Research Questions

[Guest guest]

1. VBG or RNY? Date of WLS

I had an open RNY on Dec.12,2001...I am 5 feet 2inches...plus a

smidge.. tall..Starting weight was 276 lbs...weight today..170 lbs. Female, age

62.(now)

2. How long did you research before having WLS?

6 months

3. How many doctors did you see before choosing yours?

Two.. I didn't actually see them, more like phone conversations with the

offices..the first one denied me because of my age....I was 60 at the time of

my surgery...his cut off was 58. The second did the lap band and had a wait

of a year...and was waaayyy on the other side of town. I think I ended up with

the " pick of the litter " .

4. What were the deciding factors for you in choosing your WLS?

I knew I couldn't face another attempt at a diet.. I had done damage

to my heart form Phen-fen, tried every diet known to God and man including

having my ears stapled! I knew I would fail yet again...I was always out of

breath,sweating all the time, my knees,back,hip hurt all the time.... " I was sick

and tired of being sick and tired. "

5. Do you feel that you have been successful? (knowing that the medical c

ommunity deels that loosing 50% of excess weight is considered success ful)

Yes and yes...even if I don't make it to goal, my health has improved...I

am truely blessed. I have been fighting my weight for over 45 years.

6. If you could do it over again, would you choose the same WLS? Why or why

not?

I would probably have a lap RNY.

7. Have you had complications directly resulting from the WLS? If so, what

are they?

No complications ..but it is important to take those vitamines and

PROTEIN FIRST...I keep up with lab work too..

8. What co-morbidies did you have before WLS? Do you still have those after

loosing the weight? If so, are they better/worse?

COPD,very high blood pressure,high colesterol,arthritis,lots of back

pain,

I am off the Tricor, my blood pressure is still a little high and I take a

very low dose of medicine. My breathing has improves so much that I rarely use

the inhalers.

I am a much happier,healthy person than I ever thought I could be.

in Tx.

[Guest guest]

> 1. VBG or RNY? Date of WLS

RNY....May 17, 1993

> 2. How long did you research before having WLS?

1year

> 3. How many doctors did you see before choosing yours?

I saw one doctor but looked into several in the area.

> 4. What were the deciding factors for you in choosing your WLS?

I had tried several programs to lose weight. Some, I was able to get down to

a very slim size. The weight would always come back along with more. It was

a visious cycle of yo-yoing weight. When I learned about WLS in detail, it

was pretty scarey to me. I decided to only try to maintain my weight rather

than to lose or gain. During the year of research, I gained 40 pounds. It

was time to do something.

> 5. Do you feel that you have been successful? (knowing that the medical

community deels that loosing 50% of excess weight is considered successful)

I lost half of my body weight. She (my other half) has not come back to

visit.

> 6. If you could do it over again, would you choose the same WLS? Why or

why

> not?

I would not change anything about my choice.

> 7. Have you had complications directly resulting from the WLS? If so,

what

> are they?

No complications. I have had problems keeping my nutrient levels up. This is

my own fault for waiting 9 years to get educated on my own.

> 8. What co-morbidies did you have before WLS? Do you still have those

after

> loosing the weight? If so, are they better/worse?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain in the hips, ankles, back,

knees, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, horrible acid problems, racing

heart, and the common discomforts of being larger than life.

All problems are gone except I still have acid problems. They are not as bad

and are controlled with Nexium.