Re: Guys?

June 27, 2001

At 6:56 PM +0000 6/27/01, jjamineteoj@... wrote:

>I'm in the early investigational stages of WLS, I think the DS is for

>me. But I'm especially interested in hearing from the men around

>here. The ratio appears to be only about 10-15% men....why is this?

We, as a group, are slow learners. Or, poor communicators.

>

>Are there fewer MO men?

What do you think? You must see people in the street. I don't think so.

>Are they less likely to seek out treatment?

Your guess is as good as mine, but, if there are just as many MO men

as women, I'd guess so.

>I've also heard that LAP procedures are more difficult on men?

Not to my knowledge. I had a lap DS and suffered about as much as a

woman who had hers the next day--same surgeon, same hospital. It is

NOT a piece of cake. But, it is not the worse thing in the world,

either. I'd surely do it all over again.

--Steve

--

Steve Goldstein, age 61

Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001

Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia

Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51

BMI on 06/27 = 44.3 (-38 lb)

June 27, 2001

ph,

Welcome to the group. I am preop but have done quite a bit of

resarch.

The difficulty of the LAP procedure is basically related to the size

of you abdomen. Men tend to gather fat around the upper parts of

their bodies, whereas women tend to be bottom heavy.

Some doctors will work on very large patients (up to 600 lbs for Dr.

Rabkin), and some will limit it to patients of less than 300 lbs.

Regarding the ratio: Most stuides have about 20-25% men in them, so

if your statistic is right than we are less chatty on the web. This

is strange given the male domination in the computer area. I think

it is probably that men are conditioned not to talk about these

things.

Regarding the %MO in the population: I do notice that there seem to

be more MO women than men. I am not sure of the reason (perhaps

childbirth contributes). In addition, thre is more soical pressure

on women to confirm to size expectations, so MO women are more likely

to seek out surgery than us guys.

Can't help you with NY other then to say I have heard horrer stories

about each place. Dr. Ren at NYU is infomous for 1 allegadly botched

surgery, and I have read posts about the Mt. Sinai hospital basically

having no nursing support. Tough decision for those of you on the

east coast. To make matters worse, the Dr. in Maine has stoped doing

DS.

Good Luck with your research,

Hull

> I'm in the early investigational stages of WLS, I think the DS is

for

> me. But I'm especially interested in hearing from the men around

> here. The ratio appears to be only about 10-15% men....why is

this?

> Are there fewer MO men? Are they less likely to seek out

treatment?

> I've also heard that LAP procedures are more difficult on men?

>

> I'm especially interested in hearing from any of the guys who have

> gone to NY, either NYU or Mt. Sinai. I'm tending toward Dr. Ren,

> even though I am familiar with the controversy surrounding her.

But

> I'm open to hearing all of your thoughts, thanks.

>

> ph

June 27, 2001

hi Joe,

I am 12 weeks post op, Dr. Gagner, LAP BPD/DS,

started out at 341, have lost 64 pounds, went

from a size 52 waist to a " loose 46 " . I look 10

year younger (I'm 45) and feel 25.. I went

dancing for 2 hours Saturday night and hardly

broke a sweat! I have energy energy energy, I

follow a sound nutritional regimen, but I'm no

saint. I do read for FAT and SUGAR.

My recovery from surgery went very well, very

little discomfort, no real pain. I walk walk

walk.

My belief is that FAT men are tolerated mroe

easily than FAT women. But my big reason for

surgery was to avoid the health issues I thought

were before me....I had no co-morbidities. I can

tell you quality fo life has IMPROVED

immeasurably. I was no wall flower at 341 pounds,

but now!

I can wear a seatbelt in the airplain without an

extension, I can wear a seatbelt in the backseat

of a car. People sit next to me on the subway or

between me and nother person. I don't feel as if

I should be floating down Broadway in the Macy's

Thanksgiving Day parade.

I know my health is vastly improved, I am looking

forward to my physical in July and 3 month follow

up. My pysche is vastly improved and I feel the

world is open to me.

LennyB

Mt Sinai with Dr Gagner & fellows

Lap BPD/DS Apr 2, -64 pounds

__________________________________________________

June 27, 2001

Note: forwarded message attached.

That is soooo cool I can't wait keep on dancen

that is great.

Kathy O

__________________________________________________

June 28, 2001

Hey Lenny! What an uplifting report! It is so good to hear that you are doing so well and feeling so great! Keep it up!!! One day I'll shout a report of good news as yours! :-) a BMI 36 Pre-op Re: Guys? hi Joe,I am 12 weeks post op, Dr. Gagner, LAP BPD/DS,started out at 341, have lost 64 pounds, wentfrom a size 52 waist to a "loose 46". I look 10year younger (I'm 45) and feel 25.. I wentdancing for 2 hours Saturday night and hardlybroke a sweat! I have energy energy energy, Ifollow a sound nutritional regimen, but I'm nosaint. I do read for FAT and SUGAR.My recovery from surgery went very well, verylittle discomfort, no real pain. I walk walkwalk.My belief is that FAT men are tolerated mroeeasily than FAT women. But my big reason forsurgery was to avoid the health issues I thoughtwere before me....I had no co-morbidities. I cantell you quality fo life has IMPROVEDimmeasurably. I was no wall flower at 341 pounds,but now!I can wear a seatbelt in the airplain without anextension, I can wear a seatbelt in the backseatof a car. People sit next to me on the subway orbetween me and nother person. I don't feel as ifI should be floating down Broadway in the Macy'sThanksgiving Day parade.I know my health is vastly improved, I am lookingforward to my physical in July and 3 month followup. My pysche is vastly improved and I feel theworld is open to me.LennyBMt Sinai with Dr Gagner & fellowsLap BPD/DS Apr 2, -64 pounds__________________________________________________

June 28, 2001

ph:

I don't get the impression that there are necessarily more morbidly

obese women than men. Perhaps there are and perhaps women are more

willing to take care of themselves than we tend to be. I was

concerned with me and my wife, not a body count.

I also have not heard that LAP proceedures are any more difficult on

men than women. But I had lap and had severe complications and if I

had it to do over again would NOT have lap. But all the reasons are

for another discussion. Don't do it to save 2 or 3 days of recovery

time. That's a VERY small price to pay considering that it is a

change that will last the rest of your life.

I agree with a post that I believe Steve wrote that the niceness of

an office or even a hospital shouldn't be a deterrent to going to a

fine surgeon but I think I would make an exception with Mt. Sinai.

Things are so bad there that it seems that all we hear are horror

stories. I think I'd personally be willing to go to Dr. Ren but not

to Mt. Sinai. I wish you all the best in your choice and I agree

that the DS is the platinum standard.

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 230

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

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