Question:
Recovery Time, Excess Skin, & Long Term Effects???
Hello :) I was wondering three things: One, how long was your recovery time for gastric bypass? I only get a week off from work and I was wondering if that is good enough or not. I am 23 years old if that has to do with anything. :) Second, I am nervous about excess skin. I am needing to lose around 150 lbs and I plan on exercising, and following the diet perfectly. Any tips or advice on other things to do for prevention? Lastly, my parents are extremely nervous about any long term negative side effects from the surgery. Thank you so so much! — sydsyd (posted on January 15, 2009)
January 15, 2009
Good questions. I have lost 75 pounds so far with no sagging problems. You
will likely have little or no sagging after two years. It takes a while for
the skin to bounce back. You may have strech mark scars. Scar cream like
mederma will lighten these.
You will be off work at least 6 weeks. So you will probably need to use
disablity pay not stanard sick or vacation time. It may take longer if
things don't go smoothly. I was told six to eight but after three I felt
ready. You get really tired. Your body has major healing to do. Long term
affects are all positive. You get your health back. You will be on vitamin
suppliments for life and need to always watch your protien intake.
If your job has heavy lifting you may be off for a longer period. My doctor
does follow up for five years. I have read post from people 7 years out who
are doing fine.
Hope this is helpful in making your decision.
— trible
January 15, 2009
I had my surgery when I was 34 years old. I took a week off work. It was
plenty of time. I did end up having a tummy tuck 3 1/2 years post op, the
Dr removed 6 pounds of skin as well as getting new boobies. I am not sure
if losing so much weight or having children could have contributed to
needing that surgery. I have not had any long term problems. It has been
5 1/2 years. My labs are always great. I feel healthy.
— Carlyn M.
January 15, 2009
How long you need to take off is and individual thing. I only took 8 days
off not including the weekend but I have a sit down job. I have a friend
who does alot of lifting and moving on her job and she took 3 weeks. I
don't really have alot of skin issues but I will be getting breat
augmentation since I have had children they are pointing at my toes....
— phyllismmay
January 15, 2009
Sydney,
Hi. First of congrats on your decision to lose your weight surgically.
That is a big step. Long term negative effects from this type of surgery
are rare. At your age, excess skin is usually not a problem. If after
surgery, you stay with your program and eat and exercise correctly then you
should be fine. You don't say if there are any children or plans to have
children but that is the only thing I'd be concerned with. I am 10 years
plus post op and at age 54 have no health problems. I had 5 children and
now 7 grandchildren. I also exercise and stick to what I like to call
healthy balanced nutrition rather than a diet. And yes I do eat meat.
Portions and nutritional balance are the key. Let us know how you do.
Good Luck and God Bless,
vinnigirl, retired RN
— vinnigirl
January 15, 2009
I took two weeks off, but my job is not physically stressful and I was
ready to go back after a week (I couldn't, though, because the surgeon
wouldn't clear me to go back sooner). The type of job you have may have a
lot to do with the amount of time they'll want you to be off work. I don't
have a horrible amount of excess skin, but it is starting to bother me now
- my arms and boobs were saggy before and now they are worse, and my thighs
look gross. I used to say I could live without plastic surgery, but now I
really, really want it! Your results may vary. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
— lauren_marie
January 15, 2009
You are right to be anxious. Research is the best way to get your answers.
Here's the thing about skin. We obese people weren't too concerned about
our skin stretching when we got obese, so when we lose the weight, it is
just a consequence of what we have done to our bodies. Many of us are
married and had our babies, so that adds to the stretch. You might have
less if you have no children and because you are so young, but honey, lose
the weight, and if skin issues replaces all the health problems are are
missing, I say to the jig and be happy! My theights look like charpea
puppies, I call them mut and jeff, but I am healthy and thankful I can
cross my legs. My arms flap, so I wear 3/4 length sleeves all the time,
but I am thankful that I don't look like a triangle anymore because when I
put my arms by my side, they are really by my side, not swinging in the
wind because I have a ton of fat on the upper arm any longer. It comes
with the territory. I took 6 weeks off because you aren't just having a
"procedure" you are trying to change your life. I took six weeks
to establish exercise patterns and give myself a good start. Many people
however, have surgery and are back to work in a week. Your first priority
is your HEALTH though, not your pay. Plan to diet and exercise perfectly,
but honey if you could that now, you wouldn't need surgery, so also plan to
learn a lot along the way. There is no way to no about long term affects.
Some people have them, some do not. I am 5 years out, and I have a gastric
ulcer that acts up from time to time, but other than that I am in good
shape. I hope my tools lasts a lifetime, and that I never take it fully
for granted. Take care and I wish you well. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
January 16, 2009
I was off work for a total of 8 work days (I have a sit down job) and was
fine about going back to work. I've lost about 85 pounds and still have a
way to go but so far no excess skin. I have not had any negative side
effects. I feel great!
— dnefews
January 16, 2009
If you are having Lap GB...The healing time is relatively fast...A week
might not be enough time...unless you have a job/boss that will take it
easy on you and let you rest or leave if you are not ready. I wouldn't be
doing any heavy lifting just one week PO...So I guess it depends on what
type of job you have...You have youth on your side...Younger people usually
do better with skin...However it will depend mainly on how long you have
been MO and how much damaged skin you have. Areas with stretch marks
(damage) will not shrink back. Hopefully your skin still has
memory/elasticity to go back to. I was obese my 20's and most of my 30's
(200-230)...I didn't become MO (315 plus pounds) until my mid 30's and only
for a few years ranging from (260-315) So at 39 after WLS...my skin went
back fairly nicely... The rest is dumb luck and hard work...I didn't just
sit waiting for things to happen either...I WORKED MY Tail off..swimming
and toning! But unfortunately most do need to have plastics to remove
skin...Lastly...You need to do your part not only to maintain your weight,
but to stay on top of yearly or bi-annual labs and visits...BE CERTAIN they
are testing all your vitamin levels each time..Get copies of lab
results/keep an eye on them by comparing levels to previous visits. PREVENT
deficiencies by taking all the vits required and SUPPLEMENT according to
your labs! DON'T wait for the doc to tell you, you are deficient...They
often won't even tell you if you are low as long as you are in a normal
range...It doesn't take a whole year for a low normal reading to plummet
into deficiencies...DO NOT ignore any symptoms no matter how small they
seem...GO get them checked out...I was nearly full blown malnourished with
mild symptoms...I ignored them too long almost too late!! Any chronic pain?
Just make an appointment/ don't wait around hoping it goes away...Go
in/call but don't wait! Eat in moderation...prevent problems with good
habits...KNOW your body and how it works! And take your WLS
seriously...(follow the general rules) Make good choices the majority of
the time. If it comes from the earth, animal or sea... most likely it's a
good choice! If you don't recognize a food or it looks sooooo far from
it's original state...Don't eat it! LOL You should be just fine! I'm 5
years post op and I have had some nutrition problems and anemia and I have
always been a health nut...I immediately researched deeper into how my body
works and got myself totally well again with KNOWLEDGE...and continued
research to stay up to date...because once the weight loss stops and you
become a thin person,Your HEALTH is what you have left...So take care of
it! You can do this! I lost 158 lbs exactly half of me...I gained 8 back
and maintain 150 lbs lost at 165 lbs...This is the weight my body wants me
to be...It's the least work to hold on to and ...I'm quite content.
Otherwise I struggle too hard to maintain in the 150's...I quit fighting
for "the number"...I feel wonderful! Good luck...
— .Anita R.
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