Question:
How was your experience with WLS. Please give me some encouragement
not to chicken out and get a surgery date and then cancel! LOL Thanks! — Jennifer W. (posted on December 30, 2001)
December 30, 2001
I can only speak as a new postop (20 days) but I have to say things have
gone extremely well so far. I had an Open RNY. Preop, I had absolutely no
obstacles get in my way. My surgery happened without a hitch, the hospital
care I received was wonderful, I haven't had any trouble with vomiting and
only a couple of times when I felt queasy. The hardest aspects of the
surgery so far were in the first week home. I had a terrible time sleeping
because I couldn't get comfortable and the tiredness from that added to my
lack of energy. My only current difficulties are waiting what feels like a
very long time to have my staples out and wanting to move on from my full
liquid/pureed diet. I am painlessly mobile now, sleeping so much better and
feeling closer to normal all the time. There are people who have
complications and you should be aware of that possibility, but I think most
of us come through in great shape. Good Luck!!
— Donna L.
December 30, 2001
Hi Jennifer,
I am 10 days post-op (LAP RNY) and my surgery has gone without a hitch as
well. I am 39 and started at 320 and am down almost 15 pounds in 10 days. I
had the greatest care by my doctor and the hospital staff. I was scared too
especially the week before surgery. I just knew I had to have this
procedure and could not go on the way I am. I am healthy and have a
wonderful family but like another poster on another question - I was a
spectator if life. I want to be a participant now and I know I will. I am
healthy now but for how long? The weight issues catch up eventually. With
WLS you are trading one set of issues for another set. I look forward to so
many things now and before each day was just existing. You have to ask
yourself is this where you want to be in 5 or 10 years (plus the added
poundage). I knew I would continue to add on the pounds and with the things
that happen as we age anyway I knew I would be even more miserable then I
am and I asked myself can I bare this thought? Nope, I can't so I gathered
up all my courage and went through with the surgery. It's so scary, the
fear of the unknown but man, at 10 days out, I can already see the light at
the end of the tunnel. It has given me HOPE! For a better and healthy
future and active future with my family. I can be the person I know I am
and the fat is keeping me from being. I could not continue to live the
other way knowing I had this viable option in front of me. This surgery
most of the time is a piece of cake. Make sure you have a doctor that is
experienced and I don't think you can go wrong. The best of luck to you
Jennifer!
— crishsapig
December 30, 2001
Hi there, I am 12 days post-op and have no problems eating whatsoever. I
have never felt even queasy. I had a few rough spots before surgery
though. It is very uncommon, but they were unable to intubate me the
regular way. The first time...my surgery had to be canceled because my
throat was injured during the attempt to intubate. The 2nd time they STILL
had trouble, but fortunately I had a REALLY experienced anesthetist this
time and they continued trying other methods and completed surgery. As of
today I have lost 17lbs., I feel great...no pain. I am NOT loving this
liquid diet. However, I know it is necessary for good healing and I'm
trying to adhere to it. I think if you are in relatively good
health...there is no reason to think you won't do very well also. Just
like the last poster stated, there are many who have strictures and
uncontrollable nausea. I am happy and thankful I am not one of them.
There are many more like me who sail through this. Just know the risk vs.
benefit is very small. I was scared too, before surgery, and now I feel
like I did a lot of worrying for nothing! Good Luck! :)
— Karen B.
December 30, 2001
I am nearly 3 months post op. I have no trouble with foods. I rarely get
nauseated. I have never "dumped" and I have lost 50 pounds and 30
inches total. I am off all my previous meds! I only take vitamins and
calium now.
Only you can decide if this is the right thing for you. I will say that I
would do it all over again.
I had no problems with surgery (first one). I only used the pain meds one
day.
Hugs, Donna
— Donna P.
December 30, 2001
jennifer i am 13 days post op open rny/silastic band. piece of cake! well,
almost lol. i am almost pain free, was down 10 lbs in 8 days & am
having a love/hate relationship with my pureed diet. my incision is opened
in the center & looks infected but i am keeping it very clean til i can
get to my dr tomorrow. i havent taken my blood pressure meds since the day
before my surgery. yesterday my bp was 114/68!!! i was on bp meds for 4
years & i never had it that low! yipeee!!!!i am hoping that tomorrow my
dr tells me to forget about going back on my bp meds. sure sometimes i eat
too fast & get a knot in my tummy or drink too fast & feel like a
lead ball hit my tummy but i FEEL GREAT!!! i move around alot & yes,
even rest alot, but no one could have convinced me that 13 days out would
see me feeling so wonderful. good luck hun! u will be fine.
— sheryl titone
December 30, 2001
Hi Jennifer. I am almost 1 yr post op. I have lost 135 lbs to date and
about 50 inches. I did have a few complications after my surgery- but I
would do this again in a heartbeat. I was scared about the surgery- but I
think I was more scared about what my weight was doing to my health. I had
sleep apnea, diabetes, high cholesterol and suffered from PCOS and severe
depression. Add that with a herniated disk in my back and my neck, bad
knees etc. So you can imagine the amount of medications I was taking. I now
take only my vitamins and calcium. Each of us can only make this type of a
life changing decision based on ourselves- no one else can make tht
decision for us. But I for one am extremely glad I did make this decision.
Good luck!
— Cindy K.
December 30, 2001
Five months post op here - and down 70 pounds. The first two weeks after
surgery were a blur...weeks three and four sucked (I was emotional and
cried all the time - was also a b*tch to live with - according to my
husband. I think it was the food withdrawal that finally hit home.)
Anyway, after week five, everything started getting better. I hardly ever
get sick any more from eating, I have plenty of energy, my life just gets
better every day. When I was pre-op, I heard someone say (or read it) that
they would have this surgery EVERY MONTH if they had to in order to
maintain their "new" life. I remember thinking that was pretty
extreme -- but you know what, I think I probably would too, if I had to. I
am still about 50 pounds from my goal - but boy am I one happy camper!!
Best of luck to you. OPEN RNY 7/17/01.
— blee01
December 30, 2001
HI Jennifer! I am 8 weeks post op and I've lost 48 pounds to date. I use
to be on hypertensive meds and diabetes meds and now I have no need to take
them anymore, everything is very well controlled!
I was very scared having this surgery, and I'm a RN!! I just wasn't
feeling very good at all and was hospitalized 3 weeks prior to surgery for
pneumonia, still, I had an open RNY and I would do it all over again! I
feel great! I will say in all honesty, I didn't start feeling good until
about 5 weeks post op, but feel better and better with each week that has
passed. I don't recall much of the first 2 weeks, and getting use to
eating fluids for a couple weeks was tough, but, take it day at a time and
before you know it, you'll get through it! :) Good luck to you!
— Diane J.
December 30, 2001
I am 8weeks post-op, open RNY and down 50 pounds. The first week was
pretty rough. The second week got better and it has just continued to
improve from there. I only dump mildly if I eat too fast or don't chew my
food well enough. I did go thru a two week period recently where I had
awful heartburn and acid reflux with vomiting about 1.5 to 2 hours after
going to bed every night. My Doctor said not to eat or drink anything
within an hour of going to bed and to elivate my head. I did all of this
and I still got heart burn and acid reflux. So, I started having a very
small snack and a little bit of water along with my medication (I take
coumadin daily because of a genetically inherited blood clotting disorder)
at night and the heartburn and acid reflux has gone away. I feel great, my
energy level is way up, my skin is clearing up, my back has stopped
hurting, my sleep apnea has gone away, all of the edema in my feet and
ankles is gone. Oh sure, there are a few things going on that weren't
there before surgery. My skin is incredibly dry and flaky, everywhere. My
scar is very sensitive and it can still be slightly uncomfortable to roll
onto my side when sleeping. I occasionally get constipated. I am cold
alot. But, all minor compared to the good things that are happening. If
you want a more detailed history of how people have doen post-op, visit
some of the post-ops profiles. Most of us have listed the good as well as
the bad in our profiles.
— Susan M.
December 30, 2001
Read my profile, it coers a LOT of your problems because they were mine
too,
— bob-haller
December 30, 2001
I am six months post-op (OpenVBG) and have lost 115 lbs....no complications
and absolutely no regrets....
— Cathy J.
December 31, 2001
I had an open rny in March of 1998. It was the best decision I
ever made, despite the fact that I am still technically MO. I
started out at 370 (with several co-morbidities) and lost 150lbs.
quickly and easily in one year. I got down to a size 16 and my health
and looks and self-esteem improved 200%! I had a very reasonable goal of
180 but my weight loss stopped after one year despite the fact that I was
doing all the right things. But, going from 370 to 220 was so great that
I accepted that. In the ensuing 2 plus years, I got a bit lax and have
gained
20lbs. I'm now at 240...much better than my old 370....but I recognize
the
"danger" signs and I've "gone back to basics". I'm
eating the way I should and
drinking my water and I'm losing very slowly at a pound a week. I can
accept that
I probably won't ever be one of those super losers who goes from a size 32
to a size
6. That's truly OK with me! If I can get back down the original 220 I'll
be thrilled.
If I can get down to my 185 goal, I'll feel like a super loser!
— [Anonymous]
December 31, 2001
Best thing I have ever done!
— Lisa B.
January 3, 2002
Hi Jennifer: I had open RNY fobi style on 4/4/00. I went from 275 to 161
or size 28+ to size 14 tall jeans! I have never vomited. I no longer dump
on sugar but I do avoid fried foods. I consider this a miracle surgery. I
had no complications. Best wishes.
— Cindy H.
July 21, 2004
I am 15 days Post-op today. I had Open RNY on July 6, 2004 I had my 2 week
check yesterday, they removed staples and put on steri strips which I am
allergic to, of course. I was down 13.3 lbs at 2 weeks. I was not nervous
about the surgery but the after. The pain discomforts etc. I am amazed at
how well I am feeling. Hospital gave me excellent pain management for the
first few days and when I got home it has been better and better each day.
The worst has been my allergy to all the medical tapes that are out there.
My dressings had to come off early because of this but I am healing well
and feeling great. I would definately do this over. This was one of the
best choices I have ever made for me.
— Duffers M.
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