Wish I never had this surgery!
on 6/30/14 10:10 am
First very happy to hear you no longer have diabetes or high cholesterol. Both run in my family but I don't have either. I am 50 years old. I do however have Fibromyalgia and Arthralgia and the only think that helps me is Norco and Ibuprofen. I've tried many others and have reactions to them. I even get very itchy with Norco but my Doc has me taking it with Benadryl. Norco is the only thing that helps me sleep maybe 5 hrs a night due to chronic pain.
So with the sleeve I won't be able to take Ibuprofen afterwards?
Ibuprofen is an NSAID. NSAIDs pose *some* risk for anyone who takes then, but IMHO, you're at no greater risk, once healed, than you were before you had a Sleeve. Some surgeons either don't really understand how NSAIDs work---they are, after all, trained in cutting and sewing people, not in drug interactions so much---or they're lazy and give all their patients RNY advice. RNYers really shouldn't take NSAIDs, since they're already at a higher risk of ulcers because of the huge, blind, remnant stomach the RNY leaves behind, and the always-open stoma.
I advise people to research the pros and cons of NSAIDs for themselves, and make their decision about them for themselves. I see people say things like "My surgeon doesn't allow me to..." and I just want to scream. We're all grown-ups here, and presumably capable of reading the facts and making a sound personal decision about these things. (Just a personal pet peeve of mine. *grin*)
I'm 13 years RNY post-op and I'd do it all over again. Back when I had surgery, I wish I'd done more research as to the WLS procedures. The Lap-Band wasn't approved yet but I wish I'd known about the DS to make a more informed choice between both procedures.
My diabetes is in remission and has been since two days post-op and my other co-morbid conditions were resolved.
Sign me as I'd do it all over again.
I am one week post-op today for the sleeve, and I was scared crapless! However, I am focused on doing what's right for my health. I was off pain meds within two days, and haven't had any problems swallowing/keeping down any of the full liquids I am allowed so far. I have also lost 11.1 pounds in one week. I have NO regrets to date!
Take deep breaths, keep calm, and really think about why you are doing this. It isn't too late to back out, but if you are going to move forward accept it and be prepared. Good luck!
Emily
on 6/30/14 10:25 am
I'm 18 months out and have been in maintenance for 6 months. I haven't had any regrets--not even in the beginning--but I was surprised that when I made it to my goal, I still wasn't happy with my body. I was frustrated and embarrassed by my deflated boobs, five pound pannus, saggy butt, and thighs that look like I put on a saggy, twisted pair of pantyhose. I made the decision to address some (or maybe all depending on how much muscle I can put on my legs to fill up the skin) of these issues through plastics. I just had my first surgery 3.5 weeks ago (lower body lift) and already love my new butt, tight tummy, and cute little belly button.
But, apart from my issues related to not having skin that fit my new body, I resolved a long list of comorbidities including GERD, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and triglycerides, hypertension, pre-diabetes, and after being diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease, my kidney function is back to normal. Without a doubt, I've improved my health in ways that I never could have without surgery. So, no. Not a single regret. Good luck on your journey :-)
I had gastric bypass March 11th, the next day I started bleeding internally and lost 7 pints of blood. I went back in for emergency surgery to find the source of the bleed. They didnt find anything wrong. The day after the 2nd surgery I lost 2 more pints of blood. They did an endoscopy and colonoscopy to find where the blood was coming from. They never found anything. They finally released me a week after the 1st surgery. 5 days after I was released I was so weak I could barely walk. I went to my primary care Dr and she said I was very low and iron and sent me to a hematologist. I went to the hematologist the next day and I couldnt walk more than 10 feet without needing to rest. The hematologist was taking to me and I lost control of my bowel and starting vomiting. He called 911. I had a temp of 103.1. At the ER they did a CT scan and Xray. They found out I was leaking out of my stomach. They also found out that I contracted two hospital borne infections, one called C-Diff and other one was Gram Negative. They transferred me back to the hospital where I had my gastric bypass. I had another surgery to put in a GI drain and a another drain that would rest on my chest. I was hospitalized 10 more days. They had to put a picc line in and feed me thru that, it was called TPN. When my family visitedme they had to wear a gown and they weren't allowed to touch me. The 10 days in the hospital I started getting depressed and thought I was gonna die. I just got my GI drain out 2 weeks ago. Im finally starting to feel better and ive lost 113lbs now. Im just now starting to exercise because I now long have restrictions. Im riding a bike and my GI drain hole is closed so I went swimming today. I certainly had my regrets on this surgery, but im seeing that im feeling better and hoping the worst is behind me. Im not trying to scare you put of the surgery, just sharing my story
It seems to me that on this site no one ever regrets the surgery. It makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. I am truly a 50/50 about it. My taste buds have changed tremendously so food either doesn't interest me at all or upsets my stomach. I always loved to cook and I am using a lot of recipes form cook books specific to WLS. I have found some I like and that helps but even then I still can't eat much so I lose interest completely. It just has changed so many thing s I loved to do. I can't have a ****tail with dinner when I am with friends because you can't drink before during or after. I just feel like the oddball. Those are the 50% regret me. The 50% of me that is happy about it loves seeing curves in my body again, enjoys being down 3 sizes and knowing there is more to come, being able to bend, and run and play with my grandson, being able to walk without being in tears for how sore my feet were. Also, I am now losing hair in bunches so I am pretty down about that. I miss fruit and salad more than I miss cupcakes or chips. I am hoping someday I will be able to eat lettuce and fruit. Anyway I feel like I am the only one who sort of does regret the surgery on this board. I am just being honest.
