Just about the time

My surgery date is supposed to be Aug 16th.  But I am still worried.  Just about the time I feel I am over surgery anxiety (from reading so many happy stories) I then come across a post with bowel obstruction or ulcer or stricture or something.  So I am wondering how common this is.  So obviously I am still trying to decide if the benefits will most probably outweigh the risks.  

All these complications happen to a very very few people and as long as you pay attention to unusual pain they are easily treatable. Ulcers are treated with medications and strictures,probably the more common of these three require an EGD which is a minor procedure with an endoscope and a balloon. Once the area is opened up you will be just fine. Bowel obstructions can also happen to anyone,not just people with WLS and always involve surgery of some sort. I too had lots of fear before surgery and almost called it off until I thought about where I was headed on my current path. I knew the outcome of the path I was on as I lost both my parents at relatively young ages after seeing them lose their kidneys,their eyesight and in the case of my dad,part of his foot all from diabetes. Which was worse--possible rare complications that were fixable or certain declining health and decreased quality of Life? I love my healthy active life now 150 plus pounds lighter and am so glad I did not cancel. Your life will be so much better than you can even imagine. Put your trust in your doctor,follow his directions and do this!

I think the complication postings were perfect timing for you! Eyes wide open, Blueberrypie.  I don't know the answer to your question about how common complications are but it may help you to ask you a couple questions:  Do you notice the happy stories are more common than the complication stories?  Do you know it's common for those who have had complications to say they have no WLS regrets and would do it all over again?  Pre-WLS, I had several complications from being super morbidly obese--- high blood pressure & Type II just to name a few.  No regrets.  Would do it all over again.   May you find peace whether your decision is to go for it, postpone, or cancel.  

I chose VSG because it seemed there was a greater chance of complications with RNY to me (not that there is no chance with VSG).  But I went back and forth because I am a sweet craver and have GERD.  But in the end I felt more comfortable with VSG.  As the last poster said, best to go in with eyes wide open and make the best decision for you personally.

Hi, LizJustWantsHealth.  Could you expand on sweet craver and GERD, how does it make a difference between VSG and RNY?  I read some posts about folks having GERD before RNY and then did not have it anymore after RNY.  So I thought that the RNY helped to cure the GERD. And what about the sweet craver - does it mean that VSG is more prone to give tolerance to sweets than the RNY would?

My friend who had the sleeve is physically able to eat Reese's and things while me with the rny has dumped on a banana . It's no guarantee that you'll be a dumper BUT thankfully I am Bc sweets were my biggest downfall and weakness 

So from what I've read, RNY is better for GERD (VSG worse).  Also RNY causes some people to dump with sweets keeping the person away from them (VSG usually doesn't).  However I was more comfortable with the VSG procedure as I felt it was less likely to have complications.  Again, a personal choice, but so far so good (GERD is actually quiet now and for now I'm not craving sweets).

I'm the same as you - when I saw that post it is like wow!  I have to keep in mind the benefits.

New  techniques in surgery, such as closing up the mesentary have drastically reduced post op complications like bowel obstruction that you see in patients that had their bypasses in the past . This isn't to say you won't have any complications but ulcers are treatable and the rny is considered the gold standard of bariatric surgery for so many reasons . Speak in depth with your surgeon about each of your concerns, he can explain what measures he takes and expects you to take in order to reduce or prevent complications . The percentages of no complications is significantly higher than those with complications. Each of us have had to weigh the consequences of being morbidly obese and all of the complications and death that are known to come of that ! 

Also wanted to be clear on saying that I had to chose rny over the sleeve ( which is what I wanted at first ) because of gerd and several other reasons to do with me but thankfully I did go in with eyes and ears wide open . Good luck in your journey !