I debated on whether to post this or not, but I kinda need input...

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Nov 10, 2002

Good luck Brandy, whichever way you decide to go.

treecy · Nov 10, 2002

Dear Brandy, Good luck in whatever you decide. I have not had the surgery myself, but at the hospital that I do agency work I have had on average 1 patient a week who has had the open bypass. Most come up from pacu with a foley, ngt, 2 jps and pca. They are npo except ice chips and tubes are removed on day two. Xray is done on day 3 and if no leaks, pureed diet is given. If tolerated they are discharged. My sister also had a lap. bypass is feb. of this year and has done wonderfully. No complications at all. She doesn't even have any dumping from sweets. She stopped weighing herself months ago, but has gone from a size 3x to 14-16. The biggest thing for her is she feels so much better. She had severe back pain that prevented her from standing for any length of time and arthritis in one knee that prevented her from walking more than 50 yards. Now she can go up and down stairs without any problems and walks 3-5 miles a day. As with any surgery there are risks and noone can make this decision for you, but I wish you well. The website someone posted earlier is a good source for information as well as support.

AppyHorseFan · Nov 10, 2002

brandy,

i like the majority of the posters thus far, have not yet had the surgery (but will when i finish school and can afford it). i do however, have 2 very dear friends who had it done. they are sisters. the younger sister had it done first with incredible results. she said the only complication is due to occasionally eating the foods that they recommend you don't eat. i don't exactly how much she lost or how long it took her, but she looks great now. the thing that impressed me about her dr. is his post-op follow-up care. i'm not just talking in the hospital. he requires monthly weigh-in (follow up) visits for 6+ months to check your progress/complications, etc. her older sister then had the surgery. the older sister, 10+ years ago, had her stomach stapled. she lost a lot of weight, but over the years had gained it all back, plus she was still getting sick when she ate. there had been some sort of problem with the original procedure and i can't recall what it was. but now the older sister has lost about 75 lbs. and is looking great too. they both say they feel great and would recommend this procedure to anyone.

i wish i could give you first hand knowledge on this subject, but in a couple of years, i can!!

good luck...be sure and let us know how it all goes.

shonda

Jenny P · Nov 10, 2002

Brandy, I haven't had this surgery but our staffing planner had it 2 years ago and has been telling overweight people to eat enough to meet the requirements for the surgery! She has lost 150 lbs. and says it was the only way she could ever have lost the weight-- she had struggled with her weight since she was in first grade.

When I do pre-op teaching for the ptients touring our unit the night before surgery, I remind them that they wouldn't ask me to make a suit for them as I only mend clothes and rarely sew anything else. My advice is that your surgeon should have done MANY many of this particular surgery before you let him operate on you! (My unit does over 1200+ heart surgeries/yr- I'm reassuring the pts. of that). Make sure your surgeon has done - say at least 200+ of the Roux-En-Y laparoscopy procedures before you let him touch you with a scalpel and ask what his success rate is. Ask what HIS specific most common complication is also.

And good luck! Keep us informed and I'll be thinking of you!

CarolineRn · Nov 10, 2002

Oh Brandy! Sweetie, You are so pretty as you are. I have seen your pics, and no, you are not a teeny girl, but you are a pretty girl. You have a smile that makes even those of us who don't even know you feel like you could be our best friend, and therein lies a special beauty that millions do not possess.

Please don't think that I am discouraging you in this post. That is not my intent. I simply want to give you more food for thought in regards to how strangers see you.

I see you you as a fun, vicarious, vivacious soul who has been somehow been misled into thinking that her best isn't good enough. But nevertheless, someone who I would want to hang out with, could learn from, and include in my roster of trusted souls.

CLUE: You ARE the best, Brandy!

DO whatever you think you need, but I think you will prosper from a damned good dog and a close friend who needs nothing more than a nightly jog.

You're a beauty, chicka! Look in the damned mirror!

CarolineRn · Nov 10, 2002

Brandy, I re-read some of the other posts.

It seems to me that this surgery is strictly a personal choice in regards to you, as you are not extremely obese.

I don't want to antagonize you or to discourage you in any way, but I have worked in the OR and have seen many a procedure done. (Not this one)

However, I do know that any surgical procedure takes quite a bit out of a person and that's not even counting anasthesia.

Recovery from something like this is guaranteed to be a *****, and while I don't doubt you're up to it, I also am certain that you could do quite well with some serious personal fitness.

Chicka, you have been a leader to so many on this board for so long, am I wrong to call you a "cheerleader of nursing?"

You have enormous mental energy. We just need to find you a way to channel that mental energy into physical energy.

I wouldn't say this to most people. As you know, this is not really a "nursing" response. But I have been reading you and geting to know you for over a year now, and I see your strength.

I may be trashed for this, I may deserve it. I have nothing against people who are heavier than they need to be who have taken all the steps required to make their lives better.

And I know, I do not know you personally. I know you from afar, and have come to trust your opinion and in a way grow to consider you a friend. (sounds like the weird crap people like Jennifer Aniston read in their letters everyday, huh?)

*Shake creepy off*

Anyway, all I intended of this post was to give you an alternate opinion. I always play devils advocate, and even if you weighed 300 pounds, if you were my best friend considering this advice I would have to point out your strengths.

Guess I just want you to see the same strengths that many of us (even those too busy to post) see in you.

Anyway. I'm behind ya, girlfriend. Please be careful, please don't forget to post to us. I admit I'm only on when the program loosens up, but you're someone I will ALWAYS remember.

:kiss

keeper · Nov 10, 2002

Hi, not a nurse, and I've never had the procedure. My sister and I were just discussing it this week, though, as she is also considering having it done.

What I know of this procedure is anecdotal, in the form of my former boss. She had many complications, some which brought her close to death a few times, and at this point, she is still being told she probably will only live five more years max. I know that she had a hole in her stomach at one point. Part of her colon died and had to be removed. She goes in for blood transfusions on a regular basis, as well.

It's not surprising that, from my experience with this, I would never make the choice myself. I am obese, but I have lost weight before, and I am confident I can do it again if I make the decision and stick with it.

I do, however, feel that this procedure is a blessing for those who will likely lose their lives as a result of their obesity. In that case, the benefits, of course, outweigh the risks.

NativeButterfly · Nov 10, 2002

Hello Brandy! I am also considering gastric surgery. I am looking at the lap-band procedure due to it being less invasive. I think everyone has to make their own decision for what is best for them. There are two nurses at my facility that have had the procedure. One is doing very well and the other is slow gaining back weight due to medical issues. They had a few complications. The only advise I would give is to know your stats from your doc. My younger sis just told me three of her friend have had the surgery and one passed on, one could not eat and was being worked up for that and the last one-the doc knicked something causing internal bleeding. Just research your doc, would be my main piece of advice. GOOD LUCK!!!!

BrandyBSN · Nov 12, 2002

Caroline, you are so incredibley sweet! I appreciate your post so much, you are a great esteem cheerleader! :)

Technically, for my height I fit into the "Morbidly Obese" catagory. What a terrible name for a category. My reasons for considering this are because of other health problems that I am starting to have, and I am only 23 years old. I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea (which may explain why I sleep so much without actually feeling rested, and advancing arthritis in my back, neck and knees. Sure, being thin and all that cosmetic stuff would be nice, but mostly I am so tired of hurting all of the time. Some days I have to sleep in a chair to keep my back and knees from going into spasms, and I breathe better. If it were just the size of the clothes that I buy, I wouldnt even consider going through all of this :)

I'm not sure what I will decide, and most of it right now depends on insurance coverage. I promise though, I will still be here posting away, and keeping everyone up-to-date on me :) I appreciate your concern so much. You are all a fantastic group of people.

Brandy

CraftyLPN · Nov 12, 2002

Hi Brandy...

I am a LPN....Three years ago..I did not have a life...I was 600 lbs ,and tried everything..It was a do or die thing for me...I am 30 years old with a 8 yo daughter ,and my life was a living h###...Two years ago I also had a pannulectomy(spelling?) removed..instantly lost 60 lbs...and for the first time in a very long time, I could see my legs...A week before my staples were removed..I took the PN test to see if I could be a nurse ..like I have wanted to all my life..I was accepted..I also rode a bike which I haven't done for years..took the first real tub bath...

I remember when I was that obese that it would take 4 men to pick me up off the floor..Now, I love getting on the floor, cuz I know I can get back up...I also got my drivers license about 2 1/2 years ago too..

If I had to face the surgery again...I would do it over and over..I saw no way out

My dr was great!! He gets a "thrill" when I tell him I can go up and down the stairs now...and that I can go to the store and not have to worry if something won't fit me right

I am on the waiting list now to get my thighs and arms done...I look like a bat ready to fly away........

Like I said I would do it again in a moment

neuroRN, RN · Nov 15, 2002

Hi. I have not had the procedure but have seen an awful outcome of having it done. My first ICU rotation in nursing school I took care of a 34 year old patient (also a nurse herself) who had recently had the procedure and was suffering complications. Two days after the procedure she spiked a temp and they went back in to investigate. Long story short she ended up on a vent for a month and continued to have a high temp despite numerous attempts to find out what was going on. Last I heard her autopsy was still pending but they think that she died from DIC. Her good friend, a nurse that I now work with has been researching this and said that the statistics of complications and deaths from the procedure (at least in Colorado) were alarming.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. :)

prmenrs, RN · Nov 15, 2002

This a VERY major surgery, and has VERY major complications. HOWEVER, so does morbid obesity.

That being said, some pts do GREAT. Others don't. You will have a better outcome w/ a surgeon who does lots. Talk to others who have had it w/the same surgeon, talk to ICU nurses in your hospital if your hospital does it, and your surgeon plans on doing your case there. Find out what the drill is post-op. Try to go laporoscopic. (the surgeon should plan on taking your gallbladder out, too, or it'll need to be done later)

FOLLOW the diet, dumping syndrome is NO FUN.

And know that our prayers are w/you!!