MarilynT
After having every other form of weight control fail me, I am finally investigating whether WLS is right for me. I have an appointment with a surgeon and am preparing my weight loss history, medical records, psych consult, etc. to be ready on my first appointment. I still need to find the courage to tell my husband/family that I am considering this option. Any advice?
7/12 Have let my family know of my decision to have WLS, and they were all surprisingly supportive. My husband even went so far as to get the name and phone # of a woman he works with who had the surgery (and has our same insurance) so I could call her with questions, etc. I have my psych eval next week and my first surgical appt. the following week. Time is going SO SLOW!!!! Starting weight 261 starting bmi 43.4.
7/26 Saw Dr. Lin and he is very nice. Had the psych eval and got the green light too. I have a tentative date of Oct 2 for the surgery; we have to wait to request insurance approval since mine is changing Sept. 1st......but it is a better insurance (CareFirst, a PPO), and with the new law in Maryland (effective Oct 1) I'm not TOO worried. Just wish it was Oct 3 already!!
11/20 Well, had my surgery Oct 2, and everything went well, except I wasn't very pleased with the nursing care I got. But that is all water under the bridge now, and I am feeling pretty good. Learning what foods sit well and which do not is a hit or miss proposition.....but I'm learning. Slowing down and chewing well are SO IMPORTANT! I'm so grateful to my surgeon for agreeing to do this surgery on me and give me this chance to improve my health.
October 2004 THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
I'm updating my profile for the benefit of those looking for information on longterm post-ops. Yes, I am still happy I had weight loss surgery. But there are a few things I'd like everyone to know. First, you WILL likely gain weight once you make it to your all-time low. I gained about 20pounds; part of that (about 10 pounds) I wanted to gain because I didn't like the way my face looked that thin. The other ten came after a second surgery I needed last fall for some weird type of hernia I developed while on vacation in Mexico, SCUBA diving. I don't fully understand the hernia, but it was explained to me as the INTESTINE bulging thru the membranes that surround it and hold it in place within the abdomen. The doctor could not say that this problem was DIRECTLY related to WLS but was definitely related to previous abdominal surgery. SCUBA may also have been a contributing factor, although not likely. But even despite an extra surgery and a slight increase in weight, I still love my WLS. I'm still wearing a size 12; still eating whatever I like when ever I want. I have the most problems when I EAT TOO FAST & DON'T CHEW WELL. Occasionally sweets make me feel sick to my stomach. I don't take any nutritionl supplements although I do try to remember my vitamins more days than not.
Thanks again to Dr. Lin and all the great people who made my WLS possible. Marilyn
February 2008 My tool still works! After hovering around 160 for a LONG TIME, I recently experienced another 15 pound weight gain (just after the death of my Mother), but the good news is that "getting back to basics" is all that's needed to take it off, and relatively easily too. I am currently just under 160 and planning to lose another 10-15 and see how I feel then. My blood pressure is 90/56, my pulse 62, my labs all NORMAL. I LOVE MY WLS..........thank you Dr. Lin!
April 2010....strangely, after my last update I had ANOTHER complication, a small bowel obstruction. They fixed me up and I was diving about a month later with my surgeon's approval. A cross country relocation led to another 15 pound weight gain; but back to basics found me back to my "fighting weight" of 160. At that time, I decided to undergo some plastic surgery to repair my now THREE TIME utilized scar (which had become thick and sensitive) as well as a Tummy Tuck, liposuction and breast lift. I am recovering as we speak (8 days post op) and am happy to report doing well. Can't wait to get back to my training for a 5K (which I started in an effort to lose my relocation weight gain) and go diving this summer in the Philippines. Recently had a physical exam where my labs were NORMAL. My BP, BS also normal. Still love my WLS....thank you, Dr. Lin!!
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Paul P. Lin MD
Insurer Info:
Care First BC/BS
The only problem I had was getting the papers in the right hands......once they were, the approval was done in a day. A big thank you to my husband (a physician) for getting on the phone with supervisors, etc. to get this take care of; I was down to the wire, and the surgeon's office was talking of rescheduling me!!
