I would do it again in a heartbeat - I think most people I’ve talked to
would, also. We were all moving toward an early death or disability without
the surgery, and we wanted to be there for our children and grandchildren
and mates.

If there are any questions I can answer, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Meanwhile, good luck in your venture, gather as much information as you can,
and be well.

Take care,

Pam

_____

Diane, I am Miki and live in New Mexico. I had my surgery on Dec 3 of
2004. I came home and almost died. They sent me home with an infection
that
caused all my stitches to come loose. I had my surgery the old way with a
9 in
incision about 10 inches deep because I weighed 352 lbs and am 5 ft 2 in.
I
had mine done in an Army hospital where the nurses resented having to take
care of the retirees who had "elective" surgery. To them we were not
deserving
of their time and didn’t take care of the R n Y patients. The same thing
happened to many of the people like me. There is now a lawsuit against the

hospital because so many went home with staph infections and Hepatitus C.
Needless to say I landed back in the hospital my second day home (I refused
to be
taken back to that military hospital) and ended up recooperating for 4 1/2
months before I healed from the inside out. Had to have dressings changed
and
incision cleaned out every 4 hrs. Because of a fantastic husband who
nursed
me back to health I am now fine. Still have about 3 or 4 days a week I can

get no food to stay on my stomach and am limited to what I can get down on
a
good day. I have lost 162 lbs in this time and weigh 195 and wear a size
16.
I am having trouble getting out of the fat frame of mind but am doing well.

My diabetes is almost non-existent, no longer take medicine for blood
pressure, cholestral control, anxiety, sleeping, depression. I have never
felt
better in my life. Still have the bad knees and arthritus, but I can walk
now.
I can fit in a bathtub, sit in any chair I desire and have more energy than

I have ever had in my life. If I had it to do over, I would go to a
bariatric surgeon who knew what he was doing and cared about my health.
But, I
would do it over again. I debated this surgery for many years before I
finally
did something about it. I am 56 years young now and am so different
looking
most people I meet that I know don’t even recognize me. It is amazing.

I recommend the surgery to many people who ask about it. But, I tell them
the whole story and recommend a doctor who has done this surgery many times

and will do the laproscopy.

Good luck with your decision and ask questions of the doctor and this group

and others you meet who have had the surgery. Research it well. God
Bless.

Miki in NM

352 down to 195 in 9 months.

_____

_____

I recommend the surgery to many people who ask about it. But, I tell them
the whole story and recommend a doctor who has done this surgery many times
and will do the laproscopy.

Good luck with your decision and ask questions of the doctor and this group
and others you meet who have had the surgery. Research it well. God Bless.

Miki in NM

352 down to 195 in 9 months.

I began the process with Aetna and quickly got a denial. I appealed the denial

and was approved on June 16, 2005 to have the surgery performed before the
renewal of my companies insurance policy with Aetna which would no longer cover
the surgery after July 1, 2005. With about two weeks to complete the
pre-operative regimen, I felt the cards were stacked against me. With some
divine intervention and some legalistic arm twisting from the staff at Cleveland
Clinic, I was granted a two week extension. My surgery (Laproscopic RNY) was
scheduled and performed on July 5, 2005. Sitting here tonite I am 1110 pounds
lighter.

This journey has not been without its challenges. One week post op I developed
a blood clot in my right elbow. Back into the hospital for five days to break
up the clot. Two weeks post op, I travelled to Atlanta by car to attend a
convention. On the morning of day three of the convention I began passing blood
in my stool. My wife and son took me to Emory University hospital where I
crashed. My blood pressure dropped to 60/35. The ER doctor saved my life.
Realizing that my blood was too thin from the anti-coagulants they were giving
me for the blood clot in my arm, I was bleeding internally. Three days in the
ICU and eight units of blood and plasma later, I was moved to a regular floor
for a couple more days. I went home the next day flying alone to Ft Lauderdale.

Please don’t get me wrong. I have no regrets about having this life saving
procedure. I would do it again in a moment. The challenges thatI faced are
possible with everyone, but not likely. My quality of life has improved
dramatically. My career has improved and I havemore energy now that I can ever
remember having. Best of all is that my Diabetes was gone three days after my
surgery. My GERD is gone and so is my sleep apnea. I still have hypertension,
but it is managed. I’m sure my enlarged heart has shrunk along with the rest of
me. I think that I have gained another 40 years of life, which I fully plan to
live to the fullest.

Good luck with your journey, keep us informed.

Brian in S Florida

My name is Diane and I live in Vancouver, WA (I work in Portland,
OR). I am 49 years young. I am 5′10 and close to 400 pounds. I have
high BP, back pain, joint pain, headaches and aniexity. I am married,
have two dogs, 1 grown son living in CA. I work full time, and my
husband is a wedding minister. On the weekends, we marry people.
Our lives are very busy and full, but for as long as I can remember,
my weight has always caused me grief.

When I was 11 my father would make fun of me because I was fat, but
then fill a huge plate with food for dinner and not allow me to leave
the dinner table until I had eaten it all. In my teenage years, I
would eat candy to console myself for the lonliness I felt. After
graduation from high school I tried the HGC shots and 500 calories a
day (do not use any hand lotion…. lol) and lost, but as soon as I
began eating regular, the weight came came and more. I’ve tried,
Weight Wathcers, Jenny Craig, Atkins, South Palm Beach, Cabbage
Soup…. I have scoffed at weight loss surgery, mainly because I
have been scared of the complications… but I also now am realizing
that I am really afraid to lose the weight! What will happen if I
can’t hide behind my weight as the reason for rejections or not being
able to complete a task… Could I climb that mountain or walk a
trail to find a stream????

So please, if any of you are from my area, please say hello… and if
your not, I’d love chatting with you as well. I have Premera Blue
Cross, PPO… anyone know anything about what they will say? I am
attending a meeting next Wednesday night at a hospital near where I
live to find out more about how to get started on my voyage.

Best of luck to each of you! Have a great day!

Diane

Visit your group "obesitysurgerysupportgroup" on the web.

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