Regrets???

Hey guys!! I have been reading through many pages and have found some wonderful knowledge. I would like to thank all of you for sharing and helping others. I know that those of us waiting appreciate you soooo very very much. HERES WHAT I WANT TO KNOW I want to know from those of you that have had WLS if you have any regrets or had times that you wish you had not had the surgery. I want to know what you wish people would have told you before. I want to know that bad things the things that people don't tell you. I know there has to be some. I want it all, the good, bad, and the ugly. So give it to me straight, be blunt, be honest. Thank you all so much and if anyone needs a friend I am here. Hugs Maris

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS, I PROMISE!!! I wish I would have done this years ago. I feel so much better about myself and I have so much more energy. I was fortunite not to have any complications. The only thing I wish someone would have prepared me for was the gas pains! I'm not sure what type of surgery you are planning, but I had laparoscopic RNY and the gas they pump your abdomin with remains there and was the worst part of the surgery (for me). Of course, this only lasted about 5 days and walking helped "expell" it from my body, lol. Other than that, I was fine and I do not regret it for a second. The best advice I can give you is just do your homework and research this site and read as many profiles as you can and ask a lot of questions of your surgeon and then make your decision. This is a serious, life-changing surgery and ONLY you can make your decision. Ok, that's my two cents. If you want to talk or ask me any questions you can email me -Lynn Lap RNY 8-16-05 297/217/140

Lynn, Thank you very much for responding to my post. I learn something new everyday. I just want to make sure I am not going into this with "rose colored glasses". I did not know about the gas pains so that helps. This is a major decison for me, as it is for everyone and I want to know EXACTLY what I am in for. It is great to know that you have no regrets I'll be sure to visit your page and read about your journey. Thank you for you help and support!! means so much to me and if you ever need to talk I am here too!! hugs, Maris

Hi there I am only a month out, so I am not as experienced as some... but I will give it to you straight. I have no regrets. That said, it has been hell so far. The first 3 weeks or so were terrible. I was in pain, I had no energy, I could not even think right. Add on top of all the physical pain the fact that I was not able to eat anything. I was on full liquids and protein drinks for a little more then 3 weeks, and obviously, I was one who LOVED to eat. So that was rough. After the 3rd week it did start getting better. I got more energy and I have been able to drink more. But, let me say, as of right now, each day is a struggle. I struggle to not eat things I shouldnt, I struggle taking my medicines (pills, supplements, vitamins). I struggle getting in all the fluids, I struggle dealing with food. I have yet to have a "perfect" food day (meaning I get in all my pills, protein, and water). But I do NOT regret it. I already can tell what a healthy improvement this will be not only for my body but my mind. I was unhealthy in many regards and WLS is taking me back to being healthy one step at a time.

M.M. Thank you so much for your honesty. Even though things have been really rough it is good to know that it gets better. It is good to know that even though it is a daily struggle you still do know regret it. I am wooried about so many things mostly about my addiction to food. It is hard for me to imagine not being hungry. It is harder for me to imagine being on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. If I go into this with the knowledge of what I am about to face I believe it will make me stronger and help me push through. Thank you again and I wish you all the best on your journey. Please keep me updated on your progress and if you are ever needing a friend.... I am here girl just drop me an email. Hugs Maris

Maris, I'm almost four months out and I've got no regrets. But I second Lynn's post about the gas pains. Those were really uncomfortable and the first week I was like "why did I do this?" because I was so tired and uncomfortable. Not everyone has those as bad as I did. I was miserable and slept so much that my back hurt which made it even worse. A heating pad and Gas-X pills are lifesavers. Then, the second and third weeks I was dealing with a ton of head hunger issues and was getting mad & *****y that I couldn't eat. But going to the support group help diffuse those feelings of frustration and they soon passed. I still mourn food every now and then and have fantasized about the stuff I used to be able to eat. Chips, fries, cakes, candy, coke all in one sitting. But then it passes and I'm back to being me again. I wouldn't trade any of it. The whole process is important, even the head hunger, so that one forms new relationships with food. It's impossible to prepare for and fully understand until you go through the surgery but the amount of information you are seeking will have you better prepared than most. And don't feel bad if you need to throw a tantrum post-op every now and then! Venting emotions instead of eating them is the whole point of this program, right? Take care, Kari

Kari, That all rings so very true. I like how you said venting emotions instead of eating them... briliant thought! It's to true. I guess that is one of my HUGE concerns. I turn to food now for everything. Happy, sad, angry, lonely, depressed. And well... food is always there... it makes me feel good for the moment and fills whatever i need filled. Not many people on this site talk to much about the battle with food and I think to myself... I could not be the only one that has this relationship with food??? It's good to know that I will need to find a way to deal with my emotions... and I plan on it. I hear so many people talking about head hunger on here and I am assuming that is when you think you are hungry but you really are not. How do you know when you are having head hunger? Kari, thanks for your input I really appreciate it. I have my psych eval on thursday things are moving right along. wish me luck Maris

maris, i also used food as my drug to deal with everything. it comforted me, made me feel secure when life didn't and cured my boredom when i was alone. but now, i'm viewing food as more fuel than treat and the only reason i'm able to do that is because of WLS. you do go through that mourning period, and sometimes it hits me once or twice a week still, where you miss the gorging and the full, satisfied feeling. because lets face it, i didn't get to 250 lbs by only eating a moderate amount of calories when i was only physically hungry - i gorged and ate mostly when i was emotionally hungry! many overweight people *think* they are physically hungery but they're really emotionally hungery. one's body is not hungry after a 1500 calorie fast food breakfast but 2-4 hours later, we had back out to mcdonald's and do it again. the surgery absolutely takes away the hunger hormone for about a year. you never feel hungry. really. it's hard to believe, but i'm talking no grumbling tummy, no ache in the belly, nada. this not-feeling hungry is what allows me to make better food choices and puts distance between me and my (former) drug of choice. head hunger is when you *want* to gorge, eat but when you think about it for a minute, you realize you are not feeling that physical hunger. post-surgery you get a quick lesson in how much one's eating was emotional. you mean i don't *need* those three donuts in the morning? no, you don't. pre-opp it's too hard to resist and there's often a feeling of hungry that helps one justify the donuts. post-opp there's no hunger and in fact there's even some restriction keeping you from inhaling that cheeseburger in 10 min. i need that to keep me from returning to bad behaviors. one thing many people from my support group have told me is that the first year is the 'honeymoon' phase. you're loosing weight even if you're not perfectly following the eating plan or exercising like a maniac. you feel great because you're shrinking out of your clothes and you're on a bit of an 'emotional high' which helps one deal with the emotions behind the over-eating. but after that first year, many WLS patients experience a flood of emotions and baggage they have to deal with. therapy is often a good choice or attending a support group to work on those issues. because new habits have to be made, for our very lives and quality of life depend on it. WLS just gives you a tool and a boost to get those habits formed. hope that helps, kari

Hi Maris, I had surgery in August, 2005 and I have no regrets. I have lost 109lbs. The one thing that I wish I had known was that I would throw up every day for two months. No one and I mean no one told me they had complications until after I had the surgery. It took me about four months before I could say that I have absolutely no regrets but now things have gotten much better and I feel great. If I had known then what I know now I would still have gone through with it because I would never have lost 100+ lbs on my own. PS you are in great hands at ST. Vincents Tara

Tara.. wow 109 pounds that is just awesome. Congrats!!!! Thank you for sharing with me your experience. I am sorry to hear you were so sick. do you know what was causing it?? how do you know of St. Vincents?? Maris