Had BPD/DS surgery on June 1, 1999. I went from 280 to 113 in a year. Size 26 to a size 4. I then gained back about 10 pounds of that after 18 months which is fine because the doctors thought that I was too small. It took me about 8 months to gain it back. My size is great but I have more medical problems now than I ever did before surgery mostly due to malabsorption. I sincerely hope that others never have to go through what I have gone through in the past year and will have to go through for the rest of my life. I almost died in November from lack of iron and my body does not absorb vitamins or minerals now that are taken by mouth. I have alot of bathroom issues also. My calcium levels are constantly low although I take enormous amounts of it. I have a hernia that is the size of a grapefruit that I can't have operated on until my iron level get better. I have been taking iron injections for one year now, and they are still not up to normal. I will have to have those injections for the rest of my life and they are NOT like the B12. They hurt tremendously for weeks and I have to have them once a week for life.
6/14/01--okay I have a new problem that I just felt that I had to share with anyone who looks at this profile. I suffered from mild dry eye syndrome before the surgery and also depression which I didn't even need meds for anymore as it was under control at the time of the surgery 2 years ago.
I am now suffering from SEVERE dry eye syndrome from the lack of vitamins, minerals and fats in my body. My body cannot absorb them. Also, of course, the antidepressants that I had to go back on after surgery (due to my body not making enough seratonin) just causes my dry eyes to be worse. It's a catch 22. If I don't take my antidepressants, I get worse emotionally and if I do, it makes my dry eyes soooo bad that I literally tear my hair out. there seem to be no antidepressant that doesn't cause dryness. My eyes are so bad that I have implants in them now but they haven't helped because my eyes are not making tears well anymore. Dr. says that the next option is sewing my eyes halfway closed to limit the air going into them. can you imagine??? This is all possibly caused by my lack of vitamins and minerals and my lack of being able to absorb them because of the surgery. My life has turned into a nightmare really and I know I am the exception. I just thought that people who were considering surgery should know "all" of the good and bad that can happen and then make an informed decision as to whether you really want this and need this or not. Remember, this is the rest of your life and for me, it's looking towards being blind in my old age either from the surgery of the eyes or...glaucoma which is caused by this dry eye syndrome. It also means that my family has to put up with me without my antidepressant meds. Anyone who is on them or who has suffered depression knows what that can be like.
I have definately increased vitamin intake with the prayer that "some" of them will find their way into my body. I have totally changed my lifestyle and how I live and eat. I sincerely hope that no one else has to go through this. Good luck to all. This is NOT to scare you, just to give you insight into the "other side" of this surgery.
7/12/01-okay, got a diagnosis on the dry eyes. Seems I have Lupus and Sjogrens disease. Sjogrens can be caused by malnutrition. I now have arthritis,(Sjogrens caused) depression, no sleep, terrible eye pain, very dry scalp and face, lower iron than ever even with the shots (they are increasing dosage and frequency. All this caused by the Lupus and Sjogrens and probably caused by the surgery originally from what I have been told. No one ever mentioned this before surgery. Just thought you should all know the good and bad.
1/18/02- Someone told me that I had not updated this in awhile. To be honest, nothing has changed at all. I spoke to the original surgeon the other day and asked him why my common channel length is not in my records. He said it is an oversight somehow and there is no way to tell just from the records. Of course, after all this time, he surely didn't remember how long it is. It worries me that there is no record of that and I have to ask myself why? why wouldn't that be in there? Well, other than that, things are just the same...pain daily, depression always, and trying desperately to help others with decisions while not trying to totally scare them away from this. Problem is, there are not many of us who stay here to tell the "down" side of this surgery, so, I stay for the few who want to know everything that "could" happen. Please recognize that I don't say "will" happen. It's just that I feel all should know everything that they can and then make this decision for themselves. Most everyone on AMOS gives the good side of these surgeries, so, I am here to at least give another opinion. Hope that is the way that this profile is taken. Well, will try and update again in the future. Good luck to all in their journey.
2/8/02-- have lost 13 pounds in the last month. I certainly don't want to do that at all. It took too long to gain it again but, it's being caused by severe diarrhea all of a sudden. I went yesterday and had a fecal study done so, by Monday I might have a handle on what is happening to me. Folks, this is 3 years out from the BPD/DS and I am still going through this with no end in site. Please, please please think seriously about the BPD/DS before jumping into it. Some people are soooo happy but others (and I personally know of at least 8 people) are having VERY bad problems mostly like mine. We all had the same surgeon too. I am NOT like someone else I hear of who downs all the sutgeries. I "just" really really don't want YOU to go through this as I am. Please take this and everyone else, good or bad with a grain of salt. I will update again when I find out what is happening to me.
8/10/02- Well, I am joining the world of reversals! On August 20th, I will have this reversed as much as they can. Yes, I am afraid of being large again but, I have a good head start because I am so thin now so, maybe I can do this. I just know that I can't live with this anemia and diahrea and gas for the rest of my life. Three years of this was enough. I am so sorry that I messed with God and my body but what is done is done and some of it can't be reversed like the Lupus and Sjogrens. I want to live again, and not sleep 24/7. I want to be able to do my job without worrying about falling asleep and losing it. I want to be able to drive again without falling asleep at the wheel. If any of you are reading this before the 20th I sincerely ask that you say a prayer for me as the doctor said that this surgery is very intricate and that it's difficult to say the least. No, it's not the same doc who did the original surgery. He doesn't even practice anymore and I surely wouldn't go back. (just my own opinion and experience). I hope this updated for all of you. Hugs, till later.
9/9/03 Hi all. I've had so many people writing to me and asking how the takedown went. I felt that I should put an update in here. I'm sorry it took so long but I haven't been on this site since the takedown to be honest. I had the takedown a year ago next month. Yes, I've gained some of the weight back and definately alittle more then I wanted to but...no more diahrea problems at all. No malnutrition. I still have the anemia and calcium problems as well as the Sjogrens, none of which will ever be gone. The takedown went very well and the hospital was great. My health has certainly suffered since the BPD/DS and there is still not a day goes by that I don't know that and remember that. Even with the takedown, things are still not as good as they were before WLS. I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors with WLS. I, personally, would never ever do this again and have come to the conclusion that I shouldn't have messed with what God originally gave me. I learned my lesson. Hopefully, this profile will help some of you to make a more informed decision on whether this is for you or not. Either way, I wish you the best and will still answer questions if you write. God bless you all. This will be my last update as I don't belong here anymore but I am grateful to everyone who has been so kind. Hugs, Barb