1. Rac87el
   Member

   Hi,

   Its been awhile since I had logged in. I've been dealing with all my complicated medical issues and the diagnosis that the drs all gave me, saying that if I dont get rid of my weight that i wont live another 10 yrs. Basically there is nothing else they can do to help me and they have maxed me out on meds and treatments. So for the last 3 months been running around like a chicken with its head chopped trying to find a bariatric surgeon to do my bypass and having a bunch of tests/procedures to clear me for surgery. I have finally found one in my ypsilanti,mi and found out yesterday that medicare has approved my surgery. I just have to submit 1 last piece of documentation to the insurance and then in a couple of days i can have my surgery scheduled. I'm really hoping for a date in sept or oct that way i can take the fall semester off to recooperate and be able to keep my apt on campus (apt office requires fulltime attendance for both fall and winter to keep apt) because of medical exception.

   I am happy to be finally getting my bypass done but at the same time i'm nervous too. I guess what i'm wanting to know is if any of our members here have had this procedure done? and how well has it worked for u?

   Also I know this surgery is alot more invasive and traumatic to the body than my ER cholecystectomy and the surgeon thinks its a good idea to have a will in place and i agree. Again i'm wanting to know if any members have this? and how do i go about getting one?

   I really appreciate any thoughts, prayers, support and answers u can give me.

   Thanks,

   Rachel

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. Innaffitoften
   Member

   Rachel, I cannot answer any of your questions, but I wish you the best of luck. Wow, major life changing things happening just around the corner for you!
   I am fairly certain that a living will can be done fairly easy, perhaps even online and then a Notary or something. I say look it up online. Nothing like having the world at your fingertips.
   Best wishes, and my thoughts will be with you. Nice "easy listening" thoughts to keep you calm and collected during all of the pressure you must be feeling, lol!
   Good luck lady.

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. Innaffitoften
   Member

   OH! The last time my daughter was in the hospital for pneumonia, I know they gave us info about living wills. It might be a good idea to call or go to the hospital where you are having surgery and get any pamphlets that they have on it too. I believe it's just stating what you wan done incase something goes horribly wrong, and if you have a strong support network within your family , it may not even be neccesary. i just told my husband and mom to not keep me hooked up to anything unless I can come out of it with at least 75% of what I was before any major accident or something like that. I know that they will do right by my wishes, and so I feel comfortable with that. You just need to decide if you think you need it written down, or if you can trust those that would "be in charge" incase of anything going wrong, which I know wont. You will be fine!

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. Innaffitoften
   Member

   I don't understand why I can't get this out all in one post, my brain is all over the place this morning. It may have something to do with not sleeping for weeks and weeks now. I am losing my marbles.
   Anyway, I've always been curious why is it Rac87el? What does it mean? I love knowing why people chose their screen names, that's all.

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   Rac87el,
   My sister had Roux n Y gastric bypass surgery in the 90s before they were doing it with a laparoscope (band aid surgery). I think the advances in the surgery make it so much safer than what she went through. Nevertheless, my sister always has a Living Will in place when she goes into the hospital. She coded once having a routine test and doesn't want to stay on earth after that experience.
   My sister lost well over 100 pounds. She was just under 5 foot at the time and weighed nearly 300 pounds. The surgery was a must for her. She had high blood pressure and diabetes that couldn't be controlled very well. I forget how much insulin she took everyday. She also had a lot of other conditions. After the surgery and the weight loss, her sugars went back to normal and she quit her insulin, her high blood pressure went away, and she became my sister again.
   She doesn't really recommend the surgery UNLESS you have really looked into it. You CAN gain weight back unless you do the things you are supposed to. She has maybe gained 5-10 pounds back but can lose it easily. You need to walk, make sure you get the protein you need, and take all your vitamins. Your life will change radically after the surgery and you need to make sure you have people to talk to. I would imagine this surgeon has meetings where people can come and find out what the surgery is about. He probably also has groups of people who have had the surgery and they meet regularly to talk about how they are doing and if anyone has good suggestions that aid weight loss and living with the surgery.
   The hospital can help you with the living will. Talk in advance to the patient advocate or adviser at the hospital where you will have the procedure done.
   Know that your eating habits will change drastically because you will need to eat mainly healthy foods with a stomach that is greatly reduced. My sister could only eat a quarter of a cup of food at first and a McDonald's small hamburger fills her completely.
   Good luck and if you want more information, I can give you my email and phone number and we can talk about it. You are doing a brave and necessary thing for your health.

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. Emilbus20
   Key Master

   I hope all goes well.. keep us posted!! You can do it!

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. dripper
   Member

   Hey Rachael,

   I know I have never well "met" you but I am new on this site. Welcome back! As PPM said the surgery is not as invasive as it used to be and I wish you luck from the bottom of my heart. I have had a weight problem for most of my life battling anorexia for the most part. I wanted to have this surgery done when I was a hundred pounds! I truly know how you feel even if it is on the other side of the scale. As it was for me, I had to get medical help, so you must do what you have to do to be healthy.

   I spent months, no years with others in therapy with all different sizes of men and women. We all think the same things with food as our major obsession. In this time many of my "group" did have the bypass and were all frightened. Suddenly it was not about the weight or food anymore but about the will to live a better life. Your fears are justified, as were theirs, but all of my friends came out of it beautifully and it has changed them forever. That was over 20 years ago and technology as was said before has changed dramatically. You just have to remember to eat the right foods and you feel better really soon.

   I have been searching the internet, I do that a lot ... lol, and have found a site that might interest you. http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/ this is a forum for men and women who are either in, or have been in your situation. If you don't find this site is right for you, look for others by typing in "gastric bypass forums".

   I am now in between and feel like I have control of my health, well for the most part that is.
   Bless you Rachael and please keep in touch...you can PM me anytime if you just want to talk.

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. datentime
   Member

   Hey Rac,

   I so wish I could answer all of your questions but, I can not. There is a web site called LegalZoom.com. They advertise that you can get any legal papers you need from their site. It was started by a famous lawyer. It might be a place for you to check out. You might find info at your local library. My opinion on a living will is to each their own. Inna sounds like she has a great support system to follow thru with her wishes. If you don't have such a support system or you might not trust them to follow thru with your wishes then, maybe a living will is a great idea. I personally think they are a great idea.

   I'm sure your surgery will go very well for you. Like said before, technology has come so far. You will be in and out before you know it. I wish you all the best. Please keep us updated on how well it went and how you are doing.

   I will keep you in my thoughts. You can also write to me (pm) and talk about anything if you would like to. Good Luck. I look forward to hearing from after the surgery!!

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. Rac87el
   Member

   Thanks everyone for the love and support! I see my dr on friday and will get more info from her about the wills. I have been to the info sessions about the surgery and have been studying up on it on the web, just wanted to hear people's personal experiences because i know the testimonials on websites can be so misleading. Also i'm really hoping to have the bypass laproscopically but the surgeons told me the only way it would happen is if I can get to under 400lbs by surgery date or it has to be open. Which as is it right now I'm going up and down between 420-440 lbs and i'm only 5'4.

   I will definitely keep everyone posted about surgery date etc. I'm so ready to have this done and over with so I can start living my life!

   Btw, the reason my screen name is Rac87el is because its the closest phonetic spelling of Rachel I could come up with.

   Posted 1 year ago #

10. popables
    Member

    Rachel, I hope all goes well with your surgery. I'm sure it will!! I'll be sending love, rainbows, happy thoughts and prayers your way!! :)

    Dana (aka Popables)

    Posted 1 year ago #

11. Innaffitoften
    Member

    Rachel, I was thinking about this during my bout with insomnia last night, and I was thinking that even if you do decide that you need a living will, I personally think that you should talk to those people closest to you that would make any decisions about you (God I hate even typing it, as I know nothing will go wrong, you will be fine, I just know it) anyway...just so they know where you stand and what you would want. I guess I first started thinking about this kind of stuff when I had children. Like if something happened to both me and my husband at the same time, who would we want to raise our children and all of that, so I have made my choices very clear to my family, even regarding my remains. Maybe I'm morbid, but I just think it's a conversation that everyone should have with their loved ones.
    I know things will go well for you, and I commend your bravery. Best wishes, my dear. ~Tif

    Posted 1 year ago #

12. popables
    Member

    Inna, I've had that conversation with my family too..... Instead of some sad dreary funeral, they are supposed to cremate me as cheaply as possible and then have kegger and laugh at all the dump shit I've done over the years!!!! lol I would rather they celebrate my life than mourn my death...... ;)

    Posted 1 year ago #

13. Rac87el
    Member

    I have talked before with my family about what i want done if i died but its been awhile. When I had my ER gallbladder removal, the surgeons had me preparing my family for the worst and when i called my mom and sister they freaked out on me big time. So i talked to my mom a few days ago and let her know that I will be making both the living and regular wills. ( When i talked to my dr I had no idea that a living will was different from a will and that they could not be combined. Guess i learn something new everyday.lol)

    I am real close to scheduling the surgery. Just sucks that after I seen my dr on friday morning i got a call later that afternoon from the bariatric surgeon's office saying that they didnt receive my cardio clearance even though i signed a medical release for all my medical records. So on monday i have to call dr's office and get a copy of the cardio clearance to take to the barix clinic. Would have been nice to know about this considering earlier in the week they had requested my sleep studies and had to go thru the same process then. Sigh, i hate the hurry up and wait game.

    But on a happier note... I am finally getting my cpap machine for my sleep apnea and my dr gave me my medical excuse letter, which will allow me to keep my apt and give me the fall semester off to heal. I just hope that the surgeon will keep his word and schedule my surgery for sept or oct.

    other than that I have just been trying to stay sane and not stress! I know this week is going to be crazy. I have to get the cardio clearance to the surgeon, drop all my classes for the fall semester and email the medical letter to student disabilities office so they can request the exception from apt office etc. Then I need to get my house deep cleaned and have 3 therapy appts too. Plus got to pay rent, grocery shopping, get some presents and go to my neice's bday party, meet again with surgeon and schedule surgery and do whatever else he requires before the actual surgery date and on top of it all got to prepare to go to court next week and testify on my sister's behalf. Whew i will be glad when all this is done.

    Thanks everyone for the love and support, i greatly appreciate it. Hope u all r doing well. i will continue to keep u all updated. smile

    Posted 1 year ago #

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