Different Opinions about Weight Loss Surgery

 I have been a Lifetime Weigh****cher's member since 1973.  After I had RNY in October 2007 I never though I would walk into a Weigh****cher's meeting again.  A year ago, I started regaining and went back to Weigh****chers.  This time it was with six pounds to lose.  I have not lost those regained ten pounds and have added about four more.  

I find after the third year that my metabolism is just like before surgery--very sluggage.  I count my points, exercise, watch carbs, eat high protein, drink my water and the weight does not go down. I firmly believe if I were not following Weigh****chers I would have regained more weight.  I weigh myself every morning and that keeps me accountable.

What weight loss surgery does is give you an opportunity to get down to a more normal weight.  After that you have to maintain your weight just like everyone else, with diet and exercise.  I have never regretted doing it.  

If I had it to do over and had the choice, it would be DS, because I miss my malabsorption.  

 We all TALK about the DS    as if it werethe holy grail .... but the REALITY is many DS patients have  SERIOUS   DEADLY   complications a few years post from malabsorption.

This  is comin g   from a woman who DREAMs of a DS   lol 

Really?

Who?

We have hundreds of DSers here, which of us has "SERIOUS   DEADLY   complications?"

 I am not many DS patients, only one.  I am, however, over 8 years out and I am not suffering from any serious, deadly complications.  I just wanted to let it be known.  

Oh yeah, and I am at 97% EWL.  I lost 104 (down too low) and maintain at minus 95.  I have gone up 5 pounds and then I lay off the sugar and away it goes.  

Just wanted to let you know we aren't all dead or dying.

REALITY is many DS patients have  SERIOUS   DEADLY   complications a few years post from malabsorption.

You've painted a broad-brushed picture with this statement.  Many?????  Can you name them?  How many RNYers have also suffered serious deadly complications and/or vitamin deficiences due to lack of knowledge or listening to their surgeon vs. doing their research on our needs?

I had  complications from my rny but that was due to the surgeon not listening me or other health care personnel.  Both nurses and I told him of problems and he chose to ignore them.

 Okay.....I'm a newbie, just starting out on my surgery journey.  I actually began researching wls about 7 years ago, and funny thing is....I remember reading all the "deadly complications" in regards to the RNY.  Now I say that to say this......it's all in the research and the knowledge.  I'm not going to fault anyone for any surgery they choose--ok, maybe the lap band because of my sisters disasterous experience with it---but still, different people choose different surgeries for lots of different reasons.

I've been TRYING to scare myself out of WLS.  I'm extremely afraid of dying on the table, it's a horrible fear of mine that I have to fight daily.  I've read the memory board over and over, I've lurked every known topic on the boards and the BIG thing that sticks out to me is the success of the DS and the "no regret" factor.  It seems to me that everyone is WANTING a revision to the DS.  Is it the "holy grail" of WLS?  As of this point and time, and after all the researching and scare tactics I've put myself through, I'd have to give a resounding YES IT IS!!!.  Sure....I've read about people who've died, but I've read more of them from RNY.  If you're severly morbidly obese, there are risks PERIOD.  Look up the facts.  The DS is definitely a more complicated surgery....but the way I look at is....I'm 44 years old, with insulin dependent diabetes, my knees are shot completely out, I walk with a cane everywhere because of the arthritis in my hips AND knees,  I am starting to have high BP,  I'm on O2 24/7, sleep apnea, conjestive heart failure, PCOS.....honey, you name it, I got it!  Even though I have all of these health issues that could cause some real problems with WLS, after everything I've learned I would STILL have the DS.  I figure I only have one shot, so it better be one that I won't end up having to seek a revision from.  Now that's just my two cents from a chicken **** newbie who does nothing but google WLS stuff every day.  As of now I don't HAVE a life, but maybe with the DS, I can get one.

Sorry, I was not meaning to make this a PRO DS post......I've decided on alot of stuff from reading what the vets have to say, and have always wondered why people quit posting.  I want to know the long term results, not just the happy phases that EVERYONE has.....JMO

Ummm... Over 6 years out from my DS.

ZERO complications.  Actually I am healthier now than I was pre-op.

You are talking out your ass.

Michele

Again.