Blue eyed G

Hello every1, as you all know I'm new to this forum. descided to join to get info and some friends to talk to and support through the road that I am planing to travel. I feel like a loner right know even though I know some people that has had the surgery before. for the past 10 years I have always stated that I would never need surgery to lose weight and I would do it all my own, but the last 3 to 4 years I have struggled so hard to lose it and I am not getting very far. I feel like a failure, even though my boy friend ensures me that I'm far from a failure and I should not look at myself like that. This past year it has been a emotional rollercoaster for me, at this time last year I went on the aktins diet( last diet option) and I lost 50 lbs in the first six months then nothing, after 8 months of the diet I had to take a break because It was hard not losing anything and being on the diet. so I went off for a month then I notice me gaining it back so went back on it and still on it, I feel like I've gone back to where I have before when I went off it but not losing more. very frustrating for me. But I am on a pathway of going down another road. I have gone to a free orentation to have a weight loss surgery and have made an appointment to see a doctor on may 20th to discuss surgery. I was interested in the lapband surgery but my ins. doesn't cover it, people keep telling me that if I keep appealing the denials they will pay for it but I emotionally don't think I can deal with the denials and the fight with them. I'm convincing myself to go with the bypass, I have tons of questions for the dr. about the bypass when I see him but when I do my own homework on answering my own questions I found this site and I have found it has helped with some of my questions and hope it helps more by being part of the forum. Just hope I don't get treated like I did on other forums about the lapband. no one responded to any questions or would talk to me about anything to help.
The reason for needing to do something soon is because when I was 21 I had to have a hip replacement due to an accident when I was 17 and when it was giving to me my Dr stated that it would only be good for 10 years, in june it will be 14 years and my Dr. has yelled at me about the weight that I have gained through the years. You can say these are all excuses but I have gained due to losing my first baby when I was 8 months pregnant for her, then going into a bad depression for close to a year, then getting pregnant again and getting put on bed rest at 7 months of the pregnancy because I almost lost my son the same way as my little girl. then after I had my son my bf at the time left me for someone else and I went into another depression again. Then family helped me out and know in a great relationship and had another baby girl, yes was put on a high risk pregnancy for the third pregnancy but no problems. so yes I gained through 3 hard pregnancies, the lose of one child, and family problems, so food became my best friend. I have learned in the past few years how I was eating wrong and I try to eat the right way know but the damage is done and I am haveing trouble losing to get a fresh new start. Thats why I am thinking of turning to surgery. My Insurance will cover the bypass not the lapband. I have heard bad and good stories about both. I just hope I am making the right descition, any advice I could get from anyone would help me through what I'm going through. My mother has had the bypass, my aunt on my mothers side has had the surgery also, but was not very close to them when they went through all that. My mom has tried to start a good relationship with me in this past year and she encourages me to go for the lapband but I don't know.
I'm sorry if you all are confused with this letter, I wasn't sure how to start it or finish it. I'm confused myself. See I need help. Plus sorry if I misspell things wrong, not the best speller I am usually a happy person but I have struggled alot lately with my weight and life that I have trouble being happy all the time. Oh my name is Gena and I hope this site works out for me Thank you for your time.

SDeRossett

Gena,

First of all Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of good people on this forum. You can ask just about anything and someone knows something about it. There's also emotional support given by these folks too. There is a wealth of information. Start doing some searching and reading through some of the past posts. I am sorry to hear that you have had such a rough ride the last few years. Chin up, there is hope!

I had the open RNY a few years ago, and while not everyone's experience is the same, I think a majority of the people who have had it done and are on this forum are very happy with their results. I can't speak for those who have had the lap band as I don't know anything about that procedure. One thing I do know about the RNY is that if you have any comorbidities often then are fixed or lessend. I had high blood pressure, was on cholesterol meds, and was on meds for arthritis, and had a fatty liver etc. Now I don't take anything. The RNY also dosen't allow you to eat the wrong things because of dumping "slaps your hands pretty hard" well for most people. Some do not dump. Not that dumping is a good thing because it is a miserable feeling.

Anyway, if there is anything I can answer for you or anyone else please feel free to ask away. Congratulations on the first steps of your journey. Remember read, read, read.

Sharon

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WLS 7/23/2002
Revision 4/25/2007
268/131/105-110
Highest/Current/Goal

suemaca

Wow!!!! Hi Gena...this sounds like you are trying to make sense of it all yourself by writing it all down and believe me, I have being doing the same for the past year.
I have found great support on this site-factually and otherwise. I was desperate to have the band(even travelling abroad for it as it wasnt done here in Ireland) but on the advice of 2 surgeons have decided that the bypass is a more reliable method of wls for ME. I emphasise ME because this took months for me to come to terms with my decision( a couple of sleepless nights too)and now I am waiting for the op.
I think there is no easy way around this-you have to read as much as you can, talk to as many people who had it(lucky you over there in the US, its almost unknown over here)MAKE your decision and be PROACTIVE sweety 'cos you sound like a great fighter.No one can do it for you and its YOUR body.
Dont let life slip by -i am mad I didnt do it when I was in my thirties or even forties-all that wasted energy losing and then putting back on the weight.
Cheer up-put all that sadness behind you and start researching!!!hugs Sue

bridgetgirl

Honey youre emotions are like 98% of other pre-bees were. The idea of giving into the idea of haing WLS to get your weight under control is defeating. You have to BE a failure to get the surgery approved. It is absolutely humilating to admit to youself, a Dr and an insurance company how year after year, you did a great job of losing, and a horrible job of maintaining the loss! We all have felt the same way.

The good news is, being a failure brings you down the path of considering or having WLS and that makes you a success! If in urn your path leads you to have WLS, you become a loser... a loser of weight that has been apart of your life for far too many years, when you become a LOSER you are a WINNER! You become victorious and in charge of your life again like many of us experience!

Be at peace with the knowledge that thousands of people feel the same way you do, and thousands make the decsion to have surgical intervention save thier lives through WLS. Thousands lose the weight and keep it off and 100's make friendships and special bonds with those people they share their journey with. You are here for a reason. We will guide you, uplift you and assis you wih getting throught it all, not getting over it like people in our lives are quick to suggest. We dont even know you (yet) and we care and love you and want the best for you.

Today is your lucky day and you didnt even know it! You found us. Additionally you have a big network of east coast family and many people from this board that live near you or at least a hop skip and a jump away that can be your guardian angels.

Welcome to the board, where you will never be! This is your home away from home! Welcome!

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J.Bridget Fisher
2/9/04 lap 5'11"
298/155

www.myspace.com/caliclovercutie
We must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don't know where you're aiming, you don't have a goal. My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die, someone can say, she cared." - MaryKay Ash

shan76

Gena~Welcome I myself am new to this forum and so wished that I knew about it prior to surgery because there is alot of information on here that is helpful Now as with any surgery there can be complications but you and only you can decide what is best for you!!! I battled my weight for year before I made the choice of having gastric bypass and I was scared to death! I never had any surgery so I didn't know what to expect except for a little pain and discomfort the first few days I can't complain. I would do it again tomorrow if I had to So really ask yourself are you ready for this life altering event with the commitment to a new you I wish you the best and am here if you have any questions as maybe you are close to me??? ~Shannon~

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highest/current/goal
316/236/143

Surgery Date: 12/26/07

pebitpeb

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Paul
Laproscopic Gastric Bypass May 18, 2007, 205kg/(451 lbs)/post op abdominoplasty(12-14-07 & 01-14-08) post-op hip surgery(2-27-08)currently 4-25-08 85kg(187lbs) GOAL REACHED 265 lbs gone .
Goal 85kg(187lbs)ACHIEVED GOAL WEIGHT APRIL 25, 2008(11 Months & 6 days after LAPROSCOPIC GASTRIC BYPASS)

Blue eyed G

OMG Thank you all for the greatest welcome party I could ask for, so quickly also. I just want you all to know that I feel much better just knowing that I'm not the only one that has felt like that and I also feel better getting it out of my system. I really have no one to talk to about this. My bf is a skinny guy and it's hard for me to talk to him about my weight issues, even though he is supportive and understanding.And I have this other friend that went to the orientaion with me but she knows what she wants and she doesn't act scared at all. I'm really thinking that I'm going to have the GB instead of the lapband. I just worry, I have 2 young kids that need me and I use them as both pro's and con's of having the bypass.
Shannon, I am seeing the Dr. in Schenectady at Ellis Hospital. my friend is going to Dr. Clarke and I'm checking out Dr. Vishnudas Pai Panemanglore ( not sure how to pernounce)but I liked his personality during the orientation. Have you heard anything about either Dr.?
Thank you all for your support. Oh anyone that wants to help me I could use any training on "forum for dummies". New to it all

shan76

Gena~ I haven't heard anything about either doctor but you can trust your gut instinct about personality usually once you meet the surgeon! I luckily knew my surgeon from working in the hospital and was fortunate to have him as my doctor I thought about the lap band too but when they told me you have to come in frequently to have it inflated and you are only guarnteed to lose half of your excess weight I knew it wasn't for me! I had lap gastric bypass and honestly that is what I would recommend to anyone who has battled their weight as I did! I mean you get to the point of how many diets can I go on? How much money will I waste attempting this again only to gain back even more than when you began? Keep me posted and I'll help you anyway I can

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highest/current/goal
316/236/143

Surgery Date: 12/26/07