Advice - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

tgrahn · 06-22-2009, 09:41 PM

I was able to get in for my consultation at the end of April and will be going in for an open on October 26, 2009. I have had a few people trying to 'scare' me out of the surgery by telling me horror stories of how people who have gastric bypasses vomit every time they eat and look gahstly pale and ill all the time, even several years after their surgery. I was hoping to talk directly to people who have had the surgery and see how their experiences have been and if they have any advice on how to make this as smooth as a process as can be for me. Any advice that any of you wonderful ladies could give me would be greatly appreciated. I am also very worried about the ability to bear children after the surgery as I am 23 and thus far childless.

My procedure is being done by Dr. Nohr or Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.

TheFour · 06-22-2009, 09:57 PM

Hey there, this site does contain some guys too!

First off, dont listen to the nay-sayers.
Second, listen to your doc.
Third, get ready its a journey.
Fourth, you can have babies. They arent taking your ovaries and uterus out. You just have to weight till your body is ready.

Enough of the numbers. Yes there are risks with surgery, not just WLS. You can do this and you will be better for it. The women here will give you tons of great advice. Obviously, I am not a women. But i feel pain too.

Good luck on your journey and I hope you will not listen to the negativity from the "others"

AirForceWifeInUtah · 06-23-2009, 02:07 AM

There are stories that abound about this procedure. Some people do vomit, but that's called dumping. It's when they eat something that they're not supposed to. I'm sure you've been advised of the risks from your surgeon as far as food goes.

Regarding children, weight loss surgery has actually been shown to greatly improve fertility in women. This is one of the reasons I am going to have this done. Normal and healthy babies have been born to many women who have had WLS. It is advised that a woman wait 18 months or so after surgery to get pregnant. This is because your body at 18+ months out has stabalized and knows what's going on. Before this, you're still in your active weight loss phase where your body is trying to figure out what the heck is going on, so there's no extra nutrition to dedicate to a growing baby.

As with most doctors post-WLS, you'll need to find doctors who specialize in treating WLS patients but with the popularity of this surgery today.. there should be no problem finding an OB/GYN who's dealt with WLS babies before.

poet_kelly · 06-23-2009, 07:35 AM

I vomiting a lot during the first few months after my surgery. Mostly I was nauseous from not getting enough protein. If I'd listened to my doctor and gotten the protein I was supposed to, I probably would have felt a lot better. I am more than 7 months out now, and I still vomit occasionally. Usually it's if I eat to much or eat too fast. Sometimes I eat things that don't agree with me. It's usually something with lots of fat or sugar. You are supposed to avoid that stuff after surgery. Yesterday I ate some potato soup, and I paid a price for it. For the most part, though, I am able to eat without vomiting.

I look great since I've lost 85 pounds. I am not pale, and I don't look ill.

Many people are misinformed about WLS. Don't listen to them.

As far as having children, many people have children after WLS. Check out the stories in the pregnancy forum of this site.

Kelly

soon2bthin · 06-23-2009, 07:41 AM

Everyone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone that died from gastric bypass or worse... This is how my friend was and I had to quit conversating with per prior to my surgery. Too much of a Peggy Pessimist for me.

That said, do your research, know the facts both pro and con and make an informed decision.

Don't let your choice be dictated by someones elses ignorant assumptions. YOu know what they say about assuming?

Good luck.

tgrahn · 06-23-2009, 09:15 AM

Thank you all for the advice. As far as listening to my doctor goes, there is not much to listen too. I had one 15 minute consultation with him and I will not see him again until the morning of surgery. He does not give advice on what to do pre-op or post-op, he expects you to do you research and find the information on your own. The ONLY advice he gave me was to read a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies," but I have not been able to find it at any bookestores in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, or Calgary. I have made an appointment to speak with a dietician and get his/her advice on a pre-op lifestlye change and what to expect as far as food and nutrition post-op.

I am aware of 'dumping syndrome'. I have read plenty about that on the internet so far. However, the people trying to 'scare' me made it sound as if I was going to be 'deathly ill' for the rest of my life after this surgery. They tell me people who have had the surgery swear the would never do it again.

This surgery is something I have wanted for a long time and I have done plenty of research. I know the risks involved, but am also realistic and know there are risks invloved with all surgeries. I also know that there are far more risks associated with being 'morbidly obese' than there are associated with WLS surgery.

I appreciate all of the advice given to me and am more than happy to take it from people who have had the surgery.

poet_kelly · 06-23-2009, 09:51 AM

I would definitely have the surgery again. It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

I am concerned, though, that your doctor gives no pre-op or post-op instructions. That sounds foolhardy to me. He is the expert, after all. It's not reasonable to expect patients to figure things out for themselves. Oh, I'm all for doing your own research and being your own advocate. But we pay doctors for their expertise. One that refuses to answer questions or give advice seems dangerous to me.

Kelly

Randi · 06-23-2009, 11:30 AM

I too am concerned that your doctor is not offering any pre/post operative advice. Perhaps this is the reason people have told you about others being so ill after this surgery!?! Without this information and education, I could most definitely understand why people may be ill and vomiting all the time.

My first thought would be to research your surgeon! How many of these procedures has he done and how have his patients fared? Do you have any other choices for surgeons where you live...one that might offer the information you need?

Most people I have talked to (before and after my surgery) have had very extensive medical appointments with a variety of doctors (PCP, surgeon, nutritionist, psychologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist) as well as several nutritional counseling sessions. Myself, along with getting cleared by a psychologist and pulmonologist, I had to attend a nutritional meeting prior to surgery and then one at 1 week post op, 3 weeks post op and 6 weeks post op. And they offer annual follow up nutritional meetings. They offered very specific information about how our "new stomachs" will be--how big they are at various stages post op, what we can and cannot eat at various stages post op, how we might feel if we eat something we shouldn't, or just eating too much....we were even told the size of a bite of food we should eat and how many times we should chew it and how long it should take us to eat. There is just so much information you need before and after WLS.

I have had very few problems since having my surgery 2.5 months ago. People have told me that I've never looked so good! A couple of times, I have had some discomfort when having ate just a bite or two too much and I have gone through "dumping" once or twice. Thankfully it was not as terrible experience as I've heard others have had, but it is usually enough to make me extra mindful at what and how much I eat at my next meal.

I wish you the best of luck on your weight loss journey!

Lana · 06-23-2009, 11:53 AM

I would be very concerned about this doctor if I were you. If he doesn't require you to meet with the other specialists on top of the fact that he doesn't provide the proper information to you, I would search for a new doctor. This is a serious surgery that will affect the rest of your life. Researching by yourself is always something you should do but that's only in addition to the support and guidance of your surgeon.

Please be careful and if need be, find another surgeon. Your life is too precious to play around with.