Re: Re: mom had a stroke/The devil Morbid Obesity

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/4/01 10:28:08 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< Kidney failure is often a

problem as well. My brother is also a victum of Syndrome X, though he

is only obese (not morbidly). It seem to happen to most people in

their 50's. It would have been yours and my future for sure. I hope

that your smooth recovery will be an inspiration for your family to

open their minds regarding WLS. Would anybody stigmitize open heart

surgery for a heart-attack vitcum? >>

Chris: I feel like I got a totally new lease on life by seeing my mom

suffer.. it really hurts, though because I wish she never had to go through

it, either. Thank God her kidneys are functioning well (for now) and this

was a major concern after the stroke....

My mom is amazed at my smooth recovery but she still thinks that she'll

encounter all kinds of problems because her situation is quite different from

mine (older, higher bmi, previous surgeries/adhesions, more co-morbidities,

etc.). I realize this and I wouldn't expect her to be as 'chipper' after the

surgery and during immediate recovery (hell, I was on a three week post-op

high! LOL)... but I think it's a risk worth taking, especially with all

these health problems she is facing now.

I know she's also afraid of 'baggy skin' and wouldn't want future

reconstructive surgeries for that.. but one step at a time! How could she

possibly prefer this weight to that? She has suffered since middle age

with this and it's gotten so bad in her 50's....

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 198 lbs/size sweet 16

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/4/01 10:28:08 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< - My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom. Maybe this

will

be a wakeup call for her to lose the weight. I am sure you will be an

inspiration for her. Ellen(Pam

>>

Ellen)Pam and all others who responded with such comfort: Thank you! I hope

this IS the wake up call she needs to see that staying this way (morbidly

obese) is just NOT going to work anymore!!!

Part of the problem is that she loathes coming to NYC (I told her that I

would be with her in recovery every step of the way and Gagner is TOP in the

field -- even the world). she HATES NYC, though. She wouldn't necessarily

want to travel to CA where she doesn't know anyone, either... There's always

Dr. Hess... since she'll be moving to Iowa and the majority of her family are

still there... This is somethink I might recommend. I think she'd *prefer*

lap but that may not be able to happen if there is extensive scarring from

the previous gallbladder surgery, sooo....

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu (but sad for my mom)

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 198 lbs/size sweet 16

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/5/01 5:12:41 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< When my 55 year old mother told Dr. Gagner about her two, previous,

OPEN abdominal surgeries (that must have resulted in plenty of

adhesions, since, in the olden days, they used huge shards of glass

to make incisions), he said that they would not present a problem.

OTHER surgeons wouldn't even attempt " to do her " laparoscopically,

but for the master it's no problem. Maybe your mama would be the

same way?

>>

Thanks for the info, : I had a wonderful suspicion that Dr. G would

be able to do my mama lap and not have extreme difficulties... I personally

think he's the best in the land (neah - the world) in terms of laparoscopic

BPD/DS....:) I told her this -- and that she should go with Dr. G but

she's still very hesitant about returning to NYC (she HATES it here... no,

hate is not a strong enough word) and I think she is extremely apprehensive

about me being her nurse, quite frankly! LOL

I would do what it takes to make sure she has the smoothest recovery possible

and be with her EVERY STEP of the way... I told her she has to go with Dr. G

and he's the best chance she has...

Maybe your mom could get in touch with mine after her surgery's done and they

could POW WOW????

all the best and thanks,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 198/bmi 28 (yahoo!!!)/size sweet 16 but squeezin' into a 14, man! ROFL

[Guest guest]

Dear :

When she can please have your Mom e-mail me or call I would love to talk to

her. I was only 51 when I had surgery and my BMI was 51.21 and I know I was

headed for big time trouble because just in the last 6 months I have found

out I had 2 silent heart attacks before my surgery and I would more than

likely not be here if I had not had the DS done.

I have lost 224 pounds give or take a couple of pounds and have gone from

wearing a big and tall men's 56 jeans to a 14 ladies although I wear mostly

men's 32 or 33/34 because mostly it is hard to find pants that are long

enough, I am now wearing an 8/10 pull over shirt or a medium button blouse

and I still find it funny/annoying? that a 14/16 is listed as a large!

Goddess help our children and how they perceive their body image.

Anyway after losing two 112 pound people I had been carrying around you

better believe I have saggy skin and I would clean, scrub floors and iron and

yes even do windows if I could have the monies to get my face done but you

know what...my sweet husband doesn't see any of it I am the woman he loves

and that is it there is no room for anything else even though he is 20

something years younger than I.

Tell your Mom I said that I had the tummy tuck done and my breast reduced

because I really felt I needed to do that and the insurance covered it along

with the hernia repair but when I put on those 12/14 jeans and small shirts,

when I look in the mirror and see that western cut straight skirt, (bought

one in each color they had! LOL) sage green, brown, black and a dusty purple

in a faux suede materiel anyway that skirt with a soft sweater or soft clingy

pull over a pair of knee high boots and yes they now fit my calves and I know

that I will never regret having this surgery and what baggy skin I have I can

live with.

I bought a beautifully elegant dress for a surprise when my hubby came

home, he still hasn't seen it I am saving it for the big Christmas party at

the base but it a soft flowing black material floor length, long sleeved and

sits just off the shoulders and is trimmed the whole neckline with faux mink.

I was drawn to it by it's simple elegance and of course the stranger that

whistled at me when I came out of the dressing room didn't hurt! LOL He

whistled and said you have to buy that dress! So I did and I am hoping that

my DH feels the same way.

So once again I am wondering all over the place and getting back to what I

wanted to say was tell your Mom she is not to old and her life probably

depends on it and please let me know when she is up to e-mailing or even

calls.

I will be away from Dec. 15th to around Jan. 10th but other than that I am

usually at home.

Please let her know I am thinking of her and sending warm thoughts.

Huggles,

Tiger Lake

Female

160 lbs. BMI 21.7

224lbs gone

165 1/2 inches gone

6' -- 53yrs young

Dr. Anthone@USC So. Calif.

Open DS

Surgery 1/13/99 384lbs BMI 51.21

Last Visit 4/20/99 315.5 BMI 42.07

7/19/99 274.8 BMI 36.64

9/03/99 259.3 BMI 34.54

10/04/99 252.4 BMI 34.02

10/25/99 231 BMI 32

12/17/99 217.5 BMI 30.2

01/19/00 211 BMI 28

02/20/00 195 BMI 26

04/08/00 182.9 BMI 25

Hernia repair on 06/07/00 Dr. Anthone

Tummy Tuck & Breast Reduction Dr. Downey

06/07/00 160 BMI 21.7

01/08/01 164.3 BMI 21.7

Total Weight Loss! 224.1lbs GONE!

Total inches lost 154.5

http://www.duodenalswitch.com (our groups very own web site)