Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 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. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 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! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.