Re: The RNY..........

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/4/2004 9:01:38 PM Central Standard Time,

firecoupleinca@... writes:

What I am looking for is a RNY yahoo group, one I can send my ex to

for info and advice. Any prior RNY patients here who know of one?

Holler and let me know!

Cindee

_______________________________________________

,

I know lots of RNYs and most of them have either protein or Anemia

problems that are severe enough to warrant constant medical care. The only one I

know who has maintained the losses has worked out 2 hrs a day for 8 yrs. AND

even

with that she has gained 20 lbs back.

The thing with the RNY that he needs to realize is the RNYs do well for

2-4 years on average, then the work comes in. The wild card is the stoma. If it

stays small, then he has a decent chance of keeping a good portion of the

weight off.

My PCPs nurse is a friend from the hospital (20 yrs) and she said That

the lady who last had her RNY is now doing IV iron app. every 3 months. God

knows that I understand the monetary problems with doing the program fee. People

here are interested in the DS until they find there is no DS doc in this state.

So I know what they do...it's like they tune you out and start telling you

about all the successes they know of. Usually a person who is 1-2 yrs out.

One suggestion is to send him not only to WLS groups for info but 3 other

groups... OSSG-revision, DS_revisions, and the other one is OSSG hungry. The

first 2 are mainly VBGs and RNYs who are looking to fix thier surgery and are

gaining. The last is people who are dieting to lose or keep off the weight.

Cindee, I know he feels anything is better than nothing, But I lived through it

and Yes it can be. I would have and actually did risk my life to het rid of

the RNY.

The last few weeks I was frustrated that the lady who had the RNY late

last year is comparable to me, nad then I hear she has had a seizure. So today I

called my Sis at work and Bev answered. I talked to her and found out her

Seizure in probabaility was Dumping. She argued that it couldn't have been

dumping, because it only happened with sweets and she didn't eat sweets. She

argued that the doc said that only would happen with concentrated sweets. She

refuses to believe that simple carbs can cause it. Anyway she has no

recollection

of the whole night. She said that if it was a seizure, then it wasn't like any

she had had before. After talking to her, I remmebered the horrors of severe

dumping and thanked God that I don't do that anymore! If I never lose another

pound, At least I got rid of the RNY.

One last word about the RNY and I will get off my soapbox. While most

RNYs lose, they are funny about telling the complications. Like the lady From

the

band trip last year who said she gaged and puked for 4 hrs trying to get a

chicken biscuit up or down, The person who told me how wonderful they were

doing, and I said I'm glad ..I'm having_____- problem, then they said Oh i do

that,

Examples were iv iron, b12 problems, dumping, metabolic bone problems. But to

hear them talk the surgery was wonderful because they were skinny. My goal

was always healthy not any certain size, just normal. What good is skinny if

your slowly dying or sleeping 1/2 your life away because you don't feel good

after every meal and have to sleep for an hour?

Tell him, Cindee. Make sure he understands, then you can say " I tried " if

problems happen. That's all you can do. Some people want the easiest fix, not

always the best.

[Guest guest]

Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/

In the search box type in any key word about WLS and you will find

tons of groups. Words like, WLS, RNY, Gastric Bypass, OSSG ....

You can also go to

www.obesityhelp.com

By far most of the patients are RNY, and they have message boards.

You can also check out

www.spotlighthealth.com

That is the group that did carnie wilsons surgery...lots of RNY info

and they have a message board there also.

Tell Joe I wish him the best of luck and I hope he's a real Loser!

Hugs

Jo

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/5/2004 2:33:36 AM Central Standard Time,

firecoupleinca@... writes:

We all agree, the ds is the BEST choice and he would LOVE to have it

but for him right now the RNY is the only logical and affordable

choice, and he can't remain obese and live the way he is living now.

I am terrified we are going to find him dead in bed some night due to

a stroke or heart attack from the severe apnea, and the kids need

their dad and support this decision as well.

_________________________________________

Cindee,

Did he consider the lap band as a alternative? It would apply the

restriction and he could see if he could live with the restriction portion with

out

any permanent possibly damaging effects of the RNY...Shit! It sure pisses me

off when money is the deciding factor in anything!

[Guest guest]

Hi Mel, I knew I would get lots of info from you, and thank you for

your reply! There IS a bad side to every WLS, including the ds and we

all need to be aware of all possible risks before we make that final

decision. Joe has had to live with me and my decision and has seen

all I have been through and he knows that the RNY will not be as easy

and that he can and probably will have complications, but since there

is no possible way for him to have the ds, he accepts that the RNY

really is his only option at this time because he and his Dr agree

that doing something is better than doing nothing and if there are

too many complications it CAN be revised to a ds at a later date if

need be.

We have talked about ALL the possible complications, we have

discussed the very small potion sizes and complications that can come

from lack of nutrients, etc.....and still he is willing to try it.

He is desperate at this point and right now the RNY really is the

only option available and as he put it, he is miserable enough now,

and he may be exchanging the problems he has for RNY related ones,

but with lots of luck and prayer and support, he is hoping to

successfully take off the weight and keep it off at least for a time,

and if a revision is in his future, so be it. But he can't wait

another 2 years to save the money for the program fee for the ds, and

he knows he needs to do something now.

I sent him to ObesityHelp.com and he hs found a lot of info there as

well as a lot of good info on his surgeon so he at least feels he is

in good hands even though the RNY isn't his first choice of surgery.

he is doing the research, and he will be informed and ready for this,

complications and all.....but with the misery he is in now, he still

feels it is worth the risks. He plans to join several groups and talk

to others who have had the surgery, good and bad, and then he will

feel fully prepared for what to expect.

I won't try to talk him out of it, I can't. He has apnea so bad that

he stops breathing several hundred times a night, his blood pressure

is sky high, and he already is developing arthritis and other related

problems. His kids are terrified. He can either live this way for

another 2-4 years until he can save the program fee, or choose the

RNY, because the DS is simply not an option right now....with the

large amount of child support he pays every month, there is just no

way he can handle the program fee at all.

We all agree, the ds is the BEST choice and he would LOVE to have it

but for him right now the RNY is the only logical and affordable

choice, and he can't remain obese and live the way he is living now.

I am terrified we are going to find him dead in bed some night due to

a stroke or heart attack from the severe apnea, and the kids need

their dad and support this decision as well.

He does know that this is not a miracle cure, that there WILL be

complications (some can be severe) and side effects, but measured

against what he lives with now, he is willing to take those risks,

and all I can do is support him in any way I can.

He plans to join several groups and read, research, and make sure he

is fully informed before he signs the papers for surgery, but he

knows that there is no way he can have the ds...he DOES want the ds,

he just cannot afford it, and the RNY surgeon does not charge a

program fee, he does provide close follow-up care, and he is also

very strict with follow-up visits and aftercare. There is always

someone available for questions and answers, and everyone we have

spoke with speaks highly of this surgeon, so if he HAS to settle for

the RNY at least he has a proactive surgeon and one who is strict

about giving all the risks beforehand and one who will be there if

there are complications.

We did look into the DS, but with Blue Cross CalPers HMO, it is a

long shot getting it approved, and the program fee is just way beyond

reach. So for now, all we can do is support his decision, help him to

be well aware of all the risks, and then be there for him afterwards!

I will always be glad that the ds was available for me, and I wish

that it was more accessable to others, but I have to admit, that

program fee is killer for many who are on a very tight budget! I was

lucky to have Ray to take it out of his retirement for me, but Joe

does not have that extra money sitting around and no way to get it.

It all boils down to the RNY or nothing, and he is willing to take

his chances and go into this with his eyes wide open and knowing and

even expecting complications.....I just pray that his goes well and

smoothly and his recovery is uneventful!

One day at a time....his consult is the 17th, the surgery is already

approved, so he could possibly have a surgery date soon! Thanks for

the info....and I will send him to the sites you mentioned! He needs

to be completely informed going into this.......

THANKS!!!

Cindee

> In a message dated 8/4/2004 9:01:38 PM Central Standard Time,

> firecoupleinca@y... writes:

> What I am looking for is a RNY yahoo group, one I can send my ex to

> for info and advice. Any prior RNY patients here who know of one?

> Holler and let me know!

>

> Cindee

> _______________________________________________

> ,

> I know lots of RNYs and most of them have either protein or

Anemia

> problems that are severe enough to warrant constant medical care.

The only one I

> know who has maintained the losses has worked out 2 hrs a day for 8

yrs. AND even

> with that she has gained 20 lbs back.

> The thing with the RNY that he needs to realize is the RNYs do

well for

> 2-4 years on average, then the work comes in. The wild card is the

stoma. If it

> stays small, then he has a decent chance of keeping a good portion

of the

> weight off.

> My PCPs nurse is a friend from the hospital (20 yrs) and she

said That

> the lady who last had her RNY is now doing IV iron app. every 3

months. God

> knows that I understand the monetary problems with doing the

program fee. People

> here are interested in the DS until they find there is no DS doc in

this state.

> So I know what they do...it's like they tune you out and start

telling you

> about all the successes they know of. Usually a person who is 1-2

yrs out.

> One suggestion is to send him not only to WLS groups for info

but 3 other

> groups... OSSG-revision, DS_revisions, and the other one is OSSG

hungry. The

> first 2 are mainly VBGs and RNYs who are looking to fix thier

surgery and are

> gaining. The last is people who are dieting to lose or keep off the

weight.

> Cindee, I know he feels anything is better than nothing, But I

lived through it

> and Yes it can be. I would have and actually did risk my life to

het rid of

> the RNY.

> The last few weeks I was frustrated that the lady who had the

RNY late

> last year is comparable to me, nad then I hear she has had a

seizure. So today I

> called my Sis at work and Bev answered. I talked to her and found

out her

> Seizure in probabaility was Dumping. She argued that it couldn't

have been

> dumping, because it only happened with sweets and she didn't eat

sweets. She

> argued that the doc said that only would happen with concentrated

sweets. She

> refuses to believe that simple carbs can cause it. Anyway she has

no recollection

> of the whole night. She said that if it was a seizure, then it

wasn't like any

> she had had before. After talking to her, I remmebered the horrors

of severe

> dumping and thanked God that I don't do that anymore! If I never

lose another

> pound, At least I got rid of the RNY.

> One last word about the RNY and I will get off my soapbox.

While most

> RNYs lose, they are funny about telling the complications. Like the

lady From the

> band trip last year who said she gaged and puked for 4 hrs trying

to get a

> chicken biscuit up or down, The person who told me how wonderful

they were

> doing, and I said I'm glad ..I'm having_____- problem, then they

said Oh i do that,

> Examples were iv iron, b12 problems, dumping, metabolic bone

problems. But to

> hear them talk the surgery was wonderful because they were skinny.

My goal

> was always healthy not any certain size, just normal. What good is

skinny if

> your slowly dying or sleeping 1/2 your life away because you don't

feel good

> after every meal and have to sleep for an hour?

> Tell him, Cindee. Make sure he understands, then you can say " I

tried " if

> problems happen. That's all you can do. Some people want the

easiest fix, not

> always the best.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thats one option we have not looked at, but if it is available it is

worth looking at! He is 6 foot 4 and 285 right now, If he dropped 85

pounds he would be right where he wants to be, so the lapband would

be worth looking into.....hmmm...that is a thought!

Cindee

> In a message dated 8/5/2004 2:33:36 AM Central Standard Time,

> firecoupleinca@y... writes:

> We all agree, the ds is the BEST choice and he would LOVE to have

it

> but for him right now the RNY is the only logical and affordable

> choice, and he can't remain obese and live the way he is living

now.

> I am terrified we are going to find him dead in bed some night due

to

> a stroke or heart attack from the severe apnea, and the kids need

> their dad and support this decision as well.

> _________________________________________

>

> Cindee,

> Did he consider the lap band as a alternative? It would apply

the

> restriction and he could see if he could live with the restriction

portion with out

> any permanent possibly damaging effects of the RNY...Shit! It sure

pisses me

> off when money is the deciding factor in anything!

>

>

>