Shelley S.
I originally had Gastris Bypass proximal RNY in march 2000. I found my old posts, but could not access the account, so I cut and pasted the information at the bottom of this story. Here's the brief overview:
I had WLS at 29 yrs old. I was 5'10 and somewhere around 325 the day of surgery. I really never grasped how big I was because I'd been overweight my entire life and hadn't let it affect me in many ways. I was making 6 figures and enjoying life. Dating was tricky, but I didn't know better. Carnie Wilson had just had her surgery and the first "after" pictures were showing up at the time I had surgery. It all went easily for me - the surgeon visit, the insurance approval, the surgery, the recovery. I lost about 100 in less than a year and was thrilled. I got married a few months after that. I held at around 225-230 for a year or so. Then I got pregnant and gained about 50 with the pregnancy, leveled out around 250 afterwards. Then I got pregnant again and gained more. I leveled out around 265 after that pregnancy. Now I'm around 275 and frustrated as can be.
I never had problems with my surgery while I was losing the first year. I threw up if I didn't chew well, but it was not too often. I admit I didn't take it as seriously as I should have. I tested the limits on sugars and discovered there was no food I couldn't eat including sourdough bread and chocolate. Ice cream was the only thing that made me really sick in. During my pregnancies I found I could eat more and more. The past year I've felt like food doesn't "stick". I can eat and eat. I don't want to, but I'm always hungry. I battle the sugar cycles and insulin resistance. But, I felt like something more was going on. I read some message boards here and on other sites and decided I needed a revision. I was afraid and embarrassed about my wieght gain, but finally called my surgeon and made an appointment. I saw him July 16th and he was skeptical, but ordered an upper GI and told me that pregnancy causes scar tissue to soften which could have caused my stoma to stretch. I was able to have the GI the next day and had a great Dr administer it and show me the results. My pouch is roughly the size it was 7 years ago. The Dr said he figures it could hold roughly 5-6 ounces of food - like the palm section of my hand. The GI showed the barium passing straight through the stoma and into my small intestine almost instantly. The Dr said it appears it is the same size as the entrance to the pouch and the intestine.
I have an appointment with my surgeon August 1st. He mentioned a "new procedure" involving using an oral endoscope and stitching the stoma. He said he does not like the Band at all because it can be cheated, often needs fills and can slip easily. He was doing training for the new procedure last week and put me on a list in case the upper GI showed the stoma stretched. I expect I'll be one of his first patients for the procedure. I have Aetna PPO, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
| Shelley W. Campbell, CA, USA Post Op Surgery Type: RNY Member ID: Woods943122710 Surgeon: L. Albert Wetter M.D. |
Click here for Shelley's surgery support page Click here for the 03/2000 Reunion Page Click here to print Shelley's cards (You can print your own cards, and if you're good at it, you can help print cards for your friends as well!) |
09-03-00 It's been a little over 5 months and I'm down over 90lbs! I'm amazed! I thought the coolest thing would be to lose 100 lbs in 6 months but I didn't think it would be possible for me. Maybe it will be. I also went to Honduras for 10 days and survived on the strange food, high altitude and physical work (it was a missions trip). I was nervous about how I'd do compared to my other 15 team mates who are in better shape than me. I actually did okay although we all got a bit sick (which helped the weight loss). The hair loss is getting pretty bad though. A few clothes friends admit they notice. There aren't bald spots, but its definitely thin and since I can't get a perm (for fear of damage and more loss), its just looking flat and thin now. I think I have around another 50 lbs to go. This is wonderful!
08-08-00 Went to my 4 month follow up and was down about 75 lbs. I'm having a hard time believing weight is still coming off since I can eat pretty normal now. I can eat anything, just not a lot at one time. I still get tempted by sweets. It's fun buying so many new clothes and people are definitely noticing and commenting. I haven't been at this weight since I was 15 - how wierd! And I sitll have a long way to go... starting weight 318, now 241.
06-21-00 Still going great. The plateau ended after about 3 weeks and I'm losing more slowly now. At just under three months from surgery, I have lost 60 lbs. I can eat about anything so I have to work on habits more. I'm working out 3-5 times a week at a gym and feeling pretty good.
05-19-2000 Things are still going great. At 6 weeks, I'd lost 47 lbs. Unfortunately, I haven't lost any since then (almost two weeks of plateau now, URG). I'm toning up meanwhile. I can eat a bit more than I could the first month and I can also tolerate almost anything. Meats are always a gamble though, but if I eat slow and chew well I usually avoid problems.
Cigna has paid my $45K hospital bill at 100%! I was expecting to have to pay something since I have the PPO, but they took care of it. Thank you Cigna!
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04-06-2000 I had my first follow up 10 days after surgery. I'm down 20.5 lbs!! Here is the information I posted on another board:
I had lap RNY Monday - March 27th - and I just want to thank everyone for their support and prayers! I couldn't have imagined everything going so well. I felt such peace even going in.
I was walking 8 hours after surgery (could have sooner) and I was pretty coherent from the time they took me out of recovery. The catheter was out the next morning and I was able to do the potty on my own. I had a shower the next day which felt great. I walked a lot which made a huge difference. The only bad thing was waking up with the breathing tube - it was a couple seconds of pure panic but quickly resolved. The incisions caused almost nopain, but the escaping CO2 gas hurt my shoulders bad for a day or so. I had no drainage tube, didn't have to fast or cleanse in advance and had no other problems.
I was released Thursday morning and have not needed any help (I live alone). It's been incredible. What I have learned is that I way over-estimated the pain and difficulty of the surgery and way under-estimated the frustration of missing food. The last couple days have been tough. If I see one more pizza commerical I'll scream! I'm on a modified liquid diet (strained liquids) which is giving me a little trouble - before surgery I was sensitive to milk, but now I am even sensitive to lactaid. It passes right through. So, I fear I'm not getting nutrition right now, but I have an appt Wed with the surgeon where he will probably advance me to soft foods which will help.
For all those of you nervous about the surgery, I have a few suggestions. 1) work out your arms in advance. It's much more comfortable to reposition yourself with your arms than your abs after surgery. 2) bring Gas-X, slippers, a big robe , chapstick and comfot toiletries like lotions and shampoo. 3) ladies - many women start their periods right after surgery. I took the pill to try and time it but I still spotted and let it come when I got home. 4) realize the food deprivation is difficult and be ready to deal with it. I think I miss flavors more than anything, but its a frustrating feeling. 5) walk as soon as you can and breathe deep!
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04-02-2000 I'm home and feeling great! Thanks for all your prayers. Everything went better than expected. I'll post more later about the details (I just typed for half and hour and lost it all to a computer glitch). Right now I feel better than I have in a long time, no pain, lots of energy.
03-23-2000 Surgery is scheduled for Monday the 27th and all pre-op work is done. I'm getting nervous and have gained over 10 lbs since I started this process. I can use your prayers! I'll let you know how it goes soon...
02-08-2000 All approved! Surgery date is 3-27-2000.
02-07-2000 I just received a letter today from my insurance saying the hospital stay is approved. Tomorrow I will call the surgeon to get a surgery date confirmed - it looks like March.
I would really like to hear from people who had the surgery years ago. I want to know what is different in life in terms of health. what are the challenges? You can email me at shelleylw@aol.com.
I hope everyone is finding success and happiness. God bless you all.
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: L. Albert Wetter M.D.
Update 4-06-00 I had surgery March 27th. Dr Wetter did a fabulous job. I was scared going in because I felt he didn't know me or medical history enough, but I guess what matters is what he does inside. I've had a miraculous recovery from the surgery. I feel great and went back to work one week after. My incisions are so tiny, they are already disappearing. I've lost 20 pounds in 10 days and have no difficulties except intolerance to milk. I just started real food and am not having any problems. I think Dr. Wetter really cares about doing a good surgery. I don't think I know him as a doctor, but as a surgeon he is definitely very skilled. ------- I read great things about DR Wetter and the Support at Mills Peninsula. Anne is very responsive and caring. I've only been to my initial consultation (1-19-2000). Because he was held up in surgery, the wait was very long (my appt was at 2 and I didn't get in until almost 4. They had told me to bring aa family member so I brought my mother and they never talked to her which was frustrating since it took the whole afternoon. Dr Wetter does seem friendly and approachable. Everything is finalized now. I had to call the office a few times because they seem to be processing a lot of cases. They wrote a great letter to my insurance company and I was approved within about a week even though the Dr's office didn't include my triglycerides of 650 or othe pre-diabetic issues related to my weight.
Insurer Info:
Cigna, PPO
The doctor only listed some of my problems, yet they approved me right away. I have the PPO and the surgeon's letter was very well written. I didn't have to do anything. My BMI is around 45 and I'm 28 years old with few comorbidities. I recommend them so far!
