I need an honest answer....PLEASE!!

After reading somebody's post it seemed like to me that they were not happy with their surgery. But I also see people who are VERY happy with the changes. How do you feel about your surgery? I know at first there is pain and struggling, but what about a year down the road? Do you still have unbearable cravings for food that you haven't eaten in so long? Do you get the urge to say 'bump it' and just eat whatever, whenever? Do you have ANY regrets at all???? I am still in the process of meeting my insurance requirements, but I just want to know what the deal REALLY is.

After so many months of having your surgery, do you still feel as optimistic as you did before you had the surgery?   

Please tell the truth!! Thanks!!

Well...let me first tell you that its been over 4 years since I had my RNY...How do I feel about it? Without it I probably would have been dead by now...if not dead then one of the people tied down to a scooter to get around. Yes there is times that I wish I could pound down a whole pizza like the old days...but then all I have to do is remember where I was and how far I have come. I would not trade it for anything!!!
The only regret I have is not pursuing it earlier...
Take care....
Tim
(I used to post here as T-man...)

Hi Channel!

I am 14 and a half months out from my RNY and I still Thank God every day that I was able to have it!  I am down 152 pounds have 38 or so pounds to go!  There is no way on God's green earth that I would have or could have lost 152 pounds any other way! 

I have gone from wearing a 4X top and size 32 pants to a XL top and 16 jeans! I can move and breathe and walk! Dare I say I'm beginning to feel normal?! 
I do not nor have I had any "unbearable cravings" from the day of my surgery, it's like something just changed.  I am having a little trouble with the carb monster, maybe for the last three months, but I'm working on my head with that, positive reinforcement, i.e. going shopping!! I think I'll beat it!
I am not able to eat "anything, whatever, whenever...don't think at this point that I'll ever be able to eat whatever, whenever, my tummy just will not allow it,  more importantly, don't want to eat whatever, whenever...I have really lost my urges to binge, I never was a big sweet eater, or chips or anything, but put a plate of enchiladas, tacos, lasagna, you get the point, I would just eat enormous portions. Can't do that anymore.  If I'm able to eat a half cup of food I'm doing well.  I'm happy with it, don't want to get too full that doesn't feel good at all! lol.

A lot of people say you'll reach 100 pounds by your six months, I did not, it took me seven, and then it took the next seven to lose the next 52 pounds, this is different for everyone, you must remember that!  I have thirty eight more to go, but honestly if I didn't lose another pound I could live with that and be happy.  I feel like I can live my life again, I wasn't doing that a year and a half ago.  I do believe I will go on losing, slowly, but losing.
 
I don't regret having surgery for one iota of a second!  

Diane

I had my laparascopic RNY in March, 2007, and I went from a size 26 to a size 6. As a compulsive overeater, I have mental grooves that go like this STRESS OR PROBLEM>>>>>>>GO TO THE REFRIGERATOR>>>>>>>>TAKE OUT ICE CREAM>>>>>>>>>EAT UNTIL YOU FEEL SICK.

Not healthy, but it's the way I ate for 20 years, with breaks for dieting. Then, because I could not handle the restriction on my own, and had no other coping methods, I would regain horribly. I decided on RNY because I felt I needed the extra restriction of surgery, and with hypertension and sleep apnea and chronic pain in my feet, back, and joints, I needed the weight off as quickly as possible.

I still have some cravings for junk, but after changing my lifestyle so drastically, and learning the true taste and flavors of unprocessed foods like veggies, salads, etc., AND doing some serious work about WHY I used to head straight for the fridge whenever anything bad happened (or when I was bored) I am happy to say that the occasional chocolate or small scoop of ice cream is just as satisfying to me as the 2 lb. box of See's Candies or the half-gallon of tin roof sundae used to be! And I am exercising 3-5 days a week, hard enough to really break a sweat. That makes a huge difference.

The key is never to relax or think that the battle is over. Regain happens because people don't face their demons regularly, and they stop weighing themselves weekly, and they are in denial once their stomach begins to relax again and they can eat more volume. This is a lifelong journey and a battle to regain health and feelings of self-worth. It's not a quick solution, even though the weight does fall off fast at the beginning.

One thing I have noticed, and that is that the people on the Exercise and Fitness Board, the runners and the bikers (myself among them) have no worries about regain. They use their bodies and they treat food like fuel, not like a beloved friend, source of comfort, love, consolation, etc. I am 100% glad I did this surgery, and I would do it again without any regrets. It was a choice I made in favor of health and life, and the ability to eat 5 slices of pizza, half a package of Oreos and a milkshake all at once is just NOT worth sacrificing what I have gained!

thanks for what you wrote on here, I am going to copy and paste it and print it out and put in on my bulletin board at work and my refrigerator at home. Thanks again it is really going to help me.

I think everyone goes thru a period of regret at some point during their post op time.  I had surgery about 18 months ago, and do not regret it one bit.  I have gone from 344#, down to 194#.  I have gone from a size 34 at catherines, to a size 14/16 at a normal store.  I can do a lot more.  I can ride a bike, I am going horse back riding next weekend.  I went riding on a jet ski this past summer.  Without my surgery, none of these things would have been possible.  I still get cravings, sometimes I give in and have just a little taste, sometimes I can get over it.  I enjoy working out, I know I never want to go back to being that big every again!!!!

I have gone thru some ruff spots too, not losing for months, but I know it is because I wasn't following my program like I should have.  I will always have my tool to use, you just have to be diligent and stick with it!!!  

Hope this helps... good luck to you!!

Caroline

I am a short - timer having had lapband in Dec, 2008.  I have lost 126 pounds to date and thankful to God every single day.  If I don't loose another pound (although I pray that doesn't happen) I will consider the surgery and the way it has changed my thinking a success.  I sometimes think I wanna eat for the sake of eating...... I am also one of those people who ate when they are happy, mad, glad, or sad..... but I always remember where I came from.  I started out in size 38s from Catherine's and this week I bought 24s and 26s at Wal-mart.  I am still a pretty big ole girl, but I am walking 2 miles each day and able to do yard work, and ..... on and on.... I just wish I could have done this sooner.

Sorry for the rambling!

Congratz on your decision to get healthier!

No..no regrets.  It's the best thing I ever did.  I am less than when I graduated hs..and I can't believe the stuff I can do now.

I still have a way to go..but I can't begin to tell you how happy I am..

I am 3 1/2  years post-op and loving life so much. I tell everyone this surgery was the second best thing I've ever done for myself. Of course marrying my more than wonderful husband is tops on my list!

I do not have one regret at all. I fought for 2 years to be approved and I know when it happened it was meant to be.

If your lucky like me and you do have a moment that you want to eat something you shouldn't, I wish dumping on you! Once you dump you think twice about eating something sweet or fried and not on your approved list.

After awhile it's amazing how eating healthy foods becomes a good habit. I turn to Greek yogurt now before anything bad. I don't miss diet sodas at all, in fact 1 times I was choking and took a sip of hubbies and spit it out it tasted so nasty!

I've learned the more empty carbs you eat the more your body craves them, so stay away from chips, and white stuff. In fact my rule is none of the 6 white things - pasta, sugar, flour, popcorn, rice and potatoes. Doesn't mean you can't eat them ever, just means you need to watch to see if they trigger eating spells. I replace all these with healthier choices and I'm still enjoying life.

Best wishes to you!

I'm still new from my surgery, but so far..I can say this was the best gift I could ever give myself. I have zero, yes ZERO hunger! I can only eat less than 1/2 a cup in a meal. I stay full for hours and food is not my life anymore. I no longer obsess about food or feel that I am missing out. I think not having hunger (removed my hunger gland with the VSG) plays a big role in this for me. Without the hunger, I am not craving things or desiring foods like before. It's really a miracle so far.