On May 7, 2013 at 10:34 PM Pacific Time, lupusgirlCO wrote:
My rheumatologist and I have been talking about weight loss surgery and he is referring me to the WLS clinic hopefully in a few months. I was on prednisone since 22 ( I'm now 29 )and FINALLY kicked the habit , weight is falling off slowly but my metabolism is pretty much shot. I lost a ton of weight before being diagnosed ( originally diagnosed with adult still's disease and then in 2010 with lupus) just from being ill , original lost was 160 lbs . Between lupus, 6 pregnancies ( 3 m/c's, 1 stillborn ( was diagnosed with lupus during that pregnancy and unfortunately lost our daughter then, 2 beautiful healthy boys in the last two years. ), hypothyroidism, and having the mindset that if I don't eat I would lose , I gained 90 lbs of it back over the last 6 years . I had no blood pressure issues until right after I had my son in October last year and had a lupus flare, we can't totally pinpoint on "why" it occurred as my doctor explained I have many risk factors that could have caused it from my weight to my lupus to my medication. I want this weight gone for good .
Questions:
A lot of these answers , I found during research but I would really like people's person's answers instead of a generic answer.
Generally from first appointment to surgery , what is the timeline or wait?
Do you take supplements ? Are they soy or milk-based? Asking as I have a milk protein allergy and a slight soy intolerance.
What is weight loss like ?
For the ladies , what is the wait if you wanted to have a baby? Having one more child is very important to us . I know that sounds odd as me losing weight is very important but after having so many losses , we really do want another child. My pregnancies with my sons were very healthy , no GD/ BP issues . I honestly want to have another baby within the next two years as many of the women in my family experience early menopause/ fertility issues around 33 .
For the ladies again, I had c-sections due to stubborn babies ( both breech and refused to turn lol). If you did have a baby before surgery, did you have any issues with your surgerical site ? For mom's that had babies after surgery, any issues? Everyone is urging me to have my last child before surgery but I am on the fence and even my rheumatologist says it would probably be better. I also have to be on steriods during my pregnancy, so that is something I have to consider.
I am very Vitamin D deficit on my own, will that worsen with surgery ?
How long was your hospital stay ?
How long is recovery ? How is pain? How was your pain managed ? Did you have any physical restrictions after surgery? (ie not picking up a certain weight , ect.)
What was your diet like after surgery?
I'm a meal skipper /forgetter ( I know bad , a habit I have had since very young and trying to correct), my nutrtionist is very concerned with this combined with having surgery. Anyone go through this and retrain their mind to eat schedule?
Was there any aspects of the entire process , that was surprising ?
Did you have to take antibotics after surgery ? I ask as I have quite a few allergies to antibotics .
I have so many people that love me very much but are so worried about me getting surgery and to just keep trying to lose it on my own, I have explained that this is something we feel I need to help my lose weight and although it has risks ...there are many risks to being obese. How did you handle family with concern? One family had gastric bypass, although she lost the weight she has been very ill since and I think that scares them .
I thank you all so much. As much research as I have done, there is nothing like getting advice from someone who has been there.
Lynne
1, 3 months from seminar to surgery.
2. Daily vitamin, D3, sometimes a little extra iron, calcium. They have lactose, but this is avoidable.
3. Made it to goal in 8 months, over 140 pounds lost.
4. I have 3 kids, but no c section experience.
5. Vitamin D, I don't think it would be worse.
6. 1 day in the hospital. I was offered more time, but declined. Super easy recovery.
7. A little slow getting out of a chair the first day, but by day 2 no issues. Back in the classroom no problem 2 weeks after surgery.
8. Frankly, I was surprised I made it to goal. I was in such a dark place when I went into surgery, I was just hoping that I could lose enough to move around better. Surprised just how much I was able to retrain myself and not feel like I was missing anything.
9. Yes, there are risks. Weigh that against the risks of continued obesity and quality of life. For me, it was a no brainer. You have a complicated medical history so just be careful to ask a lot of questions. Good luck.