Questions

March 13, 2003

you get more of a response if you post to the group. I forwarded this email to

them. There are a variety of people on this group, who are in various stages of

their journey. From thinking to post op for almost 10 + years.

I had my surgery on Dec 11, and ended up with a leak, and pneumonia, plus

peritonitis. Would I do this again, yes even tho I haven't eaten anything by

mouth since Dec 11, I had a few bites the first week, and then we thought I was

healed a couple of weeks ago I was able to eat for a few days. I'm down 75 lbs.

My surgeon has been on any problems immediately. My high blood pressure is gone.

My sleep apnea is almost completely gone. My pulmonary hypertension is gone. My

arthritis is extremely better. My gerd is gone. And the list goes on. I haven't

felt this good except for this past week, in years. I am able to walk and talk

at the same time without getting winded.

This surgery has many risks, but you must out weight the benefits with what your

co-morbidities are. How committed you are to following no sugar, High protein,

followups, labs, any counseling you may be having now or need in the future. The

surgery is a tool. It is good for 20% and the rest is hard work for you the

patient, with diet, and exercise, or should I say lifestyle changes.

Some suggest making a list of pros and cons, and listing what you have wrong and

how you feel.

Good luck

Debbie SEllman

March 13, 2003

Message

questions

I am new here as well and I have a few questions. Before I ask the questions,

I'd like to introduce myself.

My name is Colleen and I live in Southern California. I have started the 5

month process my medical group requires before they will approve me for the

surgery. Joining a support group is one of my requirements, I hope this counts.

Before joining the group, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind, the surgery was

for me. After listening to some of the doctors, and more so, reading some of

your posts, a seed of doubt has been planted. And to top it off, my husband is

scared to death and is begging me not to do this. So here are my questions...

How many people in here wish they never had it done?

Is there anyone I can talk to who is 10 or more years into this surgery?

What are some of the worst complications any of you have experienced? (I read

about the blood clot thing and frankly that scares that #@!$ out of me!)

I have a ton more to ask, but I will leave it at that for now.

Thanks Colleen

March 13, 2003

Thank you so much Debbie. I guess I am not sure how to access the group

though

Re: questions

you get more of a response if you post to the group. I forwarded this

email to them. There are a variety of people on this group, who are in

various stages of their journey. From thinking to post op for almost 10

+ years.

I had my surgery on Dec 11, and ended up with a leak, and pneumonia,

plus peritonitis. Would I do this again, yes even tho I haven't eaten

anything by mouth since Dec 11, I had a few bites the first week, and

then we thought I was healed a couple of weeks ago I was able to eat for

a few days. I'm down 75 lbs. My surgeon has been on any problems

immediately. My high blood pressure is gone. My sleep apnea is almost

completely gone. My pulmonary hypertension is gone. My arthritis is

extremely better. My gerd is gone. And the list goes on. I haven't felt

this good except for this past week, in years. I am able to walk and

talk at the same time without getting winded.

This surgery has many risks, but you must out weight the benefits with

what your co-morbidities are. How committed you are to following no

sugar, High protein, followups, labs, any counseling you may be having

now or need in the future. The surgery is a tool. It is good for 20% and

the rest is hard work for you the patient, with diet, and exercise, or

should I say lifestyle changes.

Some suggest making a list of pros and cons, and listing what you have

wrong and how you feel.

Good luck

Debbie SEllman

March 13, 2003

I'm not following you, perhaps because I need to get my butt to bed.

You must go to the gbic group home, and select how you want to get mail, read it

at the site, or delivered in your mail box. You can get digest, about 25 emails

in one email several times aday. Some find this cumbersome. It's a personal

choice.

To send an email send it to GastricBypass-InfoCentral

hope I'm answering this correctly. I'm past tired.

Debbie

March 14, 2003

Colleen.... I'm in Southern California too. Where are you located? I'm in

Los Angeles.... Naomi

March 14, 2003

In a message dated 3/14/2003 10:11:24 AM Pacific Standard Time,

gilsathome@... writes:

> Hi Namoi, I am in San Bernardino. Have you already had the surgery?

>

Yes, I had the surgery January 14, 2003. I'm so thrilled I had it. In three

weeks I had lost 30 pounds, but then I hit a plateau which I'm on right now.

However, it's not depressing me because of all the wonderful things that have

happened:

No longer taking 28 pills a day -- only taking 3.

I'm a diabetic, and my diabetes is being controlled by one pill a day, and

sugars are low.

I had high blood pressure, took medicine for it and struggled, and now I am

low-normal.

I'm no longer taking mood-altering drugs (prozac, klonopin, buspar) and I am

not depressed, anxious, and can sleep at night just fine.

There are many other little things, but even if it was just that I'm not on

all the medicine and never lost another pound, I'd be happy I had the

surgery. I'm free of the bondage of medicine, and that's a wonderful

feeling.

I had my surgery at Cedar Sinai, with Doctor . The surgery was a

piece of cake, with very little discomfort afterwards.

I hope you make the right choice for yourself as you are the only one who can

do that. There are risks, as there are in any surgery, and you must take

this into consideration. However, there are risks in doing nothing....

All the best,

-- Naomi

The only disability in life is a bad attitude.

-- Hamilton

March 14, 2003

Welcome Colleen! Nice to have you with us.

Jeanne in WI

Age 39 - Dr. T. Chua

Open RNY - 5/21/02

5'7 " - 314/216/150-175

djgraves@...

March 14, 2003

Hi Namoi, I am in San Bernardino. Have you already had the surgery?

March 14, 2003

thanks for the info, Naomi. I really have a lot to think about. I

still would really love to talk to someone who is several years into

it.

> In a message dated 3/14/2003 10:11:24 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> gilsathome@c... writes:

>

> > Hi Namoi, I am in San Bernardino. Have you already had the

surgery?

> >

>

> Yes, I had the surgery January 14, 2003. I'm so thrilled I had

it. In three

> weeks I had lost 30 pounds, but then I hit a plateau which I'm on

right now.

> However, it's not depressing me because of all the wonderful things

that have

> happened:

> No longer taking 28 pills a day -- only taking 3.

> I'm a diabetic, and my diabetes is being controlled by one pill a

day, and

> sugars are low.

> I had high blood pressure, took medicine for it and struggled, and

now I am

> low-normal.

> I'm no longer taking mood-altering drugs (prozac, klonopin, buspar)

and I am

> not depressed, anxious, and can sleep at night just fine.

>

> There are many other little things, but even if it was just that

I'm not on

> all the medicine and never lost another pound, I'd be happy I had

the

> surgery. I'm free of the bondage of medicine, and that's a

wonderful

> feeling.

>

> I had my surgery at Cedar Sinai, with Doctor . The surgery

was a

> piece of cake, with very little discomfort afterwards.

>

> I hope you make the right choice for yourself as you are the only

one who can

> do that. There are risks, as there are in any surgery, and you

must take

> this into consideration. However, there are risks in doing

nothing....

>

> All the best,

> -- Naomi

> The only disability in life is a bad attitude.

> -- Hamilton

>

March 14, 2003

Hang out on the list for a while, we have people several years up to 9 years

out on the list.

Pam

----- Re: Fw: questions

> thanks for the info, Naomi. I really have a lot to think about.

> I still would really love to talk to someone who is several years

> into it.

>

> > In a message dated 3/14/2003 10:11:24 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> > gilsathome@c... writes:

> >

> > > Hi Namoi, I am in San Bernardino. Have you already had the

> surgery?

> > >

> >

> > Yes, I had the surgery January 14, 2003. I'm so thrilled I had

> it. In three

> > weeks I had lost 30 pounds, but then I hit a plateau which I'm on

> right now.

> > However, it's not depressing me because of all the wonderful

> things that have > happened: > No longer taking 28 pills a day --

> only taking 3. > I'm a diabetic, and my diabetes is being

> controlled by one pill a day, and > sugars are low. > I had high

> blood pressure, took medicine for it and struggled, and now I am >

> low-normal. > I'm no longer taking mood-altering drugs (prozac,

> klonopin, buspar) and I am > not depressed, anxious, and can

> sleep at night just fine. > > There are many other little things,

> but even if it was just that I'm not on > all the medicine and

> never lost another pound, I'd be happy I had the > surgery. I'm

> free of the bondage of medicine, and that's a wonderful > feeling.

> > > I had my surgery at Cedar Sinai, with Doctor . The

> surgery was a > piece of cake, with very little discomfort afterwards.

> >

> > I hope you make the right choice for yourself as you are the only

> one who can

> > do that. There are risks, as there are in any surgery, and you

> must take

> > this into consideration. However, there are risks in doing

> nothing....

> >

> > All the best,

> > -- Naomi

> > The only disability in life is a bad attitude.

> > -- Hamilton

> >

March 27, 2003

You get very little absorption of the steroids systemically when it's injected

into the knee joint instead.

I would let an orthopedist do it. But, it will help with inflammation since we

can't take NSAID's

Debbie Sellman

March 28, 2003

Val - Anti-inflammatories are only bad for us if we take them orally. Shots are

fine! Try the chondroitn/glucosamine. It just might help. The best way to

stay healthy is to make sure you take all your vitamins, drink your protein, and

have your blood levels checked at least every 6 months. You have to be your own

advocate as your regular doctor may assume you are fine if your ranges appear

normal. Get copies of your bloodwork so you can keep track of downward trends.

Take care.

Jeanne in WI

Age 39 - Dr. T. Chua

Open RNY - 5/21/02

5'7 " - 314/215/150-175

djgraves@...

February 27, 2006

Hello Dowd.

Welcome to the board.

Yes, caffeine is a major trigger for AF. It is found not only in coffee and

tea. But in chocolate, some over the counter drugs.

Finding out what your triggers are is a big first step in controlling your

AF.

So of the more common triggers;

Caffeine, MSG (Chinese food, processed foods), stress, fatigue, over the

counter nasal sprays (not the saline type), exercise, cold drinks, large meals

late at night, and alcohol. There are more, but these are common ones. You may

only be affected by one or two of them or maybe by all of them. AF is a very

personal affliction.

It's an electrical problem of the heart.

Rich O

February 27, 2006

I am a new 72 yr old retired member with many questions. I have had

afib on and off since 1998 with a 5 year period just ended with no

events. Now I have had several events this past 30 days, 2 involving an

ER visit with conversion by medication 1 time and self conversion all

other times. I am taking Amiodarone 200Mg and Metoprolol 100Mg twice a

day and an extra 50Mg if afib starts. I'm not sure what started these

events and wonder if caffiene could be a factor. I only have 1 cup of

coffee in the AM ?but drink ice tea all day. Anyone have experience

with caffiene as a factor?

Also, does your afib drain your energy away?

Thanks for any feedback.

February 27, 2006

My afib is pretty well controlled with meds at the present time, but caffeine

is a trigger for me. I get lots of PVCs first and that prompted me to go to

decaf tea some years ago. I can't even drink decaf coffee without PVCs. I

still miss my coffee but it's not worth it to me to get my heart acting up!

Brenta