Sunday, March 27, 2011
My gastric bypass surgery
On October 22, 2007, I had a life changing surgery called gastric bypass. I had taken a year to decide to have this life saving surgery done, the waiting is my only regret. Below is a pic of what they did, as well as an explanation of the surgery. I opted for the laparascopic RNY, which keeps the weight off, is the only cure to diabetes and has the most effective results. It was also the most dangerous. I was very scared, 1 in 100 deaths are the statistics for death of this surgery, but long term I knew it would save my life.
My tummy is now the size of my thumb, I also have several inches of small intestine that is no longer active, that affects the absorbtion of my food. I lost 98lbs within the first 3 months, and another 50 within 8 months of the surgery.
Surprisingly, it was extremely emotionally difficult to look at myself and wonder who that was looking back in the mirror. I had spent the majority of my adult life morbidly obese. As an adult I looked completely different than I did as a teen. I also believe that it negatively affected my marriage.
I immediately noticed heath results, before I even left the hospital, I was taken off of my high blood pressure meds. Other than feeling sick every now and then, (explained below) as I said before, I have no regrets, except that I didn't do it sooner.
'In Roux-en-Y, the stomach is divided, and a small pouch, which limits calories that can be taken in on a daily basis to less than 1,000, is formed as simultaneously the majority of the stomach is sealed off. A portion of the small intestine is then divided and sewn to the newly created small stomach pouch. This process limits the body’s ability to absorb calories. This procedure can be performed as a standard open surgery, or as a laparoscopic surgery.
My tummy is now the size of my thumb, I also have several inches of small intestine that is no longer active, that affects the absorbtion of my food. I lost 98lbs within the first 3 months, and another 50 within 8 months of the surgery.
Surprisingly, it was extremely emotionally difficult to look at myself and wonder who that was looking back in the mirror. I had spent the majority of my adult life morbidly obese. As an adult I looked completely different than I did as a teen. I also believe that it negatively affected my marriage.
I immediately noticed heath results, before I even left the hospital, I was taken off of my high blood pressure meds. Other than feeling sick every now and then, (explained below) as I said before, I have no regrets, except that I didn't do it sooner.
'In Roux-en-Y, the stomach is divided, and a small pouch, which limits calories that can be taken in on a daily basis to less than 1,000, is formed as simultaneously the majority of the stomach is sealed off. A portion of the small intestine is then divided and sewn to the newly created small stomach pouch. This process limits the body’s ability to absorb calories. This procedure can be performed as a standard open surgery, or as a laparoscopic surgery.
How is a laparoscopic procedure performed?
Laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery involves several very small incisions rather than open surgery, which uses one large incision. Once the patient, who has been given general anesthesia, is asleep, a harmless gas is introduced into the abdomen to move the organs so that the surgeon can work in increased space and can see more when a tiny camera (a laparoscope) is inserted into one incision through a narrow hollow tube (a trocar).
This technique allows the surgeon to view images of the surgery site on a video screen. Then through other trocars inserted into the remaining small incisions, the surgeons introduce and manipulate long narrow surgical instruments that allow performance of the same procedures that take place in traditional open surgeries.'
What are the symptoms of rapid gastric emptying?
Early rapid gastric emptying begins either during or right after a meal. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. Late rapid gastric emptying occurs 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms include hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar; weakness; sweating; and dizziness. Experiencing both forms of gastric emptying is not uncommon. (This occurs with me when I eat sweets)
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