What were your "I wish I didn't do this" moments?

Hey guys, 

So I'm currently on hold with this process as I'm a "smoker" (social 420 stuff) and apparently I need to be smoke free for 6 months BEFORE even beginning. Huge bummer since now I have to wait until October to start over, instead of what could've been a surgery date in October. Anyway, I'll stifle my frustrations and mixed emotions about that, and ask you all my burning question.

Everyone, it seems, that are at least 6 months to a year post-op and are feeling like a normal person again, always have a similar answer when it comes to their decision for WLS: "I wish I did it sooner!"; "It changed my life for the better"; "It was hard work, still is hard, but was SO worth it!".

My question:

At what point either pre or post op did you have any "What am I doing, this is crazy?" or "WHY did I do this to myself, I wish I never did this!" moments. What were those moments for you, how long before/after the surgery did it happen, and where are you now with your feelings on those old thoughts?

Is there anyone that actually regrets the surgery and just can't seem to be happy about it? Maybe due to complications? 

I'm about 41/2 yr out. When I decided to send in my referral I did a lot of research, found OH and started going to a wls support group. It included people in aall stages. By the timme I went to orientation I pretty much had my questios anwered. I was lucky in that I did not have problems with food getting stuck or had too many intoerances.

Unfortunately it did not cure my refluct.

Now I do have a few issues with malabsorbtion and keeping vitamin levels up. Have to have iron infusions about every 6 month for the last year.

I was having health issues and my knees were starting to protest. Within 6 months down over 100 lbs, no more sleep apnea, no high blood pressure. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Post weight loss the skin has not been pretty so I have had many plastic procedures. Getting ready for the last ones. It is a trade off. Even if I could not afford the plastics would have just bought more spanx.

I never had those thoughts. I never regretted this for one second.

Believe people when they say that it was worth it, that it changed their lives. 

Some people get buyers remorse just after surgery when they are feeling tired and in pain. I never felt that myself. It has given me back my life and I would do it over again. Use the next 6 months to get yourself ready for the surgery. Of course quit smoking and work on why you got to the weight you are.

I will be a year out on June 12th.  I'm down 144lbs and feel great!  The first 2 weeks post op were tough but not even then did I ever regret it.  It's been the best thing I have ever done for myself and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.  Do yourself a favor and quite smoking and do this for yourself!  You can do it! 

I have been a smoker for a very very long time and had to let it go to qualify for WSL. It was very difficult to quit but it makes sense to have to quit because im doing WSL for a healthier life style and continuing to smoking will only be a contradiction to a healthier life style. It was very tough but I am currently smoke free and passing those urine tests they do. Yes they do test you every appointment. If you are smoking weed keep in mind it can take 3 weeks or more to leave your system especially for us that are over weight because THC adheres to the fatty tissues and takes longer to leave your system ( you can also test positive from second hand smoke whether it is nicotine or weed). In January I got delayed 3 mos because I had a minor error of buying nicotine oil for my vape pipe and was honest with them to not do the urine test because I would probably test positive. I got back on track an now have my meet the Surgeon appointment booked for July 22. I wish you the best of luck. It shouldn't be too tough for you to quit smoking considering you only smoke socially. :-) Oh ps I am also a social wine drinker lol I just love my wine, for many many years I have been a glass of wine a night drinker and also had to let that go. :-) it's a lot of hard work but so very worth it.    

Hello

 I just wanted to weigh in with my experience after almost 3 years out of RNY surgery.  I have had 5 operations directly related to having RNY surgery.  The first 3 were for Petersen Hernia repair.  The Petersen's hernia was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life (I literally wanted to die) and I have had 2 children and other operations so I know what extreme pain feels like.  I then developed kidney stones because of the way we absorb calcium and that it has trouble binding in our kidneys and being eliminated.  To date I have developed 3 kidneys stones.  One was in my bladder which I was able to pass, but the other 2 - one each kidney - had to be surgically removed. I am still waiting on another operation for them.  Kidney stones are very painful, so is the 2 stents I had to wear twice since the kidney was so backed up and swelled the Urologist was unable to do the surgery without draining it for weeks.  All these complications involved many trips to the ER as I had no idea what they pains were from for either problem.  I had to have CAT SCANS, Ultrasounds, blood tests, urine tests, Gastroscopies, etc.  It was not only painful but an inconvenience to my husband (as he had to take time off work) and to my family.  The clinic didn't not mention that the complication rate would be so high and said complications are rare.  I took my husband with me when seeing the surgeon for the last time for approval and my husband asked questions (as did I) and he assured him that the complication rate is very rare.  The nurse also said that it is no big deal to repair a Petersen Hernia either but no one mentioned the pain and agony and the wait to get me into get it repaired.  Prior to this I had no health problems other than Obesity and a BMI over 50.  I was on no medications and the only problem I had was a sore knee and having to wearing custom made orthotics due to plantar fasciitis.  After one year I reached goal weight as I lost 180 lbs.(hw-325/lw 144) Sure the pain is gone in my legs, knee and feet and I now can wear pretty clothing and cute shoes but the other problems have not gone away as I now get mysterious pains on my left side that feel like a giant charlie horse and are unbearable. The pains feel identical to a Petersen Hernia but the surgeon ruled out another hernia or any ulcer.  The RNY Surgeon has now referred me to a Gastroenterologist and he is trying to figure out my pains. The Gastroenterologist asked me if the RNY Doc nicked my vagus nerve during the surgery - I told him I have no idea.  The pain is so bad that I am throwing up in the sink beside the toilet while sitting on the toilet having a bowel movement.  (It is not dumping syndrome as most times I have had no food.)  I have no gallbladder, ulcers, & appendix is ruled out. (I don't smoke, drink or do drugs either).  I do feel like a failure that I let myself get so large that I had to resort to this last chance surgery.  I should have controlled my self better, excised, eat healthy and not given up and I wouldn't have these problems.  The Gastroenterologist told me this is relatively a new surgery (RNY) and only been studied in depth (side effects) for 10 years, he said I was lucky I didn't have it in the 1990s or I would be in worse shape.  So for now he sent me home with some anti spasm drugs Buscopan (not covered under our drug plan) for my intestines and Align (over the counter drug) and I get to come back in 3 months for a follow up.  I had been looking into this surgery since the year 2000 so it is not like I just jumped into this decision.  I should have listened to the little voice in my head outside the OR that day that said to not go through with it.  Now I never know when I go out of the house or go away on vacation when my pains are going to come on.   I am sure they are some lucky RNY'ers that have had zero side effects or feel that the positive results outweigh the bad but I am not one of them. I am now burdening OHIP system with my complications for my bad decision along with my family (financially due to uninsured meds).  If only someone would have told me as I know it is almost impossible to get a reversal unless you are dying and that this operation is so final. The positive side is the I probably added a few years to my life and perhaps dodged the Diabetes, Cancer and Heart disease bullet but we will never know and only time will tell.