Would you do it again?

I have always been such a positive person but I must admit that if I had known what I know now, I wouldn't have had my surgery.  Don't get me wrong, I love when people tell me that a strong wind will blow me away.  But, I went back to school so that I could substitute teach and I now have my certificate but I am scared every day that they are going to call me because I have such a hard time with my bowels in the morning and then gas the rest of the day.  How can I hold down a job that means that I can't get to the bathroom in a seconds notice?
How does everyone else handle this problem?

I think sometimes when people are sold  on the RNY procedure they never have someone in that group telling them the complications they have, Like yourself. Iam giving you the other side of the story I went to both support group and also to rah rah rally of weight loss program  where it has become a huge big money industry.I am not sure this helps or hurts the industry. My hubby is RNY and the usefulness of his surgery  no longer helps him lose weight,It is by pure will and determination he must lose his excess weight that he gains, I remember sitting in a doctors office and had apt with the nurse practionier to sign off my sons wls pre ops and her telling  me that Lap Band is not sucessful and has not seen anyone yet to be sucessful and I stood up like a proud peac****  I told her I am a lap band sucess story. I was so mad for her ignorance and dispesing advice like she was a expect because she had np at the end of her name and told her that the reason lap band fails is because people do not work closely with their doc and get a fills when they start to gain You must exercise and come to understanding this is a tool to combat hunger and over eating and  drinking milkshakes and high fatty liquids you will fail the surgery Then she was bad mouthing RNY'S.I hope to be a public avociate for weight loss program  and give hope to anyone morbid obese that yes u r making a good choice and yes some may like your self have complcations. But being morbid obese is killing us slowly and shorting out life, Many die waiting to have this surgery and they have no voice. I hope to be a voice for those that  do not have voice due to dying to related obesity death or their insurence has denied them. OBESITY KILLS.  Obesity raises the risk or stroke heart disease diabetes cancer and yet obesity is the true silent killer and acceptiable killer
I sympathise with what u r dealing with the aftermath of WlS and the pain u must endure, You are a hero because u r solider in battle of obesity and it is war on insurence companies that deny WLS surgery and ignorance of public that we are fat because we have no will power.You came back from the war of obesity injured . People are dying to have this surgery and will die w/o it. I never want a person denied this surgery it has saved my life. I chose life over death. I was dying from obesity related death, My blood sugars were well over 500 and today my surgery rarely gets over 100. I feel I have obligation to my fellow obesity people waiting I see what obesity can do to you.Working as emt/ambulance It can hook u up to kidney dialaysis or a amputation or maggots growing in the mounds of flesh that u can no longer wash yourself. Would I do it again Oh hell yes, I am living. again. Remember you are a hero and were hurt in war againisty obesity. Once again I am sorry for the pain u endure and pain u go threw and for that I can only say sorry. Thank you for my freedom of obesity Thank you.
Lisa
Ps I have started to write a book on this.

I would have it again in a heartbeat. While it has been an adjustment to me and all those around me-I would NEVER want to be fat again. I was miserable and headed for some serious health issues.
I LOVE my surgery. Even when my mind starts playing games with me, I can depend on my surgery to keep me from exploding again. The surgery was the best part, working on my life is the hardest part.
As for your problems. I wonder if you would benefit from digestive enzymes? We have so little room left in our pouches that our bodies can not produce enough to process what we eat. A lack of enzymes can effect people differently, some have loose bowels and others get constipated. I take some each day and no longer have problems-unless I forget to take them. To make this more remarkable, I was diagnosed with colitis 3 years before I had WLS. Another issue can be the foods you eat. I know if I get into certain foods, it makes me gassy something fierce. Try to track what foods do that, and avoid them when you have a teaching job.
Feel free to message me if you have any other questions. I want to help as much as I can and feel confident this is what is happening with you.

I get constipated so bad. I mean real bad  and when i take activia  or other stuff it helps me. What kinda digestive enzymes do you use?  I am not a real yogart fan and I use to use the cheese that had them it it but they took it off the market.
Lisa

You can get them at health food stores or some nutritional supplement stores. I get mine from a Dr who specializes in them. Mine come in a quick dissolve capsules so they break down immediately and I have no problems with them in my pouch. After surgery it left me so bound up from the painkillers, my surgeons suggestion of milk of magnesia just did not work at all.  Unlike softeners, these do not make you do anything weird or cramping, you just go naturally.
This is one of those alternative medicine things that just make common sense to me. I do not feel you can get enough from the yogurt which I eat also. I think we need a more concentrated amount.

Hi Sharlene,

Do you have enough fiber in your diet?  and have you tried Beano or something like Gas-X?  I know that if I do not have my beloved 13 grams of fiber in the morning, an then at least 10 more grams throught out the day, I am terribly constipated and then horrendously gassy.  This happens to me on weekends when a).  I get off routine and b). it is the WORSE time to be gassy!

that's when I pull out the gas-x strips and make sure I up my fiber and by the next day I am back to normal (which is one time a day bowel movements, usually in the morning, and very little gas, even though I eat alot of beans for protein).

good luck and congrats on your teaching certificate - this country needs great teachers!