truckingrn
Hi,
I'm new to this site and dearly wish I had known of its existence years ago. What a Blessing this added information and especially the support would have been for me over the years! I had an open lap Roux-en-Y gastric exclusion on September 6, 2002. My weight at the time of the surgery had sky-rocketed up to 271#. I am now in the 170# range, at times disappointed that I never reached the 'skinny minny' stage, but am still happy with my size. I would never reverse my surgery and feel it has changed my life in a positive way.
I do wish I had my procedure done by laprascopic procedure though, as I required a ventral hernia repair a year later. Alas, this surgery did take care of my hernia and I walk around today with what looks like a third breast, just below my other two!
My surgeries were done at the Bariatric Treatment Center at Belvedere, IL, which was a hospital bought and converted just for Bariatric surgeries. Prior decided to have my surgery done there, which is 3 1/2 hours away from where I live, I took the time to take an unscheduled walk through the hospital and :o) interview the existing patients that were walking the halls with their morphine pumps. What kind of care were they getting? Was the staff attentive, pain medications effective, surgeons delivering what they said they would, etc?? All the while I was looking to see if it was a clean facility and then I interviewed the staff.....what was their attitiudes while dealing with the patients?Yeah, yeah, yeah,....I know, not too ethical, but hey, I've worked enough short-handed hospitals when I was employed by an agency to know there are some really bad ones out there! I'm anal about good patient care and I expect the same for myself LOL!
Bariatric Hospital passed my rigid standards. Yes, the surgery was very painful and I learned quickly: I'm NOT into pain! But the staff were attentive and willing to assist when you needed help.
The bad news is that this hospital and now the Bariatric Treatment Clinic, which is adjoining the hospital is closed. In fact, I have the unfortunate honor of being their very last patient .
A little extra information about myself: I have five children, eleven grandchildren and cherish each and every one of them. I am a Registered Nurse and it seems like I am kept on the run all the time. Bill and I just bought a camper and we are hoping to start traveling some. As you can tell, I have a 'warped' sense of humor. My family, sense of humor and God is what helps me through life!
Looking forward to "meeting" everyone!
