Type of Surgery Poll

[David Buchin, MD FACS]

This poll is to show the new patients what procedures patients have gotten in the past at LIJ.  Only post-op patients should take the poll.  But continue to discuss the results below.

Thank You,
David Buchin, MD

[Marian]

I had surgery, gastric bypass, 3 months ago.  I feel great!!!  I am down 50+ pounds. 
Marian

[jplz310]

my name is laurie. i had the bypass surgery on may 23, 2007. i am down 65 pounds. i feel great and i would do it all again in a heartbeat. the benifits and results far outweigh the occasional minor discomforts. i think the pre-op preparations were the worst part. and that wasnt even that bad. i can now walk better and i can climb a flight of stairs without feeling like i am going to die, when i get to the top. i breathe better now and i feel so much better about myself. this was a tremendous blessing. 

[Robert11729]

Hello my name is Robert and im 23 I had the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy done on July 25th 2007.  I know everybody is different in pain but I found out for me the first 2 to 3 days were the toughest for me.  Pretty much thought I was gonna die and was a bit concerned but thats just the kinda guy I am lol.  For me I still like to eat foods Ive lost over 40 lbs from the 2 wk fuild diet/surgery.  Everybody knows that with surgery there is always risks but I truely must say that Dr. Buchin is an amazing doctor.  I did have alot of depression and since surgery it doesnt even exist anymore I feel like a totally different person.  And I feel like I can start to move on in my life.  If you ever have any questions about the sleve please just ask ill be glad to help you anyway I can!     

[leedigi]

i had gastric bypass in july and i couldn't be happier, i was just wondering because i keep seeing posts about how much was bypassed on the oh form how much was actually bypassed and is it considered proximal or distmal and is there any difference, i also had a colon resection a few yrs before did that make a difference in the surgery.
thank you in advance for the information on this.

lee

[Robert11729]

Hello there Lee im not too familar about it but I do know if you did have a gastric bypass then your stomach is no longer being used I believe its your small intestance that is attached to your esophagus.  Dr. Buchin will explain alot better when he replies back.  Happy to hear your doing well with the gastric bypass .  Im doing great with my sleve gastrectomy was deficient in vitamin C & D but now am taking supplements have you had your 3 month post opt blood checked yet?

[metjetfan1]

Hi Everyone,

I came to this site in December to get some information. I decided to have by pass surgery and started in Dec to go through the pre op steps.

When I came to the site in Dec I found Robert listed here and saw he had the sleeve gasterectomy. I am currently seeing a Dr in West Islip through Good Sam hospital that was recommended to me. My Dr is Dr Adaniel and he was the one that suggested this surgery after speaking to me about what I expected after surgery. I know 4 people that had the by pass done and 1 person that had the lap band done. I researched a little online about the sleeve procedure. When I saw Robert had it done, I took my chances and emailed him personally. Robert has been a great help. We have become friends online and soon will meet in person to get to know each other and be supportive to each other since we both have this surgery in common.

Currently I am done with all my pre op testing and Dr visits. I am just waiting on the insurance approval. I understand the Insurance company is not willing to pay for this because they feel it is experimental. What gets me is that I think it is safer since it is less banding done and yet they see it as experimental. My dr knows this is really what I want and I am hoping we can get around the insurance and I can have this procedure. If I get the approval in the next few weeks I want to have the surgery on Feb 25th.

I will keep you all posted. For those that had surgery already and have posted information here, I thank you. For those of you still going through pre-op I wish you well.

Tonimarie

[Cmilla]

Good Luck ToniMarie!

keep us updated:)

[Dee]

On January 30th Dr. Buchin did the Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y on me.  I am in shock because I had absolutely no pain whatsoever!!  If you pinched me that would hurt more than the operation!  I cannot believe it.  It's been 7 days and the most I've felt is a very slight tugging in my stomach area when I go to get up or lay down in bed.   I am the biggest baby in the world when it comes to pain and this was a piece of cake.  (Ooops...I mean a piece of protein shake haha...no cake for this girl.)
Dee

[NYSweety]

Hi Dee,
I'm so happy that the surgery was a success for you .  I wish you a speedy recovery.  Keep us posted with your progress.  Thanks!!

[Dee]

Thanks, Sweety.

It's been 8 days now and this morning I BOUNCED out of bed!!!!  I've been moving around the house non-stop all day.  Today, for the first time, I put my shoes and socks on all by myself.  I'm a big girl now     
I am feeling wonderfully fabulous!

Last night I was starving (I've been on liquids for 5 weeks now.)  I was never a big liquid drinker, but I drank my 64 oz. of water/crystal lite yesterday and I still felt hungry, so I made an extra 4 oz. protein shake instead of having something I wasn't supposed to have. 

Today Sophia said I can have applesauce, yogurt and sugar free puddings.  YUMMY!!!  Now I just have to find someone to take me to the store.  (Not that I don't feel good enough to drive...just that I need to go thru my basement to get to my car and I have construction going on down there and I am afraid I will trip on something.)

Tomorrow I see Dr. Buchin.  I cannot wait to see how much weight I lost!!!

[Cmilla]

Congrats Dee!! I'm excited to hear about your progress and weight loss as I am going to be going for the same surgery...

[Dee]

Cmilla,
When is your surgery date? 
I wasn't even nervous, just excited.  When I woke up from surgery the first word out of my mouth was "Sophia"...and she was right there, God bless her.   Dr. Buchin and Sophia stopped by a lot to see how I was doing and I was so grateful for that.  They always make me feel comfortable. 
Good luck...you'll be in great hands.
Dee

[Cmilla]

hi Dee,

Happy Belated Birthday... I'm hoping for a date of March 12th, if my PC doctor will get his butt in gear! I've enjoyed reading all your comments! I'm a bit scared but the few people I have told have been great and everyone is so excited as I have waited for this for a long time. I will have a ton of clothes to donate! If you don't mind me asking...how much weight have you lost thus far?

Casandra

[Dee]

Hi Casandra,

Before I decided to have my gastric bypass, I would never have voluntarily told my weight.  You would have had to torture me to find out.  Because I now know that I am definitely going to lose the weight, I’m not embarrassed to finally admit it out loud.

On 1/25 (5 days before my operation) I was 262 lbs. 
I saw my nutritionist yesterday (2/25) and I weighed in at 246.  So in one month I lost 16 lbs.

My highest recorded weight was 274 lbs. (in November.)   Since January 1st, I lost 28 lbs. and that’s not counting what I gained from Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I know I would be able to lose more if I was able to move around more.  Once I drop 50 lbs., I'm hoping I will be able to walk on my treadmill for more than 5 minutes without my back giving out on me all the time.  But even that doesn't defeat me.  I am going to do this!

It's a long process to get to where you are now.  Congratulations on getting this far.  March 12th will be here before you know it and you will be so excited to have it done and on your way to a new life.

Do you go to the support group meetings?  If you don't, you should...it's great and very supportive and informative.  (Although I missed this month's meeting because of the weather.)  If you do go (the 5:30 meeting), ask Sophia to introduce us to each other.  That would be nice.  March's meeting is the day before your operation, so I don't know if you will make it then.

Have a great day! 
Dee