Question:
Anyone wish that they did not have WLS?

I am over 7yrs post-op. I weighed 330lbs and now weigh 155lbs. I now find that my life is worse than before I had the surgery. I have a lot more problems with depression, anxiety, insomnia, smoking and alcoholism. I did have psychiatric problems before I had the surgery, but not the addictions. I also have more back and neck pain, which I believe might be related to the excess skin. I am also going to see my doctor about possibly having an ulcer. I am looking for doctors/specialists who might be helpful in giving advice and help with this matter. I went from being a professional who made about $40,000 a year to someone who now has to live with a family member and makes minimum wage with no health insurance.    — thewhiteorchid (posted on August 1, 2010)

August 1, 2010
I wouldn't do it again. I had surgery back in September of 2009 and had severe complications to the surgery. The day after the operation, I felt something let go and go into my pelvis area. It turned out that my intestines let go from my stomach. I wound up spending 10 months in hospitals and nursing rehab. I spent almost 10 months in a wheelchair and a ventillator. Towards the end of my rehab stay, I popped a surgical hernia. When the surgeon was notified, he did nothing. The last conversation he had with the nursing supervisor, he told her that he didn't want to see me for a year and that he wanted me to stay on the ventilator until he saw me.
   — Kathleen W.

August 2, 2010
Hi Jane, Wish I had serious answers for your serious question. I'm just a layman who had WLS 5 years ago 8/5, and there's not a day I don't give thanks for it. My life has improved dramatically. Being a recovering alcoholic ( 5 1/2 yrs sober ),if I had to hazard a guess I would suggest your alcolholism and depression on symbiotic. One begets the other. The only possible suggestion I can give you is to consult with a clergy person who may be able to direct you to services that will assist someone with financial difficulty. While you're there pray. Believe me friend it does work. Please keep me posted. Peace, Ray
   — Arl3rd

August 2, 2010
Jane, without reading other's responses, I will say that I am over two years post op. I weighed 426 at my highest and was already disabled from my back. I am a type 1 diabetic, which is what cause the weight gain in the first place. My only regret is that I couldn't have had the surgery more than 3 years before I did. The surgery does not fix your life, only the weight related illnesses, such as hypertension, gerd, sleep apnea, etc. The other issues we are having require effort on our part to fix, and you really can't blame the apple for the oranges problem's. depression and anxiety can be a chemical imbalance, but is unrelated. Insomnia again can be chemically related...try Melatonin and Yarrow Root for an OTC help that works for many people. (Melatonin is the thing that makes children sleepy when it's dark. Adults lose the ability to produce it when they get older, but it's a natural thing) The excess skin? You should have been able to get a lower body life when you leveled off on your weight loss. I need that too, but believe me, the skin weight is far less strain on your back and neck than the weight was. I still have much pain from mine, but being almost 200 pounds lighter has helped a lot. We all are in an economic nightmare and will be as long as professional politicians, 2/3rd of which are convicted felons run the country and make our laws. The smoking is something you should have avoided like the rattlesnake it is. My nephew and his wife and child are living in a house in which everyone smokes heavily but his wife and baby, and three people have died from smoke related problems like emphysema, stroke and a heart attack from trying to breathe, in the past year. The baby has also been hospitalized from smoke inhalation. There's a reason why they don't do the surgery if you are smoking. You don't become addicted to something you don't DO. If you had an alcohol problem, you should have avoided it too, and I'd advise you to get into a local 12-step program, and be serious about it. You had this surgery to have a life, but it's up to you to live it. I wish you all the best, but you have to accept responsibility for your life, my friend. I would talk to my doctor about the smoking and see if they can give you some medical help, and I don't mean nicotine patches or gum. More than any of that, I would encourage you to find a sincere pastor, not a religious nut or businessman pastor, and counsel with him. I'd also suggest starting to read the Bible and other positive books. Again, good luck and know that I sincerely wish you the best in finding your path back into the light of hope.
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn

August 2, 2010
hi jane i had my lap band about two years ago and i am very happy my highest weight was 355 lbs and now i am about 210 lbs feeling great better then i have in years i had some complactions but everything is good now i had weight loss surgery due to a wake up call 48 and over weight fell down a lot and not able to walk with gasping for air my mom 74 years of age was able to out walk me and new i had to do something before i had major problems i also had cancer in 2005 lost my father it and i said thats it i have too much to live for i made it through cancer i want to something with my life and help other people with there weight and maybe work with handicap kids . i use to be down in the dumps dealing with anxiety but since i lost the weight i have an up beat feeling all the time and my doctor canit figure me out even when i had some realy bad infections and in the hospital for two weeks stright he is happy with my weight loss i no longer have my lap band i am on my own with lossing weight but thats ok i tell my self and everyone elase i can do it i go to this wbsite for support and also richard simmoins but most of family and freinds try to keep an up beat attute teel your self you can get through it find something that you like to do go out with freinds and family have a good time look forward to being to do all that done before and before you know it you may just land jop makeing good money again donit look back look forward you have a lot to live for i tell my self that every day . sandy
   — sandy fairweather

August 5, 2010
Hi I sometimes wish I didnt have it because of the complications that I havehad and having but when I look at myself in the mirror i dnt regret a thing. I am in love with my body but hate the way the surgery has started making me feel as far as food is concern.I am 2months out DR has moved me back to solid food but body wont let me eat anything imagine that, cant eat at all.Sorry for your problems and will keep you in prayers for sure...
   — Tamc27