ObesityHelp

My heart is in RI does that count?  I am originally from Providence but have been living in Pittsburgh PA for 7yrs.

I did open surgery.  My surgeon doesn't do laproscopic on RNY but will on lapband. Now relax. Everything will fall into place.

In that case clean out the refrigerator and pantry of everything you can't eat unless you live with someone.  Stock up with protein shakes/drinks, etc. Time will fly by fast right now.

I haven't gone back to work yet.  I am still not cleared to do much.  I don't go back to see the surgeon till the end of June.  So maybe I will be back at work beginning of July.  My surgeon advised me that the expected recovery time for RNY is 6 to 8 weeks.  So I am aiming for the 8 weeks. 

Have they given you a date yet?  I had my surgery in NY at LIJ Forest Hills Hospital.  Also, are they going to cut you open or laproscopic surgery?

You wont miss anything.  Just look at different topics and read the ones that you think may help you.  Ask general questions on the board.  I did that and next thing I knew I had my surgery date.  Take time to relax and focus on you.  Pamper yourself while you can.  That way you can go in with a clear mind.

I am doing good.  Taking it day by day.  Hour by hour.  Still no appetite, but I know I have to eat something. 

Take care.

Debra,
It's nice to  hear from you.  I am glad to hear that you came thru your sugery with little or no complications.  I was lucky in that area too.  My surgen said I did real well thru surgery and I was able to go home the next day.  I do live pretty close to my surgical team,  Well, i guess they would be more like a support team.  I did pimarily deal with them instead of the dr up until the surgery.  I think the thing to remember here is that he is a surgen and not a dr who see's patients in his office every day.  That being said, there is no excuse for you to not be able to get the answers that you need no matter how far away you live,.  I had been told at my two week visit to stay on the weight lifting restriction of 10lbs so I figured that ment that I couldn't return to the gym yet either.  Now I  had my surgery two days after you did and I lost like 15lbs the first two weeks and when I went back to the dr he said I was doing good but for the next two weeks I would loose little to no weight as my body needed time to adjust to the rapid weight loss.  so I've lost like one or two more pounnds and no more. I must say that its very discourageing especially hearing that you've lost like 10 more lbs than me.  Good for you though, you keep up the good work.  Sense I didn't exactly the answer to your question about exersise I went ahead and called my nurse and she called me back within a matter of minutes and said that usually after two weeks you can resume your physical activity.  Now given the fact that My dr told me to remain on a weight lifting limit and I am scheduled to see him this Wed, she said just wait till then and ask him. so once I've seen him I will be sure to message you and let you know what he says.  By the way, just so you know a little about me, I'm 37 yrs old this year and I've been 100% disabled sense I was 25.  I have fibromyalgia, with chronic pain and chronic fatigue, To top that all off I have manic aggressive bipolar and anxiioty attacks so that makes me crazy I suppose. I am medicated for the bipolar and anxioty problems to the bipolar basicly isn't an issure but I only take the rx for the anxioty attacks when they happen so there's no prevention on that issue.  I have been married to my third husband for 11 happy yrs and I believe he is the love of my life but due to the fibromyalgia I haven't been able to give him any babies and I would love to be able to do that for him more than anything.  I didn't really have any weight related health problem, yet and I thought that by going ahead and having the surgery now that I might be able to prevent some of that.. plus I thought that maybe by loosing the weight I could maybe come off some of the meds (I take alot) and thus maybe be able to have child before I get to be too old. lol.  I did have to pay out a ton of money too for the nutionist fees and each time I saw the surgen before the surgery he charged my insureance $250 or more.  then to have the surgery I had to pay $1200 that's my yearly out of pocket because I had met all my deductables...  also, I was scheduled to have the surgery the month before in March and had purchased the protein shakes at $60 per week and I had to be on them for two weeks and when we found out my insurance co was draggin their feet about okaying the surgery, I had to come off the shakes and then repurchase them the following month.  I have no Idea how much money I spent there and I don't know if I will get any of it back because most of my medical cost is paid up front. anyway. I'm going to let you go.  I was thinking sense we live in the same time zone and I have free unlimited long distance calling from my home phone that if you ever wanted to talk over the phone I would love that.  Ill leave that up to you and you just let me know if you want to get my number. ok? I AM so happy to hear from you and look forward to hearing from you in the future. Hang in there, Sister, It's gotta get better
Hugs, amy k

Amy,
I presume.  thank you, thank you for writing.  Yes, I did have my surgery.  Thankfully I have not had any complications.  I am down 24 pounds since my surgery.  I am disgruntled however, due to the fact that I live so far away from my physician.  It is crazy but I never met my Doctor until right before they took me into the OR suite.  My hospitalization time was not that great and I felt like I took care of myself.  I have had a difficult time getting my healthcare provider & staff to return my phone calls or e-mails.  All but one that is.  I was told prior to surgery that I could do all consultiations by phone.  I actually had to pay $300.00 plus for post op education feeds.  I guess they will tell you what you want to hear prior to surgery. Again I am 5 weeks post op and have no idea what kind of exercise I can be doing now.  What activity level are you doing?  I am walking about 2 miles about 3 times a week. I e-mailed with an exercise therapist over 2 weeks ago.  She was suppose to send me an excerise band to work with.  I have not received it.  I e-mailed her over a week ago and ask if she was able to mail me the band.  She replied she did and did not know why I had not received it.  She stated she would mail me another one this week.  She also told me she would e-mail with answers to my other questions, when she returned from vacation this past week.  I have not heard from her.
Any advice on exercise you can give me, I would appreciate very much.  I am from Asheville, North Carolina so hearing from someone from Georgia, is great
Debra

Sent you a request to facebook........ if it didn't work..... here is mine
  Mary Beth Escher
phone gmail is      pct7901@gmail.com
 I text also.

I'm a PCT at Shadyside Hospital ........was more comfortable being on this side of the river for the surgery  ...knew nothing about St M.  plus (at the time) i lived in Swissvale ...only a few minutes away from Magee
  
I need a full knee replacement and the Ortho Doc said not yet so,   he suggested Gastric By-Pass....... said NO for a year and gained more weight till MY Doc starting talking high blood pressure pills and so on!  Then I said OK!!!!!!
                            need some sleep working tonight!
                                         Have a Great Day if your off!!!!!
                                        Mary Beth

Hey that's wonderful! I hope to be as lucky. I agree about making the decision for self. I hesitated having to tell anyone but my supervisor got it out of me. When I was explaining I needed to be off for two weeks. She then slipped n told another coworker. I've told both of them I didn't want to discuss it cause everyone has their own opinion n I don't want to hear any negative. I was referred to this site n I find it cry helpful.

Hi SBsweets.  I am doing well.  I went to my post op checkup today and have lost 17 pounds since my surgery on 05/03/12.  I am doing a bit better since they removed the last drainage tube today.  So thank you.

Of my experience....Getting everything done was the easy part.  I will say this.  Every day since I got my surgery date it felt surreal.  My mom was saying it seemed like I wasn't scared.  To be honest I wasn't.  I spoke to my surgeon two weeks before surgery and it would appear to anyone it was two friends talking.  It wasn't until after surgery that I realize what I had done. 

One thing I will say do it for you and not for anyone else.  You choose who you will tell and don't tell.  It makes it easier on you in my opinion. 

Feel free to ask any questions.