Question:
Any regrets?

This is for you long term post ops out there. I am 5 1/2 months post op. It has been a total roller coaster ride since surgery. I am scared to mess this up. I was wondering if any of you have any regrets. If you could go back to your surgery day, would you do anything differently?    — SomerGarza (posted on September 23, 2003)

September 23, 2003
Hi Garza,<br> I have one regret...that I did not begin therapy <b>before</b> my surgery. I am 14 weeks out, and 3 weeks ago I went to a therapist and said "I had a surgeon cut out all my coping mechanisms, and I need to find some new ones."<b> I have always used food as an all-occasion coping skill...I ate when happy, sad, upset, bored, anxious--you name it, I ate for the occasion. Once I was unable to eat all the time, I was beginning to get depressed, wanting to isolate, not taking interest in myself or anything else. I do not like <b>that</b> place any more than I liked being MO. I could have saved myself a lot of pain if I had gone into therapy first! I'm down 68 pounds in these 14 weeks, and don't want a single one of them back, so I'm willing to work on my emotional and mental status along with the physical.
   — Linda S.

September 23, 2003
Yes I have some regrets. In some ways my health is worse since wls... arthritus has spread and thanks to wls I can't take the much needed pain meds. I have absolutely NO energy whatsoever. Hell I had more at 319 than at 162! I kid you not! Blood tests seem to say all is fine. My blood pressure is very low and I have trouble not passing out when I get up. But all in all, I'd still have wls as there was nothing else I could do. I do wish I had wls before 30 instead of waiting until I was 43. I had a series of serious sugeries in my 30's. Perhaps things would have gone better if I had had wls and lost this weight before hand. Yes, I have regrets but I did wait until the risks of not having wls were worse than having it. I did make the right decision to have wls... just wish my arthritus was'nt worse and that I could stop the osteroporis that I have. As far as what to do BEFORE surgery, I wish I could have found a chewable or liquid Citrate. Also I would have gone to the hospital in a PRIVATE ROOM and had both a robe that fit me, and an abdomial binder. My guts felt like they would come pouring out. I'd had moved and walked more if I had a binder. Yes, some regrets but we have to do the best we can and hope things will work out ok.
   — Danmark

September 23, 2003
If I could go back to surgery day I would make sure I keep up with support afterwards. I was very active on AMOS prior to surgery, but after I felt like I already knew everything and I should be starting on my new life. I didn't realize I was getting in trouble, and I should have known it had I done some research. Daniel is right a private room would have been a lot better. I had two different room mates and neither were WL patients. I should have had a DS or a distal RNY instead of the short bypass I had. I agree with the other poster too, I wish I would have done it when I was younger. I didn't think it was an option yet because I wasn't quite over 100 pounds extra weight. Had I had surgery earlier I probably would have saved myself this knee pain that hasn't gotten any better. I think the most important thing though is I shouldn't have given up trying to lose weight when I got close to goal but didn't reach it. I got discouraged when the weight loss slowed, and I thought it was over like all the other diets I'd been on. Really it was only over because I let it be over. Had I stuck with it I probably would have made goal. Oh well. Live and learn right? I'm sure if I thought about it more there'd be even more should haves, but I don't regret the surgery. It was really the only option for me and my situation. Hope your roller coaster ride evens out for you soon. S
   — sherry hedgecock

September 23, 2003
no regrets, could not be happier!
   — janetc00

September 23, 2003
My only regret? That I didnt do this sooner, because I wasnt aware of it.
   — bob-haller

September 23, 2003
I wish this surgery would have been available 20 years ago. My life would be SOOO much different.
   — Patty H.

September 23, 2003
Sometimes I wish I would have done it 20 years sooner but then I wonder if I would have been ready for it emotionally. Everything came together at the right time, I think that's why I have had such a great recovery. I am so thankful for the surgery and this site! Best of luck to you!
   — debmi

September 23, 2003

   — Jazzy

September 23, 2003
I am 6 years post. The only regret is I didn't do it years sooner. I knew about it but was hesitant. If I knew then what I know now. My kids would have had a healthier mom to play with. They are almost grown now so to old to play with. So I missed playing with them and enjoying doing things with them without being out of breath. I am still at the same weight loss from the surgery. That was one of my worries.
   — christine M.

September 24, 2003
I regret not working harder the first 6 months. Because the weight loss drops off in the honeymoon period pretty much no matter what you do, I didn't restrict carbs as much as I should have. Then, when it got harder (which it does!!) I had much more to lose. I wish I had cut out all refined carbs from day one, and NEVER added them back. Now I struggle with the cravings.
   — mom2jtx3

September 24, 2003
I wish I would of did this sooner. I enjoy looking in a mirror now. There are days when I go out to eat and really miss eating the amount of food that I USED to eat. I am also having the head hunger thing now, I can tell the difference now that I ate for emotional reasons. But life is at my best now at 36 years old than it was when I was younger... I am a HAPPY SIZE 4/5/6/7 rather than a 22/24 and XXL shirts.
   — Lisa J.

September 24, 2003
My only regret is that I didn't take my measurements before the surgery. I only took my weight and a picture.
   — Janet S.

September 24, 2003
I feel the same way as Janet, I did not take any measurments and now I'd like to know. I did'nt even save any of my plus size clothes, I gave them away. I do notice the size difference when I'm shopping though b/c I went from a 24 to a size 4 and a 3x to a small. I also wish I would have done this sooner :o) Good luck!
   — Sandy M.

September 25, 2003
Today I have no regrets. I am 5 months out and down 84 lbs. The week after the surgery I had a couple of bad moments where I wondered what the heck I had been thinking to do such a radical thing to my body. But I don't believe in dwelling on regrets, especially on things that cannot be changed. I have no regrets now - I am down 84lbs, I feel good, I have had no complications, and for the first time in decades I feel like I am in control of my eating. Even if I don't reach goal weight, I am happy with my decision. Nope, no regrets. None.
   — linda A.

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