I'm new to all of this

I'm in the, "should I do this or not" stage. I know all the benefits, but am scared to death of the cons. What was your post-op experience like? DId you ever have to fight cravings? I quit smoking in December and the urges still raise their ugly heads sometimes. I am addicted to sweets and know these will be off my diet once the by- pass is done. Did anyone have to fight with those cravings? I appreciate your input. Reading the messages are really comforting and encouraging. Dr. Hart will be my surgeon once I make up my mind. I've been preparing for this for a year now. Help? Thanks. :help:

I won't lie to you the first 3 months was really hard. I had to get used to eating very small amounts and totally changing what I ate. It took a very emotional toll on me. At about 3 months out everything improved. I guess it took that time period for me to get use to my new way of life but then it became "normal" to me. I had heard about all the medical issues that came with the surgery but no one really told me about the emotional part. I am sure you have heard the saying "this surgery is for the stomach not the brain". Well it is very true. I had a wonderful support system in my family and friends which helped me a great deal. Just be sure to surround yourself with supportive people and go to support groups. Even with the 3 hard months I am so glad that I had this surgery. I am almost 2 years out and it is still a struggle to fight cravings. Surgery doesn't fix this. The surgery is a tool to help you but you still have to diet and exercise just like people who don't have the surgery. This is a very tuff and personal decision so I can not tell you what to do. Just talk it over with your doctors and family and do plenty of research. Best of luck to you. Take care.

Jan, For me, my post op experience has been a very good one. I had my rny done laproscopicly and had hear about all the gas one should have, I did't have any problem. I heard people say that their stomaches hurt, mine didn't. But, I do know people who have had these problems postop. I guess I have been lucky. As far as cravings goes, I am almost 1 yr out and still have them. ( m&m's. oreos, cake) If I give into them, I remind myself that I am only hurting myself and sabotoging what I have done and gone thru. Then I usually end up dumping which IS NOT FUN! Whichever decision you make, only you can make it. Good luck! Cynde

Jan, I was a lightweight compared to some people (my highest weight was 251), and I knew that sweets would probably be on my list of 'no-no's for the rest of my life...But I chose to be healthy and not have the sweets. Did you know that there are some sugar free sweets that I have been able to tolerate...Sugar free reese's peanut butter cups, and sugar free peppermint patties, as well as other sugar free sweets & cookies...So I have been fortunate to find some sweets that I can substitue in my addiction to sweets...Lol my comorbidities included gerd, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea...All of which have been reduced...Have not had any more gerd, cholesterol is below 200 (and keeps going lower), and very mild sleep apnea (about a 3 now...Previously was at 9). I have decided that it is much better to 'waste' food than to have it on my 'waist' !!!! Since 6/20/05 I have lost 114 pounds, with 100 pounds being lost within the first 6 months, and life is so much better than it ever was before surgery!!! I had been overweight for approx 23+ years before I had my surgery. Hope all this info helps in your decision... Hugss, norma

Hi Jan, Welcome to the GA Board!!! Having concerns before making this decision to have the surgery are perfectly normal. We all wonder what will happen after surgery... will we crave all of our old favorites??? What will ahppen if we sneak some in???? Will I dump??? All perfectly normal thoughts. You could ask everyone on here to post their post experiences and they would all be different. Different surgeons have different protocols, and while each are striving for the same outcome, each outcome is different as well. For me, early out from surgery was pretty simple. The hardest part was forcing myself to eat and drink. For the first 5 months I was never hungry, and when I did eat, I never felt full. For me, it was easy. I never craved anything because I was never hungry. After my hungar pangs finally returned, I tried to make the best possible choices when I would get a craving of sorts. Then I started getting brave. I was able to eat things that others couldn't. Mind you... never in large amounts as I would have before surgery. But my sister, who is one year ahead of me with this surgery told me something after her surgery, and it has just kinda stuck in my head. She said to me... "Sometimes you just have to make your taste buds happy". What she meant was if you get that craving, have a bite or two of what ever it is... not a pound or two like we would have done pre-op. I can pretty much eat whatever I want now at 22 months post op. There are some things that I would like, but can't tolerate. Milk is my biggest thing I have had to give up. I could drink it early out, now it makes me dump horribly. Too much bread makes me feel bad, so I try to stay away from it. You learn what and how much of things you can tolerate. When you find you can't tolerate something, you find it easy to stay away from it. It's all about moderation.... Once you make your decision, know that it is a life long one. It has been the best decision I have ever made. Losing 142 lbs has changed so much in my life. Take your time making your decision.... you'll have the rest of your life to enjoy it! Hugs, Susan Lap RNY 12-1-04 295-153-155 (pre-op-current-goal)