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RNYTalk Newsletter By Hey, RNYTalk.com members!! Summer’s over and we’re into the beautiful days of early autumn. No matter where you live, we hope you’re getting a chance to get out and enjoy the weather! Any activity you do counts toward your weight loss, health and pleasure, so make an effort to get outside and get moving. Don’t forget to take your RNYTalk.com app with you so you can read the newsletter and keep up with the boards! Here’s what you’ll find in October’s newsletter. Member Spotlight: Meet Stacey dayonne! Bypass Challenge: Lend a Hand! Having a Healthy Autumn: A Few Tips for Parents – and Other Busy RNYTalk.com Members! Weight Loss Surgery: Not the Easy Way Out! Can’t wait to get started? Neither can we! Enjoy the newsletter and please feel free to let us know what you think! Thanks for your support. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder dinner for your spouse even when it’s not your turn. This challenge does more than make someone else’s life easier. It makes you value yourself more when you see how powerful you can be just by being kind to others. Don’t forget to let us know how you helped someone! What did you do? How did it make you feel? Let us know how it goes in the food, fitness and more! It’s never too late to try something new and exciting! Make It a Healthy Autumn: A Few Tips for Parents – and Other Busy RNYTalk.com Members! Okay, we know that the autumn is a busy time of year. If you’re a parent, your children are back in school and their activities are in full swing. You may be juggling work with your chauffeuring, catering and cleaning business – aka, taking care of your family! Most of us are pretty busy even if we’re not parents. It’s easy to use not having enough time as an excuse for getting off track with your weight loss. You might eat foods that you know you shouldn’t because you feel you just can’t squeeze in the time to prepare a healthy snack. We’ve all done it. You rush out the door in the morning and are busy all day. Some of these happen along the way. You are starving by lunchtime and grab a few truffles that give you severe dumping syndrome. You go by the vending machine for a soft drink that’ll make you feel sick within minutes. You realize at the end of the day that you haven’t stopped to drink for hours, and you have a headache and your stomach hurts. You know you should be eating lean Protein, but the closest thing you can find is pepperoni from the company’s pepperoni pizza – so to be polite, you eat the entire slice and it causes an obstruction. You start to depend on Protein shakes because those are the closest thing to a healthy meal that you can find at the company cafeteria. You don’t have to let a hectic schedule get in the way of your health! What can you do about it? Here are a few tips to make the most out of every day Prepare some of your meals and Snacks at the beginning of the week. Wash your fruits and vegetables so they’re easy to prepare when you need them. Cook some your Proteins - chicken breast, fish, seafood, lean beef and/or veggie burgers – and freeze them in single-serving baggies or containers. Cook up bigger batches, put them in single-serving containers and freeze them so you can defrost them when you’re ready to eat them. This is a great option for healthy side dishes, such as whole wheat Pasta, carrots or Beans. (You don’t have to make too much, since your single portions post-surgery are pretty small). Place snacks in single-serving bags if you buy a multi-serving package Plan your Breakfast the night before so you don’t have to think about it in the morning. Take the time to make a grocery list. It’ll save you time in the end. Using a list will keep you from forgetting foods and needing to go back to the store during the week. You’ll be faster in the store because you won’t get distracted. Sticking to a list will keep you from buying foods you shouldn’t. Buy ingredients for breakfast Buy snack foods Make sure you drink enough. Stash Water bottles in your car and at work and keep them filled. It’ll encourage you to drink throughout the day and you won’t have to take the time to run to the kitchen each time you need to drink. Stick a pitcher of water in the fridge so you see it several times a day. Keep healthy snacks at work so you never find yourself starving with nothing healthy to eat. Beef Jerky and canned tuna, chicken, beans, vegetables keep for months. Frozen foods to consider keeping around include grilled chicken and fish, veggie burgers and vegetables. Yogurt, low-fat cheese, cottage cheese and deli meats are high-protein snacks to keep in the fridge for a week or more. The more you plan, the better off you’ll be. You’ll save time and be more likely to eat well. And remember – you’re worth it! We suggest picking one or two strategies and working on them until you master them, then moving on to a new tip. Let us know how helpful the tips are! That’s a lot to chew on for this newsletter, so we’re going to end it here. There’s no end to the news, tips and conversations over at RNYTalk.com, so come on over via your computer, smartphone or Kindle! You can always check out the old newsletters, too, in the Newsletter Forum. Thanks for coming along in this newsletter and for being part of our fantastic community! We couldn’t do it without you. Have a great month and take care of yourself and each other, Alex. ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Surgery was successful. Surgeon said my stomach had a lot of trauma from th band and they had to remove some of my stomach. But he was able to do the bypass. I'm in some pain now but not tremendous. Lisa :-)

All the responses to this forum are very interesting. But I do have a question. What was the purpose of having the lap band? Mine was to save my life, and it has prolonged it. Now though, after three years, never having any problems with it that I knew of until two weeks ago. I have no signs, no symptoms to this day, absolutely nothing, since I came out of surgery when they put it in. But the doc says it has to come out after doing an endoscopy. Now my life is depending on getting all my weight off and maintaining until I die. For some, who can go on without anything, I admire you. I'm not that fortunate. Three years ago when this band was put in, the cardiologist basically said I had about five years without it. Now they actually don't know as my health has improved so much. So there seems to be life threatening complications or just complications with all these surgeries, but we all elected to have it done for some reason. So my band has failed, life happens. But my main concern is why I had it in the first place. I wanted to live a little longer than five years and I still want that. So next will be bypass, maybe it won't develop any complication for four years, but that is four more years I get to live what is now a fairly normal life without the health issues I had four years ago, My opinion is that we have to do what is best for us not putting down one surgery or the other. None guaranteed that there won't be complication. We are the ones who have to elect what complications would we be able to live with it one develops. Just my thoughts.

hi i am just starting....had the first visit with my doctor and am now doing all the pre operation stuff.....but i think i am going to do the complete bypass.....is this only a lapband sight? My Dr, is Dr Billy he seems nice

Hi Mandy, welcome! 1. Is this surgery risky in any way? Every surgery has risks. Not sure what bariatric surgery you are contemplating (gastric sleeve, gastric bypass etc.) , but bariatric surgery in general is very safe and you will be put through a battery of tests to make sure you are healthy enough to undergo surgery. You have to also weigh the risks of surgery with all the health risks that come with morbid obesity (diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, etc, etc.). It was an easy decision for me. 2. How do you guys feel about the recovery and success rates? Recovery was easy, for me, everyone is different, but generally you feel pretty crappy at first but then there is marked improvement each day and people are often back at work in 2-3 weeks. Success can vary, the surgery is a tool to help you shed the weight, you have to put in the work to help create healthier habits for long term success. Often this requires work with a mental health professional to help uncover why we are abusing food. 3. If i already have some mental health and self esteem issues is this a good idea? Only a mental health professional can tell you for sure and you will have to be cleared by one to proceed to surgery. Many obese people suffer from low self esteem and depression, there isn't much joy in being overweight. 4. My doctor told me my stomach is the last to go when loosing weight. How do i go about looosing all the access fat is my stomach area? Everyone loses weight differently, that's really impossible to say. 5. How long does this process usually take? Im trying to go from 316 to 125. I don't want to kill your joy, but it's important to have realistic expectations, depending on the surgery the average bariatric patient loses between 60-70% of excess body weight. You have roughly 175 lb of excess body weight ( given a normal BMI of a 5'5" woman is ~150lb)... the average patient your size would lose 122 lb..that would put you around 200lb. This is the AVERAGE, so many people exceed this and many don't even lose this much... I have seen several people on this site shed 100lb in year.. the weight comes off faster at first and then slows down considerably. As others have said this is a big decision and not a magic bullet, you will have to be mentally prepared to make some life changes. There is a lot of great information on this site, i spent hours and hours reading through posts prior to my surgery. Make a list of questions to ask your dr and surgeon. Overall, you will find very few people here who regret having their surgery. Good luck to you!

It seems like it's been forever since I started this journey back in April of this year but I'm happy to announce that I will finally be able to consider myself post-op after December 17th. Fingers crossed, hopefully my blood work and pre-op physical turn out good and everything goes as planned. Wish me luck!

Then never mind. Hopefully someone who has had bypass will have more insight.

Thank you and good luck to you as well. I wanted the band, but my surgeon detoured me to gastric bypass surgery instead. Sent from my ANDROID using RNYTalk

Same for me, but I've had both sleeve and bypass.

I'm hoping to schedule with him in April for a revision from sleeve to MGB, so good to hear your experience went so well !

i noticed on pictures that the bypass stomach looks super small and the sleeve looks way bigger and longer. anyone have any insight on the size of our new tummy?

I had my band removed over a month ago and switched to a sleeve. I agree with Starrgirrl in that I was led to believe complications were lower than they actually are. If I had it to do over again (and I did <g>) I'd go with a sleeve. Better and faster weight loss and fewest complications of DS, bypass, sleeves, and bands.

I had surgery in Novemeber of 08. I started by telling just a few friends and co-workers, including my boss, who I had a close relationship with. I told my coworkers (there were a total of 8 of us who worked together) just before I had the surgery, mainly because I knew my eating habits would be so obviously different when I came back to work, and we all ate lunch together as a group. As far as post op complications: if you are having your surgery in Mexico, I assume your insurance did not cover bariatric surgery, so most will not cover any complications that can be directly related to your surgery. Be sure that you have someone lined up at home to follow you post op, whether it is a local bariatric surgeon (you will ususally have to pay a "transfer fee"), a general surgeon, or your primary care doctor. There are lab results that need to be monitored about every 6 months for the first 2 years, then yearly after that, especially if you are having the sleeve or bypass. Be sure you are compliant with your multivitamins, B12, and calcium post op. Best of luck!

Dr. Fernando Garcia. I had my surgery done 5/22/2012 and would do it all over again. From the beginning when I contacted Alma (his coordinator), they were nothing but helpful and informative. I traveled with my mother and they even made sure she was taken care of (gastric bypass patient and diabetic) while I was there. Any question that I had before I got there, when I arrive, after the surgery, and when I got back home they were quick to answer. I am completely satisfied with my experience ...... check out my youtube channel for my progress www.youtube,com/ldeannepps

I’m 3 weeks post op gastric bypass and these past couple of days I have been extremely nauseous. Zofran isnt helping not are those nausea patches they gave me. How did you guys treat nausea post op. Before the operation I’d have ginger ale, and saltines. But obviously those aren’t an option now. i only started the purée food diet a week ago and have actually put myself back on the liquid diet until my appt on the 27th because I keep having complications (inability to tolerate most foods (severe cramping, vomiting and diarrhea). But now with this nausea I’m struggling to even get in a protein drink or my daily liquid intake. Yesterday I had 20 oz liquid. It’s Sunday so my dr isn’t even in the office.

Today I am 1 week out on a revision after 2 failed lap bands. My journey started in 2008 with my first band placed in March 2009 and slipped December that year. This past April I had another slip and had to have it removed. I had a few more surgeries in between in joint replacements but finally got my by pass last week. I have been dealing with nausea and had to make a trip into ER for IV fluids. All is well so far and I am looking forward to finally making progress on permanent weight loss without all hassle that comes with the band. Thank you so much for your post, it came at just the right time to know that I have made the best decision possible and that I too will be successful. Congratulations on your achievement, that is a wonderful gift.

Dear Banded, Don't be upset. I had the same exact same thing happen to me. Only I had my band in for 6 years..I found a Dr. and his office that really wanted to help me. I fought for what I wanted and got it. As of May 18th 2015 I got my revision with a better band. You have to fight for everything you want as far as this surgery. Don't be upset about you weight gain because that will help you get on step closer to a revision. Just please fight for what you want. If you live on Long Island perhaps I can really help you. Please e mail with any questions you have. @msannie720@aol.com. I will be glad to help. I know what you are going through and it's not fun. Just hang in there. Your revision will come,

Oh wow, thanks for all the info. That's great that you are happy with your band. I wish you all the success and happiness that comes with it. I am really excited to start the program at Kaiser. Right now alls I can do is pray that they will cover the lapband. I'll know more at my first appt on the 22nd. I totally agree with you about gastric bypass. I don't want to have that done but I'd like to learn allot more about it before I make my final decision, if it comes to that. I'm 320 lbs. I have three children under the age of 10 and there is so much I want to do with them that I just can't do because I'm to heavy and insecure. It breaks my heart. I've tried everything and I have lost weight but only to put it back on. I feel like this is my only hope, so I do understand how it is worth every penny. Its really nice to hear success stories and to be able to make friends on this website. Thank you for your support and keep in touch. I'll let you know how things go at my first appt. :tongue2:

I usually watch the Today show and it looks like Al is putting some weight back on. He didn't have the band, though. He had gastric bypass. I don't think Ann Wilson was successful with the band. She did lose some weight, but it didn't seem to be very much. If I remember the story correctly, Inamed approached her with the idea that she would be banded and be a spokesperson for the lap band. To me, seeing what happened with Ann Wilson really emphasizes that the Lap Band is a tool to use to help you lose weight, not the answer to losing weight.

Today is my 4 yr bandiversary and I am depressed. I started at 225 and got down to about 180 but now am back at 190. I haven't had a fill in three years but have recently been having more and more reflux. I am thinking about having a revision to the duodenal switch because I seem to have no metabolism. I work out at Curves three or four times a week and also do a two hour Tai Chi class once a week. I still struggle with strong sweet food cravings in the pm. I went crazy over the holidays and gained six lbs....Back to the guilt and still holding on to those six lbs. How are you other March 2009 bandsters doing?

I too have a very addictive personality. But lately feeling so poorly and having such a hard time with asthma and diabetes I have lost interest in most everything. I am hoping post op I will feel better and pick up some old interests that were addictive like decorative painting and reading. Right now my addiction is this board and my obsession is waiting for the call that I am approved for surgery a revision from lap band to rny. . Also hope exercise will become one. But really hoping bad ones do not, It is something we all need to be aware of.

we have to give this time. it takes a few fills before they find the 'sweet spot.' just remember that we are losing weight slower than the bypass people, which means, it's better for our skin tone. hang in there !!!

My name is April. I'm 30 years old, have been married 11 1/2 years and have 5 children. About four years ago I thought about surgery. I started the process. I sat through the seminar, filled out the paperwork, got my pcp referral along with all the necessary blood work and treadmill stress test, had my first surgeon appointment and passed my psych-eval. However, I didn't go through with the surgery. Why? A couple reasons come to mind: 1) the psychiatrist asked me why I was doing this. I was only at 245 and she said I was much smaller than most who do the surgery; 2) I had at that point mainly considered it for the emotional and cosmetic part of the deal. I wanted to be THIN so I could FEEL prettier. So what's changed? Well, today I still consider the cosmetic part but only to a small extent. My primary focus is on health. Every day I have pain in my knees, ankles and back. I have began to have swelling of my legs at times. Palpitations have become daily and chest pain often. I cannot make it up nine stairs to my children's rooms without my heart pounding and being extremely short of air. I get dizzy spells and have had twice in the last nine months (since my youngest was born) that my blood pressure went around 187/114. I should've called 911 but tried to breathe and relax through it, so I am unsure of any possible damage that may have occurred. Yesterday I went from being on (0) meds to my dr putting me on 4 meds including muscle relaxer for back pain, arthritis, Vitamin d prescription, and high blood pressure diuretic meds. On top of that I have recently been told my fasting blood sugar is high though they never said "diabetes", my cholesterol is high,My sleep apnea is getting so bad at times I'm afraid I may not wake up at all, and also it's time for my third colonoscopy as I have had precancerous polyps removed at age 24. I have been obese for around 11 years, since gaining 70 lbs with my first child. My weight stayed pretty steady for about six years until several months ago when it spiked by about 20+lbs. So now I can honestly say I am taking it much more seriously for my health, My kids need me as does my husband. I am very strong in my faith, but (sorry, LORD) am not ready to leave this Earth. Aside from that I have in the past two years made my way through nursing school and have, for the past seven months, worked home health care. I have come across several obese and even just slightly overweight patients and have seen what their lives have become due to their health and limited mobility. I don't want to become that. I want to be able to enjoy life with my family. I want to be able to keep up with my little one, which is truly a taxing effort since he is now on the move all the time. I want to be able to go up the stairs to hang out and play with my older kids: girls 6yrs, 9yrs; boys 11yrs, 13yrs (actually is my nephew I've raised). I want to be able to go outside and play with my kids, I want to have the energy to do these things and more. I want to be a good role model for my children when it comes to health. And YES, I also want to feel confident enough to step in front of the camera at family functions instead of shying away.... So far I have sat through the seminar, had my pcp referral, my first surgeon appt, my sleep study, my dental exam (necessary dental work prior to surgery is already scheduled), blood work completed and other necessary appts (psych-eval, chemical stress test) scheduled. So, what brings me to this web group? I have all the support I could ever ask for in my husband, kids, church and even my boss who is also obese but urges me to consider it carefully before going through it due to the risks (she's an RN). However, none of these people have had gastric bypass. I want to follow your stories and have you follow mine. I am looking forward to being another success story. Thank you for listening and GOD BLESS ...pic to come later...maybe

I've set things in motion. I have everything done except actually scheduling my surgery and having it. The wheels are turning, along with the nerves. I can't believe I'm doing this. Am I crazy? I keep asking myself these questions. I'm hoping I'm not alone. 1st my insurance will not cover the band so I am paying for it myself. They will cover the bypass but I am drawn to the band. I just can't totally figure out why I'm putting up 15 grand?? I keep telling myself that my "new" healthy body is going to be my "new" car. Makes sense that way, right? I mean it's realtively the same price and it will be easier to travel, faster and less painful. I'm also hoping to get the new paint job, maybe that sparkle back in my eyes? I'm set on doing this, so why do I have all of these unanswered questions?

I hear that insurance companies are starting to pay as little as $900 to surgeons for the Lap-Band. RNY and Gastric Bypass are $4-6k to surgeons.