Hey Everyone!

I have recently embarked on my weight loss journey by attending a seminar last month at REX Bariatrics in NC. I have since been back for orientation and a nutrition class. I will be meeting with my surgeon on 06/10/19. I am 424 lbs, 5'6", and have a BMI of 68. I am considering the duodenal Switch procedure.

I feel mostly excited, but apart of me is nervous for the surgery. I feel confident about doing the right things after surgery. I'm already in a good workout routine, and I have been seeing a dietitian and therapist for emotional eating. I am mostly nervous about the procedure itself. What if I am part of the percent that something goes wrong?

Also, I haven't told anyone except for my husband and mother. I'm hesitant to tell other family members because I don't think they will be supportive. At some point, won't they catch on? I don't want them to be mad later that I didn't tell them. Does anyone have advice over to tell or not?

Thank you

11 hours ago, misskim3297 said:

Sorry for the delay in response! My pre-op appts took a while bc I had to have a sleep study. They were really booked up. I had my initial consultation in October 2017 and had surgery in March 2018. I scheduled all the pre-op stuff myself. I had to have a mammogram too. The surgeon basically gives you a honey do list depending on what they think you need and what your insurance requires. Some people have to have nutrition counseling too.

It's okay, thank you for your response

13 hours ago, mrblond said:

Make sure your program keeps on you checking your Iron and Calcium levels.

My mom had a switch done back in 05 and after a few years she needed IV iron and had sever osteoporosis.

She did lose alot of weight though, just make sure they keep an eye on that.

That sounds scary, I will be sure to monitor that. Thank you for your response

I had surgery about 7 weeks ago and I am so glad I did. I am already down 35 pounds. I was nervous going into surgery but everything went smoothly. I was sore from being on the metal table and I had some soreness in my abdomen. I had the most pain a few hours after surgery before my nurse finally hooked up the liquid Tylenol and told me where my button for my pain drip was. I only stayed one night in the hospital then went home. I started the preop appointments back in oct and was finished with them in January and it took my insurance 3 weeks to approve it. I had it on March 29th but could have had it sooner but needed to save up the money for the deposit.

13 hours ago, Poppyseed28 said:

I had surgery about 7 weeks ago and I am so glad I did. I am already down 35 pounds. I was nervous going into surgery but everything went smoothly. I was sore from being on the metal table and I had some soreness in my abdomen. I had the most pain a few hours after surgery before my nurse finally hooked up the liquid Tylenol and told me where my button for my pain drip was. I only stayed one night in the hospital then went home. I started the preop appointments back in oct and was finished with them in January and it took my insurance 3 weeks to approve it. I had it on March 29th but could have had it sooner but needed to save up the money for the deposit.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, Poppyseed. Congratulations on your weight loss!!

Hey there! first off congrats on making the decision to do this! I agree with the other posts about who you tell is your own business, people will prob get suspicious, but the bottom line is you made the decision along with your dr about doing something that is medically necessary for you!! I have not told many people including family about my decision bc unless they are personally going through this they might not understand that this is beyond diet and exercise in most cases. I had my surgery 7 days ago at REX with DR NG. You are in the best hands with the Drs and staff affiliated with Rex bariatrics! They are extremely organized and caring. It took my insurance 6 months but It went pretty fast because you are constantly keeping up with monthly nutrition, education classes, and dr appts. I had a little pain in recovery but the anesthesiologist was right there with me asking me how I was feeling and pushed more pain meds into my IV. I really didn't need anything but Tylenol after. I have had 3 c-sections so I always compare everything to that and this was nothing in comparison. I was up walking the same night as surgery ( a little drugged up but walking, and the nurse let me hold onto her) I had some discomfort swallowing liquids but I think its to be expected while you are healing. Everyone experiences something different so don't be afraid to speak up and be pro active in the hospital so they can make you comfortable. I was nervous about nausea so I let the drs know and I didn't have any probs. I was in the hospital for 2 days. Im still recovering and the only set back Ive had is an unfortunate delayed allergic reaction to the solution they prep you in before surgery. this is only a 1% chance that this will happen ,- I should go play the lottery! Id be happy to help with any questions you might have especially since we are with the same group of drs. Don't let the fear of the unknown make you second guess your decision. I met a couple of gals during my classes, we stay in touch daily, one had her surgery before me and one is going in several months.. it helps having someone who can truly relate to what you are going through, we genuinely support each other!! maybe our paths have already crossed, maybe they will in the future, in any case Im not far away!

On 5/24/2019 at 6:37 PM, skinnyshortcake said:

Hey there! first off congrats on making the decision to do this! I agree with the other posts about who you tell is your own business, people will prob get suspicious, but the bottom line is you made the decision along with your dr about doing something that is medically necessary for you!! I have not told many people including family about my decision bc unless they are personally going through this they might not understand that this is beyond diet and exercise in most cases. I had my surgery 7 days ago at REX with DR NG. You are in the best hands with the Drs and staff affiliated with Rex bariatrics! They are extremely organized and caring. It took my insurance 6 months but It went pretty fast because you are constantly keeping up with monthly nutrition, education classes, and dr appts. I had a little pain in recovery but the anesthesiologist was right there with me asking me how I was feeling and pushed more pain meds into my IV. I really didn't need anything but Tylenol after. I have had 3 c-sections so I always compare everything to that and this was nothing in comparison. I was up walking the same night as surgery ( a little drugged up but walking, and the nurse let me hold onto her) I had some discomfort swallowing liquids but I think its to be expected while you are healing. Everyone experiences something different so don't be afraid to speak up and be pro active in the hospital so they can make you comfortable. I was nervous about nausea so I let the drs know and I didn't have any probs. I was in the hospital for 2 days. Im still recovering and the only set back Ive had is an unfortunate delayed allergic reaction to the solution they prep you in before surgery. this is only a 1% chance that this will happen ,- I should go play the lottery! Id be happy to help with any questions you might have especially since we are with the same group of drs. Don't let the fear of the unknown make you second guess your decision. I met a couple of gals during my classes, we stay in touch daily, one had her surgery before me and one is going in several months.. it helps having someone who can truly relate to what you are going through, we genuinely support each other!! maybe our paths have already crossed, maybe they will in the future, in any case Im not far away!

Wow, thank you so much skinnyshortcake! This is very touching and I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me. It does help hearing real stories from those who have been through it. I'm wishing you the best of luck on your journey and a speedy recovery!!

I had a Loop-DS performed in Raleigh NC Wake-Med by Dr. Bovard - I had a similar BMI and I’ve lost 100 lbs with pre-op diet and post-op results. I am only 4 months post-op. It has not been an easy road travelled but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I have been through a Rex program (I was even in their commercials back in 2010) for lapband but that surgeon is no longer here - and just had a revision through Nc bariatrics performed at wake med Cary to ds. Revision was 6/6- my lapband stopped helping me- I could either eat anything or nothing. So I started a year ago trying to get ducks in a row to do this- my insurance required 6 months of dr supervised weight loss visits (I lost nothing) and when I missed the November appt it set me back and then insurance initially denied it bc they said the psych visit didn’t say it exactly how they wanted so he rewrote his report resubmitted and approved. So anyways I was approved in March and I delayed surgery to 6/7 bc life -

It’s surgery and that is kind of scary- but so is driving a car, anything can happen anywhere. You just have to have faith.

In the hospital I managed pain with something via IV that worked great- coming home they sent me hydrocodone - I only took it at night to sleep comfortably and managed anything else with Tylenol and I stopped taking the hydrocodone after a week.

I had more pain with this than my c sections but I also had my lapband removed a hernia repair and the ds. But it has been manageable.

The preop liquid diet was hard, less hard post op but I’m sick of sweet and ready for purées!

I am 41, no co-issues. With my lapband I went from 330 to 250 and maintained there for 7 years and then started having issues. I got back to 301.9 when I started this pre op diet. I’m down 20lb total in 3 weeks. It’s not the easy way out but it’s a step many of us need to get control over food.

I was open with what I was doing - if anyone had anything negative to say they never said it to me

I am so glad that you mentioned Dr. Ng. He is my dr as well. Congrats on your success.
I am 6 months through a 12 month prep. I am super frustrated because I have done everything and now have to wait for insurance. Any advice?

I’m pre op (sx is 10/22). I started this journey in October of last year. I decided I wouldn’t tell anyone because I have really judge-y family and co workers. It went horribly. Living my journey in secret drove me insane because I needed to make lifestyle changes and they are all part of my life. In January I met my new doc (long story) and told my husband that I can’t take being secretive about everything. As I was leaving the hospital, I took a picture of the Bariatric center and wrote on my social media something to the effect of “this is what I’m doing and nobody is going to stop me. Be on my side or shut the hell up and get outta my life!”. It was the best thing ever (for me) to take back control of me, my life, my choices, etc. I felt empowered and my relationships have mostly changed for the better.

That’s just my experience. Others don’t get the same response. You have to evaluate your life and find what works best for you. I’m excited for you! This will be a life changing journey! ❤️