Does anyone wish they had never gone through WLS?

Your replies and experiences would be greatly appreciated!

My surgery was July 07. I had complications (some related to GBS and some not) and was in bed for almost 4 months.  The first 2 months I was depressed and hardly ate enough to sustain my life.  And then.  Things got better. I healed, started feeling more like myself, started walking and before I knew it Christmas was here.  I have to say, I really didnt want this surgery, it was a desperate last-ditch effort to save my life from diabetes. I researched for 4 years before actually going through with it.  In retrospect I'm glad I did it and actually wish I hadnt waited so long to get it done.   I now deal with my food addiction, which threatens my sucess every day.  I reached my goal but fear weightgain because of bad choices.  I didnt realize that the restriction wouldnt last forever so now I can eat just about anything, which is terrifying.  If you're considering the surgery, just realize that it wont fix your head. Also, weightloss is not a cure for all of your problems.  Good luck.

thank you so much for being honest! i read so many people's stories about how wonderful everything is...and I'm not doubting that one can't make their experiences wonderful...but I know there has to be complications and such. I'm just trying to be realistic. I think the thing that will hold me back the most IS my head...but I know people who go to therapy and such...that might be something I should look into as well!

what is the time period for weight loss and time to learn to eat right.

Hi Megan, I had an RNY in 2000 and lost 130 lbs. very quickly.  I kept it off for two years and then have been regaining the weight ever since.  Now, eight years later, I have regained 40 of the 130 lbs I lost.  It is truly heartbreaking for me, but I STILL would have gone through with the surgery if I had known this would happen. What I didn't know is that the "pouch" inevitabely stretches again over time so some weight regain is inevitable.  Would a Lap Band have been better for me?  Maybe, but who knows? My only (unasked for) advice is to truly take a good look at your eating.  Is this a problem you could get a grip on without the surgery?  If so, give it ALL you've got, girl!  If you believe that you will only be able to get a grip on your weight with the surgery, then go for it, but remember that your eating problem will still be there after the surgery.  You will STILL need to do whatever it takes to get a grip on it if you want to keep the weight off.  My mistake was to rely on the surgery to keep me thin.  Little did I know that after each meal, my pouch stretched just a teeny tiny bit, and I could therefore have one or two mouthfuls more the next time. I am now dealing with my eating addiction and have decided to get a lap band put over my pouch (RNY) so that I can adjust it as my pouch stretches and hopefully keep the weight off. Only you can know if WLS is for you.  Just go into it as a LAST resort, not a first one.  Also, whether you get the WLS or not, know that your eating problems will still be there waiting for you until you finally deal with them and put them to rest. All the best with your decision.  We all support whatever choice you make! Zena

My only regret is not listening to my doctors suggestion a little more.  He suggested RNY, I decided on lap-band.  Now, I am looking into a revision.  I don't like the band, it may be good for some, but not me! 

I really wanted to get a band but my doctor suggested the sleeve. I was VERY hesitant at first but after reading and reading for months about the two, I've decided to listen to my doctor. Now I'm just waiting for approval from my insurence...*fingers crossed*.

Megan, with your BMI, are you certain that a restriction-only procedure is really what you want? Have you considered the DS? It has the same stomach as the sleeve, plus a high degree of fat malabsorption.

why don't you like the band?  I'm deciding on whether to do WLS and if yes which type...

First of all my BMI is over 55. Most people only loose between 30%-50% of their excess body weight with a band and I need to loose way more than that. That is my biggest reason for not wanting the band. Secondly, I didn't want to have to keep going for fills and such. What is really great about the band is it's reversable. I think the band is a wonderful tool for people who need to loose 50% of their body fat...but I really need a more drastic procedure, even if it's irreversable! Good luck! this website is such an incrediable resouce. I find myself reading question and answers daily...and if you ever need somethign particular, just use the search engine!