Question:
My doctor wants me to have the surgery but i'm scared.
Will i be able to do normal things after surgery will i be able to still have children? I'm in school how long do you think i will have to sit out of school for this surgery ? — prayful (posted on July 9, 2008)
July 9, 2008
You will be completly normal you will just eat less and not absorb your
nutirents the same therefore you will take supplements for the rest of your
life. You didnt mention what surgery you will be having but I had gastric
bypass the RNY 3 weeks ago. I am already doing everything I did before I
had surgery. I have 2 kids a 2 year old and a 10 year old I am taking care
of them the house my hubby and still doing my volunteer work. I would say
you would be out of school for about 2 weeks. You can still have children
but the docs advise waiting about 18 months to 2 years before becoming
pregnant. I was afraid too, but I can tell you its for the best. Your
quality of life will greatly improve. If you want to talk Im here. Kim
— Kimberlin Katayama
July 9, 2008
it is a proven fact that many women actually become MORE fertile after they
lose weight. They are more likely to become pregnant, so this surgery will
not decrease your ability to have kids, it will most likely increase your
chances. I had WLS in February of this year and am soooooooooo glad I did!
— Gina S.
July 9, 2008
Some surgeries are longer healing time...but everything basically goes back
to a "different" normal...You learn to eat healthier, leaner,
slower, and you take vitamins and supplements and eat like a small, healthy
person. You go to the doc yearly or more for labs...so some things change
but for the better. Bowels are all different...And the more sugar you eat
the more stinky continuous gas you have...So you learn to eat sugar free
and natural sweets such as fruits. No more candy or soda...No more chips
and french fries...Much late you can eat these things once in a while, but
after the first year of eating healthy and seeing the results, you really
don't want to. At least that's how it worked for me. Sure I have my
moments of weakness...so I do have a little taste here and there...The
trick is to never let it take you over again. It's hard to do that without
surgery...But with surgery The tool helps you overcome hunger and that's
what REALLY makes it work...You have to eat to live...rather than live to
eat...Your belly is so restricted that if you don't feed it what it
needs...You will not be healthy...Feed it what your mouth and head wants
and you get malnourished and unhealthy...
After a year...you have a little more room and you eat like a sensible
small person with moderation in old foods and you can live a fine normal
life...You just cannot go back to eating snack foods and sugar to sustain
your hunger...You won't even be hungry for a LONG time! I'm 4 years out and
eat like a regular person. But I don't drink soda or eat candy chips or
greasy food...I never order dessert but I'll taste a bite if someone else
at my table does! I don't sneak food anymore...If I have to have it...I
have it...and the next day I work out hard!
— .Anita R.
July 9, 2008
This is not your doctor's decision, it has got to be his suggestion but
ultimately your decision.
If you have tried everything else and failed, are a carb/food addict, have
co-morbidities associated with this disease and are sick and tired of being
sick and tired of your current obese situation.... this surgery might be
the right thing for you. Remember the changes you will make will be for
life, this is not a temporary "fix".
If you have laparoscopic surgery, you will only be down a few days related
to the surgery. You will feel tired and sore, but could probably make
school... depends. Not much energy with the few calories you get in. If
you have open surgery, that is a completely different thing. I did and was
out of work for 2 weeks. I am an RN and would have really liked more time
off and begged for more, but that is all my surgeon would allow. He said
he knew I didn't feel well, but it would be the best thing for me to get
back to work and get moving. The old "standard" of 6 weeks off
for surgery is a thing of the past.
Most obese women have PCOS... polycystic ovarian syndrome and find it very
difficult if not impossible to get pregnanct. Once they lose weight, they
tend to become just the opposite... very fertile with the massive hormone
flucutations associated with WLS.
Do a lot of research, go to support groups, ask to speak with your
surgeon's successfull and not so successfull patients and get their
opinions. Talk to your family and get their opinion and see where they are
at in terms of support. Really do some sole searching before you come to
your decision.
Good luck to you,
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
July 9, 2008
I had my lapband surgery on a thursday and was back to work on Tuesday the
following week. I felt great and back to normal in about a week! I would
do it again tomarrow if needed. I had my surgery 07/05/2007 and I have
lost 111 as of today.
— vsk181
July 9, 2008
I think we all had the same fears you are having now. I am approximately 2
weeks post op from LAP RNY and still can't believe I have had the
surgery......it is the best thing I ever did and wish that I had taken this
step 5 years ago. While my eating has changed for one month while my
system gets used to its new state of affairs, I can already tell that by
one month post op I'll be able to eat almost anything I like. Just a lot
less of it. Since I have not been hungry since my surgery, that is not
going to be a problem. My fears kept me from considering this surgery and
returning to a normal life. Unless medically there is more danger for you
than there normally would be, I am encouraging you to give yourself the
gift of taking control of your life back....
Please do not waste the 30 years I did trying to fix an engine that was
broken. Get it fixed now and go liive your life!!!!!
— Fredricka MacLean
July 10, 2008
Chasidy
There is a forum for post op pregnancy...check it out. There are dozens of
women on there who are post op (some just a few months post op, some
several years post op) who are pregnant (not recommended until you're 18-24
months out, but life happens sometimes). They can give you all the advice
in the world about 'been-there-done-that' re pregnancy post op.
Personally....that's the MAJOR reason why I went ahead with the surgery. I
am two years post op now. I was 38 years old when I had the surgery and
wanted another child (my son is 13 now)...and didn't want to be pregnant
while I was still overweight (I've been obese my entire life). I am
currently working on my 'baby mission.' : )
Please make sure this surgery is what you're doing for you and not because
your dr said so. It is a whole new way of eating and living...but it's
fantastic and I'll be forever grateful for it. My high weight in my life
was at least 290 pounds...I quit weighing myself for at least a year or two
after seeing that number, so it's very possible I went up from there before
I started walking and went down to about 270...then through meeting w/a
dietician, I went down to about 250...and stayed there...and stayed
there..then went up to about 265...and stayed there for years. Now 2 years
post op, I'm down to about 180 and wearing a size 12. I know when I get
around to having my plastic surgeries, I'll loose probably another 10-15
pounds more...but am trying to lose a little more weight prior to that (and
trying to have at least one more baby before doing the plastics).
However...if I never lose another pound...I love the size I am...I'd just
like to put the girls back where they belong and get rid of the saggy skin
on my stomach/thighs...and my bat wings. I still have days that I see
myself in the mirror after getting dressed, or see a picture of myself
before or after and can't believe either one is me. I almost feel like
pinching myself to make sure it really is me.
Another little thing that makes me smile...my husband is 6'1"...I'm
5'1". We've been married 14 years..and for the first 12 years and
change...he was always telling me to hurry up when we'd be walking some
place because he has back problems and walking slow bothers his back...now
he's telling ME to slow down because he still has back problems and can't
keep up with me! And I don't even realize I'm walking that fast! : )
— Hollywog
July 10, 2008
I had lap band surgery on April 29, 2008 and was out of work for two weeks,
a friend had gastric bypass and was out of work for four or five weeks.
I'm going to assume you are probably in your 20's - - I'm 50 and wish that
lap band had been around when I was in my 20's - - would have saved me lots
of money i.e. joining Weight Watchers many, many times; buying plus size
clothes and paying for prescriptions.
You're life is only going to improve if you have the surgery. I'm all
ready down 43 pounds in 10 weeks and am loving my new found energy and
outlook on things.
Best of luck to you.
— Monte57
July 10, 2008
I had my surgery on Thurs....was back to work on Monday.....was 59 when I
had it so I would say it was fairly easy to get over.
We have two women in our support group that have had children .....my Dr
wants his patient to wait at least 18 months
before getting pregnant.
Pam / Ft Worth ...Bandster Bites [email protected]
— pphillips4720aol.com
July 14, 2008
Being scared is normal. I had my surgery on 7-1-08 (Lap RNY). I had no
pain after six hours. The day I was released (Thursday 7-3-08), I went
food shopping and I could drive. With in a few days my body started to
feel normal. Other than not going into the pool and following the full
liquid diet I have no restrictions. The day I had my surgery a young women
came in to show off her twin boys to my surgeon, they were born after her
surgery. It's scary but if in the long run it will make your quailty of
life better; DO IT!!!! Lisa
— ldillabough
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