Any newer regrets?

WARNING WARNING!!! This post may be a little long, but a very interesting and important read! I too am pre-op, and have been searching for a message board like this for 6 months, and duh finally one night i said to myself let's play with the site and see what I can find. THANK GOD FOR HONESTY!!! I've been wondering the same thing, my BMI is 54.1 so far. It has come to a point where doctors won't treat me because I am overweight, no matter what health problems I may have, even chest pain. It was mentioned that I have pericardiomyopathy. Which means that the inner muscle of the heart is slowly depleting. A few specialist have told me that if I don't get this surgery I would most likely die within a year or two. I have all the malabsorption problems now, and still gain the weight, my biggest problem is with pop, popcorn and fried foods. I do not overeat, I just eat these items too many times in a week. As of recently though I barely have the energy or the want to eat anything, all i want to do is drink. As mentioned in my profile I have many medical conditions that are related to my weight. And for those who say thyroid problems aren't weight issues...i say wake up do your research and speak to 5 endocrinologists who are excellent in their field. i have done this reseach and know why obesity is an issue with hypothyroidism. I've had it for over 10 years. Sorry for venting, no offense intended. Just read a few posts on other boards, and I feel I can be open here. I am so excited that I found this message board and wish others would be so candid. I am starting to think, well if I have to invest in a gym, exercise equipment, etc. after surgery why not just start now, and keep with a diet that is suitable for me. I definitely need to speak with my specialist. After reading all posts on here, I am thinking more and more about this surgery, and not having it unless it really is a life and death situation. It is quite taxing, because I want my medical conditions to go away not get worse. Especially the malabsorption, eventhough I am pre-op I still know how it feels and it isn't pretty. Embarassing moment: Especially when you sh*t yourself for 40 minutes during a car ride and have to sit in it for 5 hours in an ER that is extremely understaffed and incompetent, and won't help because you are obese. Ultimately it is my decision, so I can't understand why ppl get so upset when regrets are posted. but to each his/her own, at least now I know a place where I can get the truth about the other side. Keep em coming, I would love more advice and discussion on this topic. Whether I make the decision to have the surgery or not, I want the truth! MY LIFE IS AT STAKE NO MATTER WHICH DECISION I MAKE! I am still a human being! that's what ppl should be think of before they flame someone else about posting advice on post-op complications and regrets. WHEW that felt really good, thanks for letting me vent! Just had to get all that off my chest.. hey maybe I lost a few pounds LMAO doubt it!

Whew! I am breathing a sigh of relief right now! I am so happy I found this board, I could dance a jig! (And if I weren't so fat, I would! LOL) I really appreciate the honesty and candor. I was beginning to think i was from planet X or something. I kept asking people to be honest, and they sounded like an endorsement for their surgeon and/or procedure. *drones on in a monotone voice "my surgery was perfect, no regrets. Dr. (fill in the blank) was so wonderful."....you know what I mean, i am sure. I was like "No regrets?! You have had major surgery, your innards rearranged, your life turned upside down, and you have no regrets?" I didn't see how it could be. I've had 3 surgeries over the course of the last year...took me forever to heal (a year), and am just now getting where I can walk. That is hell, and it was just a foot! Keep the honesty coming people! It is very appreciated!

I originally looked into the RNY also. It wasn't for me (scared the hell out of me). I had lap band surgery on 10/26/04. Check out the lap band forum, you might feel more comfortable with this surgery. Feel free to check out my profile or email if you have any questions. Good luck in whatever decision you make. Kim

Hi Terri, I know you posted this a while ago, but I'm just finding this board. I'm 1 yr out and do regret my rny. I have lost 100# in the first 7 mos, and not a pound since. Actually have gained back 8 so far. It scares the hell out of me what I did to my insides. I wish I had gotten the lap band. I am also doing everything that I used to do pre-op (eating issues).. although I am exercising 3x a week, I eat a lot of candy and junk, and never dump. I can eat large quantities and not feel full. If I had known that in a year, I'd be back where I started with the food addiction, I wouldn't have done the RNY. ALthough I can walk to my car without gasping for breath, my knees don't hurt when I walk, and I fit better in my car... all my issues are still there and worse now I think. Cause now I feel like even a bigger failure.. that I had drastic, dangerous surgery and I still can't eat right. I hope I'm not too negative for you, but you asked for honesty, and honestly, this is the first time I've ever voiced this. thanks for your post. T

Hi Terri, My RNY was 7/27/04, and the first month or so was so hard, after that a breeze. However, after your pouch is fully healed 6 months out or so, you'll notice that you can eat more than before, some of us can eat most anything and not dump -we can also eat more than we should be eating. It seems that the posts most seen on these board are newer RNY's say before 1 yr out that is the time of the most weight loss. I wonder what this surgery is like say 3 or 4 years out or more, do most people still keep their weight off? It is getting alot harder to eat right, Tina's post tells it like it really is for most of us anyway. I am also having a hard time with eating now, it seems yes, I can eat less than before my surgery but I get hungry sooner than before surgery and that I can gain weight easier too. Would I do this again. I doubt it, not worth the risks. I would really try to diet first, If you have the surgery, in 6 months or so, it will seem just like a diet anyway and yes, you may be hungry just like being on a diet. I go into my clinic and talk to my nurse about this, she gets upset with me and tells me it is all in your head, you cant be hungry. Oh no it isnt, when I eat a very small amount I am hungry in an hour and if I dont have a snack I start to feel sick. I guess what I am trying to say is that Yes at first this surgery is so helpful and you'll love it, (if you dont have complications) but after a while it is really hard to live with. It will be a life change, and you'll have to eat small amounts or you will gain weight. I wish there was a board for people 1 year and more out, or I wish they would post.

Has anyone considered the Duodenal Switch (DS)? I've read everyone's problems and most of them don't happen with the DS. You have more freedom to eat what you like as well. When I first started researching, I thought about the RNY...then read the side-effects and complications. I couldn't take the dumping at all and the food restriction. Then I researched the Lap Band. I didn't like the thought of having a foreign object in my body and plus, I read where it came become embedded. I also didn't like the thought of having to make trips for the fills/unfills. Then I came across the DS. So far, I haven't found anything that I don't like about it. The biggest complications/side-effects are occassional diarrhea (if you eat something you're not suppose to - and still it doesn't happen to everyone) and the malnutrition which can be stopped by just taking vitamins. Also, the biggest complaint that I've heard from the DS'ers is taking a lot of vitamins everyday. Heck, I can take a handful of vitamins everyday if it means I'll be healthy and active. I just urge everyone to know their options before jumping into a surgery. If you decide on a surgery and your insurance would rather you have the surgery you don't want, DON'T SETTLE FOR IT! That may be your biggest regret in the long run.

Hi All! To this point I have been a silent observer, but I must take the time to say Thanks and thanks again for being so honest Thanks for this post Teri. I am seriously researchings wls and am about 90% certain (today) that I am being led in the direction of the DS with a surgeon recommended by my PCP. I enjoy my life, except for the super morbidly obese part-arthritis and PCOS. I have a DH and 6 month old that I love and consider surgery a drastic decision. If the RNY was my only choice the decision would be even more difficult. As the possibility of having the procedure nears (3 months away per my work schedule) I spend most of my time in the regrets/complications forum or reading the email from my Aunt of wls drawbacks, but due to my research, but more important my Christian faith (not meant to offend, just a fact). I am still at 90%. This is truly a personal decision. I can only encourage you to do the research.

I am 1 month post-op and would like to say alot of people say they regret this surgery because they are still hungry and insist that it's not headhunger, but I have to say it is(for those that don't have an actual complication,that is) I know this because when I was in the hospital I did not eat anything for 4 days and never once was I hungry, yet after I checked out my hunger "came back" suddenly. I think EVERYDAY that I'm hungry, but I know that it's pysiologically impossible for me to be hungry. I mean just the other day I ate a little over 5 oz of fish and not 20 minutes later I could swear that I was hungry again. I find that if I just wait a half hour or so, the feeling of hunger goes away. Also, drinking will alot of times make the feeling go away. What I think is that maybe I still have that addiction to food, and just have to battle to win that fight. I made the decision to have this surgery because I wanted to take a hold on my life. I did my research and tried to prepare myself the best I could for any sort of complications. What I knew though was that it wasn't going to be easy. I knew I would have to fight against the mindtrips and depressions. I will not rely solely on the surgery to fulfill my goals. I will also rely on my own willpower. My stomach seems to hold more than the usual 3 oz that most people fill up on, but I make the decision to stop eating. I fill my food into a small bowl about 3 oz and don't refill on that. I don't get the full feeling, so have to make the decision to stop. I realize I am blessed persay because I can eat just about anything (except too much sugar) and not have a bad reaction, so I consciously try to make good choices. Some would consider that a blessing, some consider it a curse. I think it depends on what you do with it. I consider it a blessing. So far, I'm doing alright with it. But again I have to make the choice to be good, but I made a choice to change my life. ___________________p.s.__________________________ I'm not trying to attack anyone on here, I really appreciate the honesty that everyone has on here. I find that other sites attack people for not losing enough or whatnot. I realize that some people just have physical complications they don't know about. Some people can't take a handle on their battle. I feel those are the people who need the most support. This message is for those who NEED the support: You can win this battle, but you need to take a hold of it! You need to take responsibility for yourself and your life.

My insurance will only pay for an RNY, but after reading these posts I am even more certain I am going to self pay for my DS overseas.