Question:
Do you regret having had wls?
So, everyone can't be happy after wls....I'm looking for a some balance in helping me make my decision. If anyone regrets having had the surgery, please tell me why? — [Anonymous] (posted on August 24, 2001)
August 24, 2001
Well, there are days when I miss the aching joints, needing help to get up
off the couch, needing my cane to walk, not being able to shop at the mall,
using my handicap parking permit, struggling to catch my breath after
walking a little ways through the grocery store, getting that little
'catch' in my hip. NOT!
— Cindy H.
August 24, 2001
he/she said regret...not miss. why so much sarcasm. he/she
asked a legit question. there are two sides to this.
— [Anonymous]
August 24, 2001
I know of one person who is really bad off because of WLS.
She got Sjogrens disease because it. I doubt she will post because as soon
as you mention a negative side concerning this surgery, people are all over
you. Some people can be very nasty when you tell them the "occassional
negitive" concerning WLS. No doubt I'll get flack from stating it.
Myself, I am very glad I had the surgery! But you need to think LONG AND
HARD about this. Sometimes things don't go right. (Usually they do). No one
knows whether they will be one of the few who regret it. But unfortunately
those who regret it, get sh## on bad by others here. By the very ones who
"claim to want to know both sides". It's like being raped and YOU
are the blame for it.
Just do all the research you can on this. Try to think of all the plus' and
negitives IF you have the surgery, or if you don't. Can you lose the weight
by not having WLS??? If you can, DON'T do this! It is a last resort for
those of us who could'nt lose any other way. Those who say WLS is taking
the easy way out never had their guts cut open. It's no picnic. However at
3.5 months post op and down 76 pounds and so far no complications, I am
glad I did. But don't expect others who are not happy to post (even
anonymously) as they are crapped on for it. It's very easy to kick someone
when they are down and they got it bad. And I don't blame them for not
speaking up.
— [Anonymous]
August 24, 2001
If you go through the database, you will see other answers to this
question. I have emailed personally with at least two people who had major
problems post-op and we have some members who have required reversals. So
there are people who regret it. I am not one of them, I love my WLS.
— kcanges
August 24, 2001
I am two months post op, and I have regrets everyday. I wonder how I could
have done this to myself. So far I have had problems eating, healing, and I
still have areas in my incision that are open. I have had to have a camera
and a balloon inflate me. I have had an internal infection, that is still
healing. Grant you I have lost 59 pounds, but I can't even move around. I
was never aware of these things when I had my surgery (open rny). I would
have wanted to know... I did this for my family, but so far my kids see me
throw up , and my body hurt!
— [Anonymous]
August 24, 2001
I had a few regrets early on after my surgery. The energy loss..the
feeling sick to my stomach everyday..and..like everyone else..trying to
deal with the food issue. It was, and still is, very hard getting used to
NOT being able to eat like before. I see something I want and I just can't
eat it...or I can't overindulge like I used to. It's harder dealing with
the mental issues rather then the physical issues. My energy has
returned..I'm feeling MUCH better..but the head hunger...etc really bothers
me. I guess you could say I have my bad days and I have my great
days...and it's all mental. Physically I feel like a new person. I had
surgery in April starting out at 5'4, 253lbs..I'm now down 70lbs and love
the results. I do suggest you do your research though...you will
definately have some rough times..but as I said...things do get better.
Good luck and take care.
— [Anonymous]
August 24, 2001
I appreciate it when everyone tells the truth. I have never noticed
negative responses to posters who explain their problems. Perhaps they e
mail direct. All I ever hear is love and sympathy for anyone in trouble
with their surgery.
— faybay
August 24, 2001
well i was to have surgery but i choose not to at this time yes i am
worried i will die no i do not like taking meds. the rest of my life but
that is me it is hard worrying are you going to wake up how am i going to
feel in the days ahead no i dont want to be big and i hope i can get the
surgery in sept. or oct. and if you want to call me chicken go right ahead
but i just feel like living and if it is in a big body or little body so be
it at least i am living and not 6foot under if the lord wants me i will go
big or little that is the way i feel
— NANCY A.
August 24, 2001
I had open RNY on 7/17/01. I did fine with the surgery. However I developed
a leak and was back in the hospital the next week for 2.5 more weeks. I do
not regret the surgery. I knew recovering would be a rough road. However I
got more than I bargained for. I did not research the possible
complications as much as I should have, there for I was emotionally
floored when I found out I had a leak. I prepared myself for the initial
surgery well and came through it beautifully. I think WLS is the right
decision for me because I would have eventually become housebound at the
rate I was gaining. My best advice is to not only be emotionally and
spiritually prepared for a flawless recovery, but also for a possible
complicated one. I asked my surgeon many questions about complications
pre-op, and each one of his answers lolled me into believing things would
be just fine. Research and prepare for,the good the bad and the ugly. -Kim
— KimBo36
August 24, 2001
Isn't it sad that a person researching WLS can't ask a question without
sarcasm? Some of you holier than though WLSers, may have not had problems,
but there ARE PEOPLE THAT DO. Regardless of how much you feel better,
there are some that DON'T. It's a throw of the dice. You never know when
something can come up, even later down the road. I'm sure if all these
sarcastic people, wound up in the hospital dying from complications from
WLS, I doubt they would say, "I never regretted it". The bottom
line is that you need to reseach the pros and cons, research your surgeon,
his success rate, his mortality rate with patients, and whether you can
live with the eating habits involved, it is not an easy decision. Good
Luck!
— [Anonymous]
August 24, 2001
Just to add my experience, I did have some serious complications and came
close to losing my life. I had RNY three months ago and wound up with a
leak and acute peritonitis which meant they had to re-operate 36 hours
after the first surgery, cut out the part of my intestine that was infected
and repair my intestinal leak. I wound up in the hospital for about two
weeks and came home with severe pain, needing daily nursing care, and as it
turned out I had developed a bad wound infection. I just had more surgery
two weeks ago to re-open the entire incision as the infection was getting
worse and not better, and they found sutures that never dissolved and were
the source of the infection. They left the entire incision line opened and
we have been packing it everyday. Needless to say it has been quite an
ordeal but now that I am feeling better everyone asks me if I regret the
surgery. It is a hard question to answer. I certainly regret all I have had
to endure and have put my family through. Now that I have lost 55 pounds
and am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I am beginning
to see that in the long run I will live a longer, healthier life. I wish I
had been prepared for what could happen, I was under the inpression from my
doctor and others that the chance of complications was very small, and yet
they happened. I would say just research thoroughly and make sure that you
feel that all your concerns are being addressed. I honestly don't know if I
would have done this if I had any clue what was going to happen, but now
that I did I am glad that I am beginning my new life!
— Vicki K.
August 24, 2001
You are doing the right thing by trying to research all aspects of the
surgery. As you can tell by now, there are at least two sides and usually
more. The thing is, even people who can tell you they have no regrets,
cannot tell you that YOU will NOT have complications. And those who have
had major complications and regrets cannot tell you that the same thing
will happen to YOU. Sometimes things just HAPPEN. This is definitely a
risk, but the rewards are GREAT (for me they have been.) This intensely
personal decision can really only be made by you and your doctor and/or
surgeon. In my case, I was aware of the risks and the benefits. I knew I
would not live to see my 40th birthday if I didn't do something soon. I
couldn't work and was in the hospital at least once a month. I was willing
to risk dying on the table, and in fact put all my affairs in order,
including discussing my death with my husband. I told him what my last
wishes were, and I was at peace with my decision. I hope that when you
finish your research and have a thorough discussion with the important
people, you will have that peace with your decision, WHATEVER it is! Good
luck in your journey and best wishes for improved health. Maria
— Maria H.
August 25, 2001
I had surgery just over 5 weeks ago. The first few days post-op I had lots
of regrets. I kept closing my eyes wishing that it had all been a bad
dream. After I was home and a week out, I was a lot better physically.
The biggest challenge is emotional. Depression after any major surgery is
common. Not being able to eat normal is tough. I am glad I had it done
and I am even more happy that I am losing weight for the first time in many
years. This is not an easy decision and you should take lots of time
thinking about it. I took 3 years to make my decision. Living in my obese
body was worse than the risks of surgery, but that was what was right for
me.
— Kathy M.
August 25, 2001
Yes, I have regretted having WLS. I was terminally ill before surgery. The
surgery cured my illness. But, I had 5 months of major complications, and
still have problems eating, 16 months post-op. I lost 20# more than my
goal, and got very ill. That was 3 months ago. I've gained it back, but I
would rather see 120 on the scale than 140. I know it is in my head, so I
make a concious effort to eat several times a day. I still don't have a
good quality of life. I still have chronic pain, but I'm not dying. I take
narcotics daily due to chronic diarhea, and abdomen pain. My abdomen gets
distended and hard daily, making me look 13 months pregnant. I believed
this surgery would give me my life back how it was before I got sick. It
didn't. And that was very hard to handle. Now, I'm living thin, hungry, and
in pain. Before, I was dying, fat, and in pain. You can read my profile,
and see my pictures, and e-mail me with any questions --
— CohenHeart
August 25, 2001
Some of these responses have been bothering me -- this is MAJOR surgery we
are talking about and implicit in major surgery is the potential for
various peri-op problems. With WLS it is possible that you will have the
surgical post-op problems (hernia, opening incisions, etc) and problems
with your eating and your bowels -- not to mention the psychological trauma
of your new relationship with food. Some people have all of these
problems, some have a few of them, and some have none of them. You pay
your money and you take your chances, but by reading this site (especially
the library) you get enough information so you can make an educated
decision. You may regret it or you may feel it's the best choice you ever
made; there are no promises. My initial appointment is November 14, 2001.
Nina
— [Deactivated Member]
August 25, 2001
Hi there! Yes, I am the person who now has Sjogrens' disease 2 years after
surgery. I want to say that I appreciate the person who said that he/she
wouldn't blame me for not writing on here but....truth be known, after 2
years I just don't care if I get pooped upon on here. I only still come to
this site because there are some very very nice and insightful people and
moreso, because someone needs to tell you preops the "other" side
of the story. Most people are terribly terribly happy with the surgery
but, I can sincerely and honestly tell you that just with my surgeon alone,
I can name at least 9 people who have had serious complications. Not
saying that the doc did or did not have anything to do with this but just
stating a fact. By the way, we all had BPD/DS's. I definately would NOT
do it again by any means. Before I had the surgery, I was basically
healthy but fat. I knew that eventually, the fat was gonna "get
me". Well, I think now, that I should have waited for
"eventually". As I said, I now have Sjogrens' disease, caused by
malnutrition despite taking my vitamins and getting bloodwork done on time.
Sjogrens' caused a SEVERE drying out of your total body. Eyes, ears,
head, body, nose, and every other part. It may eventually cause me to be
blind or deaf. I am losing my memory slowly because even inside me, there
is not enough moisture for the brain to function to the right level. It
causes depression also. I am also severely iron deficient and have to have
iron (not B12) injections every week for the rest of my life. If you have
never had them, you can bet that they are painful to say the least. Just
wanted to give you the "other side" of things. Good luck in your
decision.
— Barbara H.
August 25, 2001
BarbaraHensen: I really do appreciate hearing the other side. And I hope
others feel free to post on this site. It is important that we know the
downside. I am so saddened by your suffering. Is there no cure for you.
hugs
— faybay
August 26, 2001
I keep telling myself that things will get better...I'm 18 days post-op and
am having a rough time. I have no energy at all, and I feel like I've been
hit by a truck. I am so packed with gauze and pads and my binder that I
can't wear my biggest clothes! Every day I ask, why did I do this to
myself? I know, I know, in a few months it'll be better, but right now it
is very hard. I'm not used to feeling this way - so exhausted and sore.
Plus, the WANTING to eat is nasty. I really don't want to eat - I really
don't, but the craving for certain foods is incredible. Drs should require
psych visits after surgery. Just ask all the questions, and be prepared
for whatever may follow.
— Cris C.
Click Here to Return