Re: misc - long post, lots of questions

[Guest guest]

I have been reading these posts for just under a week now and this list has

been very interesting. I have garnered information concerning how to

approach the diet history, what the difference is between RNY and DS - boy am

I glad I never did get to do the RNY.

Protein:

But - I keep seeing posts about protein. I am getting the impression that

since your stomache doesn't hold as much, and you need protein even more

after this since your body doesn't assimilate as much food, that everyone

needs to supplement protein with shakes, etc.

Leaking:

I also am wondering (scared) of the leaking thing - does that go away? (I

HOPE!)

Also - how did all of you get all the time off work for this?

Dr. Hess:

I have learned the Dr. Hess, the one Dr. in my closest area who does this

sort of invented the procedure and is one of the best. (Good news). How

does one go about making an appt with someone in another city than where you

live, and once you do that appt, does the Dr. give you a list of several

tests that have to be run to show you are a good candidate? What kinds of

tests does the Dr. need done to get the surgery? Does the insurance pay for

all these tests?

I take it, it even takes months to get an initial consult with a Dr. from

posts I have read.

Then, since I would be getting surgery 250-300 miles from home, how does one

survive the trip back home after the surgery? How long in the hospital - and

can one travel when first released from the hospital? How much time off work

till one is ready to resume normal activity? How did you get off work for so

long, wasn't your employer resentful of this? And I have seen posts on

disability insurance - can one get paid if they have this insurance for the

post-op time off work?

Ways to do surgery:

I also have read posts about some Dr.s doing the DS laporascaptly (sp) as

well as open. I would rather have it laporascaptly - does Dr. Hess do it

that way? Is the downtime from this much shorter than from open?

Post-op:

I also see that post-op is an awful time, getting through the surgery.

I see that post-op you have to eat lots of protein and stay away from fatty

foods.

Now - with those changes, even with a normal body, wouldn't you lose weight

anyway? So - why do you all love this so much?

Sorry to have so many questions, but I have decided I WANT THIS surgery and I

want to know as much as I can about it. I am so glad for all that I have

learned so far, that I wouldn't have known. It was the msnbc show on last

Sunday that really got me motivated to follow through on more on this

subject. I have thought about it for years - but also reading your posts has

encouraged me to " go for it " even more, when/if I get insurance.

I think I know which insurance companies seem willing to pay for this and

that the better ones like Blue Cross/Blue Shield are pretty willing, right?

And that I should download and keep as many articles as I can on wls and its

benefits.

I also saw an article on another new surgery that sounds promising, only done

in Chicago. http://www.msnbc.com/local/wmaq/121524.asp " >UIC debuts

weight loss surgery

http://www.msnbc.com/local/wmaq/121524.asp

Thanks, Carole

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/16/2001 5:17:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

MsMystic1@... writes:

<< I also am wondering (scared) of the leaking thing - does that go away? (I

HOPE!) >>

I got lucky, I suppose! I have never had a problem with this. Although my

BM's are somewhat different, I have never had an " accident " .

< >

I told my employers my plans as soon as they started to progress, so they

knew it was coming. When I finally had surgery, I only had 1 1/2 week notice.

I was very fortunate that they were so understanding. I have been off work

for 8 weeks now, and going back next week. I have not had a problem.

<

>

It can take quite a while. When I called my surgeons office in February, I

scheduled for consult on August 27th. I asked to be on the cancellation list

and got in the beginning of March, I had surgery on April 18th. I would

recommend getting on a cancellation list if you can, but I figured even if I

had to wait until August, I had already waited 30 years, what's another 6

months!

<

>

I had surgery over 300 miles (6 hrs) from home. The trip home was a little

rough (we drove). We stopped every hour or two so I could get out and

stretch, go potty, etc. I doubled up on my pain meds and everything was okay.

It was wonderful to finally get home.

<

>

For an open surgery, the stay is generally between 4 and 7 days. I was

released on day 5, and was able to travel that day.

<

>

My employers were/are very supportive of my decision. They have never been

resentful at all. I received almost my whole salary from disability, and what

I didn't get from them I got from short term disablitity through my employer

(Wells Fargo Bank). I really got lucky!

<>

Post op is a rough road. It depends on each person individually. I bounced

back very quickly, and was out running around after 2 weeks. I felt totally

normal after 4 weeks. You must have protein for energy, and your tummy is so

small, when you eat the protein you should be, there isn't even room for

anything extra (fatty foods). Personally, I have never had a problem with

fatty food, just a little looser BM's, however, if I don't eat protein with

each meal, I get lethargic, and lack the energy I need. I love this surgery

because when I eat, I eat less than most people.... Example: 2 oz steak,

instead of a whole one, 1 egg instead of 3 eggs, 1/2 hot dog instead of a 2

or 3, 1/2 sandwich with no crust, instead of 2 sandwiches. I can eat the same

food I've always eaten, but in moderation: AND I GET FULL. I still get the

satisfied feeling I did before surgery. That is why I love what this surgery

has done for me.

<

>

Fire Away! Questions are always welcome. Learning all about surgery is a very

important step on your journey. I researched for 2 years before I made a

decision. I hope you get your surgery with no bumps in the road.

Kim B.

Dr. Anthone

4/18/01 DGB/DS

-56 lbs in 7 1/2 weeks.

Insurance: United Healthcare

[Guest guest]

Carole:

> But - I keep seeing posts about protein. I am getting the

impression that

> since your stomache doesn't hold as much, and you need protein even

more

> after this since your body doesn't assimilate as much food, that

everyone

> needs to supplement protein with shakes, etc.

As to protein, your ideas about non-absorption causing a shortage are

right on. A few people do have to supplement their protein forever

but generally not. First, there is a two or three month healing

period of healing during which you can't eat very much. You do get

over this. Secondly, your stomach will stretch out over the 18 to 24

month " window of opportunity. " So you will be able to eat even more

protein, probably not as much as before, but more. So yes, it does

get better and very few have to rely on suplements for more than a

few months.

> Leaking:

> I also am wondering (scared) of the leaking thing - does that go

away? (I

> HOPE!)

Leaking, again, yes, you get over it, at least most of us have. It

occurred from about 2 months to about 4 months for me and not since.

> I have learned the Dr. Hess, the one Dr. in my closest area who

does this

> sort of invented the procedure and is one of the best. (Good

news). How

> does one go about making an appt with someone in another city than

where you

> live, and once you do that appt, does the Dr. give you a list of

several

> tests that have to be run to show you are a good candidate? What

kinds of

> tests does the Dr. need done to get the surgery? Does the

insurance pay for

> all these tests?

> I take it, it even takes months to get an initial consult with a

Dr. from

> posts I have read.

Every insurance policy and physician works differently but generally

your PCP will decide you need the surgery, either on the basis of

tests or of knowledge of you. He will then refer you to a surgeon.

If you want Dr. Hess that's who he'll refer you to. Then Dr. Hess's

office will deal with getting insurance conpensation for the initial

and continuing consults and any tests they might need that your PCP

hasn't performed. And yes, getting the initial consult can take

months.

> Then, since I would be getting surgery 250-300 miles from home, how

does one

> survive the trip back home after the surgery? How long in the

hospital - and

> can one travel when first released from the hospital? How much

time off work

> till one is ready to resume normal activity? How did you get off

work for so

> long, wasn't your employer resentful of this?

Again, every surgeon is different by my surgeon asked that we stay in

the hospital from 3 to 5 days, that we stay in town for a week after

that and if everything was okay we could go home. A 300 mile drive

is tough but survivable. I've heard that a couple of more weeks is

important before going back to work but others can tell you better

than I. I'm semi-retired and never worked all that hard.

> And I have seen posts on

> disability insurance - can one get paid if they have this insurance

for the

> post-op time off work?

Don't know much about insurance except the adage " PPO-good, HMO-bad. "

> Ways to do surgery:

> I also have read posts about some Dr.s doing the DS laporascaptly

(sp) as

> well as open. I would rather have it laporascaptly - does Dr. Hess

do it

> that way? Is the downtime from this much shorter than from open?

I'm not sure but I believe Dr. Hess only does it open. There are

some good arguments for doing it that way. I'd talk to him about

that during your initial consult.

> Post-op:

> I also see that post-op is an awful time, getting through the

surgery.

> I see that post-op you have to eat lots of protein and stay away

from fatty

> foods.

> Now - with those changes, even with a normal body, wouldn't you

lose weight

> anyway?

I don't know where you got that. Any bypass surgery requires extra

protein as we don't absorb it very well. But with the DS fat is also

poorly absorbed and simply no problem. Except perhaps immediately

post-op while you are actually healing. That you'll have to discuss

with your surgeon. I had a pepperoni pizza the night home from the

hospital. No problem. Except a ring around the porcelain. And

while I've lost thousands of pounds in my life that hasn't been the

problem. Keeping it off has.

> So - why do you all love this so much?

Because of the high percentage of excess weight lost, because of the

low incidence of weight regain, and because of the better quality of

life in that we can eat anything - at least after we've healed from

the surgery. All three points better than the RNY.

> Sorry to have so many questions, but I have decided I WANT THIS

surgery and I

> want to know as much as I can about it. I am so glad for all that

I have

> learned so far, that I wouldn't have known.

No problem. That's what this list is for.

I'm not familiar with a new surgery unless you are speaking of the

adjustable gastric band which was just recently approved in the USA.

It does not have NEARLY the success rate as the DS and weight regain

is FAR easier. It has been done in Europe for a long time now with

mediocre results.

Regards.

Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart

San , Tx., 60 years old

Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker

Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

340 Starting Weight, currently 235

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WLS-12StepRecovery

[Guest guest]

That surgery is not a new surgery, just done lap now. I did not want any bands or silicone in my body.

LEAKING orange oil is not as common as all that. Oil does go right through us so it does create and oil slick in the toilet (ugh! what a thing to talk about before breakfast) but that is the sacrifice I am willing to take to be able to eat anything I want. I am not willing to give up sweets as I would have to do with the RNY. I want a more normal approach to life. This bowel business settles down with time. I have firm stools everyday even with the addition of fat. I only have diarrhea when I have something like ice cream. I have been avoiding it, not because of the diarrhea but because of the cramps associated with it and the gas. I call them elephant farts. I am able to control where and when I express my gas, I have yet to embarrass myself in a public place. I take Devrom to control the odors associated with the bowels and it really works. My stools still smell but nothing compared to before. I carry a small bottle of the fragrance imposters (body spray) and spritz a tiny amount in the air if I am in a public restroom.

I chose this type of surgery over all others because of the high rate of keeping the weight off. I have read of tons of people that have had the RNY just to regain all their weight. I have a friend I went to church with that had the banding and he gained all his weight back too. This surgery is forced portion control and the malabsorption we need to lose all this weight. I never expected to lose down to 170 pounds which is what Dr Ren says I will probably weigh. But I am now beginning to believe that that is really within the realm of possibility. I am already planning ahead to possibly have a tummy tuck and breast reduction in February/March of next year. This surgery has such a low incidence of regain that my hope of the future of being normal is skyhigh. I have no thoughts whatsoever of ever regaining this weight. Maybe that is why we love this surgery so much. There has been some slow losers on the list and some that have had to have a revision but it is few and far between. My surgeon gave me a 75 cm common channel because of my size and the amount of weight I needed to use. I guess you could say this surgery is custom fit for the individual. No cookie cutter surgery as with the RNY.

PROTEIN: Because we malabsorb we must concentrate on protein. It sounds like a hard job to do but it really is not. Small amounts of chicken, fish, etc have large amounts of protein. I have not had a protein shake in a month. I believe that you must supplement for a time but after the swelling goes out of your stomach and you are able to start to eat real foods again that you eat enough protein per day to meet the quota. I eat about 70 grams per day now and my labs are perfect. I take 2 Tums (I like the sugar free orange ones) after each meal and my calcium and PTH levels are perfect. When I took the cal citrate I had horrible gas. If I have hot cereal for breakfast instead of an egg w/cheese I take 2 tablespoons of this horrible protein syrup. Toss it back like medicine and follow-up with a quick gargle of lemonade to remove the taste (hey, it works!).

I planned with my supervisor for the time off in conjunction with the surgeon. I took off on the family medical leave act which allows 12 weeks off per year. The FMLA allows you can not be fired from your job but you might lose the position you held if you are off for too long. I went back to work 18 days after surgery.

I have BCBSM PPO and have not had to pay for a dime. I got permission from my benefit coordinator in the Human Resources dept of the company I work for and that gave me the right to have the surgery out of network.

As for the other questions you have about Dr Hess, someone will cover those.

Good luck to you in your research. I suggest going to Dr Ren's website and checking out the flash drawings of the RNY and the DS and you will see for yourself the difference between the two. She has a pros & cons of the 2 surgeries listed that also draws a real comparison.

Viau http://www.angelfire.com/on/wannabemagic/WLS.html 3/29/01: 3166/16/01: 260 (-56 lbs)Dr Ren, NYUMC http://www.thinforlife.orgTo join the new group for Dr Ren click on the link belowhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYUMC-thinforlife