Cheryll

Maybe contacting the scheduling nurse for your surgery could help you as well. Maybe she can try to move some patients around to accommodate your situation and get you in ASAP?? I hope everything goes okay and you can begin your journey on time and as planned. Good luck and please keep us posted.

I'm 17 months post surgery and will be very honest with you - everyone is different. With that being said, my weight loss has progressed pretty well. I have had a few major stumbling blocks that required hospitalization but given the choice I would go through it again. My appetite and tastes have definitely changed for the better but every now and then I have something that isn't necessarily on the "good food" list. The texture of some foods have also changed, like hamburger, but eventually I was able to eat it (I have to admit this was once a favorite food of mine but since the surgery I seldom eat it because it just doesn't sound good - hopefully that will make sense to you after 1/7/15). I have taken steps to make healthier food/beverage choices and now I need to follow up by getting into an exercise program to tone up, looking into yoga and swimming. You didn't specify why you were nervous about the upcoming surgery but would suggest either contacting your bypass doc office to speak with the Nutrition Dept or perhaps the Psychologist who interviewed you to answer your concerns. I was fortunate enough to have a great surgeon and team who have continued to stay in touch with me. I can call them at anytime for any reason; I know they mean that because I've had to do just that. The reintroduction of different foods will take time but you really will only want a little to begin with so don't rush yourself, slow and steady will get your results. I wish you good luck in your journey, what a great way to start a brand new year - remember to treat yourself now and then for the accomplishments and goals you reach along the way, it means a lot. If you need an online buddy just let us know, I'm sure there are plenty of others who will also be willing to step up and encourage you along the way.

I would like to share a little bit of my journey with any of those who might be interested in some input other than "smooth sailing" for gastric bypass. I had RouEnY on 7/8/13 and like most of us was full of excitement, anticipation and anxiety. I read up on the surgery as much as possible and couldn't wait to begin my new journey which was to reach a goal of a healthy weight, to get off as many meds as possible and to enjoy what life has to offer. I went through the surgical procedure without any difficulties and was looking forward to reaching all of the goals I had set for myself. Unfortunately, within 2 weeks following the bypass I started to have a feeling of pressure located in my middle upper abdomen between my breast whenever I ate or drank anything. I contacted my surgeon's office and was told to try Gas-X several times daily to see if that would help, which it did but only for a few days. On 8/22/13 I was admitted to the hospital to have an upper endoscopy. The surgeon found 2 large ulcers - 1 at the connecting area of the new pouch and intestine and another on the pouch itself. He immediately put me on 2 meds (Carafate and Prilosec) and put me back to Stage 2. The meds did not help, I started vomiting and experienced pain/pressure in the same area without any relief. I was admitted to the hospital again on 9/13 - 9/16. The surgeon added a 3rd med, increased the dosages of the original 2 and placed me on TPN for nutrition (4-8 weeks). This was a procedure that I was unaware of but quickly became very educated. They have an IV Therapy team insert a PICC line into the inner side of your upper arm that contains 2 very small lines, 1 for nutrition and 1 for weekly lab work. This is a very sterile procedure and follow-up must be as sterile as possible. I was assigned a home health nurse who came to the house and taught me how to flush the lines with saline and heparin multiple times daily as well as how to change the bag and set/start-up and disconnect the bags nightly. The bags ran on 14-hr cycles and were attached to a small battery for charging. She also drew blood weekly to see monitor my progress so the TPN could be adjusted to my individual needs for nutrition. When she attempted to do the 1st draw she was unable to pull any blood out of the line so I had to go to the ER and have the IV Therapy team do a process of flushing the lines and then adding "protein busters" to prevent clotting and to open the line(s). This procedure worked and I was sent home. What was suppose to last between 4-8 weeks ended after 1-week because the insertion site became infected. I was again admitted to the hospital and the PICC line was immediately removed and IV antibiotics were given to prevent infection into my bloodstream. The next step was to attempt to do a 2nd PICC line on the opposite arm, however, I refused the procedure. After a lengthy discussion with the surgeon it was agreed upon that I would have a week (where I'm at now) to see how I'm doing with eating and drinking. I forgot to mention that the hospital where my surgeon is located is a 2.5 hour trip each way to add to the complications. After all that I have endured over the short period of 3-months this is what I have concluded - If I were given the choice to do it over again......I would be do so in a minute!!! Despite the setbacks and everything that's happened I have already lost 45lbs (half of my goal weight), gone off most of the meds I was previously taking and most of all I am feeling so much better. I cannot be happier with the surgeon I chose and his nutrition team as well as the level of care I received from the hospital staff, they are truly top-rate!! My reason for writing this on here is to let people know just one more out of the ordinary story and to encourage anyone who is currently at the beginning of this process to make sure you get as much information on the "what if" as possible. At this point I'm eating and drinking without vomiting or discomfort and have been permitted to start swimming and beginner's yoga class. Thanks for stopping by to read my journey, I wish you all the best in yours, whatever it may lead.

Congrats to everyone scheduled in July - mine is set for 7/8!! Looking forward to sharing this journey with all of you