JR's legal!!

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

My name is Rushton (aka JR). I'm had my surgery at HUP on 7/17/02 and have

been lurking here for several months, but today I can finally post!!! I know

many of you from your posts on the ObesityHelp Q & A. BTW, I'm the one that

posted through C. about turning off the Messenger Service for those pop-up

ads.

I started out at 5'4 " and 440 at the time of my initial consultation (4/25/02)

with Dr. Raper at HUP. Both my primary care physician and my vascular surgeon (I

suffered from severe lymphedema in my left leg) had recommended gastric bypass

because of several co-morbidites (sleep apnea, diabetes type 2, knee pain,

inability to stand for long periods of time or walk more than a short distance

and in January 2002, I was hospitalized for bi-lateral PEs (blood clots in both

lungs). I am now on Coumadin (aka rat poison) for the rest of my life.

At the time of my surgery on 7/17/02, I was 427 pounds. I am now 247 pounds (as

of 7/12) and still shrinking. I had been losing 5-10 pounds a month recently,

but had my first plateau last month where I actually put on a pound. I started

a new job where I had to go into the office instead of working from home as I

had for the last 2 1/2 years, and I think that there is some extra fluid in my

left leg that is accounting for the non-loss of weight. That and my increased

exercise on my exercise bike at home and at the Y that I just joined. I know my

pants are getting bigger - either that, or I'm losing inches *G*...

My wife Geri had her lap RNY at HUP with Dr. on 5/6/03 (she is about 40

pounds down). My sister Sherri had her surgery in Baltimore, MD (Dr.

Vanguri) on 1/27/03 and was down 78 pounds as of 6/20.

I have a Nectar shake every morning to start off the day (Caribbean Cooler

flavor) and occasionally have a Detour, U-Turn or One Way Bar in place of a

meal. HUP's nutritionist discourages excessive use of protein bars, so I try

to be a " good boy " .

My best post-op moments were: 1) Going to Walt Disney World last December for a

week, being able to do all of the walking that involves and being able to fit on

every ride that I wanted to go on and 2) Having to introduce myself to my former

officemate in March of this year (who hadn't seen me since before the operation)

because he didn't recognize me.

I've been lucky so far not to have too much of an overhang as my formerly

64-inch waist has shrunk down to a 46-inch waist - the rashes I had as a pre-op

are almost non-existant now. However, I do have a rather unslightly chest area

(and I can't " roll 'em up " like the ladies *G*), sharpei thighs and batwings -

probably none of which my insurance (Aetna-USHealthcare) will pay to fix. I

haven't started my fight for plastic surgery yet. My health is more important

than my appearance anyhow, and if it's not in the cards for me to get plastic

surgery, then so be it.

JR

open RNY 07/17/02 (2 oz pouch, 75 cm bypassed)

Dr. Raper, HUP

440/427/247/213???