Guest guest Posted November 22, 2000 Report Share Posted November 22, 2000 <<<Hi, my name is and I live in Ontario, Canada. I would like to ask if anyone with a similar medical profile to me has been through MGB and what has their experience been?>>> Hi ! I hope I can help. I'm not just an ex-respiratory terrorist... err... therapist, but I am a fragile asthmatic. I would be glad to relate to you my experience with having the MGB and how it has related to my asthma. <<<This is my story. I am 50 years old and 270 lbs. I weighed 130 lbs at age 30 but over the last 20 years I have steadily gained at the rate of 5-10 lbs a year. My weight gain has been usually associated with the use of prednisone for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. Once gained, the weight has been impossible to shift because my exercise induced asthma severely limits my physical activity (walking 20-30 feet leaves me breathless).>>> I know EXACTLY what you mean! First; I would like to note that *recent* prednisone therapy will delay having the MGB. But if you are maintaining well and it has been a while since your last course of prednisone it shouldn't be a problem. Depending on when and the duration of your last treatment with prednisone, Dr. R. may ask that you remain " prednisone free " for " X " number of months prior to surgery. (Prednisone will slow your body's healing ability.) I would gain 10-20 Lbs with each course of prednisone as well. I found that those pounds were very stubborn and did not want to come off. I'd be admitted to the hospital at least once a year for asthma attacks... and even more often as my weight went up. <<<I have had asthma since the age of 2. It is hyper reactive to multiple environmental allergies and respiratory infections (colds etc). My top FEV readings are 33% and I take all the meds available ( theodur, accolate,reactine, ventolin, atrovent,serevvent,flovent and flonase) to manage daily symptoms and function. I also have free gastric reflux which exacerbates matters.>>> I can remember taking nebulizer treatments at home as early as 6 years old. I had the same hypersensitivities as well. My main triggers seem to be smoke particles of any kind and molds. (Wood stoves and molds are everywhere here in the Pacific NW. UGH!!) My pulmonologist is now convinced I had gastric reflux since I used to wake coughing and wheezing. (I don't now after the MGB!!!) As my weight went up I could see all my PFT values go down. YIKES! Talk about a vicious circle! In addition to that I was also diagnosed with significant sleep apnea. <<<I therefore got a referral to a surgeon and have spent the last four months going through medical and nutritionist evaluation appointments in preparation for a conventional gastroplasty. I experienced a big setback however when my lung specialist advised that he could not support the proposed surgery because of the high risk due to my already compromised breathing ability.>>> *nodding* I'm glad you are here. Unfortunately, gastroplasty without bypass has a very high failure rate. Also, with our asthma an " open " procedure severely impares our ability to cough and deep beath effectively.... putting us at risk for postoperative pneumonia and collapse of our alveoli. (The air sacs where oxygenation takes place.) Allow me to tell you that coughing and deep breathing was only minimally uncomfortable for me after the MGB. (Okay, folks if you gross out easy skip to the next paragraph.) I did experience a sputum color change to an icky gray-brown the 2 days after surgery, but it cleared up. I just kept on coughing and deep breathing. The incisional " pain " for me was like I'd done a bunch of situps. No pain meds were needed for me after my 1st day postop. I spoke to the nurse anesthesist regarding my asthma and she made sure I took all my inhalers and got my lungs opened up prior to surgery. My pulmonary doctor also put me on a 5 day course of Azithromax (powerful respiratory anibiotic) prior to going out to Durham just to make sure as well. I used my inhalers for the week following surgery to help encourage my lungs to clear out. But since then I've not needed to take any of them!!! I can't believe it! After the first week postop I've not woke up coughing and wheezing, so if it WAS gastric reflux... it's gone now! I'm still not as active as I would like to be, but I feel like I can walk more every few days. What a victory! If you have any questions I can help with, or for any other reason.... plese feel free to email me at ChoctawGal@... I'm glad to help any way I can. Oh... incidentally... I saw my pulmonologist (also board certified in internal medicine) for my postop appointment on the 17th. I was down 20 Lbs, my BP was almost normal, and my incisions were about completely healed, and my PFT results are starting to get better already. I told him that I was discharged from the hospital the day after surgery and he was blown away!!! (His Dad had an open RNY about 6 months previously.) His words, " Jenn, it appears you have had the superior procedure. " My best wishes for your Journey! Jenn in Vancouver, WA MGB 11-1-00 -20 Lbs gone on the 17th -No more inhalers -no more nocturnal asthma attacks -BP 124/90 FROM 198-114 ________________________________________________________________________________\ _____ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 22, 2000 Report Share Posted November 22, 2000 <<<Hi, my name is and I live in Ontario, Canada. I would like to ask if anyone with a similar medical profile to me has been through MGB and what has their experience been?>>> Hi ! I hope I can help. I'm not just an ex-respiratory terrorist... err... therapist, but I am a fragile asthmatic. I would be glad to relate to you my experience with having the MGB and how it has related to my asthma. <<<This is my story. I am 50 years old and 270 lbs. I weighed 130 lbs at age 30 but over the last 20 years I have steadily gained at the rate of 5-10 lbs a year. My weight gain has been usually associated with the use of prednisone for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. Once gained, the weight has been impossible to shift because my exercise induced asthma severely limits my physical activity (walking 20-30 feet leaves me breathless).>>> I know EXACTLY what you mean! First; I would like to note that *recent* prednisone therapy will delay having the MGB. But if you are maintaining well and it has been a while since your last course of prednisone it shouldn't be a problem. Depending on when and the duration of your last treatment with prednisone, Dr. R. may ask that you remain " prednisone free " for " X " number of months prior to surgery. (Prednisone will slow your body's healing ability.) I would gain 10-20 Lbs with each course of prednisone as well. I found that those pounds were very stubborn and did not want to come off. I'd be admitted to the hospital at least once a year for asthma attacks... and even more often as my weight went up. <<<I have had asthma since the age of 2. It is hyper reactive to multiple environmental allergies and respiratory infections (colds etc). My top FEV readings are 33% and I take all the meds available ( theodur, accolate,reactine, ventolin, atrovent,serevvent,flovent and flonase) to manage daily symptoms and function. I also have free gastric reflux which exacerbates matters.>>> I can remember taking nebulizer treatments at home as early as 6 years old. I had the same hypersensitivities as well. My main triggers seem to be smoke particles of any kind and molds. (Wood stoves and molds are everywhere here in the Pacific NW. UGH!!) My pulmonologist is now convinced I had gastric reflux since I used to wake coughing and wheezing. (I don't now after the MGB!!!) As my weight went up I could see all my PFT values go down. YIKES! Talk about a vicious circle! In addition to that I was also diagnosed with significant sleep apnea. <<<I therefore got a referral to a surgeon and have spent the last four months going through medical and nutritionist evaluation appointments in preparation for a conventional gastroplasty. I experienced a big setback however when my lung specialist advised that he could not support the proposed surgery because of the high risk due to my already compromised breathing ability.>>> *nodding* I'm glad you are here. Unfortunately, gastroplasty without bypass has a very high failure rate. Also, with our asthma an " open " procedure severely impares our ability to cough and deep beath effectively.... putting us at risk for postoperative pneumonia and collapse of our alveoli. (The air sacs where oxygenation takes place.) Allow me to tell you that coughing and deep breathing was only minimally uncomfortable for me after the MGB. (Okay, folks if you gross out easy skip to the next paragraph.) I did experience a sputum color change to an icky gray-brown the 2 days after surgery, but it cleared up. I just kept on coughing and deep breathing. The incisional " pain " for me was like I'd done a bunch of situps. No pain meds were needed for me after my 1st day postop. I spoke to the nurse anesthesist regarding my asthma and she made sure I took all my inhalers and got my lungs opened up prior to surgery. My pulmonary doctor also put me on a 5 day course of Azithromax (powerful respiratory anibiotic) prior to going out to Durham just to make sure as well. I used my inhalers for the week following surgery to help encourage my lungs to clear out. But since then I've not needed to take any of them!!! I can't believe it! After the first week postop I've not woke up coughing and wheezing, so if it WAS gastric reflux... it's gone now! I'm still not as active as I would like to be, but I feel like I can walk more every few days. What a victory! If you have any questions I can help with, or for any other reason.... plese feel free to email me at ChoctawGal@... I'm glad to help any way I can. Oh... incidentally... I saw my pulmonologist (also board certified in internal medicine) for my postop appointment on the 17th. I was down 20 Lbs, my BP was almost normal, and my incisions were about completely healed, and my PFT results are starting to get better already. I told him that I was discharged from the hospital the day after surgery and he was blown away!!! (His Dad had an open RNY about 6 months previously.) His words, " Jenn, it appears you have had the superior procedure. " My best wishes for your Journey! Jenn in Vancouver, WA MGB 11-1-00 -20 Lbs gone on the 17th -No more inhalers -no more nocturnal asthma attacks -BP 124/90 FROM 198-114 ________________________________________________________________________________\ _____ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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