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Well,, it's been four years,, weight "problem" exists,, weight is 180,, Dr A wants 200, oh well,, so be it. No issues besides low weight, still happy I did the RNY.

 

Tom

WELL,, all is still going pretty smooth. Waist,, 32-33", Shirt size, large. weight,, 187-190lbs. 

The biggest problem, is the worsening of my marriage. Wife is "jealous" of my weight loss,, but doesn't want to have WLS herself.

Tom

That I reached the goal of Dr Averbach and myself set.   200lbs! 

Tom

Here I am 5 months post op,

Interesting stats,

Waist, was 44",,, now 34"
Jacket - shirt size, was a XXlarge (54") now a LARGE (42")
Weight, heaviest, 311, day of surgery 305, now 215.1

Benefits from surgery,,,,, too many to list, but it seems type 2 diabetes is going away, all meds stopped, except for lantus, which now is a shot every three or for days, VS, lantus twice a day, humilog at every meal, glucophauge, diabeta, and too many other meds to remember pre surgeory.

Problems from surgeory,, well, only one, recently having problems with kidney stones,, I will deal with it.
                                                Well two problems,,, I have to buy new clothes,, I had kept all my old jeans from previous weight     loss, but now I need new 34" waist jeans,, I MOST CERTAINLY CAN DEAL WITH THIS "PROBLEM"

In short,, any regrets,, yes, that I didn't do this earlier in my life, would I recommend RNY for everyone,, well for me it is the answer to a life time of losing and regaining weight,, it is an individual decision,, but yes.

I went to see Dr A 8-24-09, weight was 278, for a loss of 27lbs. Dr A was very pleased. He said he wants about 10lbs a month from here on out.

Energy level excellent.
My intake is usually two sakes a day and a meal.

Tom

Well 8-10-09 was THE big day. I got to St Agnes about 6:30am, my surgery time was 8:45a and I was supposed to be there 2 hrs early. Well I later found out surgery was actually 10am, but the 8:45a was for prep, and they want you there early to be sure.

So, I go through all the prep, anestioloist, and nurse, tights, BiPAP picked up by security ect. and hit the OR just after 10am (10:02). As they were wheeling me there, the nurse said she was starting the drugs, so I should start feeling woozy. I remember a little small talk, then lights out, no counting backwards ect. I woke up in the recovery room, was given a pain pump, and taken to my room around 3 - 3:30. (Still was feeling pretty good from the nap). El and the girls arrived shortly there after, and I hit the button on the pump. Within a couple of mins I started hiccuping, then started to dry heave. DAMN THAT HURT. I told El to take the girls home as I think they were freaked out by daddy laying in a bed with tubes coming out of him, and dry heaving like a sick animal. Did two laps of the hall, nurse was impressed. Monday was an ok day, but had quite a bit of heaving no matter how much meds they gave me to prevent nausea. They bugged me ALL night Monday, (I know it's their job) and didn't sleep much. Heprin shots were a regular thing.

Tuesday morning I started putting 1 & 1 together and started to think the narcs were making my sick. I started to seriously reconsider pushing that button. The nurses, and Dr Averbach kept urging to use the pump, but I was not as nauseaed, and pain was better from not heaving. Tuesday brought the cathotor removal, (real fun) and best of all the GI tract check. I will leave the taste out of it, because I was expecting  the worst, and maybe it wasn't that bad. ( I DID NOT order a six pack to go though) Walking around the hospital halls, BORING.I told El it was her decision on wether or not to bring the girls, we both decided a good night call was the best  choice.
Test came back good and I was brought apple juice, broth, jello and tea. I had some of the broth, (pretty good) and apple juice and I was done. Dinner was the same. Tuesday night they bothered me LESS, but still saw the nurses and techs regularly.
Wednesday brought breakfast, apple juice, milk, NASTY BLAND oatmeal, jello and tea. Got the news I was probably going home later in the day. Lets talk lunch I was brought a PLATE, which contained two mystery blobs, and mashed potatoes, apple juice and tea. Ok I'm game, I'll try almost anything once, mashed potatoes, not bad, brown blob, really pretty good, (turned out to be pureed chicken) orange blob, not bad, not really sure if it was carrots, sweet potatoes or what? The luch blew the breakfast away, but I could not eat much at all before I was full. Presurgery I would have asked for a few more blobs of chicken, mashed potatoes, and maybe one more blob of the orange stuff. Dr Averbach came in and said because I did the mushies ok, I could go home. I started packing, BiPap cleaned and packed, and anything else I could get ready. Most of Wednesday was spent in the chair not the bed. My biggest complaint is with the damn IV pole, it had six wheels, all went in different directions. So the next experience was the "JP" drain removal, that was a weird feeling, I thought it was a tube, but the doc pulled 2-3" of tube, then a 4"x.5" white flat piece.. The IV was left in untill very last. It was removed and I was free to walk around without the IV pole from hell. El arrived 3:30 or so I we were off to the house. I was given three scripts, one for nausea, one for stomache acid, and one for pain. So we stopped at Target, but we were going to have to wait about an hr, so El brought me home, and went to pickup the girls from a friends house and back to get the scripts.
I weighed myself Wednesday night and had lost 7 lbs. Sleep was impossible on a flat bed, (even with the mega priced sleep number bed) so I tried to sleep sitting on the sofa. I think the Lazy boy will work better. I spent the night "deflating" from the surgey.
Thursday woke up, took one of the neusea pills, my vitamn, calcium, and a shake and took a shower. Shower was good for a couple of reasons, one of which it let me shave my mellon, I shaved it last september, and never went more than two days without. I decided to weigh myself again(I know ONCE a week) but I was obviously less bloated, 4 more pounds gone!

Tom

All preop is done including a stress test wanted by my Primary doc, all was good.

Well all is in order, preop physical, done, gallbladder us, done, chestx-ray, done, labs, done. My primary doc wants a stress test just ecause, so I go for that 8-3.

I called Aetna this am to inquire on the status, after all it has been a whole week. All they could tell me is they had the paperwork, and it looked complete, but is still under review.

About six hours later, Chantell from Dr Averbachs office called and said I was approved. She scheduled surgery for 8-10-09, preop meeting with Cathy 8-3-09 as well as preop with Dr Averbach later in the day. I called and setup a preop with my Primary for 7-21-09.

I was so concerned as it seemed like a long process, but having my primary, endo, and surgeon on my side helped. I had all my reports from all my docs, and it probably helped I have been seeing the same primary doc for 12 + years.

5-14-2009

I am a 44 year old, who has been "large"  to different degrees my entire life. Currently, I am 6"3" 301lbs BMI 37, type 2 diabetic struggleing, and sleep apnea. One year ago I was 235lbs, what happened? Too many bad excuses, but the huge event was one day after my 43rd birthday, I had a guy jump in front of my work truck. I honestly don't know the out come, just found not at fault by police and company. No-one will tell me about the guy I hit, so I assume the worst. I have been in counseling for a year, been on meds for that for a year, and lost control of my diabetes. Then to top it off in November I had a bus take me out and total my van, when it rains it pours. Enough of the whining.

I decide about 6 weeks ago I had to do something, originally I was thinking Lap Band. I attended a seminar by Dr Averbach. I was impressed with Dr Averbach and Cathy who worked in his office and had Gastric bypass herself. I setup an appt, and Dr Averbach was going to be my surgeon. I had an appt already with my Endo, so I talked it over with him. He suggested Lap Band might not be my best option. So I find OH and start doing research. Then I learn about DS, and how it is even better for diabetes than RNY. OK something new to look into. I call Dr Averbachs office, he doesn't do DS. Bummer.  I start looking for DS surgeons, and only find two in MD. Because I have two young daughters,, I really kind of need to stay local. I make an appt with my PCP to discuss it with her, she is all for it, even better, she is familiar with Dr Vanguri, and recommends him.

I still have an appt with Dr Averbach, and setting up an appt with Dr Vanguri. Not completely set on surgeon or procedure, I want to talk with both. Stay tuned.

Thanks

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5-18-09:

Attended a support group meeting of Dr Vanguri's on 5-17-09, left feeling pretty good about the Staff and Dr Vanguri.
I had sent my info packet back Friday, and today I got a call from his office, and have an appt set for 6-2-09 for first visit. I have heard two great reviews from differnt medical types, whom I respect. So 5-29-09 talking to Dr Averbach, and 6-2-09 talking to Dr Vanguri.

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6-02-09

Went to Dr Averbach on the 29th of May, his opinion was I didn't need a DS, but was all for me going to talk to Dr Vanguri. Saw Dr Vanguri today, he also said DS was way to overboard for me,  and might actually be dangerous as my BMI "is not that bad".  I had two glowing referals for Vanguri, but my endo was dead set against useing Vanguri. Since he is a key player, I decided RNY with Dr Averbach.

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7-08-09

Dr Averbachs office sent in all my paperwork to my insureance, Aetna