Ken F

I received a good number of replies to my original post, some on the forum and some in email. To all who reached out, thank you, very sincerely. Your experiences and advice are all helping me weather the internal storm that's raging just now. I start the pre-op diet on Wednesday and that of course also begins the 14 day countdown to Der Tag. ♪Accentuate the positive!♫ -Ken

I'm nearly 58, 5' 9", and 345. I've been diabetic since Feb 1975 with multiple complications over the years. I've been overweight as far back as I can recall. I remember my 6th grade gym teacher bellowing out my weight (169) during some kind of 'assessment' we did back then. To this day, given the chance, I'd shoot the insensitive SOB. My body is sending the signals that it's just not going to tolerate much more of the abuse. Pain, pain, pain, and very limited mobility. Getting off the couch takes 3-4 'rocks' to gather momentum. Going up the 7 steps from my apartment to ground level is all I can manage and I often have to stop at the top to catch my breath. I'm a pilot and have my own plane and can barely, barely get out of it. It's a two-seater and I absolutely can never, ever take anyone along because I'm TWO people already. Many other planes that I'd like to fly in along with friends I can't get into at all. Others simply don't have the 'oomph' to lift someone my size at all! There's more, but you get the idea. My ex-wife and daughter both had the RNY procedure with great success. My daughter is maintaining a 180 pound weight loss after seven years. So I wasn't even interested in considering sleeve or band. Also, my endocrinologist tells me the surgery is often a virtual cure for diabetes. (When I told her I was going to do this, she nearly did handstands around the office! I haven't been an easy patient.) So that's why. What I don't understand myself is Why Now? I'd be a liar if I didn't admit that fear is starting to creep into my head. Can I do the pre-op? Can I handle the pain post-op? What if they can't do the laparoscopic procedure and I wake up with the 'saw the lady in half' version? Can I get back to work on the date I've committed to? Will they fire me if I don't/can't? Can I afford not to (I'm a contractor and only get paid when I work)? Will I wind up looking like a reject from a bad horror flick, or just a basset hound? I need that Little Voice to SHUT UP! -K

RNY scheduled for Jan 14 so I'm still up there. My waist is 54 now. Funny thing is, I've been overweight as far back in my life as I can remember so I don't really know what an 'ideal' waist size should be for me! I'm 5' 9" and my inseam is 30". Isn't there some rule involving the Golden Mean?

Fearful about: Post-op pain Being able to return to work quickly enough (I've arranged for 1 week off. I'm a contractor and if I don't work, I don't get paid.) Being able to eat without drinking Getting through the adjustment period with my diabetes meds without a significant incident CAN I DO THIS? Excited about: Being able to put on shoes and socks without so much pain and struggle, not getting out of breath Going up stairs (short ones) Getting rid of/reducing pain (back, hips, ankles, neuropathy) Not having to pull up my undershorts a thousand times a day Not feeling self-conscious 24x7, particularly in professional situations

I'm due for RNY on Jan 14, so I begin the pre-op diet this Wednesday. I've been diabetic since February 1975, just a few weeks less than 40 years. OMG! Anyway, I take the full boat of Metformin, 1000gm 2x daily, plus a special high potency insulin called Humilin R that is 5x stronger than the other stuff. Three times a day around 30U, so this is a LOT of insulin. I'm male, 5' 9", and currently 345. A bit over two years ago, I lost my thyroid completely to cancer and have been on a thyroid hormone replacement ever since. Has anyone here been through RNY with a match to the above, i.e., severe diabetes and no thyroid at all? If so, I'd appreciate hearing how things went/are going for you with especial interest in any peculiarities you had to deal with. -Ken