Question:
Anyone around 437 lbs that has had Open R N Y ?
Hi! I am a 30 yr old female having an Open RNY done on Nov 11. I would love to hear someone's experience who had a very large BMI. I would love some details on how quickly you were able to move around, how much weight you lost in the beginning, what has happened with your skin, how it affected intimate relationships, and how quickly you were able to go back to work! Thank you so much in advance! — Markita M. (posted on November 6, 2003)
November 5, 2003
Well let me first start off saying I am a male and my BMI was at 51 when I
had my surgery, I was 412lbs day of my WLS and I also had it done LAP. In
the begenning I lost weight so fast it was hard to keep track, I was out of
the hospital in 2 1/2 days and feeling pretty good to do almost anything at
5 weeks out. Being a larger person I think it takes a little longer to get
moving as fast as some of the light weights but maybe it was just me.
Anyway I have lost a little over 170lbs so far and my surgery was on
02/19/03, as for the skin it is hanging somewhat but not to bad and also as
for the intimate relationships all I can say is SEX is better now being at
this weight of 230lbs and so much more fun. You will be fine and the
biggest advice I can say is to just take it one day at a time and it will
work for you, also I walk 7 days a week and walk 4 miles every morning plus
go and work out 4 or 5 days a week in the afternoons and the funniest thing
is I love to do it. Before WLS I would of thought anyone that does what I
do now is nuts but now like I say I love it and it feels great to be able
to do it. Also check out my profile for a picture or two of me and a new
one is being added in the next few days or so. Good Luck LAP RNY DISTAL
02/19/03 412/230/200
— tonyskid
November 5, 2003
Hey Markita....I started right where you were at....You can read thru my
profile to see how things were for me or you can email me and we can chat
about it. It's been a lil over 2 yrs since my surgery. I have gained
about 15-20lbs back and I never got close to my goal weight. I think
they've changed a few things since my surgery on how much they bypass
etc....I haven't eaten as well as I should have nor exericised a ton.
Really, the first year is a total breeze but now it's really up to me to
lose any more weight. I love being able to go into a store and at least
get a 2x or 3x. For me, this is a HUGE thing. I can cross my legs and
don't get out of breath just walking up some stairs etc. I'm happy that I
lost 150+lbs-but, I still have a LOT more to lose. I'm here if you want to
talk more....!
— Heather D.
November 5, 2003
I weighted 407 the day of surgery, and now, 10 months later, I am down to
287. I had no complications, and began walking on my treadmill the day I
got home (only 5 or ten mins at a time). I was back to work in 3 weeks.
Sex is much much better ( I can be on top!), and I feel good and sexy and
look good and sexy too. I still wouldl like to lose another 100 lbs, but
the weight loss has slowed to a crawl for now, hopefully it will pick up.
I haven't been excersizing like I should though, so that is a big reason
for the slow down. See my profile for some weight details. Good luck to
you!
— thekatinthehat
November 5, 2003
<b>I started at 400 lbs, 11 months ago today. I have loss 147 lbs so
far. making me 253 lbs. I had open without any complications. Bouncing back
was kind of slow for me. it took me 3 months before I was back to feeling
better. I think it was because of having my tube in too long and I was in
constant pain from it. plus it prevented me from moving around. also not
putting in enough proteins. after the tube came out I was able to bounce
right back to myself. I try to make this a fun adventure, life is just
wonderful in all avenues.</b>
— Naes Wls J.
November 5, 2003
My preop weight was 425. 15 months later I've lost 205 pounds and weigh
220 (or 221, 222 depending). I was up and walking within 4 hours of
rolling out of the operating room. My surgeon said if he hadn't done the
surgery himself, he'd not of known I'd even had surgery to look at me the
next morning. Sure I was tired and achy and VERY thirsty, but I bounced
back very well all things considered. I was home on day 4 and things just
got better from there. I had zero complications, limited side-effects and
am thankful with all that has occured over the last year and a half. My
skin looks loose and wrinkled - fat does fill out those wrinkles for sure,
but the wrinkles are WAY more attractive than that fat ever was :>) My
sex life was totally dead though until very recently. My docs kept telling
me the interest would return when the weight loss slowed way down and my
hormones returned more to a normal state. I tell you, after a year I
stopped believing them and just figured I was going to be celibate for
life. I am THRILLED to announce that it DOES come back :>))) My hubby
is also very thrilled lol. Good luck to you!
— [Deactivated Member]
November 5, 2003
Markita, I wanted to chime in here because I was 445 and 26 years old the
day of surgery with a BMI of 60.4. I am 6 months post and have lost 134
lbs (42-lbs month 1, 21-lbs month 2, 17-lbs month 3, 21-lbs month 4, 14-lbs
month 5 and 19-lbs month 6). My incision was 14 inches long and I traveled
to Mexico to have it done. I was released from the hospital a day early,
was shopping in Mexico 5 days post with only a mild pain reliever and
traveled home from San Diego to Baltimore, MD 6 days post op, walked
through airports with no problem. I was back to work after 10 days and
felt 100% by a month out. The only problem I had with my incision is that
it went a little Keloid at the top, so wear your binder religiously!!! My
skin is definitely sagging but have already started to document rashes and
problems with it with my PCP and GYN. I plan to have everything done in a
year or so. My relationship with my husband has definitely improved. Sex
is so much easier now and I actually have a desire to have it!! Hope this
answers all of your questions. My website also has pics so take a peak.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
— SMG I.
November 6, 2003
Former 442 lbs and BMI of 65.3 here. I am now 253 lbs and a 37.3 BMI. So
the surgery does work with some help from the new tool's owner! I was up
waling 2 hours after surgery. Did I hurt, he!! yes. It was tough but each
day got better. For me it was like I had done 1000 ab crunches. No sharp
pain, just severe muscle pain. I went back to work the 3rd week 1/2 days,
which was nice because I needed a nap by the afternoon. Then worked my way
back to full time. I had a very understanding boss who said if I was
feeling tired etc. to just leave. One day I went home for lunch and fell
asleep and called in at 4:45pm. He was fine with it. That did help a lot
to have him be so understanding.
<p>Unfortunately I have tons of excess skin and am in the process of
trying to get an abdominoplasty approved. When I started out I thought I
could get by without it, but being 8 years older and having stretched my
skin out by 200 lbs again, did me in. I lost about 200 lbs when I was 34
and I do not remember the amount of skin I had this time and I am within 13
lbs of where I got to last time. So for me age is a factor. Haven't been
involved yet since surgery so cannot answer the next question, but I
suspect it would be okay but not as nice as if everything was cleaned up.
<p>My exercise progess came very slow due to lots of pain in my hips,
low back and feet. I went back to weight training at 9 weeks and at that
point if I could walk 5-10 minutes I was doing very good. It took me till
6 months to be able to walk a mile continuous. But once I reached that
point and have that chunk of weight off things progressed quickly. The
last 47 lbs has drastically changed my mobility and quickness etc. I did
the 3-mile walk from obesity at 7-1/2 months with no problem. Just don't
plan to run a marathon for a few years and keep trying to improve as you
can, but do not get discouraged if you aren't walking a mile in a few
weeks. For most SMO that's not the case. We do need to take it slower and
listen to our bodies. It will come in time. Good luck and keep us posted!
— zoedogcbr
November 6, 2003
Markita, I was 440 at the time of my consult and 427 at the time of my
surgery on 7/17/02. I am now 226 pounds - about 13 pounds away from my
goal. Take a look at my profile for my weight loss progress and my log
entries...JR
— John Rushton
November 6, 2003
I started at 454 and a BMI of 72 I think is what is was. I have it written
down. I am now 7 months out and have lost 130 pounds! But remember,
everyone is different. Feel free to read my profile it has all the details
of my long journey to this day. I am 29 years old and thought life was over
before surgery. Had a hard time to just get out of bed, get into the car,
etc. Now, I am loving life! I walk everywhere and will park in the back of
the parking lot to walk more! I love it! Things for me are wonderful, my
energy, my attitude, my outlook on life! The skin on me is just now
starting to sag. My arms and thighs are the most noticable to me. My
stomach isn't really "hanging" yet but it will. I am married to a
wonderful man who fell in love with me when I was big, got bigger and was
huge. Now I am going back down and he has loved me through it all. He is
wonderful! We have been married for 6 1/2 years. We hope to have children
soon. We have a very good relationship. <p>
In the beginning, I lost the first 50 pounds like nothing! Then I was down
100 just shy of 6 months. I tell ya, life right is great and I know it only
gets better from here. From being able to fit into chairs with arms and
having to spare to being in a booth in a restaurant and fitting with ease.
Life is good!
— tpalmer
November 6, 2003
My high was 475, but my surgery weight was 414. At 6.5 months out I'm down
to 286. So that's nearly 200 pounds since last January. I can't complain :)
I'm walking 2 miles and jogging 2 miles a day on the treadmill. On weekends
I walk as much as 6 miles a day. See my profile for more details and pics.
— Jim F
November 7, 2003
I started at 440lbs (5ft3) and am now 292ish! HA! I am 8 months out
today-so that is 148 lbs lost in 8months. In regards to the surgery, get up
and walk..walk..walk. It is so important, in terms of recovery and
prevention of blood clots. I had very limited mobility at the time of
surgery and was very dependent on my husband for help but that quickly
passed. Sex is much better..I have more energy and desire now. I also feel
better about myself. I do have a lot of sagging skin and can not wait to
have it removed. But, I am a cash pay, so I will have to wait for a while.
Also we are planning to have children after a year or so, so those
surgeries will have to wait. I am very glad I had the surgery. The first 6
wks were tough, but it gets much better. Good luck!!! Email me anytime!
— rpoepke
November 8, 2003
I am 30 years old as well. I had my open RNY done on Oct 2001 and I
weighed 485 pounds. Its been a tough road and I dont want to lie to you I
had severe pain. I did as well have some trouble with the Morphine so I
really wasnt getting the pain medication I needed. The first two or three
days are the hardest but you HAVE to think "This, too will pass",
because I almost felt like I would die. I have a low tolerance for
pain-lol. Now, two years later I can honestly say it as the best thing I
have ever done. I am 5 ft 7 and weigh in at 170. Had (and still have )
massive amounts of skin. I did excersize regularly, too, so let it be
known that I am sure that helped some, but you will need surgery to remove
it because the skin has stretched so much. It was probably 3 months until
I really felt well enough to excersize, and I returned to work after 8
weeks. I was better after 6 weeks but tired very easily. Intimate
relationships with me are now better then ever, but I am not married so
when I go out on dates and stuff I have to make sure I explain the whole
hanging skin situation to my perspective partners and hope they are
understanding. So far, everyone has been. I am now with a very very great
guy wbo I have been seeing for 5 months and loves me even though I looked
like a sharpei in the stomach area. I just recently had my belt
pannilectomy (tummy tuck only all they way around the body) and that was a
walk in the park compared to my rny. Of course I am a whole lot thinner
and healthier now. After a while u will be able to eat more (Maybe 6
months out) and you will gain weight back if you dont watch calories and
excersize so defintely try that after several weeks, and good luck!
— pamwashere
November 8, 2003
Hi, I had a high of 425 when I started the process but on the morn. of
surgery I was 388. I lost not because of the doc but because i spent two
weeks in the hospital with cellulitis two months before surgery. I had an
open RNY on june 26 and was up walking the next morning. I was really sore
but no bad pain. I have had a few set backs that most people don't have to
worry about. Now at about 4.5 months out i am down to 270 and loving it.
Even with my problems (read my profile to find out) I probably would do it
again. My skin is hanging but can be fixed. My intamacy with my wife is
better when she has the time. (she's in nurseing school) And finally I went
back to work as a mechanic in about 4 weeks. I hope everything goes well
for you. Bill
— bubba
November 10, 2003
You probably won't read this until after you get home from the hospital.
Unless of course you're I was and are up all night the night before your
surgery making absolutely sure you didn't miss any good advice. I started
out at 6' tall, 465 lbs on Dec 6, 2001. Today I have lost 270 lbs and
regained about 10 (because I am pregnant) I had an open RNY. I was back
to work full time in 2 weeks (desk job) I still keep an excel spreadsheet
showing my weight loss each week. If you'd like to see it, or have any
other questions, please email me. My skin is pretty saggy, but that's much
more hideable than when it was filled with fat. After I have this baby I
plan to get a tummy tuck. I had a breast reduction in may to get rid of all
the extra breast tissue. As far as intimate relationships.....I'm a little
over 3 months pregnant so the intimate relationship part is working out
just fine : )
— Monica H.
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