Question:
Worried sick!!
I will have a gastric bypass operation very soon and i cant seem to get over my worries.. are there any long term health complications? this is a question for those who had this operation several years ago.. please help! — halahmad (posted on September 7, 2008)
September 7, 2008
This is a hyperlink below, to CBS News.com where there is a 12-minute video
from the TV show "60 Minutes." it's about the benefits of RNY
Gastric Bypass surgery. It is a video well-worth watching. You can copy
& paste the follwing in to your browser:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/17/60minutes/main4023451.shtml
— Gina S.
September 7, 2008
you know, we can get a lot of long term advice from those who had the
surgery years ago, but as far as the actual procedure is concerned-things
have changed so much that you have to look at it as it is being performed
on you now. everyone is different and everyone i believe will tell you
something different about their experience. i was worried about what if's,
but what if you don't do it and it becomes to late and you wish you had?
you didn't give any details about yourself (co-morbids, weight) but the
fact that you are researching and saying you are having the surgery soon
tells me you are not 125 lbs w/ no health issues, so, if you see where this
is gonna benefit you in the long term-do it. i was worried also, but i was
in and out of surgery so fast, i blew my mind. i will pray for you to have
peace with your choice to make this journey, kim
oh, talk to bill, he is the best
— Godsvirtuoswoman
September 7, 2008
Everyone is different with a different level of pain tolerance and yes, the
operation should be viewed as uniquely "yours" but, having said
that, I had it done a little over a year ago and I am SO GLAD I did! Did I
have my doubts and worries? Yes, I did. But I was a diabetic with high
blood pressure and high cholesterol and taking 17 different medications. I
am now over 13 months out, down 127 pounds, no longer taking ANY
medications and no longer a diabetic. My blood pressure is the best it's
ever been and my cholesterol is perfectly normal! I also have more energy
then I actually know what to do with. If you follow you doctor's
"orders" and make the lifestyle changes you need to make then you
should have no real problems. I'm not saying you won't have plateaus and
frustrations (we ALL have those) but life should be better then what you
are experiencing now. As I said, we are ALL different and have different
stories and different routes to our goals but, from where I sit, it was
well worth it.
Again, we ALL go through the "worries". You would not be normal
if you didn't. Rest assured you aren't alone.
— Leprechaun
September 7, 2008
That should be a question for your surgeon and should have been discussed
with you. It is a restrictive and malobsorbtion surgery. Restriction is
obvious on how but you need to really understand the malobsorbtion issue.
If you know what is required of you nutritionaly after surgery you can have
serious medical issues. Please make an appt with your surgeon to discuss
this and with the nutritionist
— urbrat2
September 7, 2008
I do not have an answer for you really because I am pre-op 1 month and I am
scared to death sometimes. Most days I am just fine, but some days I
second guess myself. I have family who are not supportive (because they
are scared), they have heard "stories" about people who have had
the surgery have had problems. Well, I know that the majority of people
focus on the negative especially when they are worried. So, let's just say
that I know 10 people who have had GB and one had serious complications.
That is the one that tends to stick out and make my family and even me
nervous. Also, I may have way over researched the complication boards. I
think being aware of the risks is important, understanding the surgery, the
lifestyle, and everything else is very important. But, going with your
instincts and your doctors recommendations is also very important. I have
a slightly unique situation to were the amount of wt. I have left to loose
plays tricks on my mind. I tell myself I should be able to do this on my
own and I feel very guilty for needing and wanting to have WLS (for many
reasons I could not being to explain here). What I do think in response to
your post is that A LOT of people feel the very same worries, and I do not
think that because you are so worried or more worried than some others here
on OH pre-op that you are not ready for WLS. I think only you and your
doctor can make that decision together and I am sure he/she has seen plenty
of pts who were scared to death!!!
Good Luck with everything!
— Gina F.
September 7, 2008
Thank you all for your time and support
— halahmad
September 7, 2008
I think all the worries and fears before surgery is normal. The hard part
about WLS is you start to sych yourself out about ... "do I really
need to do the surgery?" if you have no insurance and are paying cash
... "should I really spend all this money?" "Will I be okay
... surgery is dangerous" etc. I was so scared the day/night before
surgery and 10 times as scared the morning of. But all went so well. I
had not complications from surgery. Recovery went well. I am now almost 7
months post-op and down 114 lbs. Feeling great. Wish I had done this
years ago. Wasted so much of my life being FAT!!! Well I am FAT
no-longer. Only 16 lbs away from ONEDERLAND ... 36 lbs from my goal of 180
lbs. I would like to get down closer to 150 lbs, but think I will need
additional surgeries to remove skin and lift breasts to get there. Also
don't want to get too skinny ... so my final goal weight is up in the hair.
I am just excited to be so close ... so soon!
— Tammy Cardwell
September 8, 2008
I think we all have the worries. My decision was a 4-5 year process. I read
everything I could get my hands on. I went to 6 months worth of classes to
be eligible. Still, the week before I had surgery, I had worries. When I
would start getting worked up, I'd talk to my husband and we'd discuss what
was going to happen if I didn't have the surgery. I had asthma, sleep
apnea, bad knees (with surgeries on both), high blood pressure, and a
family history of diabetes and heart disease, it was easy for me to quickly
put things in perspective and get over the worries until they came back and
I'd repeat my litttle mental evaluation.
Good luck to you!
— MKPstamps
September 8, 2008
I am 5 years post RNY on the 10th of this month. I have had no long term
problems. I have gone down the same bumpy road as most, throwing up,
losing hair etc. It is all just temporary most of mine was w/in the first
6 months. I am lactose intolerant which I was not before, which is
probably a good thing because I LOVE ice cream. Now I cannot eat it.
LOL!!! My labs are always good other than a couple times I was low in iron
which has happened to me over the years before I ever had surgery. Best of
luck to you! It will be the best thing you have done for yourself. Think
of it as finally taking control of your life. Take care!
— Carlyn M.
September 8, 2008
I am post of fron lap RNY almost 2 years (at the end of this month). I
have lost 206 pounds and no longer suffer from severe sleep apnea. I am at
goal weight with a BMI now at 21.7 vs that of 53 when I started. My weight
has been fairly stable (up or down 2 pounts) for 9 months now. I had some
minor complications that were resolved with a gallbladder removal about 1
year post op. I do have times that I still throw-up if I eat too fast or
eat something that doesn't sit well. Or I may get diarhea occassionally
after I eat. But that happens only once in awhile. I don't regret having
the surgery, but was also frightened at first. My lab work is very good,
but I do faithfully take my vitamins and stick with eating protein first.
I can eat almost anything now (no ice cream or lettuce for some reason),
but am very careful. Best of luck - I think the benefits far outweigh the
small issues I have.
— waferqueen
September 9, 2008
I had those same questions, even bought a book about a person who had
special problems and wound up having a "take down" or reversal.
I addressed the same issues with the surgeon, my PCP and
a lot of people who had the surgery years ago. You'd be surprised how many
people you see have had this surgery. I had mine on July 2nd 2008, but I've
really researched this thing and here is what I've found: 1. The technology
today is very much improved over past years. 2. If you follow the
recommendation of the NUT and surgeon, you shouldn't have a problem. 3.
They do follow up blood tests to make certain you are deficient in any
nutrient or vitamin you may need. 4. It's up to YOU to ensure that you get
the protein, vitamins and minerals you need. You may get B-12 shots or
iron supplements, but you should research and learn what you need and make
sure you get it. In particular, the protein in what you eat. Your body has
to have it to heal, and in the long term, not getting enough causes the
body to take what it needs from your muscles, including your heart. Learn
what you need and just do it, and you should do well. Everyone is
different, and your experience will be uniquely yours, but someone has
faced whatever you will and you can find a lot of help as you go here. Good
luck and if I can ever help, please don't hesitate to ask.
Dusty
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
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