Introducatin - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Sharonz · 10-29-2009, 06:42 PM

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sharon. I am 46, married with two grown children. I have only just started this journey. I have attended the seminar and have my appointment with my surgeon on November 5th. I will also be attending a support group that evening and hope to speak to others who have already had their surgery. Initially I was dead set against the bypass surgery and only wanted the lap band. My insurance will only do one, one time only. So if I do not choose wisely, I could be sol. After researching bypass surgery, I am at least open to the possibility this may be what the surgeon recommends for me. I am open to it now, but still terrified of the surgery. I am very scared. This is something I am hoping to ease by being here and learning all I can about the procedure. Pre-op, during, and post operative. Thanks for listening. :-)

jerseygrl684 · 10-29-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharonz

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sharon. I am 46, married with two grown children. I have only just started this journey. I have attended the seminar and have my appointment with my surgeon on November 5th. I will also be attending a support group that evening and hope to speak to others who have already had their surgery. Initially I was dead set against the bypass surgery and only wanted the lap band. My insurance will only do one, one time only. So if I do not choose wisely, I could be sol. After researching bypass surgery, I am at least open to the possibility this may be what the surgeon recommends for me. I am open to it now, but still terrified of the surgery. I am very scared. This is something I am hoping to ease by being here and learning all I can about the procedure. Pre-op, during, and post operative. Thanks for listening. :-)

Where are you from?

LoriAnn925 · 10-29-2009, 07:00 PM

Welcome to TT.

Hychap2009 · 10-29-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharonz

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sharon. I am 46, married with two grown children. I have only just started this journey. I have attended the seminar and have my appointment with my surgeon on November 5th. I will also be attending a support group that evening and hope to speak to others who have already had their surgery. Initially I was dead set against the bypass surgery and only wanted the lap band. My insurance will only do one, one time only. So if I do not choose wisely, I could be sol. After researching bypass surgery, I am at least open to the possibility this may be what the surgeon recommends for me. I am open to it now, but still terrified of the surgery. I am very scared. This is something I am hoping to ease by being here and learning all I can about the procedure. Pre-op, during, and post operative. Thanks for listening. :-)

Hi and welcome Sharon to TT.

I'm sure you will get lots of support and answers to questions you may have right here at TT. I'm also pre-op. awaiting the VSG WLS. I suggest you research all your options and look at the pro's and con's of all surgeries. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

Sharonz · 10-29-2009, 10:23 PM

I'm from Boston, I am living in Virginia.

Sharonz · 10-29-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoriAnn925

Welcome to TT.

Thanks LoriAnn :-)

Sharonz · 10-29-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hychap2009

Hi and welcome Sharon to TT.

I'm sure you will get lots of support and answers to questions you may have right here at TT. I'm also pre-op. awaiting the VSG WLS. I suggest you research all your options and look at the pro's and con's of all surgeries. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

Thanks :-) I'm doing a lot of research on the two procedures available to me. The lap band and the roux-en-y gastric bypass. I have a list of questions ready for the surgeon for my first appointment. The bypass surgery really scares me, but that is probably normal? I've been reading the good, the bad and the really bad about the procedures. I know the surgeon will be advising me what he feels is best. Ultimately, it's going to be up to me. Thanks and good luck with your surgery!

Marella · 10-30-2009, 05:13 PM

What is your loss goal? and what are your eating habits like?

Answering these 2 questions can help you with your surgical choice. Though I am not a band fan, it has worked for a great many, but not all. IMO, too many have to go the RNY route eventually.

The band can be defeated. If you are a sweet eater, love your drive-thru shakes, love ice cream and soft desserts, you can defeat the band quite easily. Many who have fills which are too tight can't get textured foods down and have told us how they defeated their band by just being hungry and downing improper foods.

Both have complications, no surgery is without it's risks. But being super or morbidly obese isn't without it's risks either.

I originally chose the band, had it inserted and 2 weeks later had it removed by emergency surgery. Six months later I had the RNY performed and am kind of, sort of glad that my band failed. Knowing what I know now, I may have been the kind who would have defeated my band, I don't quite know, maybe not.

Read up on both procedures open to you AND just remember that you need to be comfortable with your choice. Yes, I was comfortable choosing to be banded, I did not anticipate my unique complications but it happened and I moved on from there.

What I wanted more in the world was to lose a ton of weight fast, to get a grip of my life again. I had a set back and I had a re-start. And so the story goes, we're all different. I don't want to talk you out of anything -- I got my life back, and more post RNY. I wouldn't give it back for anything. My last year has been the best I can remember in 10 years because I stopped crying.

Welcome to Thinner Times, Sharon, and Good luck,

Karlos · 10-31-2009, 11:32 AM

Hi hun welcome to TT the fantastic people here will guide you to the best choice for you xxx

Sharonz · 11-01-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marella

What is your loss goal? and what are your eating habits like?

Answering these 2 questions can help you with your surgical choice. Though I am not a band fan, it has worked for a great many, but not all. IMO, too many have to go the RNY route eventually.

The band can be defeated. If you are a sweet eater, love your drive-thru shakes, love ice cream and soft desserts, you can defeat the band quite easily. Many who have fills which are too tight can't get textured foods down and have told us how they defeated their band by just being hungry and downing improper foods.

Both have complications, no surgery is without it's risks. But being super or morbidly obese isn't without it's risks either.

I originally chose the band, had it inserted and 2 weeks later had it removed by emergency surgery. Six months later I had the RNY performed and am kind of, sort of glad that my band failed. Knowing what I know now, I may have been the kind who would have defeated my band, I don't quite know, maybe not.

Read up on both procedures open to you AND just remember that you need to be comfortable with your choice. Yes, I was comfortable choosing to be banded, I did not anticipate my unique complications but it happened and I moved on from there.

What I wanted more in the world was to lose a ton of weight fast, to get a grip of my life again. I had a set back and I had a re-start. And so the story goes, we're all different. I don't want to talk you out of anything -- I got my life back, and more post RNY. I wouldn't give it back for anything. My last year has been the best I can remember in 10 years because I stopped crying.

Welcome to Thinner Times, Sharon, and Good luck,

Thank you Marella :-)

Where I stray and get into real trouble is bread. Panera bagels, Roasted garlic bread, Artisan breads with Spinach dip... The list is endless. I'm actually not a big sweet eater. I could go months without cake, cookies, ice cream. I am a carbohydrate-a-holic! Snack foods. I am all into snack foods. Popcorn, chips, pretzels... All that evil stuff. This is where I fail with food. It's crazy because I'm the one eating fat free mayo, spraying my veggies and baked potato with spray butter, eating lean chicken and turkey only, eating whole wheat pasta and bread but put ranch Doritos in my hands and I can eat three pounds of them.

The more I sit with the idea of getting the gastric bypass, the more I'm becoming okay with the idea of it. I have to go tomorrow morning and get my blood work done, get my EKG. I also have another appointment with my primary in the afternoon. On Thursday I meet with the surgeon and we will discuss the surgeries and what my best course will be. Then that evening I'm going to attend a support group for folks who have had their surgery. It will give me an opportunity to talk to others who have are living postoperatively with bypass surgery. My daughter, 23, is coming with me because she is venomously against me having the surgery. She listed off to me yesterday all the things I wouldn't be able to do. Never share in my grand children's birthday cake, no more holiday fun... She doesn't understand that I would trade those things for a life worth living. I don't need her approval nor will she be able to sway my decision, but it would be nice if she understood and supported my decision.

Thank you for replying so generously. It sincerely is helping me to be more comfortable with the idea that I may have the bypass surgery. Two weeks ago I wouldn't have considered it an option. I'm still nervous, still really scared. Even my husband asked me last night if I was sure about this. No, I'm not sure about the surgery. But I am sure that something needs to change in my life now. I've tried on my own for over 20 years. Tired of fighting, tired of watching life pass me by. It is time.

Sincerely,
Sharon