Obsessing and Wondering

I’m 2 ½ years out.  I started at 315 lost down to 212, last winter gained back to 230 and have stayed between 225 and 230 ever since.  I’m one of those unfortunate (or fortunate if you look at the glass half empty) who can eat almost anything.  I get hot and my head sweats if I eat too much sugar.  I’ve dumped twice.  I do have insomnia and mild depression, I take Ambien and Effexor.  I’m going next week to get my labs done.  So far everything has been normal except my D.  So basically I’m healthy and feel great.

 

I usually check in with OH and others every evening.  I read about every ones experiences with RHG, iron issues, vitamin deficiencies, broken bones, bad teeth and now dermatitis.  I’m starting to obsess over developing complications!  I’m just waiting for something bad to happen.  Does any one else feel this way?

 

While I don’t regret my surgery, I certainly regret having to have it!  Yes, I would do it again.  But I do think that we have a responsibility not to gloss over the downsides to those trying to decide on surgery.  So often someone posts, “would you do it again?” and the responses are all positive and mostly from those 1 year and less out.

 

I also wonder about all the people out there who’ve had WLS, but don’t come to OH, the other sites or their support groups.  My surgeon told me that her group had large percentage (don’t remember the number) of patients that didn’t come for follow-ups, so she couldn’t say what the group’s success rate was (for goal obtainment that is).  So are these people the totally healthy ones, just going about living their lives?  Are we who post about our re-gains, trials of maintenance and complications the small minority?

 

What do you think?

 

Michele

The people who don't come to these sorts of sites are probably two groups. The first group has no questions and are doing fine so they don't even look for us. The other group are the ones who hit a brick wall (had trouble) and totally gave up and aren't looking for help. When I have  question, I don't give up, I look for answers and help. The internet is the BEST resource for that. So here I am.  As for being concerned over developing complications? Hmm. I think we're all sort of "test dummies" and they don't really KNOW what things may happen. Look at all the new information they are finding because of us and WLS. So we're going to show them a thing or two in this. The way WLS has refined over the years it's amazing. And the instruction they have now as opposed to 10 years ago. AMAZING. Things they know now they didn't know then. So it goes. It's 200% better than it was 15 years ago and will continue to get better and better over time. I'm good with that. We're pioneers.

Hi Michele, For me it's really hard to say because I WAS one of those who lost....met goal...maintained and was going on with my life without support. At the time I felt I didn't need it so I got out of touch. Combined with a life-style change & no computer ! I was closing that chapter in my life for a while due to divorce....foreclosure....abuse. I had to focus on so much more and put  this part of myself aside. Do you know that I did not EVER go to a follow-up and my RNY was 8/02 ! I stopped taking my vitamins as well. I am back on track however. It took regaining some to recognize I DO need support from others here. Not to say that if I was still at goal I wouldn't find the need to get in touch. I think everyone has differant reasons and needs that arise...don't they. Shoot - mine can change from day to day in an  instant ! Bottom line tho, it's awefully nice to know we're not alone & can come here to share with some really wonderful people.

If you are tracking your labwork faithfully you'll probably keep doing well because you can act on an vitamin deficiencies as they start to happen instead of reacting to symptoms of vitamin deficiency. I'm 5+ years out.  I worried about teeth falling out of my head and stuff, and every time some malady comes along I wonder if my surgery has anything to do with it (currently I have a knee problem and I wonder, but until I see a doc about it I won't know).  A few maladies have come along over the years since my WLS and so far nothing's been attributable to it.  Even though I'm fighting regain I still consider the weight loss to have been a tremendous health benefit. Plus, I wasn't tracking labs *before* I had surgery, and I was 5+ years younger then.  Sometimes I get the feeling we tend to suspect or blame the surgery for stuff that pre-dated it or was gonna happen anyway.  At least the surgery makes us pay more attention to our health, huh? BTW, I can eat anything too.  I also have insomnia sometimes.  When I'm tired I tend to overeat, so look out for that!  Does that put us off our guard (from fatigue) or do we eat in some search for missing energy from sleep loss?  Dunno, but for sure I want to eat more when tired, or depressed for that matter.  So I wish you luck with managing those things because they tend to work against the surgery if you know what I mean. Suzy C.

Hijack alert----Hi there Suzy!   Very good to see you again!  I have often wondered how you are doing.  How's the thyroid?  I hope all is well with you.  I have insomnia myself.  I also have knee problems.  My knee surgeon suggested that our surgery may have something to do with it (because of nutritional deficiencies), but I tend to think all that weight on my knee for so long is a more likely culprit.  Take care and don't be a stranger.  Some of us from the "old" days are over on this site http://quixoticwls.org/forums/index.php back to the OP--I do think that the docs are learning more and more about the repercussions of the various wls.  Our vitamins are something we have to stay on top of.  Some issues do not appear in the bloodwor****il there is a significant problem--Calcium and B12 for instance.   One thing I have noticed recently is that there are deficiencies that seem to be occurring a lot with long term post-ops that weren't being caught previously.  For instance, I have been found to have low Vitamin D.  It wasn't even something that was normally tested- I had to ask my PCP to add it after reading about the tendency on other sites.  I have read that quite a few long term post-ops are having the same issue.  Of course it is also something that many women my age (non-op) tend to have as well.  I have added a dry D supplement to my routine.  Vitamin B1- thiamin, is also something which is a common deficiency, but was not tested previously.  We also need to be checking for A, E and K as well. BTW--The quality of life I have now, far outweighs the fear of any complications I might have.  Good luck and enjoy.

Well hello Lynda!  It's weird not to see you in your trademark shirt. ;-)  How the heck are *you*??

I'm doing great (except for the regain Mrs. Lincoln ~ I'm fighting 40 pounds of it!  Five off so far, 35 to go).  Maybe the knee is a deficiency thing, but if so, it's mostly affecting my left knee ;-)  I'll check out that site.

Suzy C.

It's very funny you said that part about eating while tired as being a subconscious measure to get some energy that you're not getting from sleep. I had this same idea myself the other day. Something else to consider -- people often say that being "full" will manifest itself in weird ways, like your nose being runny or stuffed up. I think this is another mechanism -- you eat, you get full, and perhaps if you get overfull, your body produces mucus to help things sort of slide on through. I could be way off.... Anyhow, your post made me think about this stuff again. :)

Hi Michele!  I obsess about the possibility of regain, but don't obsess on complications coming up in the future. I guess its just one of those things that I don't worry about~weird b/c I usually worry about everything, LOL!!!! I think people that don't continue with support groups or places like OH can have many different issues. I know some of the "old timers" (being more than my 3yrs out) have discontinued coming to our monthly support group meetings and that's depressing for me b/c I look for their guidance and wisdom. I asked about their disappearance and someone said that alot don't come back b/c of regain. I feel like if you have a regain that's the time you NEED to be at a support group meeting! We are certainly not there to pass judgement or throw stones, but to uplift and help! I do know some people that sailed thru, never had a problem and feel like they don't really  need the extra support so they don't come. For others, their new healthier life has them more active at work, in the community, with family so they simply don't have time to come to group.  Anyway, at just over 3yrs out I feel like I really  need support at this time. I was so good for so long and now at times I can feel those old, bad habits creeping back in~I HATE IT!!!!!!

I think a lot of people get surgeries that cause malabsorbtion without fully realizing that they are getting a loaded gun....very good for hunting and protecting themselves, but if used the wrong way it can really hurt someone.    Malabsorbtion shouldn't be taken lightly, and I think that people get the RNY and think ...well I don't malabsorb that bad.  DSers on the other hand in general know we malabsorb a lot and need lots of suppliments and follow up....RNYers (not thepeople here but in general) need to realize they have the same issue.   I don't sit around and "wait" for something bad to happen, I take a proactive and aggressive approach to making sure my health is good.   I track my labs, so I can spot trends, if I notice something going down, I take extra of that suppliment...for instance if my D was trending downwards, I'd start popping an extra pill....I've read lots of stories about people having issues post op...and if you listen to their full story, many times they have deficiencies because 1) they were not taking the right suppliments, 2) didn't know what to take by ignornace 3) didn't take their suppliments by choice, 4) didn't follow up regularly with their surgeons (or any combo of that list).    One reason I stick around on OH 2 years out is to keep me connected to the WLS community, and hear the latest research and nutrional info that people are reading about.   New things are learned allt he time, for instance having a D level in the 20s use to be considered normal, now it's considered low.  and having a level in the 70s is much better.   They didn't know this 5 years ago (or at least it wasn't widely accepted).  I would like to also point out that not EVERY problem someone has post op is related to WLS.  Sure some might be, but people get sick with or without WLS. Many of us spent years putting our bodies under tremendous stress by keeping it a couple of hundred lbs overweight. Things like joints and backs and such take TIME to heal after that stress.  Also many people never had regular medical attention prior to losing weight.  If you read these forums regularly many people say they never went to a doctor because they didn't want to hear "lose weight"...or even worse when they did go to the doctor they were told all your problems were because you are fat.  One lady had a broken back, and for years the doctors told her that her back pain was because she was fat.  Only after she lost the weight and they did an MRI did they discover multiple fractures that had healed wrong.....she had been walking around broken but they never fixed her because they said it was fat related.   Ok i'm going on a rant here....lol.  But I do have to say this...to quote Michelle...."just because you have malabsorbtion doesn't mean you have to be malnourished".  We can take charge of our health and remain healthy and even healthier then those who didn't have WLS...if we will take an active approach to it.   Really think about it, how many non ops do you know that know their current blood levels?  They may (or may not) know their current cholesterol levels, bu do they know their RBC count?  How good their D, and B levels are?   If they are iron deficient? etc.  Most non ops don't....as a post op..you follow those things religiously if you are a a "good" post op that is...and by making sure all of those numbers are in order, you can live a longer healthier life.  Ok rant is over...lol.  Scott

Thanks to all for the feedback!  I'm now thinking that my obsessing about complications may be a good thing!  I make sure I get my bloodwork done every six months so that I can address anything before it becomes too much of an issue.  Fortunately my PCP will order everything I tell him is necessary. I'm so grateful for the OH community, particularly the Grads!    I'm so grateful for your willingness to share your issues, research, results and friendship! Michele