Just When I thought I had my mind made up?

OMG, Just when I thought I had my mind made up about which surgery I would have. I spoke to a male friend of mine yesterday who has another friend where he works who had surgery and he says that she was so sick and had so many complications from bypass that it nearly scared me to death.

I mean, I've always heard that you have a possibility of losing hair, and I know that is a risk. She lost lots of her hair.

But he was telling me that I better get somebody to take care of me because I won't be able to take care of myself.  Do you think that's true.  Will I need a nanny.

I mean he even said that she hasn't said it in so many words but that she regrets having the surgery because of all the pain she has been suffering.  Stomach cramps and other complications.

I really didn't think the Lap Band was gonna work for me. But, I don't know - hearing about so much pain, has got me comtemplating Rouex En Y and that's what I really want to do.  My sister and I both are doing our WLJ together. She's in NY.

ANY THOUGHTS ................... I'M SO SCARED.................????????????

Carolmoore2:

Everyone has there own personal experiences with WLS. Some good and some not so good. I have heard horrible things about them all! However, I had the surgery which my surgeon and I felt was best for me!

I did have my husband and daughter with for the first 2 days after I came home from the hospital but after that I was fine. I was even driving myself around! But again everyones experience will be different!

I pray you make the right decision!

THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

Yes,... stop listening to hearsay.

I didn't tell hardly anyone that I was having wls because I didn't want to hear what others so graciously wanted to tell me... about all the horrors of this surgery when they did not know first hand... and most truths had been so distorted it was scary.

My suggestion to you is talk to people who HAVE had the surgery, not those who know someone who did.  Talk to us here, talk to those in support groups, talk to people in your Doctor's office. Educate yourself, but stop listening to people who do not have first hand knowledge!

Those are MY THOUGHTS.... and, it's what you asked for.

Best Wishes to you,
Ren .... who WOULD do it all over again if needed.

THANKS SO MUCH -- I'M GOING TO CALM DOWN AND GO TO SOME SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS.  I'M SURE THAT WILL HELP. THANK S FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

Yes, complications happen. And this became very obvious to me when I attended the seminar and saw the statistics. The only good news was that the surgeon's practice was a center of excellence and had the stats to prove that the rates of complications experienced by his practice was less than the national average. That is why he takes so many precautions with the pre-op tests. As he said,  he does not want any surprises! And he does his best to make sure that he is prepared for any cir****tance. Still, the risk is real and does exist.

I cannot tell you what to decide. That is a personal decision that you will have to work out for yourself. All I can do is share with you how I made the decision to take this risk. For me, I realized that I was already killing myself. The medical issues and limitations on my activities were piling up year after year. So, while I was not sure exactly when I would die, I was surely heading toward an early death. I had not been able to lose the weight any other way. I felt I needed this tool. I decided  that I had to take the risk. Yes, I might experience complications and/or die, even though the incidence rate is low. I might be one of the ones who has problems. But I needed to try anyway and go out fighting if that is what it came down to.

So far, I have been one of the lucky ones. The change in the quality of my life is amazing. I did not have complications. And I have not had pain issues. Even if i were to suffer some complication at this point, the life I have been able to live since surgery has been so much more meaningful than the life I was leading beforehand.

So, you are right to question. And you are right to be concerned about the risks, This is not something to be taken lightly. You need to analyze everything, including all of the different options you have. Do a pro-con list of each of them and then do what is right for you.

Whatever, you decide, I wish you all the best.

Debbie

WONDERFUL, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR YOU DID SO WELL,

I'M SO PLEASED THAT I HAVE DVR AS MY SURGEON AS WELL.

I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO ANY SUPPORT GROUPS YET. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I DEFINITELY NEED TO DO.

THANKS

going to repeat what everybody else said.

I had my surgery on a  Wednesday. I was home by that Friday and wlaking around with the help of some pain meds. By next Wednesday, I was tire dof being home and the Monday after that, I was at work without any discomfort.

The only time I get cramps is if I make the wrong decision and eat/drink too fast or the wrong thing.

I would go back and do this over again. I cannot imagine how I lived ebfore I had the surgery. I don't ever want to go back there and I thank the Heavens I met Dr. Roe and he helped me make a decision that changed my life for the better.

There are life long implications of this surgery but then again, we are not waving a magic wand to make everything disappear and have an uncomplicated life. It's your decision whether you cna live with those life long decisions and checks.

Go to a couple different seminars/doctors/support groups. Talk to people who themselves had the surgery and maybe their spouses, not somebody who knows somebody who's mother's coworker had the surgery :-)

THANK YOU. 

YOU DID SO WELL, I PRAY THAT I WILL DO AS WELL.

I'M SO WORRIED I GUESS BECAUSE I WAS A SMOKER AND AM WORKING ON STOPPING NOW. 

THANKS FOR SHARING HOW WELL YOU DID WITH ME.  THAT'S GREAT.

I have not met anyone who has had the surgery *****grets it. not even with complications.

my husband has a work friend who had it a few years back and he's had complications.  he lost a lot of weight but he has still some problems....

Brian asked him  'if you could do it over again would you still have the surgery even with the complications?


the answer was split second  "yes in a minute"