Calling all Pre-ops and Some Post-ops
I have posted this on the message boards before...hopes it helps..
This is for all of you contemplating surgery and some answers are for the new post-ops.
DISCLAIMER: Please remember this is a general laymann's overview and there will be a few exceptions to everything! Every surgery is different and what may happen to 90% of people may not happen to you. The statements in this post are taken from my own experience and from those whom I've met since joining AMOS. (Yes, I felt the need to make a disclaimer due to a couple of negative responses I received before.)
After reading this board for the last 3 years I decided to condense a few answers into one post. I am 31 months out from open RNY and, of course, do not consider myself an expert, but just thought to put a few answers/observations all together in one message. It is rather long but I hope you will read, heed, and pass on:
Laparoscopic versus Open RnY: I have seen this subject hotly debated for a while. The bottom line is one way is no better than the other; it is a matter of personal choice and surgeon choice. You can list the pros and cons for each and they will come out even. I had open because I wanted the best surgeon in NW Florida and open is what he does.
(1) Less scarring with lap: My scar is about 4 inches long and almost invisible. Lap has 5 or 6 1-inch scars all over their abdomen. Same thing as far as I can tell. Note: If you are concerned about scars then what are you going to do when you want a tummy tuck? (2) Surgeon is able to see better with open: I don't believe this for a minute. With all the improvements in surgery today, lap doctors can see just fine. (3) Less recovery time with lap: I was in the hospital 2 days and back to work in two weeks. Recovery time is dependent solely upon the person and how well they cope with the surgery. Some people don't tolerate pain well; some people have more co-morbids that may make recovery time longer. (4) Less risk of hernia with Lap: This too I believe is dependent upon the person. People may have hernias prior to surgery that were undiscovered. Lap RnY recipients get hernias too. (5) More chance of complications with open: The surgery is the same on the inside whether lap or open. The complications will come from how well you tolerate surgery and your recovery and how good of a surgeon you had.
From Bobbi G: Laparoscopic Gastric Banding (lap band) surgery has been successful for many people. If anyone is interested in more information it can be found on this site; also, please join us on the Lap Band Forum! (upper left drop-down menu on the OH homepage)
Hair loss: Yep its gonna happen. No matter what you do, say, or ingest. It is a side effect of the surgery and your post op diet. You can minimize it and make yourself feel better by taking Biotin, Zinc, getting in lots of protein, and using the shampoos they have for hair loss. It'll start about 3 months out and go to about 5-6 months. You won't go bald and it will grow back. No matter what...it's gonna happen (as I have been told recently, there are a FEW lucky exceptions, but very few). You have to except it.
Vitamins: You'll need a one-a-day type vitamin (start with children's chewables then graduate to adult). You'll need to take Calcium Citrate with magnesium and Vitamin D. TUMS AND VIACTIV (calcium carbonate) ARE NOT THE RIGHT KIND OF CALCIUM! (NEWS FLASH!!!! I have recently read where surgeons are telling their patients to take the Tums/Viactiv route in the first couple of months while their stomachs are healing then switching to the calcium citrate...this makes sense to me.) I take an extra E and an extra C because I feel like its good for me. I get a B-12 shot every month. I prefer this method to sublingual. Our bodies don't absorb B-12 like they use to so we have to supplement. Some ladies also need an extra iron pill. Don't take your iron and calcium at the same. You'll have to follow this complete vitamin regimen for the rest of your life.
From Suzy C: Keep Up with Your Labwork: There's a lot of debate on what type of vitamins to take and how much. The best way to figure this out is to track your own lab work, which should be done at regular intervals, for life, if you've had a malabsorptive surgery like the RNY. Some vitamin deficiencies can take more than two years to show up and can occur even if you've been faithful with supplementation all along. Many bariatric surgeons don't follow their patients for that long, or in large numbers, and therefore may not adequately emphasize this for pre- and post-ops.
The best advice I got regarding lab work was to keep copies of all of it myself so I could compare each result over time and look for trends. Most doctors will only look for deficiencies, meaning, results that have fallen out of the "normal" range. It's better to look for trends as they develop even within the normal ranges, so you can adjust your vitamin regime to avoid getting deficient in the first place. There's no point in getting tired, sluggish, anemic, etc. while watching your labs begin to "tank" and *then* act. The point of frequent tests is to avoid all that in the first place by adjusting for trends.
Dumping/Vomiting: Yep, its gonna happen. Sooner or later it'll get ya. Some more than others. I thought I was immune to dumping and low and behold last September I ate some ice cream and wham! Fast heart rate, nausea, cold sweats, and tiredness. It passed and taught me a valuable lesson. You will get sick if you eat too fast or overeat. Even as far out from surgery as I am I still eat too fast and make myself suffer.
Sex: ooooh! Good subject! How long do you have to wait to have sex after surgery? There is no specific time you have to wait. Do it when you feel like it and not before. Listen to your body and I suggest a position where there is no weight on your stomach.
Lack of Energy: After surgery you will be tired for a while...a couple months at least. You just had major surgery and your body has to heal. Give it time...you have the rest of your life to jump into all kinds of activities. Be kind to your body. Be sure you are taking your B-12.
Driving/Going back to work: Go back to work when you body tells you it's OK. My surgeon puts a driving restriction on his patients for 2 weeks so that dictated when I would go back. But if you don¡¦t feel like it...take the time and heal. Listen to your body.
For the Women: Menstruation: You will most likely start your period in the hospital right after surgery. Even if you had it the week before you will have it again. The doctors and nurses are use to it, don't be embarrassed. After surgery your period may be weird for a few months. Your body is not use to all the hormones which are now being released from the fat cells and it will take time to get back on a regular schedule.
Plateaus: Yep, its gonna happen. No matter what you do, say, or ingest. A true plateau will last a month or so. If you haven't lost anything for a couple days or a week, don't freak out, your body is just readjusting itself and the weight loss will start back up. A plateau is your body's way of catching up with itself. It has to recuperate from the rapid weight loss and balance itself out. They may last for several weeks or several months. Patience and perseverance.
On the same subject¡Kyou will hit periods of time that you will lose inches rather than pounds. Keep your tape measure handy and when you start feeling like nothing is going on with your body, take your measurements and you will be pleasantly surprised!
Soda/No Soda: The camps are divided. I say moderation. If you want one and can tolerate it, have it. It WILL NOT STRETCH your pouch. If you decide to sample, pour it into a glass full of ice so some of the carbonation will disburse. The carbonation will come out of your body one way or another just like it did before surgery. BE ADVISED: drinking soda again will not help in your weight loss! If you absolutely feel you need a soda, drink a clear cola versus a dark as the dark ones leach calcium from your body (Dr. Pepper is the worst for this and it's my favorite!).
Caffeine/No caffeine: Again the camps are divided and again I say moderation. Caffeine does dehydrate you. If you are gonna drink it make sure you compensate with an equal (or more) amount of water.
Smoking: Quit if you can. I couldn't. I did cut back. That said...I underwent my surgery and had no complications. I was home in two days and back to work in two weeks. Healed just fine. Some people say 'Why continue to smoke if you are having this surgery to get healthier? It ain't that simple. Smoking is bad for you...we know that. Quit if you can.
Loose Skin: Yep, is gonna happen. No matter what you do, say, or ingest. We have stretched our skin past its limit and it's not gonna bounce back. Firming lotions make you feel good, but no lasting effects. Skin wraps are a waste of your money. Expect the loose skin and make plans for how you will deal with it. Also, you cannot donate your extra skin to a burn center or to get a free tummy tuck. These are urban legends.
Gaining Weight Back: Will it happen or not? It can, if you are not diligent with your diet and exercise you can gain some weight back. The surgery is a tool and you have to learn to use the tool and change your eating habits and lifestyle to make this surgery a complete success. This is no magic trick, the surgeon is not going to wave his wand and say abracadabra and poof the weight is gone and gone forever. If that is what you think WLS is, then you are in for a rude awakening.
Lastly, To Have the Surgery or Not: You must make the decision after you have gathered all the research and given it a lot of thought. It IS a Life-Altering decision and you MUST make it carefully. READ everything you can get your hands on, read ALL the Q&As on this website, read the Library (all the questions pre and post-op). Read the memorial section (I know there are several people out there that would disagree with this but to me NOT reading it equates to sticking your head in the sand). Death is a real possibility. So are all kinds of complications. You HAVE to realize this and prepare yourself and your family. Don't be an ostrich. Knowledge is power and the more powerful you are going into this surgery the better it will go for you. I believe a positive attitude helps in recovery and healing. If you have the smallest doubt...don't do it. Don't let yourself be one of the ones who say they regret it and why didn't someone tell me this could happen? Anything can happen before, during, and after major surgery. Be 200% sure this is what you want.
OK, I threw my 2 cents in the hat. Hope it helps some of y'all. Good luck to everyone on this journey of life.
Hugs to all,
Patty
Thanks Patty! This was awesome. It really helps with all that is going through the mind of a pre-op / researching person mind. There are good things and bad things and this helps put things into perspective for me.
I really appreciate your kindness in helping us see the "real" issues of WLS.
Lori Cullember
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