Would all of you do it again?

I have a surgery date of Jan 6th and I was initially very excited about the surgery. I don't know if I'm getting cold feet or what, but now I'm having alot of anxiety about it. I guess maybe it's normal. I want and need the surgery, but I'm reading alot of comments about vomiting, hair loss and sickness. I know that I'll experience vomiting and possibly hair loss, but I don't want to make a life changing mistake. Do you ever feel normal again? If you had it to do all over again, would you?

If you had asked that question of me a week ago, I would have said, "NO!" But now I am feeling so much better and able to eat small meals. Its natural to feel some anxiety, afterall this is major surgery. I worried myself to death before the surgery. The recovery took a little longer then I expected and my surgeon said a small percentage of people take longer. Me who has no patience for anything would have to have a slow recovery. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I've lost 40 pounds and I can climb the stairs again without feeling like my knee was going to give out on me. You'll be fine and in a few weeks, you'll laugh about asking the question!

Eric, I would do it all again. But that does not mean that the surgery will be right for you. It is only a tool and it doesn't work for everyone. This surgery is not the answer for everyone. It has it negative effects and everyone's experience is different, so you don't know which ones you will have to endure. It is like a crap shoot. I have had very few negative side effects and can eat most anything, so my experience is good so I can easily say that I would do it again. You just have to read and ask questions and research and make sure you know what all the effects are so that you can accuratly weigh your decision. For me, I was so large and had tried everything else that I had no other choice, I had hit my "rock bottom". Having this surgery should scare you, it is a major operation that will change your physical make-up. If you were not scared then we would all check you into a funny farm. HE HE. Hope this helps! Cheryl

I'm 20 months out, down 100 lbs and I wish I had done this years ago. I'd do it again in a red hot minute, despite having gall bladder surgery one year after the WLS. I can eat pretty normally now, but I still would like to lose 30-40 more lbs and eating normally won't help me do that. I had some intermittent vomiting and hair loss, but nothing that I couldn't deal with. Was it all worth it to lose 100 lbs. YES YES YES. I couldn't have done it any other way. I'm much healthier and have a much brighter future now than two years ago.

Hi Eric,my son Eric is having the band Jan 11. I had rny July 9th/ I had a pretty rough time but I got through it with a little help of my friend Dr.Curry. I have lost 80lbs and only 40 more to go and would I have it again? Absolutely. Its the best thing I ever did for myself. I feel great now,can eat anything now except a very small amount. It is one day at a time and once you learn your pouch,and it takes time, its a wonderful tool. My hardest problem was,and still is, eating slowly enough. All your emotions are perfectly normal. My son is going through the same thing. We are all here to get you through this exciting time. There is nothing like losing everyday and never feeling hungry.You will do fine,Love, Cindy

YES YES YES!!!!!!!! But like others have said this is normal to feel this way and you will have BAD DAYS where you think what the H##* have I done to myself. I'm just a little over a year out and am at goal. I'm 43 and I wish I had done this many years ago. I now know how much I missed playing with my kids when they were babies. (I have a home day care and I can do so much more with all the kids now.) I'm still learning what I can and can't eat and how much. As for the hair loss, I was told at a support group meeting that if you start to load up on protien it will not be as bad. I checked with my doctor and he said that was a good suggestion. It worked for me. PLEASE check with your doctor first to make sure this would be ok for you.

In a heartbeat!

Eric, They are all right. I would crawl through fire to have the surgery again. The changes in my life are so spectacular that I am at a lose for words. This said it is not easy. It takes work and there are days that I still wonder what did I do to myself. I grieve for the friend I use to have in food. It use to be instant comfort and it never talked back or made me do something that was not fun. On the other hand, I now can go anywhere and not have to think about the walking or will I fit in the chair. I do everything that I could not do before. The best part is that I have the energy to do those things too. Your life will change and it is a journey to get to the place you want to be. Good luck and keep asking questions. Happy Holidays.

Eric you do need to do your research, and once you have had the surgery, you MUST follow your drs. orders..... please remember that the surgery is only a tool!! But having said that and being over 2 yrs post op, yes I would do it again in a HEARTBEAT!!! Im home recovering from my TT, and 175 lbs lighter!!! THANK GOODNESS FOR THIS SURGERY!!

I am 26 months out, and never regretted having the surgery. Not even in the recovery room. I may be the exception, but I had very little pain (lap RNY) and had a lot of energy after surgery. (Woke up in the recovery room and had to feel around to make sure they did surgery! I though I got cancelled for some reason, after they put me under!) Only barfed a couple of times - when I ate too much, early on. (Keep in mind that throwing up after RNY is different - more like a baby spitting up. Once you are done, you are done! Dry heaving can mean something else is going on.) I can tell you that I did exactly what I was told to post op - I ate what I was supposed to, started walking, etc. My job post op was to get in the nutrition and fluids. I never lost any substantial amount of hair. My husband had surgery a few months after I did. He went home the day after surgery, also had very little pain. He "couldn't stand" the pureed diet after a couple of weeks, started eating things he shouldn't have, and wound up with an ulcer at the place where the pouch and intestine are joined, caused by "debris" collecting there. Wound up in the hospital overnight and had a really rough time for about a week before that - lots of dry heaving, couldn't keep anything down. Let's say he learned his lesson the hard way! Having anxiety and second thoughts about surgery is perfectly normal. Personally, it think it is a positive thing - indicates you really have your head on straight and understand the risks involved and possible problems you may (or may NOT) encounter post op. Also, keep in mind, that many, many people who have this surgery may lurk on this site, simply because they don't have any problems! Gosh, if you really thought so many people had weird pains and were throwing up all the time, who would really consider surgery? I think the vast majority are like me - no problems. I hope that you are one of the lucky ones! Take care and good luck with surgery. I not only feel "normal", I feel super, and 20 years younger than I did 2 years ago! Sue