[TGG]

Regina - I had surgery on Tuesday and i feel great. I even went for a 40 minute walk (slowly) last night. I too had many fears about the surgery, and this board is great for helping you decide if WLS and which one is right for you. I would also recommend you read WLS for Dummies and It Is Not Over Until the Thin Lady Sings - both available at Amazon.com. They are excellent recourses.

In regards to personal issues with your lousy husband. We miss people who leave our lives - even if they are jerks. Allow yourself to grieve the loss. It is true that when one door closes 2 more open up - we just sometimes do not see it. This can be a turning point for you. You make take the journey to better health and inner peace. I would suggest starting to work on losing weight now. Go for walks, make better food choices, nothing major, just small healthier choices and you will in return start to feel better. Your surgeon or insurance company may require that you do this anyways and getting a head start will not only make you feel stronger, more empowered but it will demonstrate your dedication to a healthier lifestyle.
Good Luck

[clancythecamper]

Hi Regina! Welcome! I did RNY too, I have a downfall with ice cream and knew the lap band would let me have that so it was not restrictive enough for me. When you read thru our postings, you will see that there is a lot of mental, psych, emotional work to be done to help make this as successful as possible. Many of our members have been thru some form of therapy and those who have not may go thru it at some point as there are many issues related to our weight. As for support, though, this site is awesome. Everyone is very positive and supportive, even when we goof! We're glad you found us - happy reading. (You may look at my postings as I've given out my dissertation on the why's of my surgery in detail )

[thumper1]

Hi Regina,welcome,I too was over 300lbs. and my surgeon actually recommended the RNY because with "alot" of weight to lose the band just wasnt the way to go. The absorbtion in the intestines is still ther and if u dont get the adjustments it is eaisier to eat and eat the wrong things. The RNY fortunately or unfortunately (lol), can make u sick if u eat the "wrong things", also it makes it a bit harder to go back to old habits. YES...do what u surg. reccommends for u and YES there is a LOT of info. out there I researched for 13 months before calling a surg. Again, welcome this is a great place to be and good luck on your amazing journey Kathy

[qt82699]

hi regina, sounds like you have been thru alot of the same things as i have. I am so excited for you that you are making great changes in your life. for me at first i was leaning toward the lap band and after talking with my surgeon and doing some research i decided on the rny. I have not had any complications, although i was kinda scared about it at first cuz you always seem to just hear about the horror stories, so this site was a godsend, there is so much info here. good luck and keep us updated on your journey

[rmyers61]

TGG, thank you for your response. I appreciate what you have said. I am knew to figuring out these buttons on here, how do you reply to someone without it being a post, or everyone seeing? I wish you luck with your new future. you must be so excited, 24 pounds down in 9 days! wow! can't wait for me to be there. Are you feeling yucky? Are you doing okay with what you are allowed on your new diet? Is it true that we will have to take certain vitamins for the rest of our life? thanks Gina

[DocSanae]

Originally Posted by rmyers61

I am knew to figuring out these buttons on here, how do you reply to someone without it being a post, or everyone seeing?

Send a PM--private message. Click the name in blue of the person you want to send a message to, in the left column of the person's post, and a drop down menu will appear. Click the "send private message" in the menu, and the PM page will come up. To check your PMs, click the "Private Messages" in box on the upper right corner that says "Welcome rmyers61".


As for vitamins and minerals, yes you need to take them for life with gastric bypass, as the new plumbing will not allow you to absorb them in amounts you need. You may not like the idea of having to take them all your life, but, if you aren't doing so now, you know that you will need tons of meds for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, etc etc in the future, so it's a matter of choice. Take your supplements daily and be free of these illnesses, or always worry about your health and need to take lots of medications.

[CeeCee]

Regina, Welcome to the boards. This place is a godsend for the support and information that you need. I too had RNY surgery just over two months ago. I have had no complications and I felt great after surgery. I had my surgery out of the country and I can tell you that I felt well enough to go out and do a little sightseeing within 4-5 days. I was back at work after 9 days and I have done fine ever since.

My surgeon had brought up the lap-band or the gastric sleeve. I was pretty convinced from my research that I wanted the RNY. I discussed it with him and because of my concerns about the lapband being pretty easy to cheat around and needing to get fills every so often, he agreed the RNY was best for me.

I have not regretted it. I have lost 62 pounds in two months and I feel so good. I have my moments of missing my old stomach and all the bad eating habits it allowed, but the way I am feeling today more than makes up for the junk food I can't enjoy any longer.

The journey has just begun and I have already learned so much. It is still a conscious decision everyday to eat the right things and make sure I am following all the pouch rules. Thanks to this board I have the support and understanding that I need to be successful. I don't know where I would be without everyone here. I hope we see a lot of you (no pun intended).

[bryghteyes25]

I also had the RNY 3 weeks ago. I haven't any real complications. My main problem is dealing with my new self and having chosen not to tell people I had the surgery and them wondering why I am losing so much weight. I am down 27lbs right now. I didn't want to be able to do something temporary. I wanted the committment. I miss being able to chug water but am otherwise completely fine. Everything has healed nicely. I am able to tolerate everything I have tried to eat but make sure I chew well and slowly. My surgeon did a great job and there will be little scaring.

I too had a special someone in my life who at first loved me and decided he couldn't be with someone who was fat and was probably always going to be fat. That was 6 years ago...and I am married. Life goes on and gets better and better. Have the surgery because you need and want to and it is in your best interest. Forget about everyone else. This is about you.

[rmyers61]

Hello Everyone, thank you all for your opinions and experiences! I have decided - I am going for the gastric bypass! I have made up my mind! Okay, I've been approved from my insurance company, and now I have 1 educational and nutrition class to go to then my pre op, then my surgery. I think the surgeon will do it around the second week in February. What a Valentines gift I can give myself! Please keep in touch, I will need all of your support! Merry Christmas

[mhall1]

Regina, I am new here also! You are telling me about my first marriage as I read of your marital woes. All I can say is, after being apart from my first husband a total of 14 years now, I THANK GOD he left me for another woman, that was married, and thinner.
Of course, it made me feel less than worthy of life at the time, but I found out that regardless of my weight and obesity, there were men who found me attractive. VERY attractive as a matter of fact. I have been proposed to by 3 men since him. I am now married to the LOVE OF MY LIFE!
Now, you just thank your lucky stars, and tell yourself that you are better than him. HE'S the one with the REAL PROBLEM.