csauer
 |
 |
 |
I am going to India to have the surgery because the wait time in Nova Scotia is 5 years and I can't afford the prices in the States.
I'll have to pay for it myself. BMI now is 45
I need this surgery so bad. I have been overweight as long as I can think, and I gained weight all along. Tried all kinds of diets, weight watchers was the best, but I gained it all back and more.
I feel so fat- I don't even fit in movie theatre seats no more or armchairs in restaurants or elsewhere. Of course, airplane seats are the worst. I have a very bad back and I can't work because of it - my doctors say the back will be much better when I lose weight.
I decided on RNY surgery rather than lapband because I absolutely love sweets and I know if I could I would cheat.
March 1st,2006
only 17 more days until surgery. I am excited. I am actually looking forward to starting my losing journey. I am not looking forward to the long flight, though-we'll see how it goes. My hubbie is coming with me to help, that is very good.
April 11
We are back from Hyderabad in India and had a very good experience. They treated us like royalty. Everybody was sooo friendly. We arrived on a Wednesday at 2 a.m. On Wednesday and Thursday they did the tests (bloodwork, ekg, xray, ultrasound, gastroscopy, echokardiogram, stress test, lung function, leg vein ultrasound (to rule out thrombosis from the long flight) and I saw my surgeon, a very nice and competent man that I trusted from the start, the anesthetist, the endocrinologist and a psychiatrist, the dietician, physiotherapist, social worker, pastor, general manager of the hospital, they all came and talked to us.
Friday was the surgery and everything went well. They put me 1 day on intensive care and I was vomiting and had diarrhea. On Monday they did the leak test and everything was o.k. Then I started drinking a little, and then more, and didn't throw up anymore. They gave me probiotics for the diarrhea after the antibiotics were off and that worked, too. After a week they let us go to a hotel, where we spent another week before flying home.
I can recommend this hospital (Apollo-Hospital Hyderabad) to everyone who has to self pay. (We paid USD 8200 for everything in the hospital, and we had a luxury room where my husband could sleep, too, air-conditioning, water-dispenser). So now I am on the losing side! If I have questions, I can email the doctor or dietician, and I got a big report for my family doctor here.
June 19
3 months out- I have lost 45 lbs so far -and that without much exercise because of my bad back. I know other have lost more, but I am content, the weight comes off, that is all that counts. I have sometimes trouble to get water in, in spite of water sensations and crystal light, and then I get very dizzy. But otherwise I am doing real well. I must have had an ulcer, I had pain in my stomach and lots of nausea and vomiting. My PCP gave me Nexium, and since then it is all good again, so thanks for that!
August 17
5 months out, and 70 lbs off. I am very happy. I finally fit in all armchairs again and I even fit in a size 22 jeans!And it shows!
September 17
6 mo out, and 79 lbs off. I hit a plateau not long ago, it lasted for about 2-3 weeks. But now it is coming off again, but slower than before. But the size 22 jeans now fits me comfortably, haha. I am very glad I had this surgery and, except for dizziness when I get up, I feel great.My first set of labs came back pretty good, too.
November 30
81/2 mo out, and I've lost 100 lbs! I'll celebrate with all new clothes for Christmas.I have been bad and had a little bit of chocolate every day since a month ago, and it doesn't seem to hurt me. I probably would weigh less if I didn't do it, but I want to live, too, and I won't be able to keep this up the rest of my life if I am on a strict diet. I really only eat a tiny piece, though, not more. I am losing weight more slowly now and I like that better than the fast loss, because I am not so dizzy all the time any more. I am cold all the time, though, but everybody is, I think. May 19, 2007 I am down to 180.5 lbs (131.5 lbs) and I am very happy with this weight loss. I am still losing, but very slowly. My goal is 170 lbs, so we'll see if I get there, but if I just stay where I am I will be content. My husband had the lap-band done in Montreal two weeks ago and is doing good.
September 9, 2007
I am still losing some weight. I am down to 167 lbs and have reached my goal of 165-170 lbs. My husband has lost 40 lbs so far, it is going quite well, too. This summer is the first summer where I was slim and had a good feeling just in a jeans and T-shirt, although I still do not have the confidence to tuck the t-shirt into my jeans, maybe next year (haha). Now I want to keep it off. I am taking my protein supplements and vitamins and calcium religiously, and so far my blood tests all came back good. I am still having some chocolate or other sweets every day and enjoy it immensely.I am now able to control the portion size, though. I am having now two small squares of chocolate and the rest goes back into the cupboard, whereas before I would have eaten the whole bar.
April 26, 2008
I am now stable at between 160-165 lbs and exceeded my goal. I lost about 150 lbs in total and I am at goal. and happy. Now I have to keep it off and I struggle sometimes with eating inbetween. I eat too often and still like sweets and find it harder now than begfore to control the portion size. Maybe I have to quit eating them altogether. I don't know yet. But if I start gaining weight because of it, I will. Mike has lost 50 lbs so far and is not losing anymore, we are going for a fill in may.
September 24, 2008
I gained about 5 pounds since I posted last time - weigh around 167 lbs. I sometimes graze inbetween meals and I think this is what did it. I try to keep busy a lot to prevent it, but there seems to be always time for a snack- well, I try to keep it to cucumber, carrot or pepper or something like that now. I definitely don't want to gain any more weight. Actually, I am trying to get back to my 165. We will see. Otherwise I am doing good, taking my vitamins, calcium and protein. I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, but I don't think it is already from the surgery - that would be too soon, I think. I have to take pills for that, too.
Mike lost around 80 lbs so far and is looking hot! He feels good, but sometimes he still doesn't cut his meat small enough or doesn't chew well enough or eats something that doesn't agree with him and throws up. Well, it is still a learning experience. He only has one small fill and that seems to be enough. We still go to Montreal for his fills, because the Dr. there is very good and puts him through an xray every time to see if he needs a fill and if yes, how much. Mike had stretched his oesophagus and was on liquid/pureed foods for 3 months this summer. He would have never known that if it were not for the xray.
March17, 2009
today is my 3year anniversary! And I am still at goal. I weigh between 160 and 165 lbs and i am very happy. The surgery is still a great tool and prevents me from eating big meals and I have stopped grazing so much again. I look good and have soo much more energy than I had before the surgery. And I am much happier overall. And my back is better and my pre-diabetes is gone, and my blood lipids are perfect now.
Mike has lost 90 lbs with his band by now and is at goal, too. He really looks good. The band works well for him, but I know, that I couldn't do it because I would have Macdonalds milkshakes and ice cream..., he is not that of a sweets person. And the gastric bypass keeps me in check, which I appreciate. Mike is 2 years out now and his diabetes and high blood pressure and cholesterol is much better or good now, too. So it definitely has been worth while it for the both of us.
Each of us would do it over again in a heartbeat.
August 10, 2009.
Mike and I are both doing good, continue to be at goal. Mike is still going back to Montreal for follow-up for his band, he likes the Dr. and that he uses x-ray control every time, so he could catch on that he had dilated his pouch again and needed to restrict his portions more.He is training a Dr. that wants to do lap-bands in Halifax, so if that happens, it would be great news and we might switch if Mike likes the new Dr. It would certainly be much easier to go here, and for a lot of bandsters in NS it would be great, too. I'll post if I know more.
May 15, 2010
I am still at goal and very happy I had the surgery, although I don't eat as healthy as I would like to. Mike gained a few pounds back but he still has kept most of his weight off. He still has problems with the band (throwing up, reflux), but he can manage it. Seems there is no Dr. in Halifax after all doing it so far.
March 22, 2011
It's been 5 years since my surgery and I basically kept the weight off. I went from 312 pounds to 162 and now I've crept up to 173. Mike had to have his band removed last year and has gained around 70 lbs back so far. We are thinking about gastric bypass for him, too, now, especially since he has diabetes, too.
I am doing pretty gopod, had a lot of heartburn lately and will have a upper GI x-ray soon. Will see what happens.
I am still very happy to have had the surgery. No regrets!
August 29, 2012
6.5 years out and I've crept up to 185 lbs... Eating too much and too often.
Mike is having gastric bypass with Dr. Garcia in Tijuana, mexico, on Sept. 7 and I am using this opportunity to go on the diet with him for a while to resize my portions and eating habits.
He weighs 260 lbs right now. We chose the RNY over the sleeve because of the diabetes and the recent studies that showed better results with bypassing the duodenum.
We'll see.
i will keep you posted.
March 18, 2013
7 years out, and still very happy to have it done. I kept my weight at 185 lbs in spite of medication that makes you gain weight, so i am happy.
Mike had his bypass and is doing very well, too. He weighs around 200 lbs and his diabetes is gone and blood pressure is normal. His knees are much better now, too. Thanks to my knowledge of everything, it was smooth sailing postop. No complications. Dr. Garcia and his team was great.We stayed in San diego for 2 weeks after and had a litlle vacation, too.He is also very happy to have it done.
We are both religious about taking our supplements and having no nutritional deficiencies so far.
Feb. 9, 2014
New update - both myself andmy husband are doing good, we weigh about the same , around 200 lbs, so I gained another 15 lbs back. I am trying now to reduce it down to 185. I can eat sweets now pretty much as many as I like, thats my downfall.
But we are both very happy to have had it done!!
March 18, 2015
My weight climbed to 212 last year, and I switched to a low carb diet after that. now down to 195, wanting to get to 185. I still cannot eat large portions, but I tend to graze. I am not eating anymore chocolate, only 70% cocoa or more. I am taking medications that increase my appetite, so I am very happy with my success.
Mike is doing great, sometimes eating not enough. His weight is now 190, and I dont want him to lose any more. He looks gorgeous.
We both are taking our supplements religiously and feeling very well.
We both are still very happy to have had gastric bypass surgery and would do it again in a heartbeat.
September 6th, 2016
My weight crept up again to 206. Switched back to healthy eating. Low-carb, high fat and protein. Lots of healthy veggies. Keeping track of nutrients with Dr. Mercola's cron-o-meter app. Great app!
Now weight is down to 195 again. I feel better than ever, lots of energy all day. Im very active. But I still take supplements religiously.I know that is a lifelong commitment.
I opened a health coaching business which is starting to take form.
Love, love my life as a long-term post-op RNY!
Update: 2022-December
Still glad I had Gastric Bypass. feeling better than ever. I am taking my targeted supplement regimen every day and stay healthy. I am able to work. During the pandemic, I put on about 20 lbs, taking them off now. No issues anymore.
I've learned to live with food, love eating, cooking, love moving and overcame my emotional eating isses.
Now I actually help others . Great life.
If you have any questions about long-term healthy life after WLS, you can reach out to me at [email protected]
Hospital Reviews
