I am so sorry to hear about your health issues and WLS regrets. I am 15 years out, regained 70 of the 150 over a 7 year period, then got my act together and lost 50 in the past 8 years. There were a few times I regretted the surgery, but it changed and saved my life. My lab numbers are "perfect" for a 50 year old according to my doctor, but I do sometimes wait for the "shoe to drop", and try to always stay positive. I wish you the very best.

It's good to reflect on where you are and appreciate the hard work it takes to lose the weight. You may be up 40, and before you gain anymore, try to get that mojo back with healthy eating and varied exercising to drop back down! I had my surgery about 5 years ago, and experienced a bounce-back initially of 10 lbs, then crept up a total of 30. I was worried I'd end up back in the 200's, so I started to track every bite I ate and got with a personal trainer last November. I'm back down 20 of those lbs, and hope to lose another 20 or 30 to achieve my ultimate goal. The trainer has really helped me keep up the variety through circuit training, helping advise on my diet (he knows about my surgery) and has really helped motivate me again. Keep it up!! I enjoy visiting this site too form time to time to remind me of where I've been, and see how others out there are doing. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

This thread is from 2005, so there's a good chance that almost every person who posted on it is Lap-Band-free at this point. Hopefully everyone made it through alive. 

Brian-thanks for your post. I empathize with you. I had BPDDS (bilio-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) in 2002 at age 34. The psychiatric test didn't rule me out, & I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 18 & had spent 2 separate stints in hospital lockdown between ages 18 & 34. I am 5'2", my weight at surgery was 286. Health wise, no diabetes, just hypertension, back pain, knee pain, foot pain, headaches... Other than bipolar, that's all. According to doc, a perfect surgical candidate. He even recommended the BPDDS! I had open surgery, not laparoscopic, so very hard recovery. 2 surgeries within a year post-op for hernia repairs. Tummy-tuck with 2nd repair. Slowly I started having issues with the malabsorption of my medications (doc mentioned the procedure would result some malabsorption of nutrients, he never mentioned it would do the same to medications and I was too starry-eyed to realize that!). I have been on disability now for 4 years because I cannot get my psych meds stabilized. I take about 50 pills daily ( there is 1med alone that I must take 9 pills of a day to get the proper amt into my bloodstream), its extremely hard for me to get them all in properly. In addition, the fact that I have only 4 feet of functioning small intestine has resulted in severe digestive issues (painful abdominal cramping & bloating, uncontrollable flatulence and daily diarrhea) for the past ELEVAN YEARS! At least I know now the digestive issues can be controlled by not eating wheat, or Gluten, products. Thank goodness! But my psychiatrist has no answers for the meds. 4 hospital stays in the past 4 years. Hypertension has returned. I've gained about 40 lbs, and my body looks strange. No, not just in my mind. My lower abdomen (tummy tuck area) is still flat as a fritter and always will be. The weight gain starts at my belly button and I have a true barrel upper abdomen. Actually hard to breathe because of the weight pressing on my lungs and diaphragm, and clothes fit improperly. All of these issues have made me say more than once that I would never have had the surgery if I knew then what I know now. It's so hard to tell others of the bad parts of WLS as they are so starry-eyed. I know I was. But I was a pioneer. In 2002 there weren't a lot of people 11 years post-op to advise me. And, like you, I agree that each individual's experience is just that-an individual . I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.

I'm sorry you're going through this.  I hope you find some peace about your decision to have wls.  Hugs and love, Stephanie

Up date, on 4/21/2013 2 more Heart attacks 1 while in IC U and 1 more stent..very low on potassium so my heart is weak.. I don't believe i will live long.. I am having the hardest time keeping up on my lab numbers its either too high calcium in my heart arteries clogging them or too low potassium in my body making my heart weak so I am having heart attacks one after another.. left and right.. the next one i may not be so lucky and survive it.Now I know why i regret this wls.. I would never recommend it to anyone.. Have heard too many horror stories from long term P Op's. My therapist told me she has a few clients  who have regretted their wls....

What is your experience and why are you and your wife regretting it? I'm getting sleeved on 4/25/13 and am considered a lightweight because I'm 214.8 lbs and am 5'3". For me I feel that VSG would be a great tool to get me down to 130 lbs.

I have  done very well,  got down one size smaller than my goal with absolutely no regain for being 6 yrs P O as of tomorrow..3/19/13.. no complications whatso ever but! have had 1 more heart attack 12/22/12 1 more stent.. so why do i regret having done wls to lose weight and get healthy when i must not of been healthy  as I got a wake up call with heart attack P O ..wls,,dammit!

I had my surgery with Dr.Barker on January 8, 2013 and I have already lost 80lbs. His whole staff is amazing. I never thought that I would be able to live a normal life again, but that is all behind me now. I must have called everyday with a new question, and they always seemed happy to talk to me. I could not have done this without the entire Barker crew. Thank you so much Dr. Barker for saving my life, and giving my kids a mom they can be proud of.

Wow.... there are no words to express the depth of your despair! My heart and prayers are with you. Many times we are left wondering what happened, what didn't happened, and why we didn't see it coming. Please know that the love we shared with another human being is the most important thing and the only thing we remember when it all comes to an end. I wish there was some way to fill in the huge chasm that must have formed in your life. Hang in there

B