Why I chose to have the RNY...Sorry long...
Hi there, my name is Brian. This may take awhile but I want to share my reasons why I chose the RNY. I do not want to put down other surgeries. I would just like to explain why I chose the RNY. I was self pay. I could have gone with any surgery available...done anywhere in the world. About 6 months before my surgery my cardiologist came to me during my appointment and stated to me I "had" congestive heart failure. It seemed he was announcing to me a death sentence. My heart had a ejection rate of 35% (meaning the heart was pumping out the blood in my heart at that percent). Normal is about 50%. I asked if there was anything that could be done. He said weight loss may help, but once you have it, you have it for life. After much research and prayer, I decided to have the RNY. I wanted to have my surgery at a local hospital. I felt I needed to have it at a hospital that had a good cardiology department. I had a heart attack and a double heart bypass 6 years prior.
Looking at the LapBand, I felt it was too much work. Also the weight regain was a concern. I looked into the DS, also. The thought of having much of my stomach removed scared me. DS had been proven effective at the time, yet to get my surgery locally was important to me. I felt most doctors know the RNY and the complications associated with it. If I ended up in an emergency room, they would understand my situation better than trying to explain the DS. (By the way, many doctors are clueless about both.) I had to get a staph infection cleared up prior to surgery. The DS is really 2 surgeries at the same time. Right or wrong, that scared me. I also “had" Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The RNY surgery originally was designed to help IBS...They later found out it was effective in weight loss, too. With RNY they have found the sweet spot. They now know how much small intestine to remove to be effective…yet still allowing for enough absorption. I had to get cleared for my surgery by my surgeon, PCP, and cardiologist. I hurried through my psych evaluation and pre-op classes. I then scheduled my surgery. It all got done within 3-4 months (again, I was racing the clock concerning my heart). I had the surgery and have not looked back I got to my and my doctor’s goal in 6 months and 10 days (190#). My ejection rate rose to 45-50 percent (normal). The IBS is totally gone!! I regained about 25 pounds (by eating carbs and sugar). I then had a second heart attack. It was a wake up call. I worked and dropped 20 pounds using my tool (yes it is hard work…but well worth it). Every day from here to my death is gravy (well, maybe gravy is a bad analogy…more like bonus). No major complications and I am enjoying life. I can eat anything and not get sick. Yet, some things I must only eat in moderation. WLS is a tool…it is work. But I myself would do it again in a heartbeat. Just me.
Your story was one that had helped me decide in getting my RNY. My health issues were diabetes, HBP, and sleep apnea. And I have had vast improvements since surgery in August. I considered Lap Band and RNY for similar reasons as you. The surgeons were local in the best Bariatric Center in the area, and knew these surgeries and their complications best. And, there was a ready built support system there as well. My decision for RNY was influenced mostly by my diabetes. My surgeon indicated that although the amount of weight I had to lose would probably be able to be acheived quickly with Lap Band, but the long term weight loss and the percent of patients success rates (in terms of diabetes improvement) were higher with RNY than with Lap Band. That made my decision easy.
You are right, whatever surgery we choose, it is simply a tool to get us to where we want to be. I suppose if we give up on the tool, the weight and the complications will come back. I looked at this as a life changing decision for me, and one that could potentially improve my quality of life in a huge way. And for me it has. I don't regret my decision at all, and applaud all of us that have made a decision in favor of LIFE - no matter what surgery we had. The fact that we decided to LIVE, rather than to let these life threatening ilnesses kill us.
Finally I can say..... LIFE IS GOOD!
"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
