Gorry truths...

I am going tonight to a seminar about bariatric surgery. I have visited websites that talk about the procedure and the risks. Statistics vary, depending on who I visit. I would like to know how many times a person has to be re-admitted due to complications. Or.. is it a one time deal, like the pages seem to want to make me think. What about blood loss during surgery, should I donate my blood prior to surgery? What about the staples, how in the world do they hold *meat* together like that.. I mean I am imagining a chicken breast right now... if I staple it, wouldnt it shred? I imagine a piece of liver... Does the part of the stomach that has been stapled, fuse together over time, like a wound healing? I dont understand why they have to mess with the intestines.. if the stomach is made smaller, I would think the intestines are needed even more to make sure it can absorb the much needed nutritions. What about anemia... I have read about kidney failure and gall stones.. how many people have suffered from this? I would like to hear from people who have had this done for a few years now, how do you feel? What is your blood tests like now.. My cousin had this done years ago, but she gained all her weight back. A nurse I know had the procedure done twice and is big again.. Now, my hubbys friend had this surgery done a bit over a year ago and he is losing weight, but he looks grey and he still throws up. I know this surgery isnt a fix all, something within us has to know that we cant bear the weight any longer.. its a major helper, not a miracle..its not for vanity, its for health. I was looking at alot of before/after pictures on this site and alot of people look so much older in the after pics.. much older.. My family doctor said they havent perfected the surgery yet, well, how many do they have to do before they get it down pat lol I read that the mortality rate is 1%, like 1 in every 200 people die from this.. My step daughter is having this done in about a month... she weighs 400 pounds. Im scared for her.. Couple of years ago I lost 90 pounds... and gained it back in a matter of months.. Same old song and dance.. What I realized was how conviving I was on this last diet... 1800 calories... well, I devised ways to create mounds of food to eat... I mean MOUNDS... Didnt do anything to change my eating habits did it...just taught me to *beat the system* lol I cant do those lean cusine diets, or those lil richard simmon ones, I get HUNGRY... even tho I have tried them all... Will eagerly wait replies..

Hi, Karen! I had my stomach stapled in 1987, lost 50 pounds then gained it all back. (Always felt like a failure over that one!) I had the RNY last June and have lost 90 pounds so far (goal is to lose 100). Complications....yep, had a couple. In March I had a bowel obstruction due to scar tissue growing around my bowel and in April I had to have my gall bladder removed because I was having some pretty painful attacks. I have Type 2 Diabetes and Asthma. I no longer take meds for the Diabetes and am in the "normal" range. I still have asthma tho. I noticed that my blood pressure has decreased as well. And yes, I think I look older cuz I can see my wrinkles more due to my face not being so "plumped up". On the flip side, I have had co-workers tell me I look ten years younger since losing weight so I don't know! I don't regret having the surgery and wish I would have done it years ago. I hope I have given you some useful info. Please e-mail me if you have any questions that you would like to ask. Good luck on your quest for info and I hope you have a grand day!!!! Susan

Hi, I was just reading the posts on here and noticed that you have had bowel obstructions? I was in Er saturday and the xray shows bowel obstruction and I cant get ahold of my surgeon due to the holiday. Im sure I will tommorow. Could you tell me what happen to you? like did they repair it laroscopy or open. How long were you layed up? did u have stapels?? The pain i had saturday hurt sooooo bad now im real scared. I have not eatin since saturday either. well any info would help Thanks a Bunch!!!

I suggest you check out weight loss surgery gone wrong groups as well as gone right groups. You are going into forced starvation and that will cause weight loss, but it could also cause other problems. Please feel free to look up my profile to check out my many complications. ONLY YOU can decide if this is right for you. Just like in life, nothing is 100% sure and you could have a perfect experience or you could die OR you could have anything in between. My opinion, if you aren't willing to die, have major complications that could impact you for the rest of your life, be willing to do the upkeep on yourself, or have a perfect experience, don't do it. You could have any of the outcomes and you have to be willing to accept them all and hope for the best. Not everyone has complications, but there are many, just as there are many that are happy with the experience as well. I hope you find peace in your decision. Melissa in Texas

Hi Melissa, I have read your profile, THANK YOU for your honest, and thorough reporting. Willing to die???? This surgery is supposed to KEEP US FROM DYING, to help us live wholly...better.. I had an extremely hard time finding out about the real deal with this surgery. Its almost like a glamour shot of surgery. Yes, dear, thanks to you and many many like you who have bravely said it like it is, I have made my peace.. I am so sorry for your plights...but I thank you for saving me from the same fates..

Dear Karen, I have been comtemplating this surgery for almost a year now and i think that from what i have heard, the good outweighs the bad. I will tell you that i read a book called everything you need to know about having Gastric Bypass surgery ( or something like that ) anyway the book scared me so much i cried and threw it out. It is now about 5 months later and i am really thinking about this again. i am curious about all of the questions too. My main concern is how to deal with no sweets. I am a sweetaholic. But, somehow i guess ill get by. Well i guess what i am trying to say is to follow your heart. Hang in there...... Karen M.

Karen, I must echo what Melissa has told you. You will not hear much about the downside of things on this website but it does exist and is growing unfortunately on a daily basis. As people get further and further out from their original surgeries many new complications can surface, many of them lifelong battles. Just want to make you aware that many bad things can and do happen and many others have great successes as well. Cindi

I wonder, have you ever considered the lapband? I'm not promoting any "type" of surgery - or even surgery at all, but if you're wanting something to help and don't WANT your intestines messed with, this is a viable option for many. You can find it by clicking the forums tab up top and then choose Lap Band from the Surgery Types Forums list. Best of luck in your endeavors! Hugs, Tooter OH Staff

Bah. As soon as I refreshed the thread to see my latest post... my post from earlier showed up. Sorry for the repeat!

I replied to this earlier but must not have hit submit the second time. Sorry if this turns out to be a repeat. I recommend you donate your own blood. I was told the chances of needing a transfusion were slim to none... and they probably are... but they weren't for me. I ended up needing 4 units of blood, and this is a concern I definitely do not need at this time. I don't know why I didn't go donate. Couldn't be bothered? I read that 1 in a million units of donated blood is infected, so I'm probably fine. Nevertheless, I don't even want to be intimate with my husband without protection until I go get tested several months out... and this is just a needless extra worry on top of a pile. I could have avoided this. The other thing I had said in my post is the obvious... Opt for surgery only if it is your absolute last option. I am having nightmarish complications right now from a May 16 surgery. I am not here to tell you not to have surgery, but I am here to tell you that the risks are very real. Though you most likely won't end up having the sort of complications I am having, you really want to make sure you weigh the risks... and make sure that the risks of not having surgery outweigh the risks of having it.