Question:
It's really a good choice in a long term......Confused

I have been reading this site for over 3 months now, and I am so scare to see all the complications related with the surgery, some of them worst than obesity. Don't get me wrong, I am still going to have it, but I am so scare for a long or short time problems, There are not too many people stories, that passed A 5 or 10 year range, and some of them were in the ICU several times, or they developed osteoporosis, anemia, or died. You just change obesity complications to wls complications. Right now I don't really have too many problems due to obesity, and I think sometimes that I am going to speed the process of dificulties nd maybe shortened my life with this procedure, I need input. God Bless you all......    — Rosa M. (posted on May 24, 2003)

May 24, 2003
We can't get out from under our disease, however. So, there really ARE only two choices. We can live with the disease or live with the treatment. It's not as if we can just NOT have the disease. I've had a few issues, but none as immediately life threatening as my condition pre-op, where I was writing letters to my kids and planning to be bedridden for life, before my lungs just stopped. I do have osteoporosis. I'm not happy about it, and we believe today it can be prevented with aggressive steps. BUT, let's see, brittle bones & a real life vs flat lungs, and a stopping heart? Not a great choice, but facing it again, I'd do it. In fact, I did do it again when my SLD. I had the choice, regain the wt, the reflux, the IBS, the sleep apnea, asthma, diabetes, etc forever, OR stay the size I am and hope I get old enough to have a fresh ist of issues, not obesity related.
   — vitalady

May 24, 2003
Well said Michelle Curan... I couldn't agree more. Now that I have lost 130+ pounds I feel better than I have in a long time. Sure there were small struggles along the way, but none of them as hard as being obese....
   — MF

May 24, 2003
Have you researched the Lap Band? A little slower loss but @ 3 years out the loss is the same and it can be adjusted to your needs. I think there is a place for both the bypass and the Lap Band and i have chosen the Lap Band because it is right for me. Do some more soul searching with whatever you choose but be comfortable with your choice. Good Luck.
   — meliss0725

May 24, 2003
I had open RNY 18 months ago and I realize that isn't the amount of time you are interested in hearing about. I think the reason you don't hear much from the real long-timers is that they are out living - and have left WLS and their life with obesity behind. I have spoken with several of my surgeon's patients who are more than 5 oor 6 years post-op and they are doing great. So many of them have just chosen to put that part of their lives away for good. And remember, the internet and this site haven't been here too many years. There are probably a lot of long-timers who have no idea we even exist. I know that there is no way I would ever go back. The only medical problems I had were high cholesterol and arthritis but life is so much better now. I've had some minor complications - let myself get dehydrated (and it was my fault) and I developed some herinas around my incision (but they convinced the insurance company to pay for my tummy tuck). The complications are nothing to what I was facing weighing almost 350 pounds.
   — Patty_Butler

May 24, 2003
My family tried to talk me out of my surgery on 1/27/03 because of all the side-effects. But I knew that I needed to do something. at 5'4" and 298, with a bmi of 51.5, I knew that I was a walking time bomb. I felt ok, I had no other complications, other than I was fat. But, I'm now 4 full months out. I've lost 70 lbs, 46 inches and 3 dress sizes. I'm more active than I've ever been, and feel terrific. I NEVER had any complications. I think more people complain about the problems that they have instead of when they are feeling OK. Good luck to you on your quest. CB
   — CrystalBroj