pre op view of board

this board shoul be listed first.i will have the sx. i will feel like no one understands.thes stories should be told to every pre-op out there.people jump on the bandwagon to soon.i think pre and post counsiling( by a phsycoligist)should be manditory.this sx. is not normal to our bodies.certainly not our minds.most of our problems were in our heads to some extent( before the sx.)they will still be waiting to be delt with afterwards. wls is by no stretch of the imagination 'the easy way out'. best wishes to every one

I agree with you 100%. I never heard about any type of problems with the surgery. All I heard were good things. I'm pretty sure I never heard of any problems that pt might of had! I mean I dont think it would of change my decision on having it,but maybe I would've been more prepared. Who knows!!! Rosie

I was a cash patient. I went thru all the hoops. Every test you could imagine. I even had to see a phsycologist. Here's what I heard all the way thru my testing.................She's cash! My Phycologist talked to me about 10 minutes max. The concensous is this. Cash talks and if you have some, you can buy what you want!

I guess it is who you are dealing with as I have run into the exact opposite. I am a pre-op not by choice but due to my insurance making jump through many hoops. If it weren't for that I would be having my WLS tomorrow. I also took upon myself to read every single post on this web sight before I went to the doctor to discuss having WLS. So perhaps it rests more on your shoulders to do more research prior to doing this. As the old addage goes "If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is." Not to say I think WLS is that. I just know nothing comes without its price both in dollars & effort.

Anyone with a brain who is contemplating this surgery should read this stuff! Why are so many people unwilling to hear the dangers of WLS? I'm sure it's fear. But if you are going to subject yourself to major abdominal surgery, wouldn't you want to know the good and the bad? For me, fear has kept me from having this surgery for the last 7 years! It took that long to take a long hard look at myself and determine what is right for me. To anyone reading this who is pre-op: don't blow this off, take care of yourself emotionally first, before WLS. Being emotionally and mentally ready for WLS is CRUCIAL for your success! Everyone needs to deal with the reasons why they got to the point that they need WLS! We did not get to be morbidly obese by the hands of someone else! We made the CHOICE to overeat, not exercise, etc. If it's emotional, like being abused as a child, etc, than that person needs to come to terms with that problem BEFORE surgery. You really can't put enough value on a good shrink! Best of luck everyone! Bonnie

It's denial. People figure if they avoid finding out about the down side, or avoid stuff like the memorial pages, it won't happen to them... Not smart, I agree... Nancy 394/275/180

I agree with your points, but what I have learned from my research is that all doctors are not created equal. There are some people who got approved and a doctor volunteered to do the surgery. Not a WLS doctor. Just a doctor. From these persons I have heard the worst stories. No one wants a PCP who went to a 2-week workshop on WLS to be the one cutting them up. But it happens. Understanding what brought us here and understanding what to do to move to the next level, really is up to the person. My doctor requires a psyche eval, pre and 6 months post op. I want to leave the country but after surgery, I am tied to this locale for a minimum of one year just so I can complete the follow up program with my doctor. Now, I plan to have surgery at Duke University, and they are known world wide. Still, it is my duty to understand my choice and the impact upon my body and lifestyle. Nia

Nia, I suggest that you read the DS board. One of the things that convinced me to have the duodenal switch is the fact that on several occassions, this board was asked if anyone regretted having the DS. I have yet to see an affirmative answer. I see many. many RNY regrets. Now the RNY is a good procedure for many people, but not for me.

I agree with you. I find this board insightful. I am aware that I need to do all research possible. That being said, I have already and am going to several different WLS surgeons to get various opinions on my options. I have already talked with a my PCP, psychiatrist and psychologist about the surgery. I have also read 3 books on the subject and over 100 profiles. They all had different opinions on the subject, more positive than negative so I'm am still on board. However, when you talk to RNY patients and Lap Band patients on the boards they all give you this story of how great it was AFTER the surgery and you can rarely get someone to tell you the ENTIRE truth. Of course as human beings we tend to drift toward the positive things rather than negative so I am trying to remain level headed about everything. But this is hard to do when you read this board, it truly frightens me. Now everytime I read this board I reconsider, I don't want either done because I am afraid that I will not wake up or will end up with permanent damage that will eventually lead to my demise.

tahk you all for your replys. i am abolutley sure this is wright for me. i love to hear from all the different views(took a while to warm to that huh red head sorry again)it's nice to get the big picturethanks again ,vicki