Would you change anything?

When I experience the "head hunger" I just refocus on what I am trying to accomplish and usually with a little liquid in my pouch it subsides. When I told the dietitian I was feeling hungry she told me it was all in my head, that I wasn't supposed to be hungry! Karen

Hey Diane,

Absolutely no regrets with the surgery!! And everybody that knows me knows that I had surgery. I was back at work in 3 weeks after surgery, but really could have gone in 2. I was one of the ones who had no complications after surgery. I was very nauseated and with a migraine in the hospital though. I believe that morphene does this to me.

My one bit of advice is to exercise from day 1. When they tell you to walk for 30 minutes a day....WALK. When they give you the go ahead to do more....DO MORE. I am suffering for my lack of consistency now (1-1/2 years out), and am having to work harder to lose my last 40-50 pounds. I joined PEAK fitness and have a trainer as well. So, I will continue this journey that I started and will get the rest of my weight off.

Let me know how everything goes with Dr. Ross....tell him hello!!!

Hugs,
Dianne

Thanks Dianne! I am hoping that I will walk the line the best I can because my goal is to be a model patient so I will probably be writing you often to keep me on track. Thanks for all your help and leading me to Dr, Ross.  Diane W.

Absoluteyl NOOOOO regrets. The surgery doesn't fix everything, so be prepared for that. You have to be committed to a lifestyle change, but the weight comes off and being a smaller size defintely helps to stick to that committment. You will be tired, I was very tired for a while.  So, you may need to explain to your kids and hubby that you will need them to be understanding.  I was one of those in a lot of pain the first couple of weeks.  It had alot to do with my liver size and the surgeon trying to move it around, so just know that everyone's experience is different. I was back to work in 3 weeks though.

Thanks Kathy, I am a little concerned about being tired and plan to do as much protein as I can but I am tired all the time now. So I am hoping to go only up from here...lol! Diane W.

Hi Diane It sounds like you have already done lots of research and put plenty of thought into your choice to pursue a bypassed gastric.  Good for you.  It's a personal decision, one that you MUST make for yourself.  Granted, it affects everyone in your life, but the decision is yours and yours alone. I had complications following my RNY, but if I had it to do all over again, I would make the same choice.  The rewards totally outshine the few cloudy days I had to spend getting through the rough spots.  With that said, I still worry about long-term effects on my health due to malabsorption of nutrients, etc ... and I worry about regaining the weight every single day. But for this moment in time, I am thrilled with my choice to have the surgery.  I have the beginnings of a "real life" now ... something that was never within the realm of possibility for me when I weighed over 300 pounds. Best wishes to you ... and welcome!

Thanks Dawn I am glad you feel that way. I am almost 100% I have done a lot of research for a long time now. I think it is just nerves and people saying things plays off of that. Diane W.

I went through the same thing with a couple of my friends at work. I have also been very open about my surgery - I am very proud of myself for finally doing something to get my health back so I really just tuned them out! I was hearing comments like "why do you need to have surgery when you can just eat 5 small meals a day and lose the weight?" and "isn't surgery a little drastic. why don't you just go on a diet?". Now those 2 people are giving me compliments every day. I'm sure I has taken you a long time to come to this decision if you are like me. I am almost 3 months out (RNY) and I don't regret having the surgery a bit. I am 72 pounds lighter (with 126 more to go) and I feel fantastic! The diet phases are a little tough in the beginning but when you finally make it to solid foods it is great. The diet phases after surgery are necessary to let your pouch heal. I tried to go back to work 3 weeks after surgery but I ended up working half weeks for 2 weeks the 1st 2 weeks I came back to work. Of course I was tired going into the surgery so that probably had something to do with it. As far as lap band vs RNY, my opinion is if you have a lot of weight to lose like myself then RNY is better but if you only have 100 lbs to lose then lap band would be better but that is just my opinion. The guys and gals on this board have been very helpful!

Thanks Karen I am starting to feel better and I really haven't let it swayed me to much I think that it was my nerves and people talking at the same time because now that I have my appt. with Dr. Ross it seems like it is getting closer and I remember feeling like I would never get to this point.  But I think my situation seems similar to yours so I feel better to hear you.

I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT !!!!! I was one of the one's that came out of surgery with not one single problem.  I had surgery on Wed and by Thurs morning, I was walking the halls, by Fri I was on my way home.  On Mon my drain tube came out and I have never been happier. Today is my 6 month anniversary and I am 85 pounds lighter. The best thing I did was start going to a support group.  I started about 3 months before surgery and everything I learned, I learned from the wonderful family I gained.  This web site had all sorts of info and there is never a question that can't be ask...NEVER.  Someone has been there. My friends that I told all tried to talk me out of it.  I was told to not let anyone talk me out of or into this surgery.  This is a choice you have to make for you.  I weighed out the rare chances of something happining to me due to the surgery, and the chances of me dying early of heart, lung or other body problems. At first I started checking about the lap band.  Then I saw that I would still be able to keep my same bad habbits.  And then I would have to get it adjusted every month and that would be about $300. extra a month.  Then, I didn't want an object in my body that not much is known about.  I think without the dumping, I would still be living the life of Littlw Debbie cakes and soda.  I have not dumped many times, but it was enough for me to know I don't like it. If you didn't have a tad bit of reservation, that would be bad.  That reservation keeps you looking to make sure you know what you are getting into.  Heck, a few weeks after surgery, I second guessed myself if I had done the right thing.  By the first month when you start seeing the results in a major way, you know you did the right thing. I would trust Dr. Byrne with my children's lives.................................After all, he saved mine.