Don't understand

I don't understand this, so explain it to me. Why do I read where folks are 1 - 8 weeks post op and say "I hate this WLS" or " I can't believe I did this to myself".  What is that about? Is it because of the post-op diet, physical pain, or is it mental?  I guess I'm confused as to why one would say or feel that way knowing they have been given a chance to regain  or better their health and happiness.   What am I missing here? I also posted this on the Tennessee and Alabama boards.

This is a common theme on the message boards - very often on the Main Board.  "I just had WLS and I think I regret my decision" and "I'm a recent post-op and I think I may be experiencing some depression".  This happens more than you might think. As far as regrets, a good amount of  WLS post-ops people who have this surgery spend the first couple of weeks thinking, "What the h*ll did I do to myself?"  Fortunately, the vast majority of those are soon thinking to themselves, "Why in the h*ll didn't I do this sooner?" Even without complications the beginning of your new life is a rocky one.  Why? Because the changes are drastic and and once it's done, for most procedures the changes are permanent and there is no turning back.  The changes, physical, emotional and mental can seem overwhelming.  One can choose to go on a diet,  or choose to quit a diet, right?  While WLS is a choice, one cannot choose to quit WLS.  Initially the realization of this is where the regrets can come into play, but for most, these are relatively short-lived.  Seeing the numbers on the scale move down rapidly is an excellent cure for the post-op regrets. Some post-ops (myself included) also deal with some sort of depression. Once again, this is common.  Remember, WLS eliminates a critical source of comfort for many - FOOD. Drastic and sudden changes where coping mechanisms have been taken away is a definitely be a mental downer.  A prescription of anti-depressant is not uncommon to help post-ops "get over the hump".  Exercise is also an excellent strategy to help avoid or minimize the post-op blues. So many of us wanted WLS so badly, were so desperate to get rid of the weight that it's nearly impossible to imagine having regrets.  It does happen and fortunately in most cases the same people voicing regrets are the same ones celebrating their decision a short time later.  Cards Fan loseSMART!  loseSTRONG!

Hey yungan,,, if preacher bob ain't complaining, no one should complain....where you reading this??? sound like main board drama.... russ

A little nausea, but no buyer's remorse here.  As Kramer said "Oh, I'm out there, and I'm lovin' every minute of it."  Not, of course, in reference to WLS.

Cause you feel like $h*t the first few weeks....and your like I paid a surgeon to make me feel like this????? lol.  It get's better quickly...I had an open DS, so my recovery was a bit slower then most, but by 6 or 7 weeks out I was pretty much back to my preop condition and energy level. Scott

BamaBob, One of the things I often hear folks say is, "I did not think I was going to have to be on a diet the rest of my life.  I thought this was the cure!"  I guess folks enter WLS with the idea the they will be able to continue with the same eating habits that got them to the point of needing WLS.  I just remind those I am talking to that WLS is a tool to help you achieve a goal.  Like any other tool if you do not use it to its fullest potential you are not going to end up with the desired results. Bill

A little snippet of conversation I had with my Doc during my second pre-op visit might shed some light here. He asked me why I wanted the surgery, and I told him that I was 47 yo and if my health deteriorated from obesity as much in the next 7 years as it had in the previous 7 that I probably wouldn't make it 10 more years. Absent a drastic intervention, I expected to be dead by 57. 60 at the latest. And those last 10 or so years wouldn't be much fun either as I'd be stuck sitting around the house and other extremely sedentary activities. And I really want to live to my late 70's  or early 80's like my parents currently are and like my two non smoking grandparents did. (The two smokers died at about 72 or so) That was all the psych evaluation he wanted from me. He told me that he gets a lot of patients who are doing it for vanity purposes. They have a 20 year hs reunion coming up and they want to look good for all their old friends. Or they've been dumped by a spouse and want to get back in the mating game and so they need to drop a hunnerd or so. Some of these folks who say they regret having it may not have had their heart in the right place to start with and therefore can't see very far down the road. Just my $0.02.

My surgeon said that about 30% of his patients go through what he calls a "window of misery". Depression, nausea, the what the hell have I done thing as well. I didn't go through this. I knew I was going through a drastic change. That is what I thought I needed to make a change that would last the rest of my life. pan head

I certainly can't relate to that kind of thinking. Pre-RNY I had lost weight on my own several times, usually by eating less food than I ate immediately post-op. A couple of times I was even on liquids for two or more weeks.

Hey, finally being able to depend on the pouch and not just sheer willpower made life a picnic!

I'm personal friends with six GBS including myself and all of us went through the 'WHAT THE HELL DID I DO THIS FOR" for about a week. I had strictures and has to be dialated and then it was over at about 3 months. I'm happier today with myself than I've been in years. I walked up to a life long friend in a resturant Saturday night. Hadn't seen since the surgery.Held a conversation for about 45 seconds walked back to my table and told my wife that he had no idea who I was. He looked over and saw my wife the looked at my and mouthed "OH MY GOD" came over and huged me and we all visited for over an hour.Life is good.