A Bald Foul-Farting Sharpei ??

Amazon.com delivered my "WLS for Dummies" yesterday. Admittedly, I am still very new to this scene -- haven't attended my mandatory info. seminar (7/31), nor even had my surgical consult yet (9/23) -- but I have been trying to absorb as much information as possible to prepare myself for what lies ahead. This book leaves no stone unturned! Apparently, in my research, I have failed to consider: Gorilla-breath, loose folds of skin flapping in the wind, radioactive flatulence, hair loss, hormonal tsunamis, chronic "lose stools," etc. -- this book has added a new level of anticipatory excitement to my surgery decision! WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!! All things considered, I'll take these over hypertension, diabetes, osteo-arthritis, and any of the other perks that come with my being 150+ lbs. overweight. Just tell me, is post surgery (weight loss aside) really a horror show? How long did it take before you stopped asking yourself: "MY GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE???"

I had my surgery back in may and I have already stopped having the buyer's remorse especially with the results I have had. i still have a bit of gas issues but they are NOT radioactive LOL also, and this is a bit of TMI....I haven't had a loose stool since the first week I came home from the hospital. Now I start regular food today so I'm not sure what's going to happen to my system now......I'll let ya know

Hi Joanne. I did not have buyers remorse at all. I knew what I was getting myself into and you will too. It looks like you are doing your homework and learning about life after WLS. Read all you can and ask tons of questions..that is how you will prepare. Let me address some of the issues you mentioned. Gorilla-breath - This occurred for a few months while my body was in ketosis. I chewed alot of gum. I don't have this problem anymore. Loose folds of skin flapping in the wind - I'm 96 lbs. down and I'm not having as big a problem with skin as I thought I would. I carry all of my weight in my middle, so I was certain that I would have skin hanging off of my belly, but that hasn't been the case. I'll post new pictures soon and you can see...I'm not all hanging skin at all. That may change as I lose more, but I'm between 10-20 lbs. from where I should be. Radioactive flatulence - my wife calls it Protein Farts. I do have a big problem with this, but I deal with it. It's a small price to pay. Hair loss - I lost hair from 3-6 months post op. My hair is now better than ever. I don't believe there is anything you can do to prevent hair loss. Hormonal tsunamis - Yes, but it could just be that I am coming up on that magic age that introduces us females to menopause. I'm hoping anyway. Chronic "lose stools," - I actually had the opposite problem...constipation....before I started adding veggies back into my diet. Now, it's not a problem. Hope that helps you somewhat. Rachelle 257/245/161/150 (maybe 140?)

Hey Joanne I am one of the olf timers, I am over 4 years out. I any very lucky, I did not and have not had any of the side affects of WLS the only thing is I lost 165 pounds. I did have all my plastic surgery done about a year and a half after my WLS. This is the best thing I ever did. Any questions ,feel free to ask away! D

hi joanne if you care to go back through my blogs you'll notice that i've pretty much been through the wringer but you know what? i don't regret this AT ALL! even at 26 days out when i had my perforated ulcer... the emt's where driving me in the ambulance to the hospital for emergency surgery and she said that she bets i regret having gastric bypass surgery right about now, huh? and i said absolutely not! this is by far the BEST thing that i have EVER done ~ FOR MYSELF!!! even in all that agony i was able to say that and fully mean it and i haven't changed my tune since no buyer's remorse here! nu-uh, no ma'am, that just simply is NOT ALLOWED!

I had/have all of those. The gorilla-breath was caused by ketosis and protein build up so a tongue scraper worked wonders for that. Oh and the occasional tic-tac. The skin I will deal with cause I would rather have it loose and flapping at 231 than tight and not flapping at 387. Hi, my name is Kathy and I have Toxic Fart Syndrom. Ok so it's not that bad but I have gas ofter and it's LOUD! Have ya looked at my pics? That's me working with about 1 1/2 months of hair loss. Granted I had a headful of hair and could lose some but it grows back. My grandma came and stayed for 3 weeks after surgery. The poor woman got the raw end of the deal. I just cried and cried to her cause I couldn't do it to my hubby since he didn't want me to have surgery. I was a mess. My shakes gave me the runs. It wasn't really a dump but close. I told the Dr. liquid goes in, liquid comes out. It's gotten better since I am on real food. For me I think it was the emotional tsunamis that made say what have I done? but by a month out I was better. That first month was a killer for me and a few others that I know.

All of you have been so incredibly helpful. I've been so touched by how ready and willing everyone is to turn around and reach out to the ones coming up behind you. When the time comes, I will remember your kindness and wealth of your shared experiences and extend my support to a struggling newbie. Thank you again. Somehow it doesn't seem so scary anymore. If we can suffer the constant pain -- on so many levesl -- of obesity, what's a little bad breath?

"Chronic loose stools"? I wish! I've become a connoisseur of stool softeners since my RNY. Most people who get a typical RNY will suffer from some degree of constipation; some won't have any problems at all, and a minority will have "chronic loose stools". This list is inverted for people who have had a DS. I had already read and reread "WLS for Dummies", so I was familiar with and expecting some degree of "buyer's remorse", but I don't think I had much of it. I already knew what it feels like to wake up after lap abdominal surgery, having had my GB out 3 years earlier (you feel like you were hit by a Mack Truck). After that, it was kind of an adventure rather than a trial, perhaps because once I was home, I didn't have any complications whatsoever. /Steve

Gorilla-breath ~ check ~ chew gum, eat Sf mints Loose folds of skin flapping in the wind ~ check, but not too bad Radioactive flatulence ~ check, but only at first Hair loss ~ check, but minimal Hormonal tsunamis ~ check, but not any worse than really bad PMS Chronic "lose stools" ~ check, but only for the first year; now its chronic constipation Sharyn nurse2b