Lynda C.
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Lynda Conner
Lafayette, IN, USA
Post Op - BMI: 28.1
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: Conner979963165
Contact: Click here to send a Personal Message
Surgeon: John M. Huse M.D.
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01/25/01
I have an appointment for a consultation with Dr. John Huse on April 3, 2001. I am 46 years old and I've been overweight all my life. I have hypertension, diabetes, GERD, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, high cholesterol and triglycerides and have had three failed back surgeries. I've been battling back and leg pain for a long time.
04/03/01
I had my consultation today. The office staff was friendly and helpful. The consultation with Dr. Huse was in a group setting. He explained the types of surgery he does. After the group meeting we were all weighed and measured in private. We then had a private session with the doctor to discuss our medical history. Now I have to wait for the doctor to write a letter to my insurance for approval which they say will take about four weeks.
06/24/01
I made an appointment for my psych eval to be done here in town on June 12th. I was admitted to the hospital on June 10th with cellulitis and blood poisoning in my left leg. I had to cancel the appointment for the psych eval and reschedule it for June 26th.
After being in the hospital for seven days I decided I no longer wanted to have this surgery. I don't know why I made this decision.
07/02/01
Now that I have been away from the hospital a few weeks I've been rethinking all of my options. I don't really have a choice though I would like to believe I do. I have to lose this weight and I know I cannot do it without the help of this surgery.
I went ahead with the first part of my psych eval--560 true/false questions. I have the second part on July 12th and then I wait for approval from my insurance company.
It has now been seven months since I made the call for my initial consultation.
07/26/01
I had the second part of my psych evaluation. The psychologist said he would send the paperwork to my insurance and my surgeon recommending me for the surgery. I'm still waiting to find out if I've been approved.
I saw my PCP this week and all blood tests were in the normal range for the first time in many years.
08/01/01
The on-campus nurse called this morning to tell me they had received the paperwork from the doctor's office with the results of my psych evaluation. I was told previously that after the doctor reviewing my case gets this information I should have an answer within 48 hours. We shall see.
08/02/01
I have been approved for surgery by my insurance!
08/06/01
I have a date! It's January 9, 2002!
12/25/01
I haven't posted for quite a while. Waiting for this surgery hasn't been easy.
I had my pre-op class at St. Vincent's Bariatric Center in Carmel on December 18th. I must admit I feel much easier about the surgery and what will follow. The class was quite informative and I'd recommend it highly.
On December 20th I had my pre-op testing done and saw a pulmonologist. He told me I had a heart murmur and might have to have an echocardiogram before surgery but he didn't think it would be a problem. The other results aren't in yet.
There is a new complication, my mother has a large mass in her abdomen and a smaller mass in her pancreas. Later this week they are going to do a biopsy. I seriously considered cancelling my surgery but I have to lose this weight to be a help to her.
Right now we both need prayers.
Two more weeks to go!
01/04/02
I had the cardiac workup yesterday. I hope I never have to go through that one again. The doctor said my heart was ok and wished me the best of luck for my surgery so I assume it's a go.
Shortly after we got home my mother got the results of her biopsy. She has cancer of the liver and the pancreas. She's going to wait until after my surgery to see a specialist. I can't believe this is happening now!
Less than a week to go before surgery.
01/15/02
I'm finally post-op and home from the hospital. I spent six days in the hospital, two nights in ICU because there were no beds available. My hospital stay was uneventful except for one nurse tech taking a strong dislike to me and was quite nasty.
I got on the scales just before I left the hospital and weighed more than I had ever weighed in my entire life. I was so disappointed even though I know this is normal.
02/09/02
At one month post-op I've lost 40 pounds. I have infection in my incision and my drain sites. Other than that everything seems to be going great.
02/16/02
I now know what it's like to throw up post op. Not pretty! I was told to start eating some solid foods but either I didn't chew enough or chicken does not agree with me because it's gotten to me twice now.
My mother is in chemotherapy and is having trouble keeping her white blood count up. She's taking shots to correct that. She had to have her toe amputated a few weeks ago because of a diabetic ulcer infection that went into the bone. Thanks to diabetic neuropathy she has had no pain with this.
We are both learning to cope with our new lives. I must remember to thank the Lord for each pound lost and each day we are allowed.
03/08/02
My first goal of losing fifty pounds has been achieved. Now I need to lose two more pounds to meet my second goal. I haven't lost a pound in days.
I still have some infection in the upper section of my incision. Everything else is healed. I'm still not able to keep a lot of solid foods down, I'm learning though.
Tomorrow is my two month anniversary and I thought this surgery would never happen. It's been a blessing.
03/28/02
I've lost a total of 59 pounds, almost at the three month mark. I'm still not able to keep a lot of solid foods down so I'm going back to cottage cheese and oatmeal. I'm still drinking my Carnation Instant Breakfast with the nonfat dry milk for my protein.
Received bad news about my mother's cancer today. The chemo hasn't helped at all and the tumor is growing. Next week they are going to try a different type of therapy.
Best wishes to everyone on their journey.
04/15/02
Today I went for my three month post op visit. I was one pound short of losing seventy pounds. Their scales weigh about three pounds less than mine.
They also took my measurements, only chest, waist and hips. I've lost six inches from my chest, eight inches from my waist and seven inches from my hips.
Before surgery I was wearing 5X and 4X tops, now 3X and 2X. I was wearing 3X slacks and now will probably start wearing 1X soon because the 2X are getting very baggy.
Life is good and would be even better if the new chemotherapy would help my mother.
Best wishes everyone!
05/09/02
At four months out I've lost 75 pounds. I am now able to buy clothes off the rack in regular department stores. It doesn't take much to make me happy!
That's all for now! Later!
05/21/02
I had to call 911 to take my mother to the hospital today. She hurt her back and was unable to get out of her chair. The doctor told me that she will probably not come home. I am so torn up over this.
I'm now down 80 pounds but don't feel very much like celebrating.
Take care everyone!
05/30/02
This is Thursday, my mother passed away last Saturday. I was with her when it happened. Her funeral was Wednesday and I am so terribly lost and lonely.
My mother had difficulty doing her job because she was in so much pain. I was having difficulties myself so we decided to pool our resources and live together. That was ten years ago. Six years ago I finally gave up, left my job and went on disability. I was missing so much work from being in so much pain that I knew it wouldn't be long before I was terminated.
By the time I left work I was able to do very little for myself. My mother took care of me, did all the housework, most of the yardwork and all of the shopping. After I had my physical examination for SSA the arthritis in my knees was so bad I had to have assistance to get out of bed and out of chairs, she had to wash me and dress me for months.
I wrote a while back that my mother was going to put off her cancer treatment until after my surgery but there was so much cancer they advised her to start treatment immediately. She felt so bad that I spent most of the time in the hospital alone but it didn't matter to me as long as she got her treatments and got better. The day I came home from the hospital after my surgery, she was in surgery herself to have a port put in her shoulder for the chemotherapy. That first night home we couldn't even help each other.
To make a long story short, for the last six years my mother and I spent twenty-four hours a day together because she didn't want to go anywhere without me and I couldn't go anywhere without her. For the first time in my life I know the true meaning of being ALONE.
During the last few weeks I've had to force myself to eat and drink my instant breakfast. I ate cheese and salads from drive-thru's, otherwise I wouldn't have eaten at all. I had lost 86 pounds but I gained several pounds after mom passed away. I hope to get the rest of it back off by the end of the weekend. I will lose this weight for my mother.
I had doubts about whether I should go ahead and have my surgery when I found out my mother was ill. I could not have made it through the hectic schedule of her chemo if I had not had the surgery. Before the surgery I couldn't walk more than a few steps without being out of breath. I was slowly dying.
Now that I've lost a few pounds SSA is going to do a full review of my disability benefits. I can walk without being breathless but I still hurt very much. Pain is not a reason for disability.
I'm hurting desperately over the loss of my mother but I still thank God for every pound lost, even if it's for the second or third time.
05/31/02
I just got a call from PCP asking if I would recommend my surgeon for another patient. I answered with a great big yes. I hope this helps somebody else find a better life.
Also weighed again this morning and am now down 90 pounds! Thank you, Lord!
06/08/02
Ever since my mom passed away I've been grazing, eating lots of cheese and not eating properly. I can't seem to get back into the groove and I can't even think of anything that sounds good.
I'm afraid I might be in big trouble here and won't lose any more weight. I go back to my surgeon and dietitian in mid July. I've gone through too much to end up gaining it all back now. I'm so discouraged.
07/09/02
My six month anniversary came and just a few pounds away from the century mark. I'm still not dealing very well with my mother's passing and it's taking it's toll on my weight loss and eating habits.
I also now have severe pain and numbness in my left hand and arm. They are running tests this month, hopefully I will get some relief soon.
08/09/02
I finally lost 100 pounds! I also fit into a pair of size large slacks, no X's. Yippee!
I have a compressed ulnar nerve in my elbow and have an appointment with a neurosurgeon to schedule surgery.
My PCP wants to take me off of HRT. I don't know about this!
That's all for now. Best wishes!
08/19/02
Under 250! I weighed in at 249 this morning!
12/09/02
I've now lost 116 pounds.
I had my cubital tunnel surgery in September and did not have good results. I go for more testing in a few weeks to see if I need additional surgery.
Social Security stopped their review process for my disability benefits.
I am having abnormalities in my liver profile and they haven't found a cause yet.
I honestly have to say I don't know where I'd be today if I hadn't had this surgery.
Best wishes!
06/11/06
Just a short update after all these years.
The cubital tunnel surgery worked out and the arm is fine. No cause was ever found for the liver abnormalities and it is no longer checked.
I've lost even more weight recently and am at the lowest weight I've been in over thirty years. I'm very proud of my accomplishment and am still thankful for the surgery even though I still cannot eat the foods I'm supposed to be able to eat.
Unfortunately, the weight loss did not end my pain. It is something I will live with the rest of my life.
There is no doubt about it, without this surgery I would not be here today.
Best of luck to all trying to find approval for this surgery.
06/18/10
I still do not regret having my surgery though I am having new problems. I've had pneumonia three times already this year caused by aspiration from problems associated with my RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery.
When I last left the hospital my weight was 167 which means a total weight loss of 190 pounds. I would be happier about my new weight if it were not caused by my illnesses...but I will take it and enjoy it anyway.
I had a swallow study while in the hospital. I now have to put my chin on my chest while I drink with a straw. I must sit up straight while I eat and remain straight for at least half an hour after eating to TRY to prevent aspiration. I had a gastroscopy done by a surgeon, the report says there are no abnormalities...but apparently something is wrong. Just about every time I eat, I either vomit or feel like I'm going to vomit. I made an appointment with a specialist in July. I'm afraid to go to sleep at night. If I aspirate again, it can go into pneumonia within half an hour. The last time I was coughing up blood.
If anybody else is having this problem I would love to hear from them. Perhaps this sounds normal to some but I've been out for over eight years now.
Like I said...I'm still very thankful and blessed that I had this surgery and I do not regret it...I can't regret it because I doubt I'd be alive today without it. I was dying the way I was.
Best wishes to all who have had their surgery and those wishing to have surgery.
