Re: Big update and surgery information...Tess and newbies

[Guest guest]

Tess: Sorry this reply is so behind. I dont know why I thought you

had given up on the gastric bypass. I am so glad to hear you are

still condidering it as you were so up about it last year...I will

keep my fingers crossed and have your back on any choice you

make.....I will also keep Em in prayer.....hope you are doing OK my

web footed friend....I havent stayed away because I wanted to....I am

still in the process of being morphed into a human pin cushion....the

rhematoid nodule I was told I had in actuality was a trigger

finger,when it went to navel orange size they decide to shoot 10cc of

kenolog, lidocaine into it.....which made me remember why I dont like

orthopedic docs....for about a week, my right hand was not usuable,

could'nt even abuse my husband.....then they decided to use me as a

guinea pig again, and even though my knees arent OA started synvisc

injections in each....so I figure with that and the 3 enbrel injects

a week, drinking any fluid may cause a flood...or as I have said

before will save large sums of money this spring when we set up the

outside fountain we want....I really miss your prose, and hope you

havent stopped amazing us with your talent.......as always my friend

big okie hugs......softly of course.....rather than adding more

posts ...I would also like to say HI to all the newbies, I cant

believe how many there are, I am sorry for the reason they are here,

but happy to see the family growing..... I am at this time an oldie I

guess....Kathi in OK the one with scleroderma... that wont go

away...:>}...anways hey yall.....one more question.....,

a....has anyone heard from Lynn, Susie AKA Elf....I tried

privately emailing Elf and didnt get anything....and I am kinda

worried......OK I know enough already.......Kathi in OK

> Dear RA Support Family...I wanted to kind of " catch you up " on

what's

> going on with me. I know I've been pretty quiet, but you are

always in

> my heart and in my prayers, and I do read the posts everyday to

keep up

> on everyone.

>

> I'm still on Humira and MTX. My RA has gotten some better, slowly,

but

> that's ok. No goofy infections, thank the Lord. The FMS has been

a

> real problem the last couple months - we are having a very screwy

winter

> for our usually mild NW Oregon winter weather, and I do wonder if

that

> is a part of it.

>

> Emmy has kind of been going though a " second " puberty. You know

she has

> some mild learning and emotional issues. This time has been

difficult.

> She hasn't had the depth of problems she had a few years ago, but

they

> are somewhat similar in nature. Prayers would be greatly

appreciated!

>

> There is a possibility that she and I might move to separate homes.

> This isn't at all a bad thing, but we are praying for the Lord's

> guidance. It appears I'll be eligible for Sec. 8, but can stay in

the

> same complex, just moving to a one-bedroom apartment. Something

else to

> keep in prayer!

>

> As some of you know, I have the problem of morbid obesity, and have

been

> working steadily on dealing with that and improving my health. I

have

> had some success, but not nearly what I need to make major positive

> changes in my health status. I have been attending support groups

for

> folks who are thinking of, or have had bariatric surgery (commonly

> called " wls " or " weight loss surgery " ). I also attended an

> informational meeting at our big teaching hospital. I am leaning

more

> and more toward this option, but nothing is " cast in stone. " I have

> also been studying the types of bariatric surgery available, which

one

> might be the best option for me, and all the pros and cons. I also

> belong to several on-line support groups.

>

> My PCP is working on this with me. She is great. I am still food

> journaling, doing all my mild exercising now that my hysterectomy is

> fairly well healed internally. One of the physicians at the

> informational meeting said quite forthrightly that if one is

considering

> bariatric surgery that this is NOT the time to think you can really

> overeat fearing you will never get to eat what you like again. He

said

> now is the time to work the best you can on eating in a very healthy

> manner, exercising the best you can. Doing this lessens the risk of

> death, complications, and other problems post-op. None of this is

> viewed as a diet but, rather, as a new way of life. Being in even

just

> somewhat better health for my hysterectomy has convinced me

thoroughly

> in the validity of this point of view. And the truth is, after the

> 18-24 month window of weight loss after surgery, you can eat most

> anything you ate before, but in smaller portions generally.

>

> I would so much rather not have any surgery. But, the facts are I

am 52

> years old, and have been morbidly obese for 33 years, and overweight

> even before that. I have tried many, many weight loss methods -

some

> horrible and dangerous, some sensible. Even this past year trying

so

> hard I have definitely improved my health, but still have many

> comorbidities and little weight loss. I am 5 ft. 3 inches tall. My

> highest weight was 398. My present weight is between 354 - 358. My

> little body just cannot continue to carry such a load.

>

> I have enclosed here a link to a site that does a good job of

describing

> and showing the surgery we think would be best for me. It is

called the

> Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch and Lateral Subtotal

> Gastrectomy. Yikes, what a mouthful - no pun intended. Most

commonly

> it is called a GRDS, a BPD/DS, or simply a DS. This information is

not

> from our hospital, but one in California that has good information.

>

> This is major, serious, life-changing surgery. There are life-long

> changes I will have to adhere to. For someone as morbidly obese as

I,

> the stats are about 70% - 80% loss of excess body weight, more if

the

> patient pursues a more rigorous exercise routine as they lose

weight.

> There can be serious and unpleasant side-effects. But doing what

your

> physician requires and approaching this as a life-long decision

> decreases those.

>

> I meet with a bariatric nurse practitioner on March 2, I must

bring all

> my medical records from all my physicians for the past 2 years.

Other

> testing and evaluating is also done, then an appointment is

scheduled

> with the bariatric surgeon. The physician I am looking at has been

> doing this specific surgery for 8 years and I have heard many great

> things about him. He has been a GI and Vascular surgeon, as well

as a

> trauma physician for many years.

>

> I am keeping all this in much prayer, and taking steps toward it. I

> pray the Lord will close the doors absolutely if this is not for

me, or

> open the doors widely if it is. I will take all this step by step,

and

> continue to pray.

>

> If you are interested or curious, I would like you to look at the

link.

> If you have any questions or concerns, please do write me either

here or

> privately. Most of all, please pray for me. It truly is the

desire of

> my heart to get as healthy as I can. I am willing to embrace this

> important step if I truly believe it is what the Lord knows is best

for

> me.

>

> I'm trying to take care of myself, and also pace myself with so much

> going on. Sometimes I have to just put it all up on a shelf and

take a

> breather. These are all such important ventures.

>

> Well, now that you've read my version of " War and Peace " I will say

> good-night. I just truly love you all so very much. I pray the

best

> for all of us this year and beyond.

>

> All my love, always....

>

> Tess (((((((((((((RA Family))))))))))))

>

>

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> http://www.gr-ds.com/forpatients/our_treatment.html

>

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