Question:
Many people have asked about regretting having surgery..well
I don't regret having the surgery, but if I had to do it all over again?? Right now I don't think so, maybe I'll see things different in the future. I had the RNY distal gastric bypass w/ gallbladder removed and and hernia repair, so yes I did have pain and discomfort after surgery. Was in the hosp. 5 days, I had problems with taking my meds so they were put in through the g-tube, which caused me bloating, gas, and diahhrea, I was always nauseated, which made it hard to eat or drink, therefore I became dehydrated, was lacking protien, etc..ended up back in the hosp for 8 more days, (just got out 2 days ago) and am still at risk of going back. Still all my meds and now protien have to go in the g-tube, and I'm trying to keep liquids in me so I don't dehydrate more. This is really hard for me, cause being bloated I have no appitite, even liquids are hard to take. It was also discovered that when I went back in the hosp. and they did an upper G.I. the barium traveled through the pouch ok, only when it got to the bottom of the Y it would just sit there for awhile, so if I ate something else I'd get nauseated and or vomit, then slowly it would move down the rest of the intestines. Another thing I found out just recently, certain meds (don't know which ones) will store themselfs in the fat cells, and when you start loosing weight they can be released back into your blood stream, I don't think it's a big deal in most people, and I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, just thought I'd pass that along. I'm not trying to scare anybody with my ordeal, but I feel it should be shared, I feel people should know there can be some side-affects, after all our bodies are going through some major changes, my body just seems to be taking a little longer to adjust....I do NOT blame my Dr., he's an excellent Dr. and he's taking good care of me. The plus side of all this is that in 5 weeks I lost 55lbs. .....Debi :) — Debi K. (posted on October 29, 1999)
October 28, 1999
Debi, I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal. Hopefully things will right
themselves and you'll be OK. Sometimes it's hard to see the forrest for
the trees, maybe in 6 months you'll feel better about all this. Good luck!
Jaye Carl, open proximal RNY 7-29-99, 68 pounds gone forever!
— Jaye C.
October 29, 1999
I too regreted having the surgery at first -- for the first 2 months or so.
I too had nausea, but thank goodness little or no vomiting. I cried alot
because I thought that I was trapped feeling miserable, plus I thought that
I would never eat normally again. Although I was losing weight, I didn't
think it was worth feeling this way. But, after getting well into my third
month, things drastically changed. I was able to eat more normal foods,
and the weight continued to come off. After 4 months, I can eat virtually
whatever I want, virtually meaning I prefer not to eat high fat or rich
foods like cream soups, rich gravies, or fried foods. I was really
depressed at first, and thought that I would be the last one to say that I
was glad I did this. But if you asked me today, the answer would
definitely be yes. I now eat like a normal person (ie half sandwich and
small cup of soup for lunch, boneless chicken breast, vegetable, and starch
for dinner, and 1 egg and toast for breakfast. It's true what people say,
this surgery gives you the physical control that most of us lack. This is
all to say, give it more time. If I can do it and feel like I do, anyone
can! Good Luck!
— miles B.
October 29, 1999
Sorry to hear you are having postop complications. Hope they clear up
soon. As you said the up side is 55 lbs. lost. Keep you spirits up and
the weight down. Good luck to you.
— Janice C.
October 31, 1999
Dear Debi,
I too regretted having my surgery for the first 8 weeks post-op. Now I
am 10 1/2 weeks post-op and feeling 100% better. I was having a lot of
pain from where my gallbadder was removed and the Dr. couldn't figure out
way. Than one day it just stopped and has never came back. I vomited 6
times between week 5 and 7 than stopped that. I still have a problem with
getting enought fluids I just am not able to. Hot de-caf tea seems to go
down easily. I was in the hosp. for 7 days. I had a large amount of blood
lost during surgery and had to have 3 transfusions. I also became
extremely swollow and had to have IV lasix for that. I really thought I had
ruined my life for the first 3 weeks after surgery. It is amazing how
different I feels now. I am eating normal food just small amounts. The
feeling of instant willpower is incredable. Hang in there It Will Get
Better! I know.
— Cheryl H.
March 5, 2001
Count me in the group that regretted it. Well, for the first 9 weeks.
Then I started feeling like a normal person again and now I am pretty
pleased that I did. I get worried about nutrition every now and then.
Tonight I am in pain and it feels like gall stones. I don't know if I have
them, it could be bad gas, but if not, I am going to start taking my bile
salts tonight. I didn't take them because I felt bad the first two months.
I hope this doesn't mean another ssurgery.
Anyway, I think you will get like the rest of us. When your body is ready.
This is a major change in lifestyle and your body. It takes time to blend
the mental with the physical and to heal. Thank goodness for this site.
It has held my hand through many a worrisome night. Good luck.
— Perri T.
June 13, 2001
I'm only about 3 1/2 weeks post-op, and I do get those thoughts in the back
of my mind like "WHY DID I DO THIS?!" I really feel lousy right
now, everyday. My guts from the waist up feels like it's constantly tied up
in knots, and I'm dealing with relentless nausea everyday. BUT, from all
that I read on this site, everyone seems to agree that the 1st 6 months are
the toughest. So, I'm just going to tolerate my troubles and have patience.
I look forward for the time when these problems will be be gone and I can
start to feel like a normal, HEALTHY person. And I look at it this way, I
did this for my health. I was MALIGNANT OBESE, which means I had one foot
in the grave already. If I had CANCER of the stomach and intestines, sure I
could have told the doctors NO, I just want nature to take its course and
allow myself to die. Or I'd tell them I want to fight this and allow them
to remove the cancerous part of my stomach and intestines, and sure - I'd
feel lousy for a while like I am now, but the important thing would have
been that it would have SAVED MY LIFE. The same with obesity. I CHOSE to
live; to save my life, so I CHOSE this operation as a means to reach that
goal. I admit, when you're feeling awful, its only natural to get impatient
and want to feel GREAT NOW. Its easy to forget that you just had MAJOR
SURGERY. So speaking for myself, I'm going to TRY to be patient and allow
myself those 6 months to heal and adjust and to start to feel better. NOW
--- I just have one comment about one of the other responses to this
question. The part where the person said "If I can do it, you can
too". I know this person meant well but when people tell me this, it
just gets me angry. That's all I ever heard when I was dieting. Someone
doing Weight Watchers, for example, and loosing alot of weight. They tell
me "Oh if I can do this then so can you." Well wait a minute.
Back off. That's NOT TRUE. What works for your body won't necessarily work
for my body. EVERYONE'S BODIES ARE DIFFERENT!!!! That's all great that it's
working for you, but for me, I tried it and it DOES NOT work for ME. Your
genes, blood type, chemical make-up, mindset, etc. are not the exact same
as mine. So PLEASE. Do not say that to other people, not even your
identical twin (they could have different mindsets). And this brings me
back to the question. I'm not sure - maybe there are some people for whom
WLS just doesn't work (And so I'd never say "if it works for me, it'll
work for you" even for WLS). I'd say to wait 6 months and if you still
feel lousy then its time to talk with your doctor.
— [Anonymous]
June 13, 2001
I'M SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS. BUT MOST OF US DID. I ALSO
WAS WANDERING WHAT I DID TO MYSELF. MY DOCTOR SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 6-9
MONTHS FOR YOUR INSIDES TO FINALLY SAY WE ARE OK. TAKE IT EASY.FOLLOW ALL
THE DIRECTIONS. ITS NOW BEEN 8 MONTHS AND I AM JUST STARTING TO FEEL GREAT.
I HAVE LOST 141 LBS. AND YES I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. ITS WORTH IT. GOD BLESS
SMILES
GRACIE
— gwhisman6
June 13, 2001
I can understand what you're talking about. I'm almost 5 months post op and
sometimes still wonder why I did this,rarely now though.It did take a full
4 months for me to start feeling better,everyone says it took them 8 weeks
or so and at the 8th week for me I was still throwing up,getting food
caught in my throat whenever I ate too quickly.It took time to understand
my body was healing and now I am glad I had it,being able to go on rides
with my daughters for the first time,not being afraid to have my picture
taken,my hubby telling me I'm shrinking before his eyes.It's something that
might take awhile to start feeling better but once you do,it's gonna be
worth it!
— Vel K.
June 13, 2001
I am a pre-op, however I had a major surgery in January that required me to
stay in the hospital for 3 days and nights. I did well, was not in too much
pain and could eat all right. I anticipated all of this, reading
extensively about the procedure beforehand. What I did not expect was the
post-surgery depression I experienced. The depression lasted for a month or
so, as I got physically stronger, my spirits improved. I don't know what
causes it, but I was glad to be back to normal after three months. My
thought was that it must have something to do with the anesthesia or the
pain meds I was taking. I had read somewhere that certain types of
anesthesia actually store in your fat cells and are released over a period
of a year or so. That certainly explained to me why I was still feeling
lethargic a month after my surgery. Yes, we all have individual reactions
to different things and the added stress of your having to relearn how to
eat with your new pouch doesn't help. I had hoped to have had that surgery
during my recovery from the one in January since I was already going to be
off for 6 weeks. I am relieved now that I didn't get it, because I think it
would have been too much. I would have that or any surgery again, knowing
what I know now and being prepared for the possible outcomes. I hope you
start coming out of this soon and normalize. Bless you. Diana
— Diana M.
June 13, 2001
You know, I read the original post, which was long ago and then linked to
the original posters profile. She is doing much better now. Some of these
questions are only the beginning of a story. Check out the rest of the
story too. Thanks everyone for sharing the bad and the ugly along with the
good.
— kcanges
March 6, 2004
I am having the same issues please email me at [email protected].
How are you now?
— Regina P.
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