Hi, I had WLS 27 years ago - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

jeanie51 · 11-09-2005, 01:41 PM

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!

eyesthatkissu · 11-09-2005, 01:46 PM

How wonderful of you to post!!! I'm so happy you are here! We rarely get long term post ops to post, especially 27 years out! I think most of the dietary rules are more of guidelines. The support is really helpful to many because it helps us get right in our minds, as usually most of us have personal issues that contributed to our obesity in the first place. Again thank you for posting, and it's wonderful to have you here!

Cinerbelle · 11-09-2005, 01:55 PM

Welcome!!! Do you mind if I ask you if you have maintained your weight loss all these years? My mother had the surgery approximately 20 years ago and ended up gaining all her weight back...then had the surgery again a year and a half ago and is a twig now.

Thanks for posting! I am sure you are a wealth of knowledge.

Pokey757 · 11-09-2005, 02:33 PM

I'm glad you posted as well. Please fill us in on your success and info.

Blueyz · 11-09-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

I am so thrilled to hear from you. It is so neat when we hear of success such as yours. If you don't mind, how much weight have you been able to lose and maintain? I understand if you don't want to say, but I am curious and am insipired by your success.

I had to pull teeth and fight for my wls and it was worth every fighting minute. I do believe that insurance companies want to make sure that the person is having surgery for the right reason and not just having it without resorting to dieting. A good example would be my older sister who thought she could just have wls...well she has never stuck to a diet in her life, so how would she know it (a diet) wouldn't work for her. I know that it must be a well-thought decision with much education.

Thanks for posting and I hope we hear more from you soon...I am happy you are here with our group

Bypassingme619 · 11-09-2005, 04:00 PM

It is a pleasure to have someone who has 27 years in this WLS journey. WOW. I honestly think this surgery has grown to be so much more safier with a greater range of educational material about this surgery and we have you to thank for contributing to that. May I ask how much do you weight now? I wish you continued sucess and look forward to your post on line. I think you being here will help you in your process as well.

eli_far77 · 11-09-2005, 05:28 PM

Hello! Thanks for posting. The other day I was wondering about the people who've had wls in prior years. Knowing you had your surgery 27 years ago makes me feel super confident about going through with mine. I honestly was concerned about this, I know it must seem kind of silly of me. Thanks again for posting

LisaBoston · 11-09-2005, 06:55 PM

Great to hear about you. What type of surgery procedure did you have? There are so many choices now a days. It people like you who many years ago were the "guinea pigs" that have enabled the doctors to learn so much about obesity..without you all, I am sure there wouldn't be so many options for us. Did you experience any complications at all? Once again, glad to have you aboard!

jeanie51 · 11-10-2005, 11:21 AM

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I honestly didn't know if anyone would have any interest in hearing from someone who had this done so long ag, since obviously the procedures have changed over the years. I'll try to answer as many questions as I remember. I am 54 (a young active 54!) now, I had the surgery done when I was 27. At that time I had 4 kids at home, and this was unchartered territory, so I was pretty nervous. But I was determined not to continue to live the way I was, I was so miserable at that weight. And the fact that it was Barnes Hospital that had been given the grant to study obesity and begin performing the surgery made me feel better, since Barnes is one of the best hospitals in the midwest. So I went for a consultation in December and had the surgery at the end of January, 1978. I barely made it under the wire, since at that time the requirement was that you had to be twice your 'normal' body weight. I just slid in at 270 lbs. Prior to surgery, we (all of the participants) had to undergo two weeks of tests, they did every test you can imagine, even bone marrow. Then I spent another 1 1/2 weeks in the hospital after the surgery, so I was actually in the hospital for close to a month. I'm sure that's not how it is done now!! The procedure was a stomach stapling, and during surgery my spleen ruptured. However, it has never been a problem and I wouldn't even be aware of it except the doctor told me (they probably have to). I think the spleen is necessary during pregnancy but I was done having kids. When I was sent home, I had to be taught to change my bandages every day (very gruesome). I have a long scar, from right between my breasts down to appendix area. I am so used to it that I don't even notice it any more. After surgery I had several episodes of throwing up until I learned how much I could eat (learned pretty quickly!) And for about the first year, I couldn't eat chicken for some reason. I lost about 100 lbs the first year and thought I was pretty thin at 170. At the end of the first year, I had to go back to Barnes (part of the original agreement) and spent a week there while they ran a bunch of the same tests that they had prior to the surgery. They want to make sure that everything was still functioning the same as it had before, which it was. Then for the next five years I had to go there once a year for blood work and doctor visit. During those years I lost another 20 lbs and pretty much stabilized at 150. I'm 5'5 so that wasn't bad.

In the past few years I have lost another 21 lbs and now weigh 129. Basically I just make an effort to walk as much as possible. I park my car at the end of the parking lot, walk around my office building, stay as active as I can. I don't 'diet' at all, I eat everything I want. However, over the years my tastes have changed, and I don't eat much meat at all and almost no fast food. I do eat too much candy though! Mostly I eat a lot of pasta.

I still can't eat anywhere close to a full meal even after 27 years. The one bad thing about this surgery is that eating out is a waste of money. If my husband and I go to Maverick Steak House, I am full, and done eating, just from the salad bar before our real food gets to the table. I am eating lunch at work as I type this, and I have a bowl of chili and some crackers. I ate two packages of crackers and maybe 1/4 of the bowl of chili at the most. But, I will eat again in a few hours! I have found out that what dr.'s have told us all along is right - eat a lot of small amounts during the day. I am basically nibbling all day long, but never eat any substantial amount at all. I drink a lot of diet soda (we were never told not to) because I don't drink coffee at all, so soda is my caffeine habit.

The only medical problem that I have ever had associated with WLS is that I have off and on been anemic. A few years ago I had to go once a month to have treatments where the iron was injected directly into my veins. No doubt though, this problem is partly brought on because I don't eat much meat. The last time I had blood work done, my levels were right under 'normal' and my dr. said that was good enough. Other than that, I have never had any problems as a result of the surgery.

For any of you who are considering having WLS but are hesitant, I'd like to tell you that every single day I am thankful that I was accepted into that study group and able to have the surgery. I have been able to do so much that I don't think I would ever have been able to do at 270 lbs! My husband and I have been whitewater rafting many times, motorcycle riding, hiking,...so many things that I probably wouldn't have been able to do at my previous weight. This past summer we went to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio and rode the tallest roller coaster in the world - which I would definitely never have fit onto before WLS.

And let's face it, there is the vanity aspect of it, we all want to look the best we can. Every time I go shopping I am so thankful to be buying a size 8 or 10 rather than the size 22 or 24 that I used to wear.

I hope in my very long post that I have answered most of your questions - I will read thru the posts and if there is anything I overlooked I will respond again. Good luck to all of you, it is all worth it!!

PS - you use some terms that I am not familiar with - what is dumping?

Icing · 11-10-2005, 11:32 AM

Dumping syndrome occurs after gastric bypass when food passes too quickly into the small intestine and is particularly induced when you eat sweet foods. (e.g. simple carbohydrates like sugar and some starches).

Symptoms include: nausea or queasiness, a sense of fullness accompanied by discomfort, cramping, diarrhea, general weakness, profuse sweating, vomiting, and heart palpitations (an increase in heart rate).

Usually the symptoms will subside in about an hour. Most patients find the symptoms are alleviated after they lie down for a while. Dumping syndrome is not dangerous, but as you can tell by the symptoms, it's quite unpleasant.

Do you have a pic...would love to see you now?
I,myself havent had the surgery yet...but, in the process of seeing a doctor on the 17th.Nov..