Question:
Has anyone expercienced many bad side effects or are really sick after the surgery

for months and months?? My parents are so scared that I wil be sick the rest of my life. Is this true? I don't think. It seems like you always here the good things, what are some of the bad?? Maybe none but just wondering? Thanks!!    — Robin A. (posted on July 23, 2002)

July 23, 2002
Bring your parents to a support group meeting or the august support group picnic. Meet and socialize with post ops,take one to dinner and watch them eat small amounts of good food and talk of their post op life in comparison with pre op. ALL this will help your fears and theirs! I had no complications other than some infection in a couple of my port sites. Jen my wife had some problems including dehydration and spending a couple nites in the hospital. She missed her buddy food, and was tough company for awhile. She is now THRIVING! and happy. You can do it too. Do come to support group meetings the first wednesday of each month at montefiore hospitals auditorium. Say hi, me and Jen are always there.
   — bob-haller

July 23, 2002
Robin, I am now 8 months post op open RNY -135 lbs, and I have had no surgery complications, but I do experience that sickly feeling after nearly everything I eat and I have to lie down most of the time after eating to wait it off. I also have constant diarreha and I take medicine daily that is supposed to keep it under control, and notice I said supposed to. My surgeon said this is just my bodies way of handling surgery and there is nothing that can be done except wait and see if it gets better with time. I do NOT complain about these "negatives" because I have so many more "positives" to be thankful for:) I do not regret surgery and I would do it again in a heart beat. Good Luck and if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.
   — Lynda T.

July 23, 2002
I'm 14.5 months post op. Down 148 lbs and 42 lbs to goal. If I can get to a pair of 30 jeans, then I don't care about the weight goal. I still feel tired all the time... no energy. I hate that "ran over by a truck, then ate up and crapped out feeling". However it is'nt as bad as it was, yet I've lost 148 pounds and should'nt be so #%$^ tired all the time. But other than that, B-12 and potassium problems, I have'nt really had to many. But I am thankful for the WLS. And I can not get over the people who don't recongnise me anymore. Even my own mother has to look twice to find me in Walmart. Now thats funny. Anyway, not all of us have problems, but do know, none of us know WHO WILL BE THE ONE WITH PROBLEMS. Don't go into this with your eyes closed. There are people who have had alot of problems and they've been bad mouthed by some others here and they are shy on coming forward. But most of us seem to have done pretty well by the WLS. Best of luck to you.
   — Danmark

July 24, 2002
hello i am 14 months post op, open rny pre-op weight: 268lbs (am 5'0") goal weight: 135 lbs current weight: 130lbs i've read what seems like a lot of ppl on this site that were really tired for quite awhile after surgery but for me that wasn't the case 2 weeks post op i went to the beach & even played in the water 4 weeks post op (when i was allowed to drive) i started giving my daughter swim lessons (i taught her) at a local pool 4 weeks post op i began walking on the beach, working my way up to 5 miles at a time i take b-12 daily, trinsicon (prescription iron/b12), a flintstones vitamin with calcium, 2 tums, plus i'm on hrt since my hysterectomy after a few months of relative inactivity (besides school, work & family) i've started walking again & my hubby & i got a bowflex and started a rigorous workout routine (i'm looking for a job as an emt & need to pass stringent physical fitness exam) - am totally stoked to say that i passed 4 of the required exercises without any problem (including leg presses - 200lbs, 3 sets of 15) good luck!!
   — jkb

July 24, 2002
Hello. I have had some complications, but would do this all again tomorrow if the situation were the same. At 6 mos post I had problems with my galbladder. After I had that removed, the pain did not go away. It took three doctors 2 months to find an ulcer in my small intestine. According to the doc, it was the largest one he had ever seen. I was out of work and in constant pain from the end of March till 3 days ago. While the 4 month vacation was nice, it was all spent in pain. But I am fine now, and all is well. Everyone has a different story because we are all different people. You never know until it happens to you.
   — RebeccaP

July 25, 2002
I'm not 100% glad that I've had this surgery yet. I'm 3.5 months post-op, and have had some complications and chronic pain. I had to have my gallbladder removed 5 weeks after my RNY, but the pain never went away. I'm on a lot of medication to help with the pain, but it depletes my energy and makes me nauseous. None of my doctors can figure out the cause of the pain, the current theories are intestinal spasms and adhesions. I'm very frustrated and tired of the whole thing. The good news is that I have already lost 85 lbs and eating tends to go pretty well. I've not vomited once, although there have been a few times I wish I had. These last few months have been very difficult for me, and now I'm battling a narcotic addiction. Like the other posters have said, everyone is different, and you have to look at the big picture. I don't think I will always be in pain, because this will eventually be resolved, but until that time comes, I continue to suffer. Good luck with your decision. Go into this as informed as you can be, that way you have a better chance at success!!
   — Christine L.