Help!
‘m scheduled for the Roux-en-Y procedure on
March 29th. I am 36, 5′11", and about 300 pounds.
Sometimes I am so excited about this surgery that I could
explode, and other times I feel like my execution date has
been set.<br><br>My questions are:<br><br>1. What are
the most important things I can do now to prepare for
surgery, the recovery period, and life after
surgery?<br><br>2. I have never had any kind of surgery. How much
help, if any, and what kind of help, if any, will I
need during the first few days after I return from the
hospital? For example, will I need help with bath or
shower? toilet? feeding my pets?<br><br>3. How bad is the
pain and how long will it last?<br><br>4. How should I
prepare my home for homecoming? For example, should I
pre-make some meals and freeze them? should I buy a shower
chair? will I need any special supplies for medical or
hygiene purposes?<br><br>5. When I first get home what
kind of physical limitations can I expect to have?
sitting? bending? reaching? lifting?<br><br>These may
sound like dumb questions, but I would really
appreciate your help.
January 8th, 2003 at 1:55 am
am waiting for approval for the Roux-ex-Y
procedure, but I have had 2 Band gastric stapling. I can
answer some of your question due to the fact of my self
having had alot of surgerys to health
problems.<br><br>1.get all the shopping out of the away. like the
chewable vitamin, lots of sugar free juices, broths and
sugar free jello. to have for when you come home from
the hospital.<br><br>2.you will need someone to help
clean. but thats about it, you should be able to shower
and use the bathroom by your self. <br><br>3.there
will be alot of pain right after surgery but a few
days the pain will be gone.<br><br>4.you should not
need a shower chair, meal wise and medication check
with your doctor, other than that everything should be
the same as before surgery.<br><br>5.You shouldn’t do
any lifting, reaching, or bending until the doctor
tells you it is ok. Do all the walking you can. When
getting out of bed it will hurt for a few days but it
will go away, I promise. you shouldn’t have any
problems with sitting.<br><br>Your questions are dumb,
they are normal questions to ask. since you have never
had surgery before. The best thing you can do is ask
the questions if you are not sure of something.
January 8th, 2003 at 7:16 am
hank you for your informative message, but after
reading about the experience of Mystery_Sister I can’t
help but be even more apprehensive. I know that
surgery always involves risk. I just hope my surgeon does
a better job with better follow-up
care.<br><br>Again, your info was great! I’m just a little confused
on one small point. How does one shower and dress
without bending, or is a little bending okay?
January 8th, 2003 at 12:37 pm
‘m glad I found this site!!! I had a band
gastric stapling July ‘82 and had a terrible time of it
with negligble results. I clinically died twice, went
into congestive heart failure, and was in a coma for
3weeks. The doctors had to do a 2nd surgery to correct
some complications. I was in ICU for 43 days & in
step-down for 18 days. That was a horrible experience, but
after much soul searching and gathering my strength and
courage, I got a Roux-N-Y done in July ‘96. This surgery I
have never regreted. I have lost 138 pounds and have
50 more to go, although it is getting harder to lose
now. I take extra vitamins to help with the fatigue,
which seems to help. I stocked up on protien powder and
Carnation Instant Breakfast sugar-free. I was given a 4
stage diet to follow. Was anyone else given this type
of diet? GOOD LUCK to everyone getting ready for
surgery. If I had to do it over again, I would in a
heartbeat!
September 6th, 2003 at 12:34 pm
Nancy,<br>Be very careful following other peoples
diets. There are many different ways for the surgeon to
accomplish similar results, and therefore there are many
different diets for that very reason! My dr had a very
specific way for me to eat… and he WOULD NOT give it to
me ahead of schedule! The reason was for him to be
assured I was ready to go on to the next phase BEFORE I
start4ed it! As you said, you have read the many letters,
so you realize there are people that may have some
problems unique to them… because we are all unique
individuals… so talk to your doctor… and when you get a diet
from someone.. PLEASE show it to your doctor BEFORE
you make any changes in your eating. Remember, you
are paying him a pretty penny, and he/she is there to
help you through this life changing event… allow him
to do it, and demand it if he is less than
accessible!<br><br>Good luck, and I will keep you in my prayers!<br>Cindy
aka gonna_doit_thistime<br>Open RNY 8/2/99<br>preop
298<br>current 217!
September 9th, 2003 at 12:18 am
Gosh, cindy is right on this one. Everyone has a
different diet or a different way their doctor wants them
to do things. Mine just said go for it and eat
whatever you can tolerate. Right out of surgery… and I
am fine, but I think if he’d not done that I
wouldn’t have been so sick. So I guess it all depends on
your doc… call him. :)<br>Laura
September 9th, 2003 at 11:00 am
Hi Laura,<br> I haven’t written in a long time,
I’m 6 weeks and have lost 40lbs. As you my doctor
told me to eat whatever I could tolerate right out of
surgery…and I too am fine and have had no problems. I think
every doc is different in there idea of what is good.
It depends on the individual how they do. I have
followed your troubles and don’t know if they are from
what you ate or not but we all heal and react to the
surgery differently, keep up the great work, your looking
good.<br>Trudy
September 10th, 2003 at 7:05 pm
Thanks, Trudy! And its great to hear that you are doing well, too!
hugs!!!<br>xoxox<br>Laura<br>xoxox
October 5th, 2004 at 12:47 pm
I am 2-months post op and am having trouble
deciphering conflicting information. I’ve lost only 30 lbs.
My doctor said 10-12 lbs. per month is the best
weightloss post-op, but everywhere I look it seems everybody
else is losing more - some are at 50lbs in 3 months!!
I’m following the diet & exercise - so what I am
doing wrong?
October 5th, 2004 at 6:08 pm
Hi crystal- I am 11 weeks post op and have lost
about 23 pounds. During this 11 weeks, I have also
plateaued for a week or two. However, one of the girls I
know had lost about 30 pounds in 3 WEEKS. The thing
is, she had like 200+ pounds to lose, while I only
about 100+. The thing is, and it has been confirmed
many times, we all lose it differently. I don’t follow
all the height weight chart bullsh@t, but will be
happy at what my body says is eventually good. It seems
the people who have to lose more, lose it faster in
the beginning, while us "lightweights" lose it
slower. I have not dumped or been sick and can eat
everything I did before (and have). So, I am losing slow,
but it is still more than I did before the surgery
and it is weight I am keeping off. Be happy
June 14th, 2005 at 6:25 pm
Hi evryone,I’m new to the group.Living in Ont Canada,doctor has
agreed to refer me for surgery.Having a hard time with finding doctor
taking patients.I’m in deperate need…………
April 29th, 2006 at 1:26 am
I know this girl, that had the band surgery done in
1991, it had broke and part of her stumach had to be
removed .
Now she is sick all the time and can’t eat,and has a
hole, that is leaking out ,so much she needs to keep
it covered ,it’s real small.
The Dr. wanted to keep her in the hospital , she is
over him .
she needs info on what to do ?
she lives in south/central Indiana.
April 29th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Kim, as with any surgery, there is some danger - and it sounds like your
friend has really been unfortunate. The lap band - although a good
surgery - can have the kinds of problems she has had - Also, in 91, it was
much more of an experimental surgery. But all surgeries have the potential
for some problems, either leaks or staple line disruptions or something
getting nicked that shouldn’t, or in the lap band situation, the band
breaking or slipping.
If she’s uncomfortable with that surgeon, she needs to find one she’s
comfortable with. She needs to do some research and find one she can trust.
It may mean she needs to leave the area to see him, I don’t know.
Since I had a RNY, I’m not much help. If she were an RNY, I’d recommend she
get a consult with Dr. Oh in Washington State. She needs to find a doc,
though, who has LOTS of experience with the lap band, or if she’s looking
for a revision, who has LOTS of experience with revisions.
I know this girl, that had the band surgery done in
1991, it had broke and part of her stumach had to be
removed .
Now she is sick all the time and can’t eat,and has a
hole, that is leaking out ,so much she needs to keep
it covered ,it’s real small.
The Dr. wanted to keep her in the hospital , she is
over him .
she needs info on what to do ?
she lives in south/central Indiana.
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Pam ,
I am at a place Where I could not tale her that,I
could get fired, I gave her this e-mail address ,I
just hope she could get help, the W.W.W .is so full of
info I know she could do better.
I told her I was trying to have this Lap-RNY done ,
But I’m going north ,(hoping she would take a hint).
thanks
Kim
May 3rd, 2006 at 3:05 am
I understand, Kim . Sometimes it’s hard to watch people we know make
mistakes, but the trying to "fix" it for them can make it worse. <sigh>
You’ve done what you can. Turn it over to a higher power, and let the
higher power take care of it - that’s my philosophy.
Pam in Niceville
Pam ,
I am at a place Where I could not tale her that,I
could get fired, I gave her this e-mail address ,I
just hope she could get help, the W.W.W .is so full of
info I know she could do better.
I told her I was trying to have this Lap-RNY done ,
But I’m going north ,(hoping she would take a hint).
thanks
Kim
January 9th, 2007 at 8:09 am
HI im new to this site Im hoping to find a friend to help me through
this, Im currently going through the steps to have this surgery.
I have logged on several times and can’t figure this out. can some
one help me. My name is Anita and Iwould appreciate alittle help.
thanks
January 9th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Hi, Anita. Where do you live? Who is your doc? Welcome to the list!
Pam
_____
HI im new to this site Im hoping to find a friend to help me through
this, Im currently going through the steps to have this surgery.
I have logged on several times and can’t figure this out. can some
one help me. My name is Anita and Iwould appreciate alittle help.
thanks
_____
January 9th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Hi Anita,
What questons do you have? I am sure someone in the group can answer just about
any question you have.lol Welcome to the group. I am new myself.
Diana