Weight Loss Surgery - Amy, the third chick in 3FC, is to have weight loss surgery

You may or may not be familiar with Amy, our older sister that is the third chick in 3FC. She has not been active with the website in a long time, because she has battled various health and personal problems. These problems have had a direct effect on her weight.

Amy did lose a considerable amount of weight when we began the site, but she regained it and then developed a lot of health problems. For various reasons, she was never able to successfully lose the weight again through traditional diet and exercise programs.

After researching weight loss surgery for the last year, Amy decided that this would be the best option for her at this time.

Her surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning, Sept 16. We will keep you updated on her progress.

thanks for the info, suzanne... we're here for her.. give her our love and support.

:goodvibes :balloons: Thank you Suzanne for letting us know about Amy. I shall be thinking of her all day and sending good vibes etc to her and to you her sisters.

Keep well keep :cool:

Regards

Yo-Yo Dee

Good thoughts and prayers to Amy. Grammy

Amy will be in my thoughts and prayers today.

thank you Suzanne for letting us know.

Tuesday, September 16th.... why....that is TODAY!!!!!!

Hoping and praying for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery for Amy!



peach

Thanks everyone! The countdown has begun, she is scheduled for 7:30 and it's 6:40 right now.


Where did the nervous smilie go?!

Suzanne hang in there sweetie! Once she gets in there they will move her pretty quickly with paper work and questions and tests and "stuff". Sounds like she may be the first one up and they'll wisk her in!

everything is crossed on my end!
peach

Thinking very good thoughts for Amy and for her wonderfully supportive sisters.

Will be thinking of her - a good friend of mine had bariatric surgery last February - she weighed 246 and has lost about 60 pounds and is looking wonderful.

Good for Amy - I'm hoping this is the "thing" that turns her health around for good. All 3 of you have been so wonderful in setting up and maintaining this site, and for just being yourselves!

Wishing Amy speedy recovery, then many days sleeping deeply, bouncing out of bed, size 12 clothes and much trotting through meadows.

Hey, I'll join you in wishing that for myself!

Amy is out of surgery. The surgery went well, and they took her gallbladder while they were there. She is in severe pain right now. Suzanne and I didn't go to the hospital. Amy is in another town not too far away, but she asked that we wait and see her this weekend. Our Mom and Dad were there, and they said her pain relief pump may not be working. 2 hours after surgery she is awake and talking quite a bit, and she said that this pain was far worse than when she had her hysterectomy. The pain medication apparently isn't doing anything - hopefully that will be resolved soon.

She says it hurts to breathe - Our mom thinks possibly due to the incision being high and near her lungs. I don't know the exacts, but my mother said they cut her from her chest (not sure how high that really means) to her belly button. I am not very familiar with the specifics...is that a normal incision for Open R-N-Y? Did anybody here have extreme pain after surgery? I think she is pretty tolerant to pain, at least with what I have seen.

Thanks for all of your well wishes and prayers, I know Amy will appreciate it.

Here's hoping that she's over all that horrible pain soon. Hopefully she will feel so much better being on the other side of her surgery that she will soon forget this current pain.
Give her my best!
Chickadee

oh dear. i thought she was having lap surgery not open... yes.. there is a whole lot more pain with the open, and they'd better make sure that her morphine pump is working!!!!!!!

and that incision is typical. remember, her stomach has been cut, and her intestines as well in a couple of places. it's not an easy thing.

but sounds like she's in good hands, once they get the pain under control.

Amy has always been tolerant to pain, and that's why this throws me, given the degree of pain they say she's having.

I just spoke with Mom and she said the pump was digital but nothing was happening when they clicked it, so they didn't know if she was getting any morphine or not.

She expected this to be like her hysterectomy, and I would have thought so, too. However, she said that was a breeze compared to this, and she never thought anyone could feel this much pain. She kept saying she was sorry and blamed herself for it.

She said it hurts so bad to breathe that she's afraid to go to sleep because she doesn't think she will wake up.

Jiffypop, Amy said this was the surgery that her doctor recommended, he said it would be better for her, so she accepted it. I wish she'd have gone with the lap band, but she's really put herself in their hands because she was just so excited to have it done. I know she regrets it now.

Today will be a very long day for her, I so hope she will fall asleep, and tomorrow will be a better day.

Wishing Amy a speedy recovery and all the the support she needs to make tomorrow better than today. Suzanne please tell Amy and your family how you have each touched our lives.

Restfull sleep,
-L

Suzanne and Jennifer - My thoughts and prayers are with
you all...Amy will be just fine.

suzanne... please PLEASE tell Amy that this will pass. not today, probably not tomorrow, but it WILL pass. it WILL get better. this is not a small surgery. and the next three months or so will be uncomfortable at best, and hard at times. but IT WILL PASS!!!!!

SHE NEEDS DRUGS!!!!

Amy...I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery.
The pain will cease. Poor thing.
Suzanne and Jennifer you just keep 'holding her hand' so to speak even if you aren't there in the room with her. The first night is always the worst.

My sister just had the open RNY on september 3rd and she too was in much pain the first day. She did not think it would hurt that much. They had to give her bolus (sp) doses of morphine and they gave her a shot of a drug called toradol that she said worked better than the morphine for her. She is 2 weeks out tommorow and is starting to feel better and is not taking much for pain at this point. Take care and prayers for your sister to get comfortable soon. Oh and my sisters surgeon has little hands so her scar is about 4 inches long.

Thank you all for your concern and good wishes :) Amy is doing much better now, after they finally got her med pump to work. We'll be going to see her soon and may spend a night or two there to help her out, and we will let her know you were thinking about her.

Thanks :goodvibes

:goodvibes :love:

Suzanne-I am so glad to know that Amy is feeling a bit better.

My connection has been down but please know that thoughts and prayers are being sent Amy's way from a Houston Chick now!

I know and have felt the power from the love and support on this sight! I pray Amy will feel it too.

Janice

I hope the pain eases up soon and that the end results will be worth it to Amy. It's hard to know that someone you love is hurting but hopefully she'll be feeling much better soon and that the surgery will be worth it to her.

Amy, It will be worth all of the pain Just getting through it is hard. Know that my prayers and thoughts are with you. Each hour it will get better. Love Grammy

Glad to hear they have her pain somewhat under control.

best wishes to Amy and all of you

Please tell Amy we are rooting for her and we hope to see her here posting with us soon.

Hugs !!!

My very best wishes to Amy for a speedy recovery! I hope she is soon saying, "It was worth it, pain and all! " :)

Amy ~ I hope you will be feeling better soon. You made a courageous decision for your life. Congratulations. A friend of mine did too this year and she looks fabulous!! All the best and good luck!~ Melody:D

Jennifer & Suzanne, Her's another Texas rooting for Amy. I'm glad the pain meds are kicking in. Alvin had the lap the first time and it wasn't very painful. The second time it was open, but since he was in intensive care afterwards for four day, but the time he got to a regular room, his pain was not bad. Just hang in there and you will all start to see the wonderful results before you know it.

SUZANNE and AMY....When I had my surgery twenty two yrs ago, mine was open, but they did an upside down smiley incision
from side to side....My Mom said my first words coming from under the sleep drugs were "This better be damn well worth this pain!" Yes, she's gonna hurt, but when the staples come out, she will feel so much better...they took mine out on the third morning after my surgery. Tell her to watch out for that first poop ....it's a killer :lol:
I'm sending good thoughts, prayers and wishes her way...
BOB

Thanks BOB! We'll tell her, lol. She's walking a little now, but she's had to take some tranquilizers, as the whole experience has had a very bad effect on her. I feel so badly for her. She's supposed to go home this weekend, but I can't imagine she'll be ready.

I'm glad yours went well for you! Did they start cutting in the chest area? I'm not sure how high up they cut her, I only know she is having a hard time breathing due to the incision.

I really need to read more threads around here. I just received the 3FC newsletter and read about Amy having the surgery and wanted to let her know she will be in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) to you Amy.

Well it happened, someone just wrote to unsubscribe from our newsletter and blast us because Amy chose this route.


Here is the email:

I have received your newsletter for some time.
I am "unsubscribing" immediately from your newslettter. (I set my request per the instructions in your email.)
My reasons for this are are my opinions, as follows:
1. I find the title of your website offensive. I am overweight but I have learned that self-demeaning comments (i.e; "fat chick") about myself will never lead me to the goal I want.
2. I do not understand the desperate measure of gastric bypass surgery. If you can't "get it" without bypass you will not "get it" with bypass. To go to the drastic measure of surgery to lose weight is beyond my comprehension.

I am offended by these two issues & feel that it is not in my best interests to frequent a site that does not share my philosophy.
There is some valuable information on your web site.
Thank-you.

I'm not sure I should post my reply :lol:

oh suzanne.. i'd LOVE to see your reply!!! but maybe i'm just your evil twin???

like this person didn't KNOW there was a wls forum???? like whatever decision amy made affects HER PERSONALLY?????? like the rest of the world has to agree with her in order for her to function????? bleccccch

harumph.

how's amy feeling today?

Originally posted by Suzanne 3FC
Well it happened, someone just wrote to unsubscribe from our newsletter and blast us because Amy chose this route.

My two cents on this is that it isn't even worth worrying about or replying to. The writer obviously has some issues of his/her own and lashing out at others is their way of dealing with it.

I see nothing at all wrong with Amy's choice, or the choice of any who choose WLS.

May God richly bless you all for what you do here!

Suzanne,

My reply??? The fact that people are resorting to the kind of discomfort that Amy is going through right now should bear witness to the fact that this is a last resort effort that was not entered into without research and heart felt soul searching.

I say HURRAY for Amy's courage!! We would much rather have Amy around and healthy than dead and keeping that stupid, ill-informed woman happy.

She might not have known about the wls forum, though, because only about a seventh of our website visitors use the forum. However, wls is not something new to diet websites, most weight loss websites have references to it! Why the surprise?

I even wondered why she subscribed to the newsletter in the first place, if she found just the title of the site so offensive. Our title has been the same since day one :?:

I spoke with Amy a moment ago, thanks :) She sounds better than I thought she would. She said they will do the leak test tomorrow and if all goes well, she'll go home Saturday :)

Thanks for your support everyone, I have told her about your kind words and support, and she really appreciates it. It helps a lot at a time like this!

Geez, "fat" is a bad word now? I call myself fat all the time - not demeaning, just taking the power out of the word. Pooey on her. I think it's a cool, light-hearted title.

And "philosophy"? Puh-LEEZE. She doesn't sound terribly philosophical to me.

How's Amy today? It sounds like she's a bit discouraged - understandable, I think. It's hard when you're disoriented and in pain to be able to think, "Oh, but this will benefit me so much in the LONG RUN." WEEKS from now. I'll just pray that she can bear it and the days go fast. And that she sleeps a lot.

I'll pray for you two "sistas" as well, since I'm sure you're suffering vicariously.

Poor chicks!

glad to hear that Amy is doing better, Suzanne! I had lap, didn't have my gallbladder out and was pretty darn uncomfortable for 3 weeks....so Amy may not feel well for quite a while. Sending out gentle hugs to her....and you and Jennifer too!

as to the person who unsubscribed....gee, that's a pretty judgemental attitude she has. Weight loss methods are alot like one size fits all bras.....some just don't!

peach

Weight loss Surgery gave me back my husband. Sorry the writer has her head buried in the sand but for some people this is the only way. I thank the stars that John had this for an option!

As for the open surgery - that is what John had, do not be to shocked when you see the incision, it is very large. But it really fades with a little time, and as for us, any pain has been SO worth it.

John started to feel much better in just a few weeks. Back pain gone, hip pain gone, sleeping better.

I hope your sister is up and around and able to go home today!

SUZANNE,

People like that are not even worth a reply....just blow it off!
My incision was from side to side and not the chest area. They started down about mid way of my abdomen and just drew an upside down smiley...
I'm so glad to hear that she is feeling better...the breathing part could be anxiety and not from the incision at all.
Glad to hear she up walking...I know the first time I stood up, it felt like the whole lower part of my body was going to fall off! It was the strangest feeling that I've ever experienced.
Is you Mom going to stay with her for a few days when she goes home?
Keep us updated...and tell AMY :wave: for me!
BOB

Mom won't be staying with her. Her husband is also home on medical leave for having some back surgery. Between him and her daughters, she is in many good hands! We had talked about having a 'slumber party' in a couple of weeks - but now I doubt that will happen - I don't think she will feel well enough by then.

Glad to hear Amy is on the mend.

As for the person who sent you the note.......some folks will just never get it......'nuff said.

Amy passed her leak test this morning! She gets chicken broth later today. Mom said she didn't sleep well last night, neither did her husband, so they washed her hair at 1:30am. :lol: She's asleep now, though.

By the way, did I share my flower experience? We sent Amy flowers to be delivered at the hospital. The floral arranger was a little too enthusiastic after attending a floral trade show last weekend, and she stuffed candy bars between the flowers. D'oh!

Also, the morning after her surgery, the nurses brought her a tray with biscuits and gravy on it. Thank goodness Amy had the sense to not eat this stuff!

jennifer.. biscuits and gravy???? you have just witnessed one of the major problems with this surgery: most dieticians JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!!

amy will have to be VERY CAREFUL about the advice she gets...

Jennifer,

The DOC told me that I couldn't have ANY STRINGY BEEF, and the first meal they brought me was BEEF TIPS!!! Makes me wonder if they know what they're doing!
Give her my best!!! She'll do fine!

BOB

Praying for Amy!

AR

Jennifer -

They did the same thing to my mom last year when she had 1/2 of her tummy removed due to ulcer damage (her procedure was a lot like wls). They were bringing her fruit juices galor and then stuff like choco. milk & canned peaches! Luckily I had read up on her surgery and had my low carb knowledge and got rid of the stuff quick! I kept asking the nurses "Do you even KNOW what she has had done?????" I know hospital staff work very hard and I admire them greatly but geeeeeze......

Sending healing vibes Amy's way.

Kel

I just talked to Amy. She is going home today, with mixed reactions. She is ready to go, but not sure what it will be like. She started on liquids yesterday. They gave her Crystal Light, water, and maybe jello..can't remember what the third thing was that she said. She said that her tastebuds are out of whack and that artifical sweetener is HYPERsweet and she can hardly stand it, and she said she is burping all of the artifical flavors. Also when she drinks the fluids, she gets bloated, and has had a little diarrhea. She said the nurses told her that was common, and that it should go away. Did any of you have this happen? She is really discouraged right now and wonders if she made the right decision. I told her to hang in there, and that I am sure this is a temporary thing.

Did any of you have similar experiences?

That's normal because it's be a while since she had anything in there of any substance...it too shall pass :lol:

BOB

Thanks for sharing and best wishes to Amy. I had an open RNY 1/2001 and it was the greatest gift I could have given myself. I have faith that Amy will feel the same way to as she begins feeling better. As for the pain, I was given an epidural prior to surgery and it remained in place for two or three days after. I only had mild pain when I coughed or sneezed. I was offered the morphine pump after the epidural was out but found I didn't need it. I think they gave me percocet for a day then just plain old Tylenol. I have a friend who just had the surgery and his doc didn't do an epidural and he had lots of pain too. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone about to have this type of surgery. My incision was also long, longer than others I've seen who've had the same surgery. I guess it depends on the size of the surgeon's hands or something! Fortunately, I've had no complications whatsoever and am HEALTHY and active!! Good luck, Amy!!!

jennifer.. digestive discomfort and upset are very very common. after all, there's been surgery and amy's system is still in shock and healing!!! anything can [and does!] happen.

and the diet for right now has nothing really to do with the weight loss, but rather with healing the surgery.

the first 3 months are not pretty, but this WILL END!!!! i promise!!!

I would like to extend well wishes for Amy. Such a courageous step for her and she will heal, just encourage her to relax and breathe through this time. I have had nine abdominal surgeries related to endometroisis, so I can relate to surgery in general.

Second, I have battled my entire teen and adult life with my weight. For the first time I was considering some type of surgery because I have tried so many things will success but always gained back what I lost, plus.

When I decided to consider this I was very upset, felt that I was selling out on myself and that I was a failure. That was when I found these boards. I spent a while listening to everyone who posted on the WLS boards, and realized what an amazing courageous decision one makes and the price one pays when the decide to go this route.

I went to the doctor and he suggested that I try Merida, which I did for three weeks, until I ended up in the ER with heart palpatations. He told me that he could get me qualified for Gastric Bypass through my insurance if I wanted.

But an amazing thing happened during this time, a friend suggested hypnotherapy, and then I began to visit other threads on this board and I gave up sugar, and then I started the South Beach Diet and now I am eating LowCarb and I have lost 10 pounds...one month. I am now begining to do the Dr. Phil Challenge....I am now enjoying this process and most importantly I feel much better.

If this doesn't work, then I know that I can do the WLS, even though it frightens me. ....we live in a society that accepts prejudice against fat people, do nothing to accomodate them, charge them more money to travel, the same clothes cost more and it is okay for people to drive around with bumper stickers that say "no fat chicks".

I think that Amy having the surgery and Jennifer and Suzanne's eating styles really represents what 3 fat chicks is all about. Amy's quality of life was greatly affected, if someone had large breasts and they had back problems, would a reduction be so judged? I don't think so, it would be applauded.

Shame on them, and frankly if they felt that way then they really had nothing of value to contribute here anyhow.

-rb

thank you rowan... you're thinking along the same lines each and every one of us has thought - and done - throughout our lives. it's wonderful that you've found something that's workng for you, and even better that you've found a supportive doctor. if indeed, farther down the road, you decide that you need/want the surgery, you have all this MD-supervised diet stuff all wrapped up.

and if you continue losing so well, then you're all set!!!!!! that's what it's all about. and what 3fc is all about.

but i have to ask... now that you've come out of lurkdom, hang out with us!!! we all need all the help we can get!!!!

Thanks Jif!

I try and post whenever I feel that I have a contribution, my lurkyness has to do more with if I have anthing relevant to say rather than shyness.

You will see me pop up here and there!!!!

-rb

Thanks everybody for your advice to Amy. We are passing things along to her. Saturday she was worried, as she could only get down 12 ounces. Yesterday she made it up to 16 and today she was managing a protein drink, so hopefully things are looking up for her.

Thanks again!

My thoughts and prayers are with Amy, wishing her a quick recovery.



(PS. How can I subscribe to the newsletter? I never knew there was one, I have no idea how I missed it before)

Amy is doing better! She is getting in 60 ounces of protein a day now, and she went to the doctor today and is down 13 pounds from her pre-op appointment. She is beginning to feel better now. Today was her first day out since coming home, and she thinks the sunlight and fresh air did her a lot of good.

Thank you for all of your support during this. It's been stressful and a bit scary for Suzanne and I, and it has been very uplifting for Amy. Thank you!!!!

thanks for letting us know, jennifer. the first few days are ALWAYS the worst. but it DOES END.

she sounds GREAT. right on track!

CONGRATS TO AMY!!!!! WAY TO GO!!!!

BOB

Suzanne and I spent the day with Amy today. She looks SO GOOD. She has lost 30 pounds since this summer, but I can't remember how much of that was since surgery...darn! I am thinking she said she lost 15 before surgery, so there you be.

Anyway - she looked SO refreshed, and so clear! Her eyes were brighter and he face just glowed. Her face was also much more slender than I have seen in a long time. I haven't seen her look this healthy and refreshed in a long time. And her butt was so much smaller! I swear I think she lost almost all of her weight in the 4 cheeks. Yeah, she'll kill me for posting that, but she'll be secretly happy too. She looks so good, and I am glad she had this option for her. It has been hard, but overall this is going to be a very good thing for her.

It was kinda hard eating in front of her...but not as hard as I thought it would be. Suzanne and I both ate 'diet food', and Amy had yogurt, so it wasn't too lopsided. Her and my Mom's birthday dinner, however, is going to be awkward!

i was starting to wonder what was going on.. and don't worry about eating in front of her.. most of us just sort of lose interest in food. at least for awhile.

so glad things are going better for amy... and regardless of how she lost it, 30 pounds are gone!!!!!!

Amy! :wave: