ObesityHelp

 Good luck on your up coming surgery. After you reach your size 16 clothes in your closet and they get too big to wear you will want to go out and buy you something nice. So you can show off your new figure. Its hard for me to accept all the compliments. I smile and say thank you. But I still don't see it. At church I have so many come to me and say how good I look. I look at the scale and it says I'm still obese. I guess when I hit the BMI of over weight and not obese it would be easier.  I'm going through a stall right now and its hard. Every time the week before my period and the week of I don't lose a pound. That is the longest two weeks ever. Be prepared for stalls. Just hold your breath and know that it will be ok. :) Every month around that time I get so depressed and of course I want to eat everything in sight. But when you know why its easier to deal with and know that after everything will be back to normal and the weight will come off. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. :)

My name is Wendy and I had the Roux-en Y 11/09 due to Barrett's and 2 ulcers. Then 04/2010 I had a revision and they cut the ulcer out, 11/2010 they had to go in for an exploratory where they repaired 2 hernias, removed scare tissue and endometreosis(which that is why I had a hysterectomy in 2005) I have had many surgeries on my stomach. For the last 2 years I am suffering everyday with this same pain you describe right side back, flank and abdominal pain. I have had MRI's CT ultrasounds you names it and my pain is so bad everyday and noone can give me anwers as to why. And on top of all that I have been ectreamly tired waking up with severe swelling in my lower legs and painfu;l hands and fingers. I just seen a rheumatologist who is running a bunch of labs. I am beside my self I have been unable to work since Sept. 2011 and turned down for disability. I wish someone knew why I have this kind of pain since having surgery. I went from 240 and now at 103-110. HELP

I had back surgery in 2006 & ever since I have gradually gained weight.

I have tried diet after diet, exercise, prescription medications for 6 years & nothing has worked.


I feel so ashamed & at my witts end, That's why I joined here in hopes of finding some much needed help regarding this matter.


I am very serious about having a GBP since obesity runs in the family & I have health related problems resulting from the excess weight.


Are there any GBP doctors in Upstate NY that take Fidelis-Medicaid??

 Thanks for your reply to my post. Like you I have also had many swabs and cultures and have never shown any infections or even pus. Every new "opening" starts as a pocket of serous fluid deep down in my tissue that slowly works its way to the surface. Once the fluid releases and empties, the wound continues to weep, and if it heals over at all, it usually doesn't last long because, as you mention, the hole in the tissue underneath hasn't healed so it eventually opens up again. 

When you say "dry D" do you mean vitamin D? I am taking two 1000IU capsules of vitamin D a day at present but they are little fluid filled capsules. I'm not sure what dry D is but am keen to look at any solution. Is the calcium important in combination with the vitamin D?

I have been having B12 injections and at present seem to be maintaining normal levels.

Thanks again.

Hi Lisa, Whenever we dare to do something different, some metaphysical scientist(S) will embark on telling us how it could effect a change in the cosmic rays and or refer to the Mayan Calendar of doom! In retrospect these soothsayers may perform a valuable service.  They come to test our level of commitment.  If you notice, the more tentative you feel, the more pessimistic they sound.  If they succeed in discouraging you, be grateful.  You didn't have the moxie to make it in the first place.  This is good information to have.  It means you need to go back and tune up your intention or let go of what's holding you back.  On the other hand, if you're determined to succeed in spite of these killjoys, then you most certainly will. If you need some inspiration I would suggest that “proofs in the pudding” read the “my journey” section for the MGB’ers and you will get a thousand reasons why people went with the MGB. I would look at how their lives used to be and then ask myself if I had a choice to make a difference would I take it? Essentially they way I would look at it is do I feel I deserve to make a difference to myself? What will I do when this change occurs? And how will I use it to create positive attributes to myself and others around me. If you feel this help you then you have a choice. Bernard Shaw had it right when he said “Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself”. Regards, Napoli

Hi,

I agree, get your labs checked by Dr. Rutledge and see what he suggests.  Also I agree with the salt.  You need the salt to help with hydration.  Are you drinking enough water?  You didn't mention it and you need a lot of that also. 

Osteoarthritis is something that can be handed down through the family.  Do any of your family members have it?  I have a little myself but not like my mom.  Her hands were terrible.

Keep us posted on what he says.  Sometimes, however, Dr. R can be hard to get.  My advice is to call him and keep calling until he answers. 

 Has anyone had a similar experience to this? Do please read through to the end (I know it is long but I am desperate).

Before I tell my story, just let me say that I do not ever regret having an MGB after trying the Lapband first. I lost the weight, it has stayed off, and the MGB is Sooooooo much easier to live with than the lapband. I do not want to discourage anyone from the MGB, I think it is one of the best options available, and I fully believe the problems I am about to describe are not at all typical.

And yet I am hoping someone else may recognise what has been happening, and possibly even have some information or advice that could help me.

My story:
I had the Lapband put on in 2004, when I weighed 138kg (304 pounds) and had given up hope of losing weight ever. I lost about 30 kgs in the first year and then started having major reflux problems which I battled for another year, but loosening of the band was letting me put on weight. My surgeon (in Australia), was closely associated with Dr Rutledge at CLOS, and was at the time introducing the MGB in my city where no one else was performing it. He is very highly respected in bariatric surgery and has an impeccable track record. 

In 2006 he suggested the MGB but cautioned me to think very carefully about it as it was new-ish, and he had only done 4 of them before. He had been trained by Dr Rutledge, made me read all of Dr R's patient materials, and he told me that 2 of the four he had done had developed extremely unusual complications that he and Dr Rutledge had been unable to attribute to the surgery itself.

I decided to do it, had the surgery with an open wound (laparoscopy was not possible because of adhesions) and then something leaked and had to be fixed 2 days later. I suffered other complications because of this leak, and a long stay in hospital because the surgery wound was compromised by the leak and dehiscence occurred which took two months to heal.

Nevertheless, I settled in to life with the MGB and never ever had problems with eating different foods and pretty quickly worked out which foods caused dumping and so avoid them. I lost another 30kg and am still very happy with the MGB.

Here is the problem. 2 years later I had major loose skin issues and chose to have a breast lift and a full body lift. One minor area of the suture line over my sacrum broke down with dehiscence, but eventually healed. Then a full 12 months after that surgery, I started to form ulcers on the scar line around my hips/waist that wept fluid continually, were connected to small hollow pockets in the tissue deeper down, and never healed. Surgery was performed to debride them, and they were left as open wounds to ensure those pockets closed up. These ulcers never formed any where else - my breast scars were perfectly fine.

SO, it has been 2 years since the first ulcer came up, and to this day they continue to form, or old ones break down again; I have had periods of diahorrea that last 3 months; I have had joint pain; a dry mouth for 6 months; nasal sores; red eyes; and the list goes on. I have been seen by dermatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, infectious disease specialists and immunologists. The verdict is I must have some non-typical, unnameable overactive immune disorder, that no one knows how to confirm or treat. I have to live with the symptoms.

My deep down belief is that this is related to malabsorption issues from my MGB. I have ongoing problems with deficiencies in iron, B12 and vitamin D. I have adjusted my diet and take supplements but they never seem to improve. Now I am developing osteoarthritis in my fingers and toes and I am only 43. I am taking supplements for those but can't be sure I am absorbing them well enough. I just don't know who to turn to for help or answers. I have even thought of trying to email or write to Dr Rutledge but can't be sure he would see my message or care to reply.

Maybe someone has experienced something similar? I am at the end of my tether.
:(

WHAT: OH Rox Round Rock Support Group Meeting
WHO: EVERYONE IS WELCOME
WHERE: IKEA Round Rock Restaurant 
WHEN: Saturday, January 21^st
TIME: 10:30 am  
WHY: Because we all need a little support sometimes, and who doesn’t want to hang out with a lot of positive, motivational, supportive and FUN people. 

See previous posts for more information:

If you are from Austin/Round Rock -- Check this out!!

OH Rox Round Rock Support Group Meeting

You are welcome and encouraged to bring before and after pictures, as well as pen, paper, questions, thoughts, and ideas.

OHRRR is really looking forward to making a difference with this group in 2012!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Y'all! I am still on cloud 9!!

((Funny story, I was doing my laundry tonight and folding my undies. I held them up and looked at them and said "GOOD-BYE SIZE 12!!"))

I also started worrying, What about clothes??? Then I thought, "Clothes?? Who needs clothes???" (kidding) I read an article back in November when this whole process started about the "truth's" about gastric bypass". In one part, the girl says "Don't go out and buy new clothes, when they are only going to be too big in a couple of weeks." She suggested Goodwill and consignment shops. I don't know about the Goodwill's in your area, but the ones in Winston Salem have some good stuff. Also, we have a bunch of cosignment shops in the nicer areas of town that carry name brands and good quality stuff.(you just have to weed thru the higher priced stuff) Although, I hope I can get down to a size 8. My daughter went thru a Jackie O' period and all of those outfits are still in her closet. I just hope she doesn't come back home to clean her closet out and decide to go thru it again, LOL. She always got the best deals at The Loft and Ann Taylors. I don't know how I will act getting to shop in normal stores again!!

Thanks again everyone...and please keep me in your prayers!!

Well the only way youre going is DOWN yay!!!!! Im happy you got your surgery date and cant wait to see your transformation and....I apprectiate your support!