if you are considering WLS please read..

wicked aries
on 11/4/08 7:44 am - MA
#1, I have never gotton sick post-op, BUT I changed the way I eat. It's a whole life change, maybe you should of done your homework before surgery?

#2 I don't think scare tactics are going to deter people from the surgery.
Count your blessings, not your worries

luvsexytrstno1
on 11/4/08 8:17 am - Anchorage, AK
If you read my post about the hot wings then you will notice that I wrote that I am very greatful that I had my surgery and that I am most greatful that I now have energy and am healthy enough to play with my little girl.  My surgeon was exceptional in his honesty and in his follow up care.  I now live in Alaska and work in healthcare and encounter physicians and post ops who have NEVER been educated whatsoever about vitamins, lifestyle changes, etc.  It happens, it is scary but it does happen more than you think.  The nurse that I mention in that post works with me in a hospital where WLS is preformed and where she is sometimes assigned fresh wls post ops and she is that uneducated about it.  My surgeon told us that all of us would test the limits eventually.  I sat there in my pre surgical state thinking, "Well I won't!  No not me!"  And here I am a little over a year and a half later and yes, indeed I have eaten things that I knew I shouldn't.  I don't do it regularly or even on purpose (one of my worst dumps was on a protein shake from a gym) but I do.  No one is so diciplined or restictive with their diet that they haven't dumped or had a bad food reaction, at least no one that I have ever encountered.  I posted this so people can be aware that this surgery does require a lifestyle change.  you would be surprised how many people don't realize that.  That is why I take the time to post these links to my blog posts, to hopefully educate and inspire people to do a little research pre op.  It is worth the ocassional ridicule if it helps one person.  I wish I had the time to reach out to each state individually but unfortunately I do not.  This is the simplest way I know for me to reach as many people as possible.  I in no way regret my surgery nor my husbands surgery which cured his type 2 diab. and got him off of the tons of meds he was on pre op (his triglycerides were 1300 on meds pre op).  But it is not a magic cure all and unfortunately many people don't realize that.  I only take the time to do this to encourage and support people to learn more, not just from me but on their own too.  It is the readers choice to read my posts or not. to follow the link and read my blogs or not.    Even if someone is laughing at my expense..at least it made them think and hopefully will make them realize that this is a serious life altering surgery.  if they do that, then I have done what I set out to do.
Vicky S.
on 11/4/08 7:49 am - Taunton, MA
I'm not sure I understand the concept behind all the self promotion of your blog?  Forgive me if I am missing something.

"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be." ~ David Viscott   

 

stellalukin
on 11/5/08 11:28 pm - Cambridge, MA
Yet another post of self-promotion whose real intent is to perpetuate the myths & information that are already out there.
Maybe next time you could post the link on YouTube to the lady who dumped from 3 oreos... or yet more information about how many people don't tolerate chicken/ fish/ steak for a while?

The information that is actually helpful to pre-WLS patients involves information that is not readily available, and doesn't perpetuate urban legends or myths.
The best advice is call your doctor, find a support group, and seek out mentors who can offer their perspective. Do your homework, the good and the bad, and make a decision you are comfortable with.

I've come through WLS with zero complications whatsoever (doesn't mean I don'****ch out for them, though). I have never dumped. I vomited once. I don't test my limits and I stick to the plan. I don't consider myself "special"- it works for me because I make it work.
I'm sure plenty of people agree.
"Another day.  Another chance to feel healthy."  
 
luvsexytrstno1
on 11/6/08 5:55 am - Anchorage, AK
you are very lucky for three reasons 1. you were informed and/or researched that this surgery requires a lifestyle change in order to work long term  2. that you took it seriously   3. that you have been sucessful in making the lifestyle changes.  I am happy for you.  I just wish the everyone was as dedicated, myself included.  We all eventually hear about someones aunt, neighbor, cousin, sisters ex boyfriends teacher, etc who had WLS and gained it all back .  I remember when I started to hear that from people, I went out and purchased every book I could on the subject of wls (yes, my reviews of them are on my blog also) and educated myself.  I also had, as I mentioned above, a wonderful surgeon.  Old habits are hard to break and bad behavior can sneak up on you one lapse at a time, just like weight gain.  That is why I write these blogs because I am not perfect and I do lapse and I hope by reading about my mistakes, others won't beat themselves up too much when they lapse themselves and to let them know what can happen when they do so they don't get an ugly or dangerous surprise like I did with the torte.  please keep in mind that every surgeons program is different (if they even have a follow up program) and so are the recommendations.   No one and I stand by this statement 100% will be able to live 100% by the plan for the rest of your life.  the trick is ;when you fall of the wagon, get back up dust yourself off and get right back on.  Don't lay there letting the wagon drag you down the hill behind it!  In other words, realize you are not perfect, no one is.    Accept your lapse, try to learn from it and get back on track.  Sounds easy right, but it can be very hard for some of us.  I was the queen of, well I already blew my diet so I might as well eat -----.  pre op.  This was the bigest lifestyle change for me.  Everyone is different (kinda like those post op reccomendations) and different people will struggle with different things post op but eventually we will all stuggle with something.  I hope by posting my stuggles and being blunt and honest about them, I help others.  I hope my blog gives you some information you might not have found otherwise that helps you on your weighloss journey.  That is the reason I write it, and to post photos on my daughter (can't help it, I love her to bits).
rockysmom
on 11/6/08 10:43 am - Dartmouth, MA
Good reply --  Hey, you and I had surgery on the same day!
rockysmom
on 11/6/08 10:40 am - Dartmouth, MA
Your comments are very misleading.  There are no absolutes or predictions with WLS.  Everyone is different, and people have different results and experiences.  I am 7 months out, and have never had any dumping at all.  I have not come across any food that I could not tolerate.  (Although I have limited myself to only a bite or two of the bad stuff -- greasy fried food, rich sweets--) I wouldn't attempt to eat four or five fried hot wings. (I did get violently ill one time on hot wings, but it was before weight loss surgery.)  I know that many people do have a lot of difficulties with food.  We know that going in, but we accept that possibility, and if some foods are a problem, you don't eat them!  For most people I've met in support groups and online, dumping is not a big issue.  You learn what to eat and not to eat, and focus on getting your protein, vitamins and staying healthy.  My life is 1000 times better now!
luvsexytrstno1
on 11/7/08 10:42 am - Anchorage, AK
I try to be honest in my post op experience not to scare people away from the surgery but to let people know, as I have said repeatedly, that this surgery requires a lifestyle change.  You say that you are only 7 months out.  I promise you, and this is not in any way  intended to make you feel bad, that at some point you will get sick or have a bad reaction to something you eat post op.  Again, no one can live 100% by the plan for the rest of their post op life.  If we were that disiplined, most of us wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place, myself included.  I write these posts and open myself up to critics and ridicule hoping that even if only one person reads them that has struggled post op, that is having difficulties living by the plan, that they can see that they are not alone.  The most important thing I hope that pre ops get from my posts is the fact that this surgery isn't a magic cure, that it requires a lifestyle change.  I am not going to write only the positive or disappear from the boards and blogs when things aren't perfect post op.  That isn't fair to the people that read them, and very misleading.  not everyones life is all sunshine and roses and neither will everyones post op experience be 100% rosey either.  It is only fair to present the good the bad and the ugly.  Again, having said all of that, I am still very glad that I have had my surgery and that my husband had it as well.  I am 15 pounds from goal and , no I don't live 100% by the plan all of the time.  I am very honest about this so hopefully others can learn.
Hondurian Queen
on 11/7/08 2:48 pm - BOSTON, MA

i would have to say you are a real inspiration to me because I believe in keeping it real and I understand you the truth is the truth nothing in life is a 100%

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