Biggest Difficulty? - ThinnerTimes

Tammi · 11-13-2006, 06:11 PM

Earlier I posted the question about the biggest benefits of having WLS. The replies so far have been wonderful and encouraging!

Since ya' all seem to be such an honest and straightforward bunch, I would also really be interested in hearing what your the most difficult things are that you have gone through since having WLS.

Ever have any moments of regret?
Any major (and/or permanent) complications?
What has been your scariest moment since WLS?
Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected?
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery?
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure?

I am really committed to this process, but I want to go in with my eyes fully open and with realistic expectations. I hope I don't come across as trying to "interrogate" - I just have so many questions - not about the actual surgical procedure, but about the "human" side of the equation. I think that the only people that can answer my questions are folks like you - the ones who have paved the way and are willing to share your experiences with those of us who are just starting on this path!

Thanks again!
Tammi

Snubby241 · 11-13-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tammi

Earlier I posted the question about the biggest benefits of having WLS. The replies so far have been wonderful and encouraging!

Since ya' all seem to be such an honest and straightforward bunch, I would also really be interested in hearing what your the most difficult things are that you have gone through since having WLS.

Ever have any moments of regret?
Nope
Any major (and/or permanent) complications?
None
What has been your scariest moment since WLS?
Guzzled a cup of coffee on my way out the door, thought I was
going to burst.
Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected?
Nope
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery?
Not drinking during meals.
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure? Absolutely.

I've been really lucky, had no complications what so ever, had a few dumping experiences but learned how to avoid it. Just had my 1 year follow up last week and I'm down to 217.5 from 327 at time of surgery.

VanessaSFL · 11-13-2006, 06:28 PM

Ever have any moments of regret?
**Yes,in the begining and when I was unable to progress with solid foods ..I still have problems with Solids at 20 months out.

Any major (and/or permanent) complications?
**I had a GI Bleed @ 2 weeks post-op...and have been dealing with Anemia for about 7 months.

What has been your scariest moment since WLS?
**GI Bleed

Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected?
**Not that I am aware of

What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery?
**Learning how to be thin...and the loss of food...Having to talk about issues instead of eating the entire contents of the fridge.

If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure?**Yes.I would

V

Cinerbelle · 11-13-2006, 07:00 PM

Ask all the questions you need to. That is what we are here for!!

Ever have any moments of regret?
There have been times when I have REALLY wanted to eat something that I couldn't...at that second I would feel a little regret, but quickly get over it!

Any major (and/or permanent) complications?
Nope...THANK GOD!

What has been your scariest moment since WLS?
I would have to say the scariest moment was a bout of the WORST gas pains I have ever felt. I didn't know it was gas at the time. It hurt so bad that I couldn't even speak. Tears were running down my face...my Husband was beside himself. It lasted for about an hour and a half and then very slowly subsided. Later I found out that the pain was gas. I never knew gas could feel like that.

Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected?
I have some relationships with co-workers and aquaintances that have been affected, but no relationship issues with those I love!

What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery?
Just learning a whole new way of living. Not being able to feed my stress with food. Learning to eat to live...and not live to eat.

If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure?
In a heart beat!!!

Luna Lurker · 11-13-2006, 07:25 PM

I'm only one month out, so I haven't had much time to have 'learning experiences' yet. Last week while washing walls I thought I'd wait til I finished a wall before going to get a drink from my water bottle. Well by that time I was really over thirsty and started to gulp it down for relief-----I realized my mistake by my 4th gulp. I know I scared the hell out of my daughter.

NewMel06 · 11-13-2006, 09:29 PM

Ever have any moments of regret?
My only regret was to not have done it sooner!!!! You wake up in some pain after surgery and wonder what the heck did I do to myself? But I equate it to the same feeling during childbirth (surgery pain is no where near as bad) you are in a tremendous amount of pain trying to bring a child into the world and for most of us we did wonder why during the agony of it, but in the end all is so worth it! Catch my drift?

Any major (and/or permanent) complications? I have had none.

What has been your scariest moment since WLS? Going home from the hospital not sure if I would be able to consume all I needed to. I felt like I was leaving the hospital with my first born. You sort of feel like, how am I going to take care of myself?
Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected? Yes, friendships, but then they weren't the best of friendships or things would have worked out. You go through a lot of change, not just physical by any means. I can't totally explain this one, but you change emotionaly with your new found confidence and self worth! As you look at yourself differently, so will others. Some people get intimidated by these feelings, others are fine and supportive. My marriage had a few little bumps along the way. I just kept open and honest with my husband and let him know things that were once ok with me, were no longer and this was the new way it had to go. He is a really good guy, though he didn't necessarily roll with the changes, he has accepted things now.
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery? I haven't had anything negative come as a result this surgery, so the worst thing I have to say is that it has been hard for the mind and the body to catch up. Sometimes I see myself back at 284 pounds and then other times I look in the mirror and say, wow I am getting thin. I will be at the gym and see a narrow space and think I wont make it, but then realize I do fit. It is kind of crazy.
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure? Yes, a thousand times over!!!!

Dyann · 11-14-2006, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tammi

Ever have any moments of regret?
Any major (and/or permanent) complications?
What has been your scariest moment since WLS?
Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected?
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery?
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure?

Regret: I didn't do it sooner
Major Complications: Not even a minor one
Scariest moment: The first time a piece of solid food got stuck
Negatively affected relationships: Not one
Hardest thing to adjust to post surgery: Separating liquid from solids by 30 minutes and not drinking with meals. It took a good 3-4 months to get used to a routine with that. I was one who would drink 40 oz of water with a meal and nothing between. So it was the exact opposite of what I was used to. But now it is no problem and a new normal. I don't miss sugar and I can eat pretty much anything, but I don't.
Same procedure: Absolutely...RNY all the way baby.

If you have an experienced surgeon...you are in the best possible situation.

justawoman · 11-14-2006, 06:07 AM

Ever have any moments of regret?NEVER
Any major (and/or permanent) complications?I have kidney issues, nothing major but develop kidney infections and stones quite often. This can not be proven to be from the surgery.
What has been your scariest moment since WLS?I swolled a macaroni noodle whole and I panicked..nothing happen.
Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected?I have had some negative attention from friends who are jealous and think I took the easy way out, mind you they are looking into the surgery now.
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery?I really haven't found anything about adjusting hard, I was commited before surgery and had my mind set. I struggle with getting in my water daily but other then that it has been a breeze for me.
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure? YESSSSSSSSSS

Good Luck to you!

Zenomia · 11-14-2006, 06:12 AM

Ever have any moments of regret? Not a single one
Any major (and/or permanent) complications? Yeah. I developed a stricture from surgery. At two weeks out I was hospitalized for the first time with dehydration and to have the silly thing stretched. I then was in the hospital two weeks later doing it all over again. The next 3 stretches of the stupid stricture happened about every two weeks there after, for a total of 5. I am now about 5 1/2 months out and have been stricture free for 2 months. We are pretty confident that I won't have further problems with it.
What has been your scariest moment since WLS? Haven't had any. I was so anal about knowing everything that I researched this surgery and asked a million questions and got every answer that I could think of and then some. I haven't had anything happen to me that freaked me out or surprised me. This site alone prepared me for every eventuality that could happen and nothing was shocking. I was a bit surprised that I ended up being allergic to morphine...but that wasn't a big deal...well for me it wasn't, the ghosts I talked to at the time and the nurses who I thought were trying to kill me might disagree a wee bit. LOL!!

Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected? Not a one. I didn't share my news with anyone outside of immediate family. I figured this surgery was MY thing and I didn't want or need approval from anyone else. People have noticed since and I sometimes will tell them about, sometimes not. Overall though, I was always careful of whom I surrounded myself with and those choices prooved to be excellent ones!
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery? Chewing my food all the way to mush, waiting a bit between bites, and progressing to solids. With the strictures, I was on a liquid diet for almost 2 months post-op. I was DYING to start solids..but found it difficult to adjust to them and keep them down. Now it's old school, but at the time, it was trial and error and slightly annoying.
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure? In a nanosecond!

I was ready to take any measure possible to lose the weight for good. I had hit my brick wall. This surgery was my LAST RESORT and my only HOPE. I have never said I regretted it, and I never will. This is the greatest gift I could have ever given myself. I have a life back and I wouldn't have it without this tool!!

lealphachienne · 11-14-2006, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tammi

Earlier I posted the question about the biggest benefits of having WLS. The replies so far have been wonderful and encouraging!

Since ya' all seem to be such an honest and straightforward bunch, I would also really be interested in hearing what your the most difficult things are that you have gone through since having WLS.

Ever have any moments of regret? NO
Any major (and/or permanent) complications? I had a sudden upper GI bleed after 2.5 years related to the bypass and need 3 days in the hospitla and a blood transfusion....on the verge of death yet again. ALso, durin my reconstructive surgery...I had major bleeding and needed 4 units of blood transfused and was within hours of death.
What has been your scariest moment since WLS? Realizing I had only myself and God to depend on...no one else could ever fully come through for me...in the end, at the darkest momns, it's just me and Him.
Have any of your personal relationships been negatively affected? I'm divorced now. A lot of jealousies at wok and had to cahnge jobs.
What has been the hardest thing to adjust to post-surgery? Seeing a stranger in teh mirror every moning and realizing it's me.
If you had the chance to do it over again, would you have the same procedure? ABSOULUTELY...every single aspect of my journey has molded me to who I am today!

I am really committed to this process, but I want to go in with my eyes fully open and with realistic expectations. I hope I don't come across as trying to "interrogate" - I just have so many questions - not about the actual surgical procedure, but about the "human" side of the equation. I think that the only people that can answer my questions are folks like you - the ones who have paved the way and are willing to share your experiences with those of us who are just starting on this path!

Thanks again!
Tammi

Hope this helps....in the end, it's your decision, if you want to do it...then go for it. I rahter face death on a daily basis and the uncertainities of life after WLS than to continue in the hell of a life I had as a MO person.