Scary support group tonight at EMMC!

This was my 4th (or 5th) support group meeting and while there are usually a few folks who talk about complications they have had, tonight seemed to be especially full of dire stories. It was the largest group I had ever been to, but I was just amazed at how many folks had complications. I think there were a couple really unusual ones where folks almost died, but for the most part it was blockages and dumping and vomiting and folks really just having a rough time getting started or who had major stalls midway and were still struggling to lose the weight. Certainly prepares you for what might come and I guess that is a good thing, but scary too. Maybe I am more freaked than usual because I got my surgery date today, but I just think we better be sure we can handle the worst of it before we head down this road. I am not having second thoughts or anything, just feeling a little bit freaked. Tomorrow I will feel better. Thanks for letting me vent. It was good to see you Patty & Larry!

I had trouble if that is what u want to call it at the beginning also with throwing up and stalls. It was my fault I was throwing up because I was eating to fast and trying to find out what I could eat, also my hubby was sick with the flu when I came home and I caught that, For me the first 2 months are the worse but every day that I have had this done I am so happy, with the stalls we all have them I went 3 months not losing anything then all the sudden I would lose 10lbs. I am a very slow lower but I know I have done well. I started out at 230 and now 153. You see my new picture I am very happy. Going into something with your eyes wide open is great.It willbe all worth it in the end,, go slow and chew chew.. Congradulations on getting your date wont be long now

Nice to see you too   Terri!!! That is what  support groups are all about is the good and the bad.  that is why we tell you to  go to more than one  and the more the better.   You can here good bad and in  between and  you need to hear it all. You need to  understand the   books and get educated.   As  not  every one  has it easy. I have  been lucky no major  complications and I had my head in the right place to start with. I have had  my struggles with some food.  but it also boils down to if i had done it by the book  that i might not of been  sick.   who knows.    I do know that  so far it is the best thing i have done for myself.   I need to be  healthy   and  learn how to keep  this off  and use my tool well. Glad you were  all there.

I will reply to you Patty, since you were there last night and heard everything, but this is really a response to everyone else too! (Thank you all for your support!) It wasn't really the dumping and stories of vomiting and food getting stuck that concerned me. I expect that, especially if I am not eating the way I should be eating (too fast, too big a bite, something with too much fat or sugar etc). And I have been on enough diets in my life (haven't we  all!) to expect stalls and know that they pass if you are eating and exercising - frustrating as they may be). What scared me were the people who talked about "serious complications" without being specific about what they were. Complications that landed them in ICU and extended their stay in the hospital for 3 weeks! And a couple folks who spoke about blockages that sent them to the emergency room 2 months after the surgery. I know it happens and I know the % is relatively low but there were just soooo many stories in that group last night that I felt like I had my face rubbed in it, you know? And that is a GOOD thing. Our faces SHOULD be rubbed in it. This is no small step I am about to take and I have to weigh all my odds. Ultimately, I think the VAST majority of folks who have had the complications would still have the surgery, so that says a lot to me. Maybe I am worried too because I know there is a good chance I may have to move 2 months after I have surgery and even though I plan to get a referral BEFORE I go to a good Center of Excellence program and doctor, I would much rather see it through here where I am known medically. I don't really have a choice if that happens. And wherever I am, I know I can get support from all of you on the Maine board...thankfully. Guess thats all for today. Enjoy the beautiful weather, dear friends.

Hi Terri...I definitely agree that you need to know ALL the possibilities....the good and bad.  Going in with your eyes open will insure that you have success.  I also agree with you that just getting your surgery date and then hearing all that stuff probably would have freaked me out a little too.  Even here, on this board, or the RNY board, you read alot of the bad stuff cuz people don't always share all the "good" stuff that happens.  So, keep your chin up, keep doing your research and it'll all work out!        I've had issues the past week or two also....I think we all do...But, I haven't "dumped" (knock on wood), I haven't thrown up, I've had foamies once when I ate too fast......overall, this IS the BEST thing I've ever done for my health and, even with having pneumonia right now, I wouldn't go back and "undo" it for anything!!!!!   Congrats again on your date!  Keep us posted!  honks and hugs.......Ruth

Terri, I really believe no matter how educated we are, we truely are never ready.  I was totally ok, with loosing slow, and understood the whole fil, may take 3 or 4 or more to get restricted, but it is different actually going thru it.  You are ready to roll, and then have little bumps in the road that slow you down, it does get frustrating.  I guess that is why they say the most important thing is to listen to your dr.  but that being said, why after all these years of NOT listening to him would I do it now?  the eating is just a small part of this journey, I really believe, your head is the biggest part.  Lets all hope we can keep our head in this for the run.  All the information you got last night was education.  Have a great weekend.  Hugs, Cheryl

Hi -first,  congrats on your approval and surgery date!!! I think also you may have been more attuned to hearing about the complications - I found from the moment I scheduled my surgery - all I was hearing and reading was about complications and - yes, even deaths from gbs.

Good point. Never thought of that. I am fine really. Just needed to vent a bit. I don't want to alarm anyone else about their own surgeries. I know we have all given this a lot of time and energy and thought. And will continue to. How are you? We miss you here!

hey oceanlady, how you been?  we miss you,

Guess it is human nayure though that all the bad things that can happen are talked about the most. there are probably 1,000's that have had it done and no complications and they are all doing great. It can happen but with me more could happen with out the surgery. Good luck,