The Negative Side of WLS - ThinnerTimes

Baron Patrick · 07-09-2007, 03:29 PM

We all know there is a negative side to weight loss surgery, the problem is, we don't want to look at it because, face it, we want this surgery so bad, we won't look at the potential repercussions. I for one "hid" from it. I understood the down side, but didn't want think about it, because we all want to believe it won't happen to us.

Well, unfortunately, it does, and we need to understand this. Friends like Paige, Donna, Keith and LQQKN are going through some of the worst. Even Lisa, who had some terrible complications from her plastic surgery. We need to support them, understand them, and learn from them. They too have valuable lessons we can all learn from.

You know what else? No matter how much our friends here have gone through, they still post to congratulate, support, and celebrate our successes. These are people with class.

These are my friends who I truly care about. I want to hear and follow thier progress.

The following post is from Paige. I hijacked another thread and asked her about her surgery-what happened. This is her response. Although I can't relate to what she's going through, this could have very easily have been me, or you. These people are just as valuable to this forum as all the "success" stories we read.

Well...... A few things actually. First of all I should say I'm a revision from 1990 when they did gastric stapling... after so 14 years mine failed and I gained all my wieght back within a year. So I decided to have it taken down and when I went to see the surgeon he said "Let's do a revision instead, I'll ocnvert this to an RNY, you did so well the first time, you shouldn't have any problems" There were no lengthy test cycles or visits like most first timers have to go through....

I did okay the first 3 weeks after surgery, then I started getting nauseous for no reason... the doc said give it a few weeks it will go away... 9 months, 4 hospital visits, toxic doses and withdrawals form to many meds to list here, I'm still nauseous, have chronic abdominal pain, gas both upper and lower that is constant and nothing helps it, I can't stop losing weight even though I'm trying.

I've done all the tests and the final conclusion is that my body can't handle the bypass portion of the surgery. The opening from the pouch to the small intestine is too large, by actual bypass length is a little ont he long side, the pouch is made from the least elastic portion of the tummy so it hasn't stretched at all. Everything goes right through me so fast that the small and large bowel are overworked causing to much acid to be produced, causing the irritation that will never go away....

What does make it through isnt' absorbed so it's like I'm not eating at all. I'm dizzy or light headed all the time and they are ready to put me on TPN. I love my new surgeon, she is very candid and compassionate. She didn't want to even dicuss a reversal for a few more months but nothing is working... I thought the previcid was doing the trick and it worked for a few days and then I'm back at square one.

I rather be fat. Thats the simple truth right now... I'd rather be fat than live like this... what really sucks is that I can do the reversal but it's no garantee it will work... I could just be makng things worse. So my choice is sinny and miserable ro fat and possibly miserable...both suck in my opinion!

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm frustrated, sad, miserable and yet wishing it wasn't this way because I don't want to go back and I don't wnat to move forward..... Thank God i'm seeing my counselor tonight! sometime I wish I was just dead... taking the choice out of it... don't freak anyone I'm not suicidal just unhappy with life right now. I love my family to much to do anything tht would hurt them.

I wish I was strong like Van & Trina and Carrie... they never complain...
__________________
Paige

213/123/130 Preop/Current/Goal

Open RNY 9/26/06

Surgeon: Dr. Stanley Klein Torrance, CA

"Life is a journey into the known and unknown"

lealphachienne · 07-09-2007, 10:18 PM

The reality is that WLS isn't a magic bullet......for every success, there is someone that isn't doing well. Even with success comes a price. Very few of us make it through unscathed by the drastic decision we have made for ourselves. In the end, it's not the choice we make, it's how we deal with the outcome that makes a difference.

LisaBoston · 07-09-2007, 10:37 PM

Its so true. I for one wanted my RNY SO BAD that I would have done almost anything to get it. I don't know if I really heard all the "possibilities" that could happen to me with the RNY. Looking back now, I read tons of books, on line groups and talked to others. I knew what I was getting into, and the risk of something happening to me was well worth it. I was one of the lucky ones and sailed through that surgery.

As far as the plastics are concerned, I think I feel quite different about it as it was not AS necessary as the RNY. I could live a healthly life without it. I was experiencing some pain from the flapping skin on one side of my tummy, but manageable with support panties and such. So does that mean that I shouldn't of had it done. I don't think so. I just didn't expect all the problems I had and mostly putting my family through all the worry and stress of loosing their wife and mother.

Now that I am on the mend, and seeing the results of the surgery I am starting to forget some of the crap I have been through the past weeks. Kinda like giving birth. I would have traded bottom ends with anyone 2 weeks out of childbirth. Now its just a distant memory and I have a lovely daughter out of it. Just goes to show you to each his/her own.

I agree with you totally, we are here to support everyone - those in pain, those rejoicing, those vents and those cheering. Its real life, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

LisaM · 07-10-2007, 05:09 AM

My own attitude going in was kind of a study in black and white. "I know I could die from this surgery, but I'm willing to take that chance in order to change my life." What never occurred to me is that I could live, but with a set of complications that would make my life a daily misery, like Paige or Dale.

I won't say that my doctor didn't tell me that possibility--but I will say that, even if he did, I might not have paid attention anyway. All I was focused on was life or death, nothing in between. I know that for me, the all or nothing attitude was part of what got me obese and kept me there. I was either on or off a diet, and if I was off a diet, I was eating myself into an early grave. If I was on a diet, it was a thousand calories or less a day.

I went into the surgery the same way I lived my nutritional life pre-op--all or nothing, black or white, on or off, life or death. If it seems like I'm promoting this as a good thing, I'm not--this is 20-20 hindsight of what it turns out was a distinctly unhealthy and unrealistic outlook. I got lucky.

Corrine · 07-10-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaM

My own attitude going in was kind of a study in black and white. "I know I could die from this surgery, but I'm willing to take that chance in order to change my life." What never occurred to me is that I could live, but with a set of complications that would make my life a daily misery, like Paige or Dale.

I adopted the same attitude so it's been quite a wake-up call to read about the post-op problems.

I still haven't made my mind up about having bariatric surgery but at 52 and 245lb after 20+ years of yo-yo dieting - something has to happen or I won't have a future to look forward to.

Zenomia · 07-10-2007, 08:40 AM

Lisa - that is me to a T! I am an all or nothing girl, and I did the same exact thing when looking at this surgery. Sure I knew there were complications other than death, but I just didn't see it. I guess that is why the complications I did have didn't phase me like they do others...I just figured, hey, I wasn't dead...so anything was better than that.

I realize now how focused we become on the goal, that some of the really bad possibilities are not necessarily those that end in death. My heart goes out to all of those that have these trials and tribulations. Dale, Trina, Van, Keith, Paige, Donna, and Carrie....I admire them all for the strength they have shown through their trials and tribulations. I know it humbles me to know they survive and continue to support and encourage everyone on here while living in pan daily. It's a harsh reality, but it's out there...Newbies...pay attention...It's not all Black and White.

paige52 · 07-10-2007, 09:04 AM

I'm in exactly that same boat as a few of you.... The doc mentioned the other problmes but I fugred I did so well the first time, it will be the same this time. What I didn't figure in was my current weight, which was low or the fact that this time theres a whole "malabsorbtion" portion that I didn't think about. Last time it was strictly "restrictive".....

If I hand't been a "revision" than I would have had more education on the process and been more inclined to research it but I figure at this point its all a crap shoot.

My husband understood this and did it anyway. He is doing wonderful by the way.

Thanks to you guys for the comfort, one way or another I'll get through this, regardless of the ultimate outcome I've learned some very valuable lessons about myself and life in general for this and i'll not soon forget it.

LQQkn · 07-10-2007, 02:39 PM

I'm in the same boat as paige, only two years out. I just saw my GI doc today and she looked at the recommendation by the surgeon to remove my stomach and she said "FUCK" oh my god! So that was her reaction. I have the same options as paige, reversal, removal of stomach either are not on my top things to do. So for me right now they increased my nexium to 80 mgs twice a day to see if this will get me comfortable. If it does I'm doing nothing, if it doesn't I'm going to go with the reversal, and if it goes badly then I'm done. Janie

PennyJ · 07-10-2007, 03:35 PM

I wonder how many people have complications - not really to the level of Paige, Dale, Trina, Van, and Keith - but a complication in general? I know I'm not the only one to end up with two surgeries - nearly back to back. I know there are those who've had multiple strictures - Zen comes to mind! I can count many who've needed gallbladder removal as well. I think that's where my "gray area" was prior to surgery. I knew of possible complications - but what besides the big one??? No one said my intestines could collapse, no one talked about the reation to meds. Granted, how many of these complications are very unsusual - verses fairly common for the GBS group?? Makes me go MMmmm????

VanessaSFL · 07-10-2007, 03:47 PM

I have seen my name mentioned a few times.

I am still hit or miss with solids but I AM DOING FINE

No dumping with what I can eat, no vomiting...I just have tought myself what not to eat.I am not in constant pain, maintained my current weight for over a year,labs good except for Iron

I too have had multi strictures Penny...just one of the lucky ones.

No BP meds,
No Insulin,

Able to freaking live!

I would do it again,100000000%