Surgery Complications? That bad???

I was on the other forum site offered on OH reading entries (bad me! BAD ME!) about complications of RNY. IS IT THAT BAD?? Fistulas, scar tissue adhesions, staples coming out, ulcers, hernia, stoma strictures, vitamin B problems, blah, blah, blah??? I haven't had my surgery yet, it will be 12/7/06. I couldn't be making a healthier choice here. I know everything has complications and possiblities of going wrong. Life has it's moments, but ... Is this like a 10 out of 3000 person thing or does everyone or almost everyone have these type of problems?? Through the gained wisdom of those that have had complications, is there anything we can do NOW to reduce possibilities of problems? Like, deep massage stomach tissue, take folic acid, uummm ... take biotin or increase protein? {{singing}} "AIN'T NOTHIN' GONNA BREAKA MY STRIDE, AIN'T NOTHIN' GONNA SLOW ME DOWN, OW NO! I'VE GOTTA KEEP ON MOVIN' ..." iwillnotreadnegativeentries.iwillnotreadnegativeentries.iwillnotreadnegativeentries.iwillnotreadnegativentries.iwillnotreadnegativeentries.iwillnotreadnegativeentires.iwillnot!

Sounds scarey, doesnt it! Some complications are more common than others (you can find stats on the internet), and there are things you can do to avoid at least some of them...First, do what the drs and nuts tell you to do, before and after surgery. Follow their pre-op diet (have your "last meal" now rather than in late Nov) so as to make their job easier and to make sure your liver isn't swollen. It's probably not a bad idea to stock up on protein in your diet, as it can be hard to get it in at first, but your body can live on normal stores of it for a month. Walk as soon as you can and as much as you can after surgery. Use the breathing thing in the hospital every hour, 10 times or whatever they tell you to do. There is a med your surgeon can prescribe to reduce liklihood of gallstones, if they don't take your gall bladder out. Not sure where hernias come from for sure, but I would say don't push the weight/lifting restrictions (10 lbs for 6 weeks for lap rny). After surgery you will have to take vitamins, including a multivitamin and calcium with D every day. For b-12 you can give yourself a shot every month or take a ?prescribed? dose of 5000 mcgs daily. And continue to sip sip sip walk walk walk. I'm not sure about the other things you mentinoed, but I am sure you can find info on all of them on the web. It seems there are two groups...those who dont have too many problems, and are happy as hell, and those that have serious problems or have a really hard time eating, and I think it pretty much sux for them. There are certainly horror stories, but it doesn't seem to be the norm at all. Be sure you picked a good surgeon. Good luck and good health!