Tough Qestions
Ok everyone! I have some tough questions to ask...and I know they are going to seem like I'm focusing on the bad. However I'm really not I'm just working on educating myself to the best I can before I make my sugery date! So thank you for understanding.
1. Does anyone know of someone who had either an RNY or VSG and either didn't make it or now has extensive problems.
2. Does anyone regret having their surgery...and if yes - why?
3. Has anyone had sugery and gained a lot of wieght back? Could you tell me a bit about what happened?
Please feel free to PM me with your response if you don't want to make it public.
Thank you so much for being open and honest. As we all know this is a life changing event and sometimes a little scary!
All the best! CC
1. Does anyone know of someone who had either an RNY or VSG and either didn't make it or now has extensive problems.
2. Does anyone regret having their surgery...and if yes - why?
3. Has anyone had sugery and gained a lot of wieght back? Could you tell me a bit about what happened?
Please feel free to PM me with your response if you don't want to make it public.
Thank you so much for being open and honest. As we all know this is a life changing event and sometimes a little scary!
All the best! CC
Hi Sunny!
This is my personal opinion (not medical fact) from what I have seen on here.
1. There is the rare person that I have heard of passing with weight loss surgery related problems. For example, malnourishment from not eating properly, not taking vitamins, abusing their bodies with overuse of drugs or alcohol, smoking (which sometimes leads to ulcers that are hard to detect in RNY's), not following eating guidelines etc. I haven't heard of this happening with someone who had a VSG (no malabsorption), but I'm sure there are cases of abuse there as well. But it is VERY rare. There are also possibilities of leaks in the interior stiches, which are usually very fixable in both surgeries, but can be life threatening and scary. I believe there is a death in roughly 1 out of 200 people who have these surgeries. Hopefully someone will chime in with exact stats. In general, complications are rare, but controllable in a lot of cases, unfortunately not in all.
2. I love my surgery. No regrets here!
3. There is not a lot of long term data on weight regain with the VSG, so it's hard to say. Also, surgeons are leaving the stomachs even smaller than before, so regain is less likely at least to the extend of getting where you were before. Admittedly, at 2 years out, I have regained 10 lbs with my VSG, (lost 100 lbs) but I have not been exercising or been as vigilant as I should be with grazing, carbs, adult drinks, etc.. I will let someone who knows more about RNY's answer the regain question as I really don't know.
Best wishes!
This is my personal opinion (not medical fact) from what I have seen on here.
1. There is the rare person that I have heard of passing with weight loss surgery related problems. For example, malnourishment from not eating properly, not taking vitamins, abusing their bodies with overuse of drugs or alcohol, smoking (which sometimes leads to ulcers that are hard to detect in RNY's), not following eating guidelines etc. I haven't heard of this happening with someone who had a VSG (no malabsorption), but I'm sure there are cases of abuse there as well. But it is VERY rare. There are also possibilities of leaks in the interior stiches, which are usually very fixable in both surgeries, but can be life threatening and scary. I believe there is a death in roughly 1 out of 200 people who have these surgeries. Hopefully someone will chime in with exact stats. In general, complications are rare, but controllable in a lot of cases, unfortunately not in all.
2. I love my surgery. No regrets here!
3. There is not a lot of long term data on weight regain with the VSG, so it's hard to say. Also, surgeons are leaving the stomachs even smaller than before, so regain is less likely at least to the extend of getting where you were before. Admittedly, at 2 years out, I have regained 10 lbs with my VSG, (lost 100 lbs) but I have not been exercising or been as vigilant as I should be with grazing, carbs, adult drinks, etc.. I will let someone who knows more about RNY's answer the regain question as I really don't know.
Best wishes!
Sandy
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up"
Mark Twain 
1. I had my RNY on May 3/11 and four months later, on Sept 4/11, while at the cottage in Parry Sound, was rushed to the hospital for an emergency laparotomy for a perforated ulcer. That surgery was extensive and I am still healing. Surgical wound became infected and I am still having the RN's in to do daily wound packing on two separate areas of the incision line.
2. At the moment, I am somewhat regretful, as this recovery has been very hard and long. My family and friends were put through an awful experience, not knowing the outcome of this 3 hour emergency surgery. I had lost about 65 lbs in the first four months and had been doing everything properly - nutrition, protein intake, excercise. My surgeon said that for me, 6 wks on the Pantaloc (to reduce stomach acids) wasn't enough, and I am now on them for life.
My weight has stablized since the surgery, but I don't care right now, as I struggle to get enough protein in for healing. With this extra surgery I have lost more than 50% of my hair.
I read the risks (2% chance) and somehow never thought I would be the one, but when you are the one, it puts a whole new light on things.
I hope that I eventually heal with no further issues - I'll just have to wait and see.
2. At the moment, I am somewhat regretful, as this recovery has been very hard and long. My family and friends were put through an awful experience, not knowing the outcome of this 3 hour emergency surgery. I had lost about 65 lbs in the first four months and had been doing everything properly - nutrition, protein intake, excercise. My surgeon said that for me, 6 wks on the Pantaloc (to reduce stomach acids) wasn't enough, and I am now on them for life.
My weight has stablized since the surgery, but I don't care right now, as I struggle to get enough protein in for healing. With this extra surgery I have lost more than 50% of my hair.
I read the risks (2% chance) and somehow never thought I would be the one, but when you are the one, it puts a whole new light on things.
I hope that I eventually heal with no further issues - I'll just have to wait and see.
you should check out the "Failed WLS forum"
there are all kinds of stories there, but most of them come from the US and they don't have Centres of Excellence like we do. so I'm not sure most of them will be relavant.
but i have read of regain, mostly though due to grazing and not following the rules, that's why it's important to get those (Head issues) dealt with before surgery. they can fix our insides but they can't fix the head issues.
No regrets here.
J
there are all kinds of stories there, but most of them come from the US and they don't have Centres of Excellence like we do. so I'm not sure most of them will be relavant.
but i have read of regain, mostly though due to grazing and not following the rules, that's why it's important to get those (Head issues) dealt with before surgery. they can fix our insides but they can't fix the head issues.
No regrets here.
J
Hi Sunny,
If you look, you will easily find examples of all of the above happening to people. There are the good stories and there are bad. When I was pre-op and talking to people at support group meetings, I found that most people who had complications during or after surgery and recovered, reported that they would still go back and have WLS, despite the complications. To me, that is saying something.
Even though I did the same thing pre-op, (looking for the worse case scenarios), in hindsight, I don't know if this is the healthiest thing to be doing right now. My reason for saying this is because each case is different. There are so many physical and emotional cir****tances in each individual, that who is to say that your experience could or will be the same? Someone who had complications and died with surgery could have had a pre-existing and/or undiagnosed condition (and we usually never hear what the underlying cirsumstances are). Someone who gained all of their weight back could have had a serious family tradgedy, or undelying and untreated depression that could have caused the regain. Who knows??
Your medical team will (or should) assess your risk for surgery based on your current health status and that is what you should go by. Research your pre-existing health issues or "co-morbidities", and how these put you at risk for surgery, and also how these risks can be managed prior to surgery to minimize related complications. I think that is where your time would be best spent.
If you look, you will easily find examples of all of the above happening to people. There are the good stories and there are bad. When I was pre-op and talking to people at support group meetings, I found that most people who had complications during or after surgery and recovered, reported that they would still go back and have WLS, despite the complications. To me, that is saying something.
Even though I did the same thing pre-op, (looking for the worse case scenarios), in hindsight, I don't know if this is the healthiest thing to be doing right now. My reason for saying this is because each case is different. There are so many physical and emotional cir****tances in each individual, that who is to say that your experience could or will be the same? Someone who had complications and died with surgery could have had a pre-existing and/or undiagnosed condition (and we usually never hear what the underlying cirsumstances are). Someone who gained all of their weight back could have had a serious family tradgedy, or undelying and untreated depression that could have caused the regain. Who knows??
Your medical team will (or should) assess your risk for surgery based on your current health status and that is what you should go by. Research your pre-existing health issues or "co-morbidities", and how these put you at risk for surgery, and also how these risks can be managed prior to surgery to minimize related complications. I think that is where your time would be best spent.
Referral Sent: March 19, 2010
Surgery date with Dr. Denis Hong: December 9, 2010
Marny,
Thank you for your thoughts. I know it may seem like I'm focusing on the negitive...but I do want to tell you that I'm not. I feel that, for me, hearing personal stories (good and bad) along with all the facts helps me make my choice. I currently would prefer a VSG, however that may not be an option for me so I need to make sure that I have done every bit of reserch that I can before the time comes to make that final choice.
I agree that everyone has a story and that we don't know all the personal details that went into their story. So I take each story with a grain of salt. I am strong in my thoughts, that at the end of the day it's my decision. Thank you for adding your post....all posts give me things to think about even if they never meant too!! lol
All the best!
Thank you for your thoughts. I know it may seem like I'm focusing on the negitive...but I do want to tell you that I'm not. I feel that, for me, hearing personal stories (good and bad) along with all the facts helps me make my choice. I currently would prefer a VSG, however that may not be an option for me so I need to make sure that I have done every bit of reserch that I can before the time comes to make that final choice.
I agree that everyone has a story and that we don't know all the personal details that went into their story. So I take each story with a grain of salt. I am strong in my thoughts, that at the end of the day it's my decision. Thank you for adding your post....all posts give me things to think about even if they never meant too!! lol
All the best!
Well, good luck with your choice. Glad to hear that you wom't be discouraged about any of the "bad" accounts from others. I also was thinking of having the VSG, but at St. Joseph's in Hamilton where I had my surgery, they said that OHIP wouldn't cover it. They said that the only way it would be covered was if they went in and there was too much scar tissue from a previous surgery to do the RNY. I still think it is a very good choice for some and wish OHIP would give people a choice or atleast 2 viable options.
I can only tell you from my experience (which I failed to do in my last post :) that I am very happy with my RNY. I haven't had any complications thus far. My vitamin levels have all been normal except my vit. D (which is common in just about everyone these days). I rarely dump from sugar or fat. This makes some food choices difficult, especially the farther out from surgery I get. The carb issues are hard as well. I think all in all, RNY gives me an advantage over the average person trying to loose weight because if I choose to eat something I know isn't protein rich, or that serves no nutritional value to my body, then atleast I can't eat a ton of it which is what I would do before. I can see now, as I have fallen below the 200 mark (HW= 329, CW=188.6), that if I don't make proper food choices, I could easily put weight back on by eating poor foods in little portions, frequently throughout the day- SCARY. I find it neccesary at this point to exercise quite a bit to keep the weightloss going. I am running at least 15 km a week (that is my fav. activity choice), and if I wasn't I think I'd not be loosing much.
I can only tell you from my experience (which I failed to do in my last post :) that I am very happy with my RNY. I haven't had any complications thus far. My vitamin levels have all been normal except my vit. D (which is common in just about everyone these days). I rarely dump from sugar or fat. This makes some food choices difficult, especially the farther out from surgery I get. The carb issues are hard as well. I think all in all, RNY gives me an advantage over the average person trying to loose weight because if I choose to eat something I know isn't protein rich, or that serves no nutritional value to my body, then atleast I can't eat a ton of it which is what I would do before. I can see now, as I have fallen below the 200 mark (HW= 329, CW=188.6), that if I don't make proper food choices, I could easily put weight back on by eating poor foods in little portions, frequently throughout the day- SCARY. I find it neccesary at this point to exercise quite a bit to keep the weightloss going. I am running at least 15 km a week (that is my fav. activity choice), and if I wasn't I think I'd not be loosing much.
Referral Sent: March 19, 2010
Surgery date with Dr. Denis Hong: December 9, 2010
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