is second thoughts about ...

is second thoughts about the surgery normal, i am scared, but still.... am i making a mistake, i have been obese for 17 yrs, i am tired and i hurt, i have tryed so many times to lose but always have gained it back. but i am scared about my life afterwards and i going to be worse than i am now, will i die, am i normal please tell me.......................

Hello -- I believe having second thoughts is a normal and healthy sign. Like yourself, I am waiting to have WLS. I do not believe WLS is for everyone given the risks and change of life style that is required. However, for me I simply can't go on living in this unhealthy body and as such see WLS as a tool for a better life. I fear not death, but do fear leaving my family behind as they need me. I wish you well as you consider all of the issues and arrive at a decision that is best for you. In closing, I think you are very normal. In Peace, Lance

HI, My name is Deborah Scott. I had surgery in 1993 by Dr. Ozment who is now being sued by over 100 people for complications that he did not mention. The article can be pulled up in the archives of the Arkansas Democrat 2002 if you are interested. I don't know if I would have the surgery again. I read back over my presurgery papers last night and found that I was listed as healthy but morbidly obese at 231. I remember that I had a hard time walking because of breathlessness and tiredness, and wanted to do things with my family like go to the mall and zoo, etc. However, I'm not a lot better off in that respect now. My iron count has never been normal since the surgery so I stay just as tired as before. I have a host of new problems - hypoglocemia, bleeding ulcer, malabsorption of vitamins and bipolar disorder which I believe (can't prove) was directly brought on by the surgery. Except for the bipolar everything else is a direct result of the surgery. My marriage is better than it was because my husband likes my new body much more and so do I. I have a better self-esteem because of it but still have sexual issues just because I'm so tired all the time. My overall panel of iron is 13 now and reference range is 40-120. Currently, I look like death. My intestinal doctor says he doesn't know how I'm moving around and certainly am not getting enough oxygen to the any part of my body. I can't tolerate the iron - despite what they say which is that it causes constipation - I get chronic diahreah from it. Then I have to take huge doses of LevBid to keep the iron in. Then, I have edema in my legs because the water from the intestines has to go somewhere. Then I have to take lasix for that and that makes me even more tired. I have had iron transfusions. They work well but I teach school and there is no time for me to go and have the transfusions. After the surgery I reached 170 and stayed for 8 years. Not where I wanted to be. Then, I went on Atkins and lost to 155 size 14-16. Still not where I wanted to be but was unable to lose anymore weight. A month ago I started losing weight for no reason. I lost first to 135 and went in to my endrocrinologist who suggested a bleeding ulcer was the problem. He felt I needed nutrition and started me on ensure for diabetics because of the hypoglocemic and dumping syndrome - no ensure with sugar. I saw him two weeks later after eating as much as possible and taking the ensure and had dropped to 128. One week later I was at 115. Then, I got really scared. I am going today for a endoscopy and colonoscopy. The GI thinks I could have a bacterial infection in one of the stapled off areas cause ing the diarheah. That's easy to treat if that is the cause with antibiotics. Then, maybe I can tolerate the iron. That's what I'm hoping for anyway. However, every year from 1993-until 1999 I had to have an endoscopy for food being trapped in the band. Each time they always found benign polyps. I was told to have the endoscopy and colonoscopy every year. I haven't done that since 1999 so I'm concerned that the polyps could be cancer now and am praying that they will not be. I can't help you reach a decision. No one could have talked me out of it. I'm not sure even now if I'd do it again just because I hated myself at 231 and I do look nice now. I believe that if you can find the right vitamins for yourself especially if you can take the iron without having diarheah that you will do fine. Just please, if you do the surgery never ever stop loading up on vitamins. A liquid multivitamin is the best accompanied by extra potassium, iron and E. I take Buried Treasure Daily Nutrition Optimum Daily Nutritional System. It is liquid. I take it twice daily, and as I said this is not even enough to get you the extra potassium, iron and E that you will need. Your skin will never be the same as far as being dry. You will need to bathe in lotion at least twice daily. I must admit that I just started taking care of myself correctly again in the last three months. I probably wouldn't be in this condition if I had done these things all along. For a 50 year old woman, I have little to complain about as far as hanging skin. I'm pretty close to normal on that but I do work out with weights every day. Sometimes I work out twice daily and take Gamma Oryzanol 100 mg. I am now doing this because four weeks ago my endrocrinologist couldn't find enough muscle in my body to give me a shot. The Gamma Oryzanol is to be taken only if you work out and it is to help you build muscle. I do a tape called 6 week emergency workout with five lb weights on my legs and in my hands. I would never consider having cosmetic surgery for hanging skin. Hopefully, I've given you something to think about. I would probably do the surgery again even with all of this going on. I would definitely take care of myself the right way if I did it over and possibly would be healthy now. There is the article, though, and the lawsuit that does concern me. The number of people that are experiencing side affects from the surgery and mine was the RNY is scary. If you want to read the article, you'll have to go to the archives of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette in the year 2002 and look for Kerry Ozment. I have it somewhere if you can't find it and want to see it let me know. The thing about having it today versus 1993 is that there are so many wonderful sweet treats that you can have now made by Atkins that taste great. That was my problem. I loved sweets and didn't have the willpower to quit eating them after the surgery. Now, I can use Atkins caramel bars and be happy. I also eat his chips and drink his shakes. These are all good sources of protein which you need. I can't eat meat without throwing up so these are my alternatives plus eggs, cheese and peanut butter. I wish you the best. I ask you to keep me in your prayers today that anything they find will not be cancerous. Debbie

thanks for your history, i am sorry you had such a hard time, and will pray for you today that you will feel better and that your test will return a positive feedback. also hope you will challenge yourself to eat better, i know that will be my hardest challenge, i love the sweets too, so remenber me when you pray and i will remenber you thank patty

Hi Debbie....what happened to you is awful..i know doctors were using the band years ago..i didnt hear many good things about it..mostly that there was a lot of infections and such,Luckily my doc and his associates are against the band procedure..rate of success better .. thanks for sharing your story Carrie

I was wondering what surgery did you have and are you doing better now? I hope so! Please take care!

Hi, I have not had the surgery, but I am trying my damdest...to get approved, as we speak I am getting ready for my mental evaluation. I have read some of your replies, and I know you are scared, but you must remember. There are more obesity related deaths than deaths by bypass surgeries. Also like anything new it takes TIME to get use to your new lifestyle. It takes KNOWLEDGE so you know what you should and shouldn't do. That lady wasn't properly imformed about alot. READ, READ, READ, AND READ SOME MORE...LOL but serious, ask questions. I am pre opt, and I will give you some food for thought...oh wait thats why we are here in the first place...lol You need at least 70gms of protien a day. So you get a good, low carb protien shake mix, start looking now, vitamin shoppe has great prices. Check them out. Don't be afraid to ask for samples...pick one you kind of like, you can spruce it up later. Also there is a powder called Barley green, or Green magna, or simular names...Its a healthy green food in powder form with no taste. I looks bad, but hey it is so good for you...it boost your iron, and that is a plus...mix them together two or three times a day as needed. One vitamin C 500mg chewable waffer and you should be feeling pretty good in almost no time at all. Also vitamin e in liquid form...is cool also. Ask your doctor, if he hasn't told you...the key like anything is to take care of yourself once you had the surgery. Consider it a second chance for you to have the life you deserve. And another thing, nothing and I mean nothing worth having goes with out risk... take care of yourself and God bless you...hopefully I have helped you somewhat...as well as others that read this. Wish me luck in my approval, they are giving me a hard time... Rhonda J

thanks so much for your letter, it has helped me remember why i started this in the beginning. i wish you luck with your journey and hope the best for your future. friday is nearing and i have had my pre-ops i am trying not to be frightening, buying me new overnight bag and great personal items for the hospital so i will be comfortable. trying to look forward to feeling great with the weight off and knowing i can control it this time. just seems unreal. i am just thankful for the emails and help and understanding i have read in the profile from obestity help good luck again patty

Hi, I am really glad I could be of some help...I hope you get your food items together before you go into the hospital...you don't want to have to go hunting them down after...Also I forgot the powdered skim milk...put that in with your protien shake...and if you want it to be more like a shake type thing, fine get you some splender see the key here is making it easier for you to get everything you need in one simple step...(protien, iron, calcium, and minerals)...its a wonderful no cal sweetner... I am soooooooooooo ready for this lifestyle change....I hope I can join you soon on the other side of this 250, take care and God bless... Rhonda J

You are completely normal Patty! I am 10 days away from my surgery and although I am not worried about the actual procedure because I do have the utmost confidence in my surgeon, I wonder if I'm doing the right thing physically. Then I went through the pre-mourning of soda feeling terribel that I will never be able to drink soda after surgery again, at least not in it's normal state with the wonderful carbonation. And me being a single mom, I've even taken the extra step of getting a living will, organ donation, trustee for my daughter, etc. papers drawn up in the event something does happen. I'm actually looking so forward to the 2-3 weeks out of work (I'm having lap RNY) for the rest that that is actually what I'm looking forward to more than the actual surgery. HA! My mother just had hers in January, so I've been "living" the results of the surgery (except I get to still eat) seeing her everyday since my daughter goes to her house after school. She even had 2nd thoughts. But let me tell you, she was a diabetic on insulin and not even 2 months after her surgery, she was OFF insulin, off a 2nd diabetic pill, and doing wonderfully. She even had a small set-back with a leak and had to go back in the hospital for a day or two and still has absolutely no regrets! Like I read what another poster wrote, don't think of the things you can't eat, just think of the things you'll be able to do and how much better you will feel when the weight starts coming off! And us as obese people need to make sure we keep healthy as far as our mental health is concerned. So many of us have emotional issues that have resulted in the overeating that if those issues are not addressed, being in a smaller body is not going to make it better. I highly recommend therapy...above and beyond the psych eval you had to have to get approved...but talk to someone! And starting here is great! You'll be fine!