DonnaB.

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Hello my friends,
I hope this finds everyone well happy and behaving themselves. I have been working for a hospital for the last three years but no longer work in baratrics.This is my choice I could have worked with a couple of doctors but I have had so many issues with gastric bypass I can not in good conscience recommend it. Lapband maybe IF you have reasonable expectations and have had mental counseling and dietary counseling. I don't mean a couple of visits to satisfy a insurance company but continued counseling for as long as necessary if it is life that is ok too.
This surgery gastric bypass and this is strictly my opinion should be for patient super morbidly obese like over 500 pounds and is necessary to save them. I say this because of the vitamins and mineral deficiency's , my iron even though I was taking vitamins daily got to 9. I was short of breath and it came on slowly. God I believe intervened for me. I was exposed to some fumes by accident at my job and was put in the hospital. I am thinking it is asthma and it was but when my blood was drawn I was told I need at the least iron infusion or BONE MARROW! needless to say it got my attention when they said bone marrow. I took IV infusions for 4 weeks it saved my life. Unfortunately my sister in law that had gastric bypass because she saw me looking and feeling great at the time found out she was also bottomed out in her iron uptake and iron because I told her to go get it checked because she was having the shortness of breath and the exhaustion. She when and got the results and was scheduled to have the infusions the next week and died that night from a heart attack. This weights very hard on my heart. Even though the decision was hers and she had made the decision to do the surgery before we met I feel like maybe I was the deciding factor. Had I known what I know now maybe I could have educated her more and avoided the fate she succumbed too the low iron and other issues.
Had I not gotten the iron infusions I know without a doubt I would be gone as well. While as a Christian I know for me that is not a bad thing to be with God at that time I was not saved.
What I want to do with my blog is to help people make it through now that we have had the surgery and if someone is considering the surgery I will tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. I am not profiting from my words, I don't work for anything to do with baratric surgery and I don't sell ANYTHING. So If I can be a shoulder or help lift you up wonderful. I am a 19 years gastric bypass survivor and I have had all the highs and lows. I had a revision of my surgery in 2005 and I almost died. Had a leak that was not discovered for almost three days, thus I have severe adhesion's I had some cut away a couple of years ago but I have pain daily from nerve damage from the gastric tube put in my ribcage to relieve the pressure of the stomach pouch after the leak so my pouch is attached to my ribcage grown to it with scar tissue and every breath is painful so I wear a pain patch, that has been a God sent.
I truly believe bypass is a life saver for the super obese but for less a hundred and fifty pound over weight a Lapband is the only thing I will ever recommend.  As I said this is my OPINIONS my experience. For the first 14 or 15 years I had no major issues except hypoglycemia that was misdiagnosed as panic attacks what a joke.

So if you want to join forces to help each other if you want the truth about my experiences ask if you want a person that knows where you are coming from I am here.

Weight loss surgery should be started between the ears not the ribs.

God Bless I look forward to hearing from my group members and see how you are. I am on Nutrasystem had gained 30 pounds and had to get it back off, going from a job where I walked alot to one sitting on my rear all day whew not good for the waistline although I love my job and what I do and where I work. I feel like it is the best hospital in the Houston area!

It has been a long time since I have seen all of you and I miss you so much. I need you guys to keep me straight and I hope I can help do the same for you. I want to get this group going online ! What about it kiddos?

starting a group back up here online!!

Well I am still looking for a job I have been keeoing in touch via email and telephone with my bariatric buddies. I sure miss seeing you guys.
I am doing good now finally over the revision. Praying for a job whether it is bariatrics or not. Love you guys,
Donna

Well I am trying to get my bearings. I want you to know you are in my thoughts I have not forgotten you all. I am trying to regroup and we will get together soon. I have so much going on right now but I promise it will be soon.

Well River Oaks closed and I cleaned out my office on Wednesday. I am ok though, when God closes a door he throws open a window. 
I have emailed all the patient I could about support groups continuing. We will meet here and in different areas area Houston. 
I love each and every one of you so we WILL stay together no matter what!
Donna

Well as with all holidays come the bbq the snacks and drinks. As bariatric patients holidays are a special challenge especially for me. Seems everyone has a recipe they are just dying to share with you!
I have learned one trick. Before I go to any BBQ/dinner whatever, I make sure I drink a good size protein drink. That way I am not hungry when I get there and less likely to indulge in something I shouldn't.
I hope if you are traveling like I am you are safe, happy and find cheap gas!, Blessing to you all.
Donna

Saturday did not turn out to be a good time or day. Too much to do on weekends. So any suggestions?

I am looking forward to the first online group on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Just think a support group you can attend and don't have to even change your clothes or comb your hair if you don't want to!
See you Saturday!

I don’t think you are ever too old to learn.
 I am currently reading a book on Oprah's list called: A New Earth-awakening to your life's purpose. By Eckhart Tolle. 
At first when I started reading the book it did not make a lot of sense to me. It took me a few chapters to start clicking in my brain. It speaks about the ego and the pain body. Pain body being basically people that caring pain from the past and let it effect the present and the way we handle our daily lives. 

Being morbidly obese was very painful for me. Many things in my life early on I believe made me gain the weight. Trying to cover up pain, trying to make myself invisible (I know at 335 pds that doesn't seem possible). But when you are obese you do become invisible, people look through you not at you or simply turn away. That is what I wanted in my younger years to disappear to go through life unnoticed. I had too much pain and trauma to deal with. 

This book has helped me define myself in a way. It helps you see that you can not let your past injures define who you are or how you live your life.  I found my calling in bariatrics, helping others to know they are not alone, they are not the only ones that ever felt the way they do, and that there is life after obesity. 
I thank God every day I have had this life changing surgery and also that I am dealing with the demons that got me there in the first place. I think this is a lifelong journey. As we get older and learn life’s lessons we gain strength and understanding. One lesson I have learned is to let go if someone has done me harm in the past I had to forgive them and let it go. When you hold on to past hurts you only hurt you not the person that did you harm. Hurt and pain breed more hurt and pain. I have to believe that I am a survivor for a purpose, to help other people do the same.

 

 

I intend to write my story in book form one of these days, it will probably appear as a work of fiction but it isn’t. I don’t think I could sit down and make up my life.

 

 

Although I have had pain I have also been truly blessed. My children, my grandchildren, and the love of my life Bubba that accepts me with all the wounds and scars he loves me unconditionally. I waited for this for 45 years. Just when you think all hope is lost God shows up every time. There are times when we may not recognize God’s hands in our lives they are there. Sometimes it is as simple as making a wrong turn in your car that leads you to a new place, to meet a new person. That is God.  I have met some truly wonderful people since moving to Texas . I met them through work and church. Most are bariatric patients like me others are fellow firefighters and their families I met through my husband being a fireman. All have blessed me so much.

 

My patients are my family here in Texas ; we have a bond that goes beyond understanding by anyone that is not a bariatric patient. Starting my OH group has done more for me than it has for the people attending. I have made some friends and it keeps me grounded and on track even after 15 years.

 

 

I will always be grateful to Obesityhelp and River Oaks Hospital . Both for helping me help others, for giving me this family here. River Oaks for giving me a job that is not a job but a calling and something I love to do.