Update on me

[SJB41976]

I had a physical this week, and as usual, I'm healthy as a horse except for my iron levels. I'm a little anemic. Cholesterol is good, No sign of diabetes. *sigh*. I'm a "healthy", morbidly obese person. I am glad and thankful, don't get me wrong. I do have co-morbidities with arthritis, degenerative disc disease and anxiety/ depression. I truly think my depressive symptoms are due to being this overweight and feeling so bad all the time.

After talking about surgery with my husband, I will most likely be having surgery with Dr. Boyce instead of traveling to New Jersey, even though it is more expensive. This may change, but right now I am pursuing Dr. Boyce. My hubby said it is worth the extra cost for me not to be gone for over two weeks. I have a 9 and a 6 year old and even though we would all survive the separation, it would be really hard on my substitute as my 6 year old is attached to my hip all the time. As long as my hubby is fine with the cost increase I am fine with only traveling 3 hours. I travelled with my VSG so we know the drill.

I have talked with the patient advocate at Dr. Boyce office. I have sent over my surgical report. Tuesday I will have my Upper GI report to fax and I will call and see where we go from here. Hoping to have surgery in the next 3-6 months.

I still struggle with this decision, but I know in order for me to lose weight and keep it off, I need malabsorption. I do believe the VSG wrecked my metabolism (along with being in my 40's). I don't see any way out although I would like to believe I could do it on my own and keep it off for good...but, I have worked so hard the last 3 years and *nothing*. I have to accept facts. It doesn't help when I see posts on FB about people who lost 150 pounds and how they did it, etc. I know the stats. I know it's unusual and I know only about 5% keep it off. I know. I'm educated, but I somehow just hold onto that last cord of hope.

That's where I am at these days.

Thanks for reading!

 

[southernlady]

Dr. Boyce is an excellent surgeon but remember his office pushes lousy vitamins and his aftercare advice is RNY based even if the handout says DS (or BPD/DS). I got a friend to let me see her RNY copy and ALL they did was go into word and anytime it said RNY, they made it read BPD/DS.

 

[SJB41976]

Yep, @southernlady. Well aware. Thanks!

 

[Settledownnow]

@SJB41976 making the decision is the hardest part! Congratulations. Going with a surgeon closer to home makes sense on so many levels. Also, keep in mind that Greenbaum's revision cost went up (actually the hosp charge went up) to about $23,800. I would imagine that the cost of revision with Dr. Boyce is in a similar range now.

Edited to say -- although my revision is scheduled, I still struggle with the decision too. I move forward and tell myself I can back out at any time. I try to keep my focus on how much better I would feel with 100 extra pounds off my body.

 

[SJB41976]

Wow @Settledownnow ! When I had my consult with Greenbaum he said the hospital was going up, but we could discuss that closer to the surgery. He requires so much stuff ahead of time, even for self-pay. But if that is the case then it makes complete and total sense to stay closer to home. I'm just thankful for a supportive husband. Thanks for the info!

 

[duh_Mom]

congratulations @SJB41976 - I honestly don't think you will be sorry. - well except for the first couple weeks - most of us were but it is the best thing I have done for myself. I wish I had it done years ago, but then my head sure was not ready. I was self pay at Dr. B's and all I had to do was 2K down and they scheduled my surgery and classes.

I'll be thinking of you and look forward to watching your journey, and the post that says "why did I wait so long?"

 

[SJB41976]

thanks! @duh_Mom !

 

[Larra]

It's good to see you moving forward.

 

[Charris]

Glad to see things are working in your favor

 

[ampt]

Agree with duh_Mom! The first couple of weeks are the worst! But with COMPLIANT patients, 100% would tell you they would do it again in a heart beat! I know I would!!

 

[Clematis]

@SJB41976 You go, girl! The part that has troubled me is my stomach or what's left of it, not my abdomen where the switch was performed. Adding the switch should be a piece of cake, so to speak. When I was at the hospital, a woman came in with a VSG in order to add a switch and she said she felt absolutely fine -- nothing like how she felt with the VSG.

 

[SJB41976]

Awesome. I would really rather not get my sleeve re-sleeved because *I feel* I still have good restriction, not anything like when I first had the sleeve, but I don't think it's supposed to. But I am sending Dr. Boyce a disc copy of my upper GI and I assume he will let me know his thoughts.

I talked to his office today. I had faxed over the GI report, and when I talked to the patient advocate she said Dr. Boyce had reviewed it but since I have a Duodenum Diverticulum he needs to see exactly where it is since that affects the DS. it's important to know where exactly it is.