Assumptions versus truth.....

I read a lot about this surgery and talked to literally 100 people who have had it done so I don't consider myself to be completely in the dark concerning having this surgery but I still have a few questions. I think my problem is I make assumptions based on what some people tell me and then I find that's not always the case..... Assumption 1...COMPLICATIONS... It seems like 85% of the people who have WLS have little to no complications, while the remainder may have problems with coming to terms with their new forced lifestyle (i.e. eating too much too fast), or maybe constrictions, etc. It seems that the "major" complications are pretty few and far between. What was your experience? I am a single parent who goes to college full time and works two jobs. My kids are good kids and will help me more than cause extra stress. My jobs are such that I can take time off with little to no consequence but my schooling is another matter entirely. I am trying to finish a degree and it looks like the surgery will fall in the middle of a semester for me. I can make up the time of course but I would prefer to be able to attend classes as soon after surgery as possible. As a student I would be sitting about 60% of the time and it would not be strenuous at all. Assumption 2... RECOVERY TIME...It seems like there is a fairly good chance that I will recover quickly from my surgery and be able to go half speed within a week or two. Is this a fair assumption? What was your experience? Assumption 3... DIABETES RESOLUTION...Weight loss is not my main goal after this surgery. I am interested in the complete resolution of my diabetes most of all. I think that will go hand in hand with losing weight and living/eating healthier. From what I've read and heard there is a good chance that my diabetes will be completely resolved within a few weeks of my surgery. Is this a fair assumption? Assumption 4... PAIN AND DISCOMFORT AFTER SURGERY... Most of the horror stories I've heard were from people who had the open RNY before laproscopic RNY. I've had some surgeries already in my life and in my experience I tolerated them pretty well as long as I had pain medication. I assume that I will be in a fair amount of pain at first but that it will taper off quickly, especially once I get home and get in my own bed. What was your experience? LASTLY.... I think when faced with something one has never experienced people tend to form opinions and beliefs based on the slightest shreds of information that usually end up not being true. Did you go into surgery with a particular mindset or belief that was or wasn't true? I would love to hear from you.

Here is my answers: Assumption 1...COMPLICATIONS--- I have had none, but I have followed all the directions from my nurtritionst and doctor, I did what I was told to do. NO cheating , and I walked, and I rested. Assumption 2... RECOVERY TIME...----- I had surgery on Monday, went back to work on the next Monday. I have a desk job, with no lifting. I think starting size and age have alot to do with the recovery time. I am 41 and my starting weight was 312 with a BMI of 47.5. Assumption 3... DIABETES RESOLUTION...---- I am/was one of the lucky I had no medical issues, so I can not give you answer on that. I can tell you this my back ( has 6 steel rods from a broken back ) , is doing GREAT , and my foot ( birth defect ) is so very much better. Assumption 4... PAIN AND DISCOMFORT AFTER SURGERY... --- had none really, a little bit sore , but not bad for me. learning to eat has not been to hard I listen to the nutrutiist . I went to surgery thinking it would be much worst , I worried about missing food, and so far I have had no isses at all. The surgery was so very much easier than I thought. I wish you all the best , Allison

Here is my input, RM... #1--I started out weighing 391 pounds (at 5'3...that was quite a BMI). Luckily, I did not have any co-morbidities. I also had no complications at all. #2--My recovery time was pretty swift and easy. I was back to work one day shy of two weeks. I didn't have any problems, but I was a bit tired. I am a teacher and it isn't physically demanding, but it can be mentally taxing. #3--Can't really relay any experience with this one. #4--Well, I am a big baby. They gave me pain medicine, so I took pain medicine. Now, I didn't take it when I wasn't in pain.......but I didn't wait until I was doubled over either. So you could say I was comfortable. I don't recall taking it after the first week or so. I went into the surgery knowing it would change my life, or end my life and that was my only assumption. I felt very informed and there were no surprises for me. I had great family and friend support. I really couldn't have asked for a better experience. I do have to add, I had one small minor bump in the road. I had to stay in the hospital an extra day. The surgeon didn't want me to leave until I had a bowel movement, which at the time the thought of staying another day was awful, but once I got home and read posts from people who hadn't had a BM in two weeks after surgery........I was very thankful my surgeon made sure that all was a-ok in that department. Nancy

#1 No complications for me. #2 I was out of work for 4 weeks and felt like I needed it. I am not a person who stays home easily; I only missed 6 days of work with a broken leg and a cast to my hip. I also had a drain for 2 weeks and a feeding tube for 4 weeks. Without the drain I think I would have felt better sooner. #3 I took glucophage, avandia and amyrl before surgery. I was off all meds within 3 weeks. At 3 months I had a normal hemaglobin A1C. My blood sugar this morning was 100. #4 The pain was not the worst I ever had. The broken leg was far worse. I took pain meds for 2 weeks before switching to liquid tylenol. My 16 pound cat jumpped on my left side about 12 after surgery. I would have been off pain meds sooner. I also think the drain contributed to the discomfort. I was very well informed about surgery and the life style. Only thing I wish I had done differently was take my measurements before surgery and to have done a weekly weight loss journal. I am very happy with my results thus far. -95 including pre-op weight loss of 28 pounds. Belinda

1. no complications....GREAT doctor! 2. had surgery on Tuesday, back next Monday...desk job 3. had no commorbidities except borderline high blood pressure...it is genietic and I still watch it, although it is normal now unless I am stressed. 4. don't remember any pain...morphine was WONDERFUL!

Here's my 2 cents worth... #1 I had no complications. Luckily my surgery was very uneventful! The only minute thing that even happened was that the incision above my belly button has gotten irritated several times, become slightlly infected and popped. Nothing major...hasn't really affected me. #2 I was very fortunate that my surgery date fell at the beginning of summer vacation (I am a school teacher.). It has been a God send...I have not had to worry about working and have just been able to focus on taking care of myself. That being said, I felt mostly normal 5 days out from my surgery. At one week, I took a 6.5 hour (unplanned) car ride to West Virginia. I walked in the hospital and I walked every day when I came home from the hospital. I think that really helped in my speedy recovery. Other that just being a little tired, I probably could have gone back to work after 1-2 weeks. #3 Sorry...not applicable #4 I quite using my Morphine pump (except to help me sleep at night) the day after my surgery. Even when I came home, I only took the pain meds. to help me sleep because I was very restless. The majority of my pain was in my left side/lungs when I took deep breaths. But I know that the walking helped that. I felt very educated and knowledgable when I went into surgery...I had researched it for 2.5 years before my time finally came. Best wishes- Susan

hi, here are my experiences #1 no complications, even sent home from the hospital the following day #2 my recovery time was very fast. i was sleeping on my belly within 3 days. i stay home with the kids so idont know how i would have done if i went to work but i felt like going to work. by the way i have 4 kids for rent. i rent them out by the hour #3 i HAD diabetes. i guess you can say i am in remission. it used to run 180-220 before surgery and on meds to control it. no it stays about 80 with out meds #4 pain was a breeze. itook pain meds for 2 days afterwards mainly to sleep comfortably. gas was really the only thing that hurt. the insisions didnt hurt. i hope this helps.... adrienne 343/234/170

sorry my computer was messed up or the system was messed up and i sent my messages a lot. lol adrienne

hi, here are my experiences #1 no complications, even sent home from the hospital the following day #2 my recovery time was very fast. i was sleeping on my belly within 3 days. i stay home with the kids so idont know how i would have done if i went to work but i felt like going to work. by the way i have 4 kids for rent. i rent them out by the hour #3 i HAD diabetes. i guess you can say i am in remission. it used to run 180-220 before surgery and on meds to control it. no it stays about 80 with out meds #4 pain was a breeze. itook pain meds for 2 days afterwards mainly to sleep comfortably. gas was really the only thing that hurt. the insisions didnt hurt. i hope this helps.... adrienne 343/234/170

hi, here are my experiences #1 no complications, even sent home from the hospital the following day #2 my recovery time was very fast. i was sleeping on my belly within 3 days. i stay home with the kids so idont know how i would have done if i went to work but i felt like going to work. by the way i have 4 kids for rent. i rent them out by the hour #3 i HAD diabetes. i guess you can say i am in remission. it used to run 180-220 before surgery and on meds to control it. no it stays about 80 with out meds #4 pain was a breeze. itook pain meds for 2 days afterwards mainly to sleep comfortably. gas was really the only thing that hurt. the insisions didnt hurt. i hope this helps.... adrienne 343/234/170