health at all.
I know the calcium we have to take post op is good for the teeth and do your best to not refund (puke) to much that hurts the teeth some.

SORRY thats all i can offer on the teeth topic
hugs