Re: I cancelled again= need advice

[Guest guest]

Maril,

I am not sure I understand your concerns completely. I just want to share

that I was 39 when I had the DS. I am 5'4 " and weighted 324 pounds. I had a

previous stomach stapling (20 years previously), have also had an open

cholecystectomy (about 22 years ago...back before they did them

laparoscopically), have had three c-sections (one an emergency with a

transverse incision), and had a hysterectomy with hernia repair one year

prior to the DS. My surgeon (Dr. Anthone) was honest with me. There was a

10% chance he would not be able to transect my stomach in the normal DS

fashion because of scar tissue. If he had to do a horizontal stomach

transection, I would have been left with dumping. NOT a nice thought. That

was a risk I was willing to take, although i wanted the DS more than words

can say, because, honestly, I felt I had no future without WLS, and there was

a 90% chance I could get the surgery I really wanted.

Luckily he was able to give me the DS, stomach and all. My surgery took

longer than most, as he had to resect scar tissue from the previous surgery.

He also repaired the hernia (again), as the previous repair didn't even last

out the year. (And yes, it's back...that'll be my ticket to a tummy tuck in

about a year).

Have you considered getting a second opinion from another DS surgeon? If you

are still feeling torn between wanting the surgery but not being comfortable

with the risks, that might be advisable.

All in all, however, you need to do what feels right to you. I am a big

believer in following your gut instincts.

My almost-ex-husband has a consultation with Dr. A in February, but when I

spoke to him last night, he was still unsure if he was going to have surgery.

In my mind, and I told him this, you need to know it is the right thing to

do, the risks have to be worth it to you, in order to undertake such a major

surgery.

I know that when the time came for me to consider surgery, I knew it was the

right decision for me. I am a single parent, and would never want to leave

my children parentless, and that was of great concern to me. But my weight

put me at such risk, health wise, I had type 2 diabetes which was affecting

my kidneys, back pain, mobility problems, and was becoming more and more

disabled by my weight (I do work, and do care for my home and family, but

there is an amazing number of places I just couldn't fit and things I didn't

have the stamina or strength to do), that it wasn't an issue of have surgery

and lose weight or have a wonderful life without it and just accept the

weight. It was have surgery and get a life, or not have surgery and leave my

kids through a premature death...at some undisclosed point in the not so

distant future. I really don't think I could have lasted another 5 years.

When life is passing you by, the choice is clear. If you are not to that

point, perhaps it is less clear. When it is right for you, you will know it.

Trust yourself.

Dawna

[Guest guest]

Maril,

Im 57 and had multiple abdominal surgeries in the past and still had the

DS.....no problem! Im also menopausal (surgical) and do not take any

hormone replacment therapies....I started at 245 and am now 159 and only 10

more lbs to go. Im also in size 12!!

Judie

[Guest guest]

I am glad that you went with your gut instinct. If you feel in your heart

that it wasn't right and not meant to be, you did the best thing you could

do for you. It is a major decision, and nobody should proceed with a life

altering decision if they are not comfortable. I wish you the best and hope

that Dr. K. or someone might come up with another option for you.

Take good care -

Kris

I cancelled again= need advice

| Well I let my second chance go by again. Dr. was so

| good to give me that chance. I was at peace, but it

| left at one in the morning before surgery. What I

| have learned is this. I completely believe that there

| is a safer way to deal with a revision, that my risk

| at this wt and age, and the stapling together of the

| pieces of my stomach, plus all the other suture lines,

| is too high of a risk. My age, prior surgeries, my

| wt, all equals and unwise decision. I believe that

| God wants me to do what HE wants, not what I want, and

| I wanted this surgery more than anything. What I

| believe HE wants is my safety, that I will have that

| complete Peace about it. A virgin belly is different

| to do, and the risks are lower. A revision is a

| different animal. I am challenging Dr. K, because I

| consider him " my bariatric surgeon " , to come up with a

| less risky procedure for people like me. If anyone

| knows of one, let me know. If my variables were

| different, I was younger, weighted less(i'm 280),

| hadn't had a prior vbg and chole, I believe I would

| go through with the faith that I did the vbg at 37 yrs

| old. But now, I'm through the change of life,

| although I take hormones, I don't have that working

| for me. more risks, and he has spelled them out time

| and time again. But there has to be help for me

| somewhere and not a rny either. I'm cross posting

| this to the duodenal group as well as DRK>. I believe

| he is an excellent surgeon, and is no reflection on

| him. I wonder if any other Dr.s have faced this? any

| ideas appreciated. thanks maril

|

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