Question:
For those with post op complications, do you have any regrets?
I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there who regrets their decision to do WLS. It seems that even those who have had post op problems, don't regret their decision. Is that pretty much the case? Many thanks. — Paula A. (posted on October 30, 2002)
October 30, 2002
Although I didn't have any "complications" per se, besides an
incisional hernia, I threw up nearly everything I ate for the first three
months after surgery. Also, I had a lot of pain, dizziness, dehydration,
UTIs, gout, etc. related to eating so little. Do I regret the surgery? I
think early post-op, I really wondered if I'd made the right decision, but
every month, things got better, and now I'm THRILLED with the long-term
results.
— Terissa R.
October 30, 2002
I have been fat most of my life. Having this surgery saved my life not only
pysically but mentally as well. I was at the end of my rope, I felt that
everything that effected me in my life was because of my weight,the way
people treated me was because of my weight, and the way I thought of myself
was because of my weight. For the first time I can't blame any of this on
my weight and this feel so good.
Oh course I had some, (not many complications), like throwing up(which is
normal first op), low blood, low iron, but I have to take my medication and
not take for granted that since I feel good, doesn't mean I can stop taking
my vitamin.Otherwise I have been doing great(thank God).
Right Now I look good, feel good and finally, I don't have to be in the
background anymore, I can stand in the front, make my grand enterance and
show off my new body. Yes I might seem vain, but hell I deserve it. I've
been though so much for so long, this is the one thing I finally concured
and I thank God each and every day for this opportunity and yes I would do
it again, but as long as I keep doing the right thing I won't have to do it
again. 310 postop 185 ,30 more to go. May God Bless
— Rebe W.
October 30, 2002
By now, people on this site are probibly tired of me complaining about my
bad surgery experience, but you asked so I'll say it.... I had Lap. RNY May
23rd, I'm down 95 lbs. and I was somewhat a lightweight to begin (287lbs.)
so my weight loss, I feel, has been good. I had a major error made by my
Surgeon during Surgery, he attached my Pouch to the wrong spot on my
intestines, at 3 mos. out he wanted to go back in and correct it, but
theres no way I'll let him operate on me again! we don't know if it's what
causes me to be violently ill all the time or not. I also Dump on
EVERYTHING, I can only stand about 6 grams of sugar at a time (thats not
much) I eat VERY small meals 3 x a day, it's all the nasuea I can stand. I
also, post-op am VERY lactose intolerant, I really have to watch it and
read lables, just the smallest amount of milk and I'm doubled over and
wishing for death! YES, I'm very happy about the weight loss, but I don't
recommend this Surgery to anyone, unless they have a significant amount of
weight to lose eg..200 lbs.+ or severe co-morbids that are life threatning,
I think that this Surgery is getting abused by people who think of it as a
quick fix and by Drs. that think of it as a quick buck, it's a booming
business!!! SOOOOOOO Do I regret my Surgery....YES!!! and I'll always
wonder if maybe I had tried, just one more time to lose the weight on my
own if I could have ?? But, I'll never know and I'm left to deal with what
I've done to myself. I'm only 33 years old, I've got a long road ahead of
me, maybe in a couple of years I'd answer this question differently!
When I have my Tummy Tuck I'll have the corrective surgery done to my
pouch, maybe that will help. I'll step down off of my Soapbox now...lol...!
Luv to you all!
— Tambi B.
October 30, 2002
I had lap RNY on May 21, 2002. I had a leak that was discovered the day
after my surgery. I had to have a second lap surgery to put in drains and a
feeding tube, and was in the hospital for 10 days before I
"passed" a leak test. I also had breathing problems while in the
hosptial, so I spent 5 of those days in ICU. I was not even allowed ice or
to rinse my mouth out with water for 9 of the 10 days. I was sent home with
the drains and feeding tube and had them for about a week. My husband had
to tube feed me at home. When I got home I also had excessive fluid on my
lungs and had a lot of difficulty breathing for about a month and a half. I
also had anemia right after surgery. But I would do it again in a
heartbeat. Don't get me wrong, we all have days we wonder what we have
done, and I am no exception. It was especially bad right when I got home,
at which point I would have told you I *did* regret it! However, I am 5
months out, down 76 lbs., and I am off of my asthma medication and my knee
joint problems are gone. I feel great! I can't remember the last time I
didn't have some pressing heath issue - my asthma acting up, my joints
aching, just not being able to get up off the floor or fit into a theater
seat. I don't have any of that anymore.
— sheltie
October 30, 2002
— Ellen S.
October 30, 2002
Paula, most of us with post-op complications got over those complications
early on and eventually were able to say, yes, we don't regret it. Its
like the woman who just spent 24 hours in hard labor-ask her right after
its over if she is ready to have another one. Yeah, right. A few months
later, she is ready for another. That is us. I was rushed to the
emergency room 5 days after the lap RNY when I could not hold anything down
and was violently heaving up stomach bile-disoriented, dizzy, weak, in lots
of pain etc. Turned out I had a kinked bowel that kinked when it was
sucked into a hernia-1 open surgery later, I was OK. Longer healing time,
a bigger scar than I wanted, but 8 months and 85 pounds lighter, 20 more to
goal, I am a happy camper and would do it again!
— Cindy R.
October 30, 2002
No regrets what-so-ever, Paula! My WLS went fine, but I had severe GERD
that when I was intubated, a stricture had formed, so the tube wouldn't go
down "peacefully" and the anesthesiologist had to sort of force
it...therefore creating another opening in the esophagus. It's all healed
now, and I'm feeling GREAT!!!
— yourdivaness
October 30, 2002
Boy oh boy did I regret having this surgery! I had complications (see my
profile) and spent a month in the hospital. Then after I came home, I
didn't like anything. (see my profile on that too) I was on pain pills for
7 months......cursed the day I had this surgery! NOW, however, I am almost
11 months post op and feeling really good. I have never dumped though I
don't dare test my limits! I can eat anything in moderation and have lost
102 pounds with 18 more to go. I have gone from a size 22-24 to a loose 12
right now and from a 2XL top to a petite lg. Do I regret it now?? NO WAY! I
would do it all over again!!
— Kim B.
October 30, 2002
I had three weeks of nausea and vomiting - no pain, but horrid sickness.
I've lost 54 pounds and am 11 weeks post o[. I would do it again in a
heartbeat - even if I never lost another pound over 54!!!
— Scarlett A.
October 30, 2002
I dealt with constant pain for 6 months. I had two surgerys to correct
these issues and was on pain killers the whole time and was unable to work
the majority of this time. There were a few times during that time that I
did indeed regret what I had done. I missed being 'normal'. I missed
being able to do ANYTHING. It was very hard for me. But now, I'm fine,
all cured, at goal, and finally happy with my decision.
— RebeccaP
October 30, 2002
I had two strictures in the early post-op phase. When I was unsure if the
first one was a stricture, I held off being seen by the doc. I ended up
throwing up blood and becoming severely dehydrated. The violent vomiting
caused a tear in my pouch. But all was easily fixed with endoscopy balloon
dilations and IV's for the dehydration. The Mallory-Weiss tear had to heal
on its own, but wasn't too bad. The experience was not fun, but I didn't
regret this surgery for a moment! I had to wait such a long time for my
surgery due to the waiting list, that I was elated that I finally had it
done. I didn't care what complications came with it! I was one miserable
person being obese. I felt like every organ in my body was weighed down
with fat. It hurt to just 'be'. Next week I will be 1 year post-op, and
at goal!! Life is beautiful. I'm free.
— Cheri M.
November 1, 2002
I had open RNY almost 7 months ago, and 3 weeks after surgery I started
having a terrible burning and cramping pain in my low back and abdomen that
is chronic and dibilitating, and has thrown me into deep depression. I did
not have this pain before surgery and was definitely more active and
happier before the RNY. I have been able to work for the most part, but
not really do anything else to take care of my family. I still have the
pain today, but have finally received a diagnosis, so now treatment can
begin. I have definitely regretted the decision to have surgery despite
losing 130 lbs so far, but now that hope is on the horizon, that feeling is
beginning to change.
— Christine L.
November 6, 2002
I had lap RNY on 7/18/02 and had so many complications for the first 3
months and all I could think was "what have I done to myself??"
I was in the hospital 4 times for a total of about 5 weeks, disrupting not
only my life but the lives of my family members as well. What
complications? First I was oversedated and the resulting drop in blood
pressure is the likely cause for my acute renal failure (which usually goes
back to normal in 7-10 days, according to my nephrologist, but its been 3
months for me.) On top of that, I threw up ALL the time. I could not keep
water down to save my life - literally. In late August or early September
(I can't remember) I was put back in the hospital for severe malnutrition
and dehydration after a month and a half and given every possible test. On
9/11/02 there was still no improvement and no indication as to WHY I was
having so much trouble, so I was readmitted and had a feeding tube placed
the following day. It was almost 6 weeks before than *#(%$^ tube came out.
I hated it, but I guess it saved my life. Since then, I've been doing
much better and have been learning to deal with the lifestyle changes. The
hardest thing for me right now is that I just miss being
"normal." So, do I regret the surgery? I did for quite a while,
but as I get used to this new way of life I think I'm finding that regret
is just a waste of my time. If I had it to do over again, would I go
through with it knowing all of the suffering that went along with it? No.
But I don't have that choice and its so much more satisfying to put the
hardships behind me and focus on what good can come of this. Sorry I
rambled on SO long. :-)
— K. Joyce Smith
November 6, 2002
I had many , many complications as a result of my original open RNY surgery
done in Dec 2000. I went through two additional surgeries or revisions
within the first 14 months post op.. Do I regret having had surgery.. no, I
would do it again.. In fact, I have had the surgery.. three times now.. all
open, and would do it three times over to be healthier.
Yes, I nearly lost my life due to the complications I developed. I had a
minor wound infection at 9 days post op, followed by months and months of
abdominal pain, nausea/ vomiting. I had a complete staple line disruption
complcated by a marginal ulcer on my stoma tha had perforated, spread to
the backside of my liver , and caused me to develop peritonitis.. this was
the reasons for my second surgery at 4 months post op. After the revision,
I continued to have constant nausea/ vomiting. I had a very narrowed stoma
and went through two endoscopies a few months apart to be dilated. I ,
however, continued to have nausea/ vomiting daily, and decided to seek the
opinion of another surgeon.. and am so glad I did. I was scoped, as this
surgeon scopes all patients.....cuz he wants to see their guts.. However, I
did have a partial small bowel obstruction six inches below the stoma that
he was able to open and dilate with the endoscope. This cured my nausea/
vomiting for about 5 days, and I started over again. I was rescoped and
diagnosed with an atonic pouch, meaning that my pouch had enlarged and
could no longer function properly due to lack of muscle tone. I had a
second revision to correct this problem and many others that were found at
the same time.. hernias, damaged intestines, etc.. However, before this
last surgery, due to my constant nausea/ vomiting, I became very
malnourished and had to be on IV nutrition.. TPN. My picc line became or
was contaminated, and I developed MRSE.. nasty staph epidermis .. lives on
the skin , but was in my blood stream as well. I was hospitalized for
almost two weeks of IV antibiotics before I was well enough to fly back to
Dr Oh and have my third and life saving surgery. NO, for me, wls has not
been an easy ride.. but it has given me a lot to hope for, and life I
wouldnt have otherwise. I was dying at almost 400 pounds and wouldnt have
lived many years.. I was dealing with diabetes, hypertension, asthma,
shortness of breath, extreme pain in knees, ankles and feet, edema in
lower extremeties, etc. I no longer have any of the above problems.. I
still have fibromyalgia, lupus, and an underactive thyroid.. but I am much
healthier than I was almost two years ago.. and I dont have one regret.
Take care
Hugs,
— Gina Landers
August 4, 2006
Polmonary embolism; horrific experience; rehospitalized, but survived;
would have WLS RYN again in a heart beat. If you need it, have it
performed. If you don't, you will die. That's the long and short of it.
— useful
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