Any regrets on having surgery???

Hi,

I was talking with my daughter today and she kept saying, "why would you have surgery - you know you can lose weight if you just eat right and exercise".

In my head I know I should be able to do those things, but obviously for whatever reason I cannot do those things.  I just know I feel  horrible the way I am and really want to get this weight off once and for all.  I have struggled with weight issues since I was a little girl and am hoping this will be a tool that I can use to get it off and keep it off.  

So my question - are you all glad you had surgery?  Did you have people kinda making you feel bad for opting for surgery?

Thanks!

No regrets whatsoever.

I don't know how old you are but if you are old enough to have a daughter who can ask that, you are old enough. I'm 56, have been overweight to morbidly obese since I was 12 and have dieted most of that. I've lost and gained, and gained more about 2-3000 (thousand) lbs over that 44 years.

The NIH says that only 5% of the MO succeeds in losing weight AND keeping it off. With WLS, the odds are MUCH higher depending on which one you chose. I chose the DS, my odds are VERY high that I will reach my goal weight and stay there if I keep using my tool to maintain my weight.

WLS is not a quick fix, it is a tool to relearn how to eat, to live. We have to do other work with it. It just gives us a head start we would not have any other way.

My ONLY regret is I didn't do it sooner.

Liz

Thank you!  I am 53, my daughter is 26. 

I am hoping to have the sleeve - I realize the research is not back yet on long-term success, but the research indicating surgery in general helps keep the weight off is one reason I am  hoping I am able to have it.

The sleeve is the best option if you don't need the malabsorption.

But keep your mind open to all four surgeries. Read about them all. Go visit all four surgery boards. Go read the regrets and the revisions boards. If the DS, which I have is of interest (and the sleeve is part of my DS) go read DSFacts and also read this post I made on my blog: Liz' Weight Loss Journey

Read medical journals. There is an excellent pdf that was released called the Bariatric Surgery Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Perioperative Patient It breaks down all the latest data avalable on the long term success for each of the four on table 4. If you happen to have diabetes like I do, table 3 is the one of interest to you.

That pdf will also be good to share with your daughter. It might help her understand that this is not an easy way out.

I had my surgery on the 24th of Jan. Pre-op I was a type II diabetic on an insulin pump also taking 2000 mgs of metformin daily. I took 200 mgs of celebrex, and 400 mgs of topamax, and 80 mgs of lipitor.  A week prior to surgery I had to stop the celebrex and had to stay off it for an entire month afterwards. I am back on it now but only at 50 mgs a day. My topomax dose is down to 200 mgs a day. I take no lipitor at all. My metformin is down to 500 mgs a day and on Feb 1st I took OFF my insulin pump and it has not been back on me since. On the 11th of Feb I stopped using insulin altogether.

That's another thing, if you need NSAIDS, do not consider the RNY as you can not take NSAIDS with it.

I know this is a LOT of information and a big decision. We've all been in your shoes.

Liz

My only regret is not being able to have it sooner. as far as long term success,I don't even go there. All that is promised to me is today. I might not even be here tomorrow,or next week,month or year. I am living for TODAY.

TODAY my sleeve is happy healthy and functioning well. I am not hungry,am easily and quickly satisified when I eat. and I have lost 91# over the last 13 months and it has been painless. I have NEVER,read me,NEVER kept off ANY weight I have EVER lost for more than 3 months If I never lose another pound,I KNOW, in a way I have NEVER known before that I CAN keep these 91# off. I fully expect to lose till I reach my goal.

I would have VSG every month if that is what it took to keep my weight off.

Don't let ANYONE tell you what you can and can't do or what you should or should not be able to do.I can't imagine anyone in my life who has been a witness to my struggle all these years to lose and maintain weight loss,would even say that to me. If they DID say that to me it would be out of selfisness on their part and I don't play that way. They would not be a part of my life in the same way anymore,even if it was my child.

This is not about just losing weight,it is about MY health,and my future illnesses if I don't get the weight off and keep it off. I refused to just sit back while diabetes took off my legs one inch at a time and burned out my kidneys so I would need dialysis and kill my eyes into blindness. I refused to risk a stroke that might leave me paralyzed for the rest of my life due to high blood pressure that couldn't be controlled.

It is easy for those who"love" us to say "oh,dont do it" What it you have problems" welll what if you have problems with the aforementioned diseases lurking down the pike? Then they will be sitting around and saying oh I wish this hadn't happened to you as they trot off to live their lives while you are hooked up to dialysis,blind, and no legs. No thanks,not for me,uh uh.

So,um,what was the question,lol? Oh yeah...regrets? not me. :)

good luck, and make your decisions for YOU!!!!!
Holly

NO regrets!  At all!  I remember when I was pre-op and someone on here asked the same question.  Almost everyone that replied said their only regret was that they didn't have it done sooner.  That did it for me!  Now, I can say the same thing.   All I can say is....GO for it!  It will change your life, I know it did mine!           I love my sleeve!  

Best of luck to you!
Beverly

Hi, Lynn,

My RNY was the best medical decision of my life. I no longer have diabetes (gone within days!), hypertension, and expect to say goodbye to sleep apnea when I get tested next month. I can walk up several flights of stairs without having to catch my breath. I am even taking bellydancing classes! Even more fun, I am wearing fabulous clothes that have been laying dormant in storage for at least 20 years.

Was surgery easy? No. Is it magical? NO! In some ways, I feel that I have called my own bluff because surgery meant a commitment to comply with the food guidelines, the vitamins and supplements, and the exercise. But for the first time in my life, I have a tool that makes it possible for me to comply. I am so grateful.

As to people's response, I am very open about having had the procedure. For me, the best way to get over shame or embarassment is to be open. I am lucky because I have had nothing but praise and support from family, friends and colleagues. I know that there are the ignorant and the saboteurs out there. I choose to ignore them. This is my body and I know what it needed. I can honestly say that RNY saved my life.

This morning, Good Morning America had a very positive spot on RNY's impact on diabetes. It was great to see a network taking a more open-minded approach about bariatric surgery. I suspect that we will see more and more societal acceptance in the near future.

Good luck, Lynn, whatever you decide to do. Just remember it is your body and your decision to make.

Amy

I'm a pre-op so I haven't made the leap... yet. I have wanted the surgery since 2003.

 

All of us who have done the research know that wls is a TOOL, nothing more. You could have it done and lose some weight, but if you don't change the way you eat and treat your body, your tool will be useless.

 

I am seeing this with my older brother. My father followed the rules to a T and has lost 212lbs. My brother, on the other hand is a year out and has lost 139lbs. While that is a great amount, he has stalled for months because he is back to his old eating habits with having large meals and such.

 

I was not overweight as a child but was always on the edge.  I started dieting in my early teens.  It took me years to lose my "baby fat" after 2 kids and I did it with WW and running.  When my hips broke down, I lost the battle.  For 30 yrs, I would lose 20 gain 30 until I was to 220.  Yes, I could lose the weight, but couldn't keep it off.  Does maintainance scare me, darn straight.  But I have a chance this time where I never seemed to before.
I have had great support, especially here.  I have no regrets except that I didn't do it sooner.  I really feel like I have my life back.

 None at all.   Best thing I ever did 4 myself . Only wish I'd done it sooner .