Toony

Back to Nikki's Concerns:

hey Nikki... is your hubby drinking protein drinks? They'll help him from being so hungry. The first 2-3 days on a new diet like that are the toughest... I'm sorry he's having so many problems with the pre-op part... do you think he'll do ok after surgery? If he isn't in this 100% - then he may have a hard time after. The surgery is a tool --- he's still going to have to make it work! He has got to be "in the game!"

As far as the fear... my sister had a cancerous tumor on her kidney... they had to take the whole kidney out. The risks there were horrible, but so was the risk of NOT having the surgery. Much like us who are morbidly obese. Complications? She has had a rough time... she developed a "giant" hernia, and her intestines migrated into her chest cavity. She went through and extremely painful repair... but the muscle where they attached the mesh had atrophied (died)... and the mesh is not holding very well. She has horrendous pain and digestive problems...

There are risks and complications with all surgeries... check with your surgeon to get his complication stats... and talk to him/her about fixing problems that may occur to ease your mind(s)...

I am scared too and I don't have a date yet... it's normal to go into any surgery with a bit of apprehension or fear... A positive attitude will help === go with the flow === do what you've got to do!!!

We're all here to support you and your hubby...

Katie

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TOONYbear/Katie
Lucky Duck Sack Club Member No. 7


Lap RNY: FAT TUESDAY! 02/05/08
300.1 / 252.0 at 14 wks (-48.1 pounds)
My Weight Loss Blog: http://ktoon.blogspot.com/

lward76

Hi, first I want to say good luck to your husband!! And everything works out fine, but just to let you know that I am another one who is having a reversal in April!! The Nausua just is so bad I cant eat, I can barely live a normal life!! But, there are alot of people that do just fine with it!!! And there are so many people that hide there problems and then they become so huge that its uncontrollable!! Well anyway, good luck!!! Stand by him he will need your support!!!

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Laura
220/216/119/115
highest/pre-op/current/goal
Height 5'1
[color="Blue"]113 POUNDS GONEOR]


04/11/07...Had surgery!!! my nerves were still wacky but hey i did it!!

size before surgery was 18 now size 5

Being reversed on Jan 18 I cant wait!!!!!!!!
I WAS REVESED ON JAN 18,2008 NOT EVEN A YEAR OUT!!

Jeri

I think everyone is scared--both the person having the surgery & the families of that person. It's totally normal. If your husband has a good surgeon then most likely everything will be fine. I think the surgery itself will probably be harder on you than him because he will be under anesthesia...you have to do the waiting. Hang in there...it's almost time & it will be over before you know it.

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Jeri
Lap RNY 10/30/2007


Height 5' 5 1/2"
HighestCurrent/Goal
278/243.6/199

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

paige52

If you feel like it's all moving to fast step off the path and take a break. Do more research. My hubby postponed his surgery 3 times before he actually did it.

There are risks to this surgery that are inherent to the procedure. Any inteligent person must recognize that changing the natural order of their disgestive track can cause problems, either immediately after the surgery or long term.

If you are one of the lucky few that have zero complications then that's great but the number of people like that... that experience no nausea, vomitting, tiredness, depression or one of the other 53 possible complications... are few and far between. For many, a small level of complications is an acceptable trade off for the weight loss. I know my hubby was one of those in the begining zero complications the story is a bit different 6 month down the road.

The real bottom line is that this isn't a cure all for being fat. In the end the body will adjust and you run the risk of regaining the weight you lost. Pouches stretch and things happen. One thing that never goes back to normal is nutrient absorbtion. So yes you can get fat again and still suffer from malnutrition.

When asked I emphatically say no I wouldn't have the surgery again if I knew now what I knew then.... I also am a staunch supporter of using only the LapBand as a tool for weight loss. If you haven't already looked into it then by all means give it a review. I know you're not asking for that type of advice but I'll give my opinion just the same.. people need to hear it.

PM me if you would like some research pointers that don't all lead to the website of the surgeon that performs the procedure... the ones with glowing reports as if nothign every goes wrong...

In my experience you roll the dice and take your chances when you have this surgery. It can be very good with a minimum of side effects/complications or it can profoundly effect your health/life/survival/mental & emotional stability... and I dont' mean in a good way.

That said.. I wish you and your husband the best of luck with whatever road you find yourselves on.

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213/110/130 Preop/Current/Goal

Open RNY 9/26/06 Height 5' 4"

Nikki_Sue

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice. I know this is a good thing for him to help turn things around. And he is doing better (for the moment) with the liquid diet. His surgery is 1 week from today. Still nervous as hell...

As far as the confidence in his surgeon - 100% I'm happy to say. He is one of the top guys in the state and has a 0% mortality rate. Which in my opinon is pretty darn good... And each time we meet with him, I feel more confident.

I know the hardest thing will be watching my husband be wheeled away. Yeah...I don't think I'll do too well with that. Now...if only the doc would let me watch.....

Anyway...thanks to all for your support. I will keep you all posted on progress.

Nikki

paige52

That's very interesting what is the surgeons name? How long has he been in practice and how many a year does he do?

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213/110/130 Preop/Current/Goal

Open RNY 9/26/06 Height 5' 4"

Godsblessedme

this is what i've learned, anyone saying that they havent lost a patient yet, is not very experienced and probably only has done a few surgeries. That
"0%" mortality rate should have sent you a huge red flag.

even the most experienced physicians if they've done at least 500 bypasses have lost at least one patient. And as I have said, if you do more research it will tell you to beware of surgeons saying they have 0 mortality rate because they are not that experienced.

I'm sure your hubby will do fine, but you must do more research on that doctor ask how many gastric bypasses he's performed last year or total. Also get on your states medical licensincing website. I used to do that for a living and its amazing to see how many people dont know about their physicians past.

__________________

Deborah (before sugery)

PreOp/Current/Goal
268 /212 (5/12/08) /130

Surgery Date: 12/18/07 Lap RNY

Gym Rat #98

Nikki_Sue

Ok - I should say the clinic that we are at has the 0% rate. (3 doctors in the clinic) Actually I've done homework on this. One of the first things I've found is the article from the American Society for Bariatric Surgery gave this clinic the "Center of Excellence" in 2005. At that time, they had performed over 600 surgeries with a zero mortality rate. Now their count is over 1000 performed. And their complication rate was & still is below the national average. We feel very confident with the doctor.

Poicat

Hi Nikki Sue...

Here's my five cents on the subject.

I'm new on the forum. My surgery (gastric bypass) was on 3/31/08. I was approved for the surgery because I was 110 pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, with major asthma, high blood pressure, fatty liver, sleep apnea, etc. I come from a family of diabetics so you would think I would have never let my weight get so high but...oh well...anyway, on with the story.

After being diagnosed with diabetes, I started doing research on bariatric surgery. I, like many others I'm sure, was looking for a way out; a second chance. A gastric bypass was the solution I chose.

I had never been to a hospital before and I am terrified of doctors, blood tests, and needles so this decision was a major one for me. My mom was a diabetic who slowly lost bits of herself through several amputations; I was determined that this would not happen to me without a fight.

I then opened the discussion on this procedure with my husband. He poured over the research I had done, we both discussed the procedure, side effects, benefits, etc. ad nauseum. After the research period, we went to several presentations and spoke to patients of the surgeon we were considering.

I will admit that most of those patients said their surgery was a breeze with no complications and, in some cases, even no pain. That's great for them but I was worried about how it would be for me.

Gastric bypass is still major surgery and all major surgery contains a certain amount of risk. My surgeon helped to decrease those risks by scheduling me for an amazing amount of tests before my surgery. If I had any other health issues/problems, they wanted to know before I was on the table (so did I).

After all the info gathering, my surgery was scheduled.

I started on the liquid diet which was really difficult for the first 3-4 days. After that, it got easier. Every time I wanted to cheat, I reminded myself that I was doing the diet not to lose weight but to shrink the size of my liver so that the operation could be done laproscopically. I would ask myself if the piece of chicken (or whatever) that I wanted to cheat with was worth undergoing a full on surgical cut instead of laproscope. It's amazing how easy it was to turn down food after asking myself that question.

Anyway, the fear set in around 4 days before surgery. The "what ifs" were terrible. I love my husband and I love our life; I didn't want to lose it; what if something went wrong and I never came home?

My wonderful husband sat with me and held my hand while I cried and talked about what should be done if I didn't return home. He also reassured me that I was making the right decision for us. That choosing to do this surgery was my way of choosing life and him over sickness and death -- yes, diabetes kills! We chose to look at this surgery as a gift.

My closest girlfriends and husband were in the hospital with me before and after surgery. They all held my hands and reassured me. We all told each other how much we loved each other and they waited for me to be taken to my room after surgery.

Each person's idea of pain is different; I was in pain. My surgery was on a Monday and I did not begin to feel human again until Friday. But by that weekend, Sunday to be exact, my husband and I were tip toeing through the wild poppy fields at the California Poppy Preserve.

I have days when food does not agree with me and I have vomitted. I also have far more days that are problem free. I have gotten rid of Diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver. I've lost almost 30 pounds and hope to get rid of my sleep apnea C-PAP in another 30-40 pounds. My energy has tripled. My depression is far less severe. I've gone from 18 different medications and four inhalers a day down to two (thyroid & one antidepressant) + vitamins

Four weeks out...would I go through everything I have once again? To be where I am healthwise and mentally -- YES!

I will send out a prayer for you and your husband. My husband was strong for me. You can be just as strong for your husband. The fear will be there till he is out of it. But, in the hands of a capable surgeon who has done all the pre-tests, the risk percentages goes down.

There's some info on the 60 minute website that you might find helpful...also on the Mayo Clinic website.

We are all here for you....just shout out!