If you could would YOU do it again?

I had a sort of "complication" afterward. I had surgery on Dec. 6. 2 1/2 weeks later I was taking my prescription med and accidentally dropped one of the capsules. My little dog dove for it, therefore I did too! I knoew it could possiby kill him if he ingested it and he is my baby! I immediately was in severe pain right above my navel. My first instinct was to look and see if it was gapping open! It wasn't! I ended up going to the doctor's the next day because the pain was so severe. It was determined that I had bruised my intestines where they had been sutured back together when they had so quickly pulled apart. While I hadn't cause permanent, serious damage it hurt like heck! I was put on bed rest for 5 days. So, it was really my own fault! I wouldn't do anything differently though! So, to answer your question...I would ABSOLUETLY have this surgery again! My surgeon's rule was I could not judge the surgery until I was at least 4 months out. That way, you are completely healed and on your way to "skinny-land". Good Luck! Joy

Thanks Joy! what a good Doggie Mommy you are I am glad that you are doing well now. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. ~ Britt

Hi Britt, I had a complication but not like the others. I was home two days and boy did I smell...bad ! It was a good thing the windows could be open. Hubby said he couldn't stay in the same room as me. I called the office and they didn't seem too worried. The third day my insision started draining really bad so I called again told them and they said to come in. The dr. had to open me back up in the office and since he couldn't do it completely there I was readmitted. Back into surgery , to be cleaned out. He said it was really bad. He had to take me to the O.R. about three more times to get more of the infection . I was on three IV antibiotics I think three times a day. I was in for a week, came home on my birthday. Had a " wound vac" ( looks like a sponge attached to a tube hooked up to a machine that sucks out the infection and discharge )It helps you heal from the inside because I couldn't be reclosed . I had that on for about 6 weeks with a home health care worker changing it three times a week. Because of all the antibiotics I had diahreah (sp?) for a few days so the dr prescribed more meds to help clear it up. I have been ok since. Would I do it again ??? YES, Definately ! I am down about 90/95 pounds , feel so much better. I do have a hernia and know that eventually I will have to go back to have it fixed but the doctor said since it is big enough that it won't cause any trouble I should be ok till I lose a little more. And from what I heard when that is taken care of my big nasty scar I have will be something in the past. Not that I'm planning on getting a bikini any time soon.....lol Now I find out I have arthritis in my hips. But I look at it this way. If I was diagnosed with it and weighed what I did a year ago I would probably be in a wheel chair not out walking my grandson and enjoying a healthier life ! Good Luck, Sandy

Wow Sandy, Thanks for taking the time to read and post. It seems that most people I encounter who has had a complication - without hesitations say- "YES, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN!" Glad that you are feeling better and enjoying your grandson take care, Britt

Well, I thought about NOT replying because I did not want to ruin your positive attitude, but...I wouldn't do it again if I had to do it all over again. I am a nurse and I researched this for 5 years before deciding to go ahead. I tried to find the most knowledgable physcian and the highly respected surgeon. I found who I thought would be good, but here goes.... During surgery, (I had OPEN) the physician "nicked" my spleen and could not get the bleeding stopped, so he had to remove the spleen. He never told me, but he also "nicked" my pancreas and had to use a mesh to stop the bleeding. When I came out of surgery 6 hours later, I was in a terrific amount of pain. I deal with pain well. I have Fibromyalgia and so I have pain every day. The physician said he would control my pain, but he never did. For the first 2 hours after surgery, I was screaming in pain. The reason; the post op nurse forgot to hook the tubing from the PAIN PUMP to me. It was running on the floor. Believe me when I say, that the pain was excruciating. Imagine being cut open, have your bowel manipulated, having bleeding so they had to work fast and furious to stop bleeding and end up cutting the spleen out, cutting your stomach in two pieces and reattaching the small intestine to the stomach, having the pancreas bleed and they finally put a mesh over it and then they close you up. All without any pain medicine. My surgery lasted about 6 hours. It was supposed to be 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Day 5 I had a leak which caused an abcess. Had to have it drained and another JP drain put in my stomach. I had to go home on Oxygen and Home Health. I had an anastomosis leak which leaked for 2 months with drain in to drain out the fluid. I had to have a stricture of the stoma dilated 4 times. No I would not do it again. I would have lap-band, but not this. Yes, I feel this way after 152 pounds. Just be aware that no matter how much research you have done and how wonderful you think your surgeon is...things can go wrong. If they do, it's usually really wrong. Hope this helps. Not to scare you, but prepare you.

Hi Debbie, Thanks for replying - I apprieciate your post. I posted here to hear what people who encountered complications would have to say - good or bad. Thanks for sharing. hugs, Britt

Britt, I am going to have VSG on 8/28. I spoke at length his my surgeon who does RNY, Lapband and VSG. VSG has the least amount of complications because no "plumbing" is re-routed. All that type of surgery does is reduce the size of the stomach. I selected VSG because of my arthritis meds and because I didn't want any surgery that would use Malnurishment as a means to weight loss. I'm also older and although my BMI is "only" 43.9, I wanted a simple, less complicated operation. So, you might want to visit the Message Board on VSG and investigate further. CIGNA is covering this surgery.

Hi Nilli, Good luck with your scheduled surgery. I have decided on the RYN after a lot of research - of all diferent types of WLS available. best wisheS to you, Britt

Wow I just got home from a 19 day stay in the hospital. I also had a friend 2 doors down from me who was also amitted the day befor me with complications. I had a good surgery but i contracted a bad bacteria while I was haveing my surgery, Its called C-DIFF I had diherria 15 times a day. I lost weight very fast 53 lb in 31 days. I am now home taking the strongest antibotic there is. Humm would i have this surgery again? I can only say it in due time. Not sure just yet. Im still very weak. Good luck with your journey. Melody

Melody, I am so sorry to hear about your LONG hospital stay and bad bacteria infection.You have been through a lot. I go for surgery in 5 days and I am praying hard that I have a complication free surgery & recovery. It is truly scary to hear what some have gone through. I wish you well - continue to get better and regain your strength! thanks for your response, Britt