She said yes!

I'm so glad that everything has fallen into place for you!  I'm sure it will go great!  Best of luck.

Meshell,

I am very excited for you as I know how hard you have tried to lose weight every other which way. I don't want to be negative but just wanted to be sure you have done as much research into the Dr & procedure as possible.....because I just went to one of the most heartbreaking funerals ever yesterday: that of a woman my age (38) who died a week after the surgery of complications.  She had just gotten engaged....was planning her wedding and desperate to be a slim bride..............

Now, I was pretty shocked, because  my SiL had the surgery around 3 yrs ago (wanted to be able to conceive) and her op caused mjor problems with the dumping syndrome and I am not sure if it's through lack of exercise while losing, but she looks like all her weight simply slid down to the bottom half, so she has a much slimmer appearance from her neck down to her waist and then all of a sudden her hips and thighs billow out completely out of proportion to the rest of her (I think total weight loss was approx 160 lbs).  She then went on to have 3 miscarriages although she has a healthy 6 mth old baby girl now. ANyway, they made a big deal about mortality rates for the surgery back then and so I was surprised to hear that this young woman had died a week after her surgery as she had seemed to be doing so well (some kind of respiratory issues post surgery).

I know you will have read everywhere and everything you can, but I just wanted to truly remind you that it's still a very very big deal.

I wish you the very, very best and please accept this post in the spirit it's intended , because one day you're coming over to New England remember
x

Thank you for the caring post 

Believe me when I say I know what your saying...I think about complications daily and go back and forth with weighing up the options of should I or shouldn't I. I went and spoke to my GP about everything and put forth my concerns of all the kinds of complications that could arise. She said even tho I am over weight she said I am quite healthy *at the moment*, but that I won't stay this way for much longer. I will and am starting to get the complications of being overweight. I have sleep apnea already and soon I will get diabetes, my mother has it now. I don't want to live my life this way.

I am having a ECG done and blood work up done before I go. The ECG is more for my piece of mind concerning my heart.

The death rate from this type of surgery is 0.05% or this is what the stats that I have been given is. But there are alot of different rates I have seen.

I have researched my surgeon well, he is on loads of different boards regarding Bariatrics in Belgium. He does about 50 of these surgeries a week and as far as I have seen he hasn't lost a patient! The hospital in Brugge has just built a new state of the art bariatrics ward just for him, due to the volume of patients he is bringing in. On the weight loss forum I have joined I have questioned about 10 of his past patients and they are very happy with the service and care they received from him, and have lost LOADS of weight. There was a option of 2 surgeons in Belgium and after asking around figured this one was the best.

David was very apprehensive of me having this done but once we went and spoke to my GP and she was all for it and will stand behind me he is OK with it now.

The dumping syndrome, unfortunately is a common side affect of this type of surgery. Just means I will have to find out what triggers it and not eat it. Mainly it is refined sugar that is the trigger and that is something I shouldn't have anyways......

Besides I gotta lose weight if I am coming to New England, I wouldn't want to come if I couldn't SHOP!!!!!!!DUH!!!

Thank you for the caring post 

Believe me when I say I know what your saying...I think about complications daily and go back and forth with weighing up the options of should I or shouldn't I. I went and spoke to my GP about everything and put forth my concerns of all the kinds of complications that could arise. She said even tho I am over weight she said I am quite healthy *at the moment*, but that I won't stay this way for much longer. I will and am starting to get the complications of being overweight. I have sleep apnea already and soon I will get diabetes, my mother has it now. I don't want to live my life this way.

I am having a ECG done and blood work up done before I go. The ECG is more for my piece of mind concerning my heart.

The death rate from this type of surgery is 0.05% or this is what the stats that I have been given is. But there are alot of different rates I have seen.

I have researched my surgeon well, he is on loads of different boards regarding Bariatrics in Belgium. He does about 50 of these surgeries a week and as far as I have seen he hasn't lost a patient! The hospital in Brugge has just built a new state of the art bariatrics ward just for him, due to the volume of patients he is bringing in. On the weight loss forum I have joined I have questioned about 10 of his past patients and they are very happy with the service and care they received from him, and have lost LOADS of weight. There was a option of 2 surgeons in Belgium and after asking around figured this one was the best.

David was very apprehensive of me having this done but once we went and spoke to my GP and she was all for it and will stand behind me he is OK with it now.

The dumping syndrome, unfortunately is a common side affect of this type of surgery. Just means I will have to find out what triggers it and not eat it. Mainly it is refined sugar that is the trigger and that is something I shouldn't have anyways......

Besides I gotta lose weight if I am coming to New England, I wouldn't want to come if I couldn't SHOP!!!!!!!DUH!!!

I knew you would have been very, very smart about your options and normally I'd send something like this privately, but I wanted to provide some balance to say there are still deaths from the surgery (I don't know how long it takes for a procedure to become "more common" even though all surgery carries risks.

I am also glad you took it in the spirit intended - you know I wish you the very best that life still has to bring you and I admire your courage and your journey.

Especially the one that will bring you here (because I bet you don't know they carry a limited selection of D&B in TJMaxx now do you? LOL! )

(the DUH made me laugh my behind off!)

New-Dawn makes some really good points about the risks involved. I get really nervous when anyone I know is going in for the surgery because I know a few that have had really bad complications.  As far as dumping goes it sucks sometimes but it really is a desirable side-effect. Once you go thru it, it will make you not want to eat sugar or simple carbohydrates. My twin sister had the same surgery but does not dump - she wishes she would!  A lot of people talk to me about it when one of thier family members is going for it because they know that I have had the surgery.  (I had the RNY procedure on 8/29/05). It's really good that you have researched your surgeon well. I feel like I picked one of the best surgeons in my area. Some don't research enough. They don't think about it as a major life decision.  I know in the states some WLS programs have been discontinued because of how many complications and deaths they have had just because the surgeons decided to jump on the WLS band-wagon! They must have figured "well the surgery costs between $20,000 and $30,000, sounds like a good-paying field to get into". 
Sounds like your surgeon is really experienced. I wish you the best of luck! What are of the UK do you live in anyway? Just curious because you said you will be flying home via Manchester.


Melissa (in Minneapolis)

PS... I also had a lot of people tell me that I looked like I didn't need the surgery. I was "only" 100 lbs overweight.  Maybe my weight was evenly distributed. Don't let anyone guilt you for wanting to do this. Take care of yourself   Feel free to PM me if you want...or right here is fine too....I can try to answer any questions you may have about it all.

Well I spent 2 hours on the phone last night with a woman that had the same surgery with the same surgeon I am going to. She is home and feeling fantastic AND she has lost 2 stone since last Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 She is sure alot of that is water but she says she feels 100% better and it will only get better.

She gave me tips and hints and it was lovely to chat with her...........I can't wait to have mine done!!!

Awww the above lady is going to come back to Brugge and stay with me so I have someone to keep me company and I don't have to do this on my own.........

Awww the above lady is going to come back to Brugge and stay with me so I have someone to keep me company and I don't have to do this on my own.........

That is really nice MeShell, I am glad you will have someone with you to be supportive and keep you company. I am really happy for you as I know how happy this makes you. And like I said, if it keeps you smiling and keeps you healthy and around longer, I think it is wonderful. You have done your research so I trust you are in good hands. 

That is really nice MeShell, I am glad you will have someone with you to be supportive and keep you company. I am really happy for you as I know how happy this makes you. And like I said, if it keeps you smiling and keeps you healthy and around longer, I think it is wonderful. You have done your research so I trust you are in good hands. 

Thanks SS!

I can't wait up for the next meet up......afterwards......to see everyone!!!

Awww the above lady is going to come back to Brugge and stay with me so I have someone to keep me company and I don't have to do this on my own.........

Oh great Meshell!!
Im so sorry I couldnt come. I have to schlepp the kids back and forth to the USA before and after xmas to see the beast.
Always thinking of you. xx

Don't worry about it me darlin! 

Bit of a awkward time for everyone but it is when my work wanted me to do it!

As soon as I can I will come and see ya or you can come and stay with me!

XX

I still have 10 Dec set aside for you if you want to get together MeShell.

I still have 10 Dec set aside for you if you want to get together MeShell.

YOU BET!!!

Anyone else want to join in?

YOU BET!!!

Anyone else want to join in?

where? London? I can get away for a few hours!

I am flying over on the 10th and staying at the Meridien at Gatwick North Terminal


I fly out early morning on the 11th.......

You wanna come join us?