Cynda's Story

This was me in Nuffield Hospital. Just a few hours before Surgery

I heard about Roux en Y surgery from my mother, Connie. My mom was going to have the surgery and was talking me threw her experiances
Another friend of mine Harold , Had had the surgery and I had seen the dramatic weight loss in him.

I went to a gastro specilist due to having stomack problems, got tested and confirmed that I had a sevear Heital Hernia.
He said no one would touch me because I was morbidly obese. So I said what can you do about me getting Gastric Bypass surgery. He said I'll write a letter right now. and he did.
Then a few weeks later having problems prior with my feet and legs, went to see a bone specilist. Who Also said you need to lose weight, who also mentioned the Gastric bypass surgery to, and said Yes, I'll write a recommendation that you have the surgery to the GP. Which he did.
So that was 2 specilist so far I had saying YES..you need it.
Went to the GP. and he agreed Yes we need to do this.

Now came the hard part.
How do we get a Doctor. Well first I was sent to an Obesity clinic. which is routine. I saw a few doctors and a few dieticians and had a phycological evaluation.
This took about 4 months for all these things to happen. The surgeon I saw the first time, well him and I did not get on real well so it was decided I could go somewhere else to seek treatment. Then I approached the NHS, who said 1 to 4 years waiting list. Wasn't good enough
Then I contacted Pals. (Patient Liason service) Most hospitals have this service. Who told me about the PCT.(Primary Care Trust) They help to fund all and any medical procedures if deemed nessicary.

After about a 5 month battle and pleading. I got the funding for the surgery. I will tell you this surgery is not cheap.
This surgey cost in the round about figures of £8 Thousand to £12 Thousand Pounds in the UK
$4 Thousand to $18 Thousand Dollars in the USA

There are guidelines you MUST meet and those guidelines are strict.
Your BMI (Body Mass Index) must be to a certain number
and Mine was.

Anyway...got threw all that went to a few support meetings in USA where my mom lives and decided who the surgeon would be
Mr Simon Dexter, Leeds, Nuffield Hospital
and I tell you. Mr Dexter and his team were Brill !!

You are not left alone to just have the surgery and that's it. There is a dietician and she calls me about every 2 weeks
There is Mr Dexter who I feel lives on line, cause if I have a question he is usually on the other end answering it. Or his lovely secretary Jan
.There is also his Nurse Wendy , who is fantastic.she is always there to reassure and help.

I just like to also say the team in the ITU ward..Are brill..Thanks Julie for all your help and being so soothing and comforting.

Anyway ... so I came home after surgery..a bit soar..and crying cause of pain
to say the least I am still paranoid about what I should be eating..but I really am not that hungry. I don't really care to eat much
I have a Tea spoon I eat from at the moment and eat usually out of a regular sized coffee mug.

Every day gets better...and you really need to tell yourself that. and when you see the weight coming off.
It makes all the pain worth it..well sometimes.