Hugh Adair

Hello. Just joined TT to research the lap-rny bypass. I thought I was there 2 years ago, but I gave it another try (1 year, med. supervised liquid diet) and I think I am done this time. I'm so tired of thinking about it - it seems like almost every waking moment these days.

I attended a bariatric symposium at my local hospital (center for excellence award) and they really support the lap r-n-y bypass. I went in thinking Lap-Band and left thinking r-n-y bypass.

I am scared for the surgery. I'm 35, and weigh 305. BMI 42. I do not have any co-morbidities (a slight blood pressure elevation) to speak of, at the moment. I have an amazing and wonderful wife and two beautiful babies. I am afraid of the procedure for its possible complication, but more afraid of the potential - future problems. My main question is (and I posed it to the surgeon at the symposium), How do the other organs function after this procedure? How do the liver, pancreas, kidneys function with this "new" restructuring of the anatomy? Are my risks of cancers greater - long term?

At the same time, I feel as though I really need to take this leap. Where will I be a year, two years from now? 350, 400 lbs. ? Probably. The thought of jumping on the wagon and mustering up the willpower to lose 100 + pounds seems almost impossible.

I think of this procedure as a tool to help me lose the weight and free up my mind so that I can work on the mental aspect of this lifestyle change.

I hope this makes sense and does not seem like a ramble. Any advice anyone could lend would be greatly appreciated.

I hope this post is not too long.

All the best, Hugh

Godsblessedme

Hi there Hugh! Welcome to TT and i too went in thinking "lapband" but SOOOO glad i had the RNY done 4 1/2 months ago. It was a long process for me but i tell you i'm down apx 56 pounds and i'm loving life. You need this for you and your beautiful babies. Your right in a year from now you may be up to nearly 400 and then i'm sure you'll start having more problems diabetes, other conditions. We're here for you buddy to lean on

__________________
Deborah
Highest weight 268
Surgery Date: 12/18/07 Lap RNY
Current Loss: However far this journey will take me Current Weight:175 (10/26/09) and finally a SIZE 12

Hugh Adair

Thanks for the reply. Congratulations on your weight loss! This is a great resource.

skinny55

Hi,

I am scheduled for LRNY 6/9/08. My gastric bypass surgeon is also a liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant surgeon. He also does the lap-band if requested. I work at the transplant clinic with him and he is 100% for the gastric bypass surgery. We discuss all kinds of cancers, disease and other problems in clinic and I have never heard any of the transplant docs blame anything on a previous gastric bypass. My surgeon told me that I am at a far greater risk at my weight 334, than to undergo this procedure. I plan on living a longer, happier life. Good Luck!

Becky 'skinny55'

RevRuss

Hugh, I'm 3 weeks post-op. Also weighed around 300 (don't remember BMI,but I'm 5'6"). I have had absolutely no problems. No pain in hospital (stayed 2 days), none at home. Off insulin, very normal bp now. Low energy, but I start to eat "soft" foods tomorrow (actually today since its past midnight). According to my insurance company, who has a follow-up encourager this is not unusual for my doctor's group.

Keep the faith!

russ

splendifor

Hi Hugh

As a 38 year old... I was in relatively *good* health up to age 34 (despite being over 100 pounds overweight, that is)... then things snowballed... I had insulin resistance which turned to diabetes within a year... my knees started hurting.. by the time I had the surgery I found out I had gall bladder problems and a fatty liver and my diabetes wasn't responding all that well to medication..

I say that just because I remember thinking for a long time that my health was generally okay.. only to have things kinda start falling apart in a (to me) shockingly short period of time

so, good for you for thinking about how to address your weight BEFORE everything starts falling apart.. good luck with whatever choices you make

__________________
Surgery Date: 4/23/08
Surgery weight - 275
Current weight - 171
Goal - 130 or somewhere in the area...

Yeah yeah I need a new picture

Grammy O

Hi Hugh,

I am still pre-op (tentatively scheduled for 6/20) but I too went into this venture wanting to do the lapband but when I was done with the seminar, just like you, I knew that the RNY was the best option for me.

What really changed my mind was the possibility of eliminating all my comorbidities. I am a type II diabetic, hypertension, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, anemic, and well there are others. But when I have my surgery, most of this will all be gone!

I am glad that you recognize that the surgery is only a TOOL, but imagine how wonderful you'll feel having a tool to help with losing the weight you need to to become healthy for you, your wife and your babies!

Welcome aboard, do your research and hop on the bandwagon!

Take care,

__________________
*************
Blessings,

Surgery date was July 21, 2008
Highest/Pre-surgery/Current/Goal
313.6/292.2/226/150-135

BMI was 52.1 as of 9/23/08 is 41.4
I'm a loser!!!!!

Olga "GrrramOBear"

Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong. Sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble. Success keeps you glowing.

audiebaby

Hi welcome to tt, I have always been overwieght, lost the weight and gained more back... I always told myself i would never let myself get over 300lbs. I ended up at the highest wieght I hae ever been 364lbs, now Im telling myself I would never let myself get 400lbs...its a horrible cycle that needs to stop. I decided to have gps to stop this cycle. I too was worried about my organ but feel I will have more issues if I continue this unhealthy lifestyle.

You have come to right place to get answers and wish you the best on your journey

Hugh Adair

Thank you everyone for your posts. Your messages certainly help relieve my anxiety. The more I research, the more I feel that the R-N-Y might be the right choice for me. This forum is amazing. Thanks again for the encouragement. Hugh

Caveman

I just joined tt today but I've been reading up a little while now and everything I have seen so far has said overall the long term effects are all positive. I had always been "healthy" but I have broken the 315 pound mark now. I hurt my knees in the Marine Corps and have learned to live with that pain pretty well, but now I'm getting where I can hardly walk sometimes because everything seems to hurt worse everyday(feet, ankles, back, etc.). I'm on a cpap machine for severe sleep apnea. And now my cholesterol is off the charts. I'm also just tired of being the "fat guy" all the time. I'm married also and I have 4 kids from 16 all the way to 2 years old and I'm starting to worry that I won't be able to provide for them or even worse not live long enough for my little ones to even hardly remember me. I love them so much and as scared as I am about such a "drastic" measure, I'm more scared of not doing it. My procedure would be done at the VA so I don't have the option of the LapBand since the only surgery they do right now is the GBS.

I guess I'm saying all this to say that I understand the worries and anxiety you talked about, but about everything I've seen so far says the future could sure be a lot better than what we are dealing with now.........

Best of luck
Caveman