jeanie51

Hi everyone, I have stumbled upon this forum by accident last week and have enjoyed reading your posts. Some of you already know who I am because I have responded to a couple of threads, but I thought I'd "introduce" myself. My name is Jeanie and I had WLS in 1978 (gastric bypass) at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis Missouri. I was one of the first to have it done there. I actually was a 'volunteer (guinea pig) to have this done since Barnes had been given a government grant to do a study on obesity and to begin to perform the surgery. I was in the first group of 12 women to have it done. I enjoy reading all of your posts, but it sure seems to me that your doctors are putting you through a lot. I have read that some dr.'s want the patients to try a diet for six months (haven't we all done that way before checking into surgery). I am also confused about why you are told you can't have soda, rice, etc. When I had the surgery, since it was brand new after we left the hospital we were just kind of on our own, no one knew what to tell us to eat or not eat, but, rice is and always has been one of my favorite foods, and I drink soda (diet) every day. I can't imagine the reasoning for not allowing soda unless they don't want you drinking regular soda and adding up the calories. And, we sure didn't have to attend meetings prior to surgery with a buddy. And it sounds as if most of you really have to fight with your dr. to approve the surgery and/or the insurance company to pay for it. I was definitely lucky in that respect, since I was part of a group study that was being paid for by the government, there was no insurance approval needed. It just seems to me that it was easier for me than it has been for most of you, it sounds as if they (drs?) are trying to make it awfully complicated for you. The one aspect where it seems easier now is that if I understand right, that the criteria to be eligible for the WLS is to be at least 100 lbs overweight, it that correct? At the time I had the surgery, we had to be at least twice what our 'normal' weight would be. I weighed 270 when I had the surgery and I was the smallest one of the group.

But it is all worth it!

bridgetgirl

Have you lost all your excess weight? Were you able to maintain? Do you have any idea the size they made your new stomach?

We cant have rice or doughy bread for the first 3 months, cause it swells and it hurts, other than that we can have it after 3 months.

Yes you have to show a 6 month history of a medically supervised diet also. Its to show and document your struggle with excess weight and the difficulty in taking it off and/or keeping it off.

Many people feel this surgery is the quick fix, and had the surgery as eaily as you did but many people as much as 50% have gained back all of their excess weight. With all the classes and things we have to do, it shows our dedication, gives us knowledge and a better understanding of our new lives. I think its a good thing.

Its awesome to have you here so may years out. Did you ever experience dumping as we do? Did you have a RNY procuedure or ? I look forward to your response! Welcome!

__________________
J.Bridget Fisher aka koi-pea
2/9/04 lap 5'11"
298/170-trying to lose another 10

www.myspace.com/caliclovercutie
What Sawyer would call me on LOST: ladybug

"People will argue with you that getting what you want in life isn’t something you can learn, if you’re destined to be one of the worlds winners as opposed to one of its perpetual whiners, its because you have been born with the right talents and temperament and have a big dose of self-esteem, ambition, and good judgment." Kate White

jeanie51

Hi bridget, I accidentally posted my original message twice, but I'll answer your questions here. I lost about 100 lbs the first year, then another 20 after that and then I was at 150 lbs for a very very long time. But, I'm 5'5 and that wasn't a bad weight. In the past few years, though, I have lost another 21 lbs by just being more active (basically walking a lot). I don't 'diet' at all, I eat whatever I want. So I now weigh 129 lbs but I think I could stand to gain a few pounds. I think my best weight is actually 135 - 138. I have never had any periods of regaining any weight. I don't really know the size they made my stomach. I had a basic stomach stapling. I think that all of you now are much better informed than we were, and there are so many more options, but, we were 'guinea pigs'. At the beginning I could only eat a few bites of food, but over the years that has changed and I can eat more than that now. Even so, I still can't begin to eat a 'full meal'. I probably eat about 1/4 of what most people eat. But, I do eat small amounts all day long. I never eat a big meal (can't) so I eat a little, but then I will eat something again in a couple of hours. My husband for example will eat two big plates of food and make himself miserable for several hours. I will eat a little tiny bit of food and feel fine, but within a couple of hours I will eat a little tiny big again.

I'm sorry to hear that there are people who have regained their weight. For a few years I kept in touch with some of the women in the study group, but lost touch with them over the years. I would imagine that in order to regain the weight, they would have somehow had to stretch their stomach back to a bigger size by eating too much, or, drinking high calorie drinks (beer, etc).

Hope this answers some of your questions!!

Jeanie

__________________
Jeanie
Lap Dr. Callery
July 7, 2004
Currently pregnant with my 1st biological baby due Oct 11th..... We are having a girl

jeanie51

Jeanie, I was confused for a moment when you said 'love the name' until I saw your name. Yes, it irritates me, too, when people always want to put two n's in it!!