How is gbs different than 10 years ago

I wish I had the support of my family members, but not all of them are on board. Of course my husband is supportive, but I come from a large family. I'm the youngest of 10 children. We are pretty close and we usually speak our minds to each other. A couple of my sisters know people who had this done many, many years ago...probably when I was a teen, so 15-20 years ago. I get the constant reminders of how they have so many problems and they did not lose any weight. I always come back with its not the same surgery. But actually I don't know what is different about it.  Any suggestions? Maybe their comments will subside once I have the surgery.  Thanks, Penny

The thing that is real important is that you and your husband together have made the decision. And some even say that the spouse doesnt Nessicarily have to be on board either. Because this surgery is for YOU. But There all kind's of different WLS now...back 15 year's ago they were all different too. Plus the fact that it is being done just as much these day's as open heart surgeries and transplant's. I know my Dr. told me they were doing 4 or 5 a week on average. Where as all those year's ago that was nothing of the sort. My aunt's mother in law died from complications about a year later after having her surgery in about 1994. You just have to put your trust in your team of Dr's. There is no garuntee that you'll ever be able to get your family on board. BUT if they really cared as much as they would like to use as an excuse to keep argueing with you over these thing's, they would help you focuse on the positive and not scare you to death with the negitive. We could all die sleeping in our bed's tonight, doesnt mean we arent going to go to bed!

Hey Penny...  I am just speaking on 2 cases that I know personally.  My best friend and her slightly older sister, who are both now in their late 30's, had gastric bypass done when they were early teens.  They had it done what  is now called the "old fashion" way.  When it was really just stapled.  They have both gone on to have children, the sister has actually had 2 children.  They haven't had any problems due to the surgery itself.  If my best friend eats too fast or too much, she does make a trip to the rest room and she isn't able to do the sugar things but thats all things that we are going to experience.  Even after approximately 23 yrs a piece for them, their smaller stomach still rules.   I can relate to not everyone being on board.  I have 2 aunts that haven't gotten on board yet.  One is an aunt that in her teen years suffered from anorexia and has always struggled with a weight issue.  She can easily run marathons and runs 20 miles a day every day.  The other, who is not thin but not obese, just thinks that being overweight is a sin but doesn't think WLS is an answer.  Together, both of them think that WLS is the easy way out and neither of them have much faith in  their neice.  It saddens me and hurts my feelings but...  I have decided to not see them for about 2 months from when I come home from surgery and then go visit and let them see the results thus far.  I just let them voice their opinions and politely tell them that when they pay for all the other options that are out there and when they are made power of attorney over my medical care, they can decide.   Remember this is for us.  This is something we both have thought LONG and HARD for and about.  We didn't just wake up 1 morning thinking...  Oh I'm gonna let them cut me open so I can be skinny and get into a bikini.  This truly is for our health and our future.  If you need to chat, I'm here.  Good luck hun! Theresa

I like your attitude. And yes, I sometimes take their comments as a grain of salt. But other times, I let them get to me. Part of me thinks maybe they are just concerned and caring. Part of me thinks they are trying to sabatoge. I just keep telling them that I've been researching this for a long, long time and it is what I think is right for me.  How is your pre-op going? I think I'm doing okay. The 1st couple of days were rough, but I'm hanging in there. I lost 8 pounds in 1 week. I've been exercising faithfully and sticking to the pre-op diet. I see my dr. on Thursday and then surgery on Monday. YEAH!!!  Best wishes, Penny

I am doing better on it now then in the first few days.  I was having that mid day hunger and would eat a salad.  Not sure if it's going to hurt me in the long run but I did weigh myself Saturday and had lost 4.5 lbs since Tuesday.  Thats a good start, I think.  I go to see the surgeon tomorrow and I am a nervous wreck.  I have been having dreams that they cancel, or want me to reschedule and that I don't lose any weight.  So until I am completely out of there tomorrow, I won't be at peace.  I guess I worry about everything.  Good job on your weight loss and exercise.  With the raining since Saturday, it's been hard to get out and do my walking but I did manage to get some in Saturday at the game before it started.  Keep up the the good work.  And remember...  You are the one that has control over you and your life.  If you don't let them sabatoge you...  they can not succeed!

Well I am not a doctor but some things I do know have changed fairly significantly in the past ten years.... The death rate has fallen from 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000...... even less risky than gallbladder surgery ( so Dr Hutcher said on TV last night) They know far more now about the importance of aftercare and support group meetings They know far more about the absorbtion issues now and about vitamin regimes The internet has allowed far more information gathering and sharing than they ever had before Many more doctors are performing it now and learning better surgical techniques, different equipment, ie staples and in most cases they do not remove the rest of the stomach (except in the DS surgery) Surgery can be done laprascopically now so even less risk for surgery They get you out of bed and walking around within a few hours of surgery therefore less rick of blood clots They are educating people more on diet afterwards now than ever before They can advise which medications NOT to take after surgery so less ulcers etc There are also large organizations dedicated to these surgeries and care and support - so we always have some kind of support More known about protein and more protein choices available now I am sure more people can add to the list but it is a different world now than it was 10 years ago......... Hope this helps Jackie

Yes, Jackie this helps. The doctors have to know more the longer they are doing it. Just like cancer and heart attacks or premature babies. Years ago, that was a death sentence, but not necessarily today. Look at the progress we have made in all areas. I loved that on 60 minutes ( I watched it on Kat's post). I have forwarded that to 2 of my sisters.  Thanks, Penny

Hi Penny, I know how you feel when you have family members who don't think you should have the surgery. My sisters told me I was foolish and my mom begged me not have it done because she heard so many negative reports, well I prayed about it and I knew in my heart that this was for my health and I wanted to have the surgery and also my husband had the lap band done and his family was against him. We both are doing well since the surgery. Follow your heart and do what you think is best only you can make that decision. Lean on your husband for the moral support and the Lord. Oh by the way I have 9 sisters and 5 brothers.

Wow, I thought I had a big family...15 kids, whew. Thanks for your reply. I have prayed about this and somewhere I read will this decision bring you closer to the Lord, and I feel it will. So I'm at peace about it. My brother just keeps saying, "Penny, I don't have a good feeling about this". That bothers me, but I just keep saying I'll be fine. Glad you and your hubby both are doing great. It's nice that you can experience this together. Best wishes, Penny

penny, my cousin was one of the first people ever to have this done.  he was 16 at the time.  dr. hutcher performed the surgery.  since then, he has had to have it done a second time.  back then they did not make you go through the psych testing they do now and he was not ready.  they also did not have "dumping" back then and when he found he could eat ice cream...and lots of it...all the weight he lost came back.  dr. hutcher did a second rny on him about 15 months after the first and now he is about 25 years post op and doing fabulous.  he has lost over 200 lbs.  he is 6'4" and weighs around 230.  he has had all of his plastics and is doing great.  my aunt (his mother) has also had it done twice.  the first time was a great success however she busted her internal staples while she had the flu one year and regained all she had lost plus some.  she had it done again two years ago but this time the results were not so good.  it is all her fault.  she refused to give up her diet coke and famous amos cookies and just two weeks post op she ate a whole frescatta sandwich and chicken ceasar salad from wendys.  i am almost three years out and can't even imagine getting in a fraction of all of that!  she lost about 50 lbs the second time around but i know she could have done so much better.  dr. hutcher with commonwealth surgeons has done all five rny surgeries in my family.  if you would like to talk more, let me know.  my cousin would probably answer any questions you have, too.  good luck! tammy