Complications worth the surgery?

I'm knew to WLS and I'm doing research trying to make a decision on whether I want to do the surgery.  I need to loose approx. 120 lbs.  I'm trying to understand the possible complications and if it's worth having the surgery??

Welcome! You are very smart to do your research before jumping into surgery. I had the DS 11/28/07 and wound up with a wound infection that lasted for about 2 1/2 months. I had home health care daily (and twice daily for a couple of weeks) to come and pack my incision. Although it was not a fun time for me (or my husband) it was well worth the complication. I didn't lose as much weight at first as some I am now on track and down 95 lbs in 7 months. Have you decided what type of WLS you want? I suggest you check out each of the boards to learn as much as you can about each procedure and then decide what is best for you. Good luck! Pat

One of the reasons I chose the band was because of its low complication rate.  I couldn't be happier with it.  As of today I have lost 120 pounds.  Yes, part of that was by sticking to Kaiser's 1200 calorie pre-op diet for 6 months, the other part was with the band which merely helps me stick to eating less.  But since June of last year I have lost 120 pounds.   Do your research.  People all have different reasons for the path they take.  Good luck on your journey.

Hi,
I had a lap-RNY 3 1/2 years ago and lost about 100 lbs.  I still weigh about 250 lbs. and am starting to have some complications.  I just had surgery for a bowel obstruction and I am sooooo scared that I will have furture complications.  My advice is NOT to have the surgery.  I am only 42 and am fearful that I won't be around, or have limited mobility, for my 5 and 7 year olds.

I know that it seems you will never lose the weight without the surgery, but try other things first.

Good luck!!!!

I really think anyone considering surgery HAS tried other things first. It's also not always just a matter of weight loss if there are co-morbidities involved as well that may not necessarily resolve with just natural weight loss.

I'm pre-op but I've decided on having the VSG. I've done my research for 6 yrs now and I think this is the best option for me out there. There is no malabsorbtion issues and your able to keep your pyloric phintor (sp). There's minimal stretching to the part of stomach you have left because they remove the stretchest part of your stomach. There's no dumping that I've read about either. I was going to get RNY about 5 yrs ago but for some reason I didn't. Now that this surgery has come out I'm glad I waited. I weight 363# and know I have a long way to go but I know people on here that have made it and I'm determined to be one of them. Good luck on your research and your journey........

It is absolutely worth the time and effort.  I had a bypass and did not form the stoma required to have a pouch that worked.  I had a repair, and further injections that did not work.  I lost weight by eating fruits and vegetgables.  When I got a hernia, I asked about the lapband and it is an incredible tool.  It gives you signals that make you aware of behavior.  When you eat too much, you know.  It also is a tool, as it will make you aware of why you are eating.  You have to wonder, if you puked as many times as I did the first few months.  Why am I doing this was my first clue. 
For me, the bottom line was that I was more afraid of staying the same, than I was of making a change. 

The head has to change.  follow up care is a big part of this.  Support groups are wonderful.  If you have children, be there and be part of their lives, as well as your own. 

I had every complication short of dying, 17 day coma included. I will be the first to tell you that I would do it all over again to have the life I have now, in fact 3 years later, I DID have to do it again due to staple line disruption, and I would STILL do it all over...  :) Best wishes to you...

Excellent question!

I have had ELEVEN surgeries and 7 procedures in 3 years.  I've had five bowel obstructions including being in ICU and an inch away from dying.

I now have a HUGE incisional hernia that will have to be repaired but I can't do it until I get my husband back to health with is likely to take a year or more (though he'll never fully recover). 

All of this has been so difficult on my family.  My children and husband have sufferred great trauma and they have shed many tears.  Watching them suffer is more painful then everything I've been through.  (My profiles has details.)

I ask myself every single day if it was worth it and I have yet to come to a definitive answer.



It's a hugely personal attempt at reconciliation.

wow.. is all of this due to WLS?  Man, I will pray for your family