Hi everyone.
My name is Sharon and I live in Raleigh. I am thinking about WLS and trying to get as much information about it as I can. I am going to a seminar in Cary on Thursday, but I want to know everything.. especially the bad. I have heard all the good things and seen amazing results but no one says anything about the pain, or getting used to eating less, complications things like that.
I'm 36 years old and weigh 240 I'm 5 ft tall and my BMI is 47.
I hope to get to know you all and hear from someone soon
Have a good night!
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
I host support group meetings in Raleigh and if you decide to attend any of them you will hear the good, bad and ugly. There are a number of different types if WLS, but they fall into two categories: restrictive only and malabsorbtive/restrictive. The journey with the different types of surgery seem to have more in common than you might think, because they all are restrictive to one extent or another. People's experiences vary. Some will say that they felt only mild discomfort and were back to their normal activities in less than a week. Others may use all of the pain meds sent home from the hospital and have it take weeks until they feel like they have recovered from surgery, but in general most people have pain on the first day post op that is normally well controlled with pain meds. Many may use some pain meds when they get home, but most don't use much, if any once released from the hospital. The biggest thing that most people have to get used to is the amount of work involved in getting the recommended hydration and protein. The amounts vary somewhat from program to program, but the surgeons know that you generally have to 'work up' to the full amount of protein and fluids required. The dietary portion of the programs vary greatly. Some programs have you on full liquids for the first 3 to 4 weeks and others start you on soft foods after the first week. To be honest, it is hard to get used to consuming such small amounts of food at first, but you don't have to worry that it will always be that way. When you first have surgery your new little stomach is swollen from the surgery. When you first start to 'eat' solids again, you will probably experience something called the 'foamies.' The 'foamies' occur when you eat too much too fast and you basically over stuff the new little tummy and it starts backing up into the esophagus. As the saliva isn't able to go down into the stomach, it backs up and creates an uncomfortable feeling. Some people mistake this for what is known as 'dumping', but it's not the same and can occur with any restrictive or restrictive/malabsorptive procedure. Over time... a lot of time, the swelling goes down and you are slowly able to consume more. I am more than 2.5 years post op and I can eat about as much as what you would get in a Lean Cuisine meal at any one sitting. Depending on the surgery you have, you may experience 'dumping' (RNY), too much restriction (LapBand or a stricture... these aren't common, but not unheard of either), constipation (with any of the surgery types), throwing up from overeating, getting something stuck, diarrhea (normally with DS)... These are the ones I can think of now. More rarely, you will hear of strictures, ulcers, tortioned bowels, or hernias that can occur, but are not common. I have to say the most people I know only have one regret; that they didn't do it sooner.
Wishing you all the best ... and wishing I had done it when I was as young as you are.
Barbara
ObesityHelp Coach and Support Group Leader
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/bcumbo_group/
High-264, Current-148, Goal-145
I had RNY and I lost alot of hair. Before it happened I asked everyone about hair loss and they all lived through it just like I did. Now I smile when newbies ask about it because I feel it was all worth it, even though I felt like a molting bird for a while.
