Looking to connect with long-time DSers

Wow - what a wonderful bunch of responses - thank you all, I feel much better about this decision now. Yes, the gal I sat next to had a gas issue, not a general body odor issue, sorry I asn't clear about that! But it made a strong impression, and she was pretty relentless. She was probably just having a bad day, but as she was the only example I had to go on, I ran immediately away from the idea of any messing with my intestines! I am new to this forum and hadn't realized that there was another forum specifically for the DS folks, so I will head on over there now and not clog up *this* board with a ton of replies that non-DSers don't care about. Erica

Erica,

I want to address the impact on your current bowel issues.  I had gastritis/colitis before my surgery but have none of those issues now.  I normally have a BM in the morning and that's it.  It actuallyl improved my situation.  Early out it takes a while for your system to adjust and settle down but eventually it is just fine. 

Good luck!

Terri

  Frankly, mine has gotten worse and I'm two years out as of next month ..    This even came up at work (again) yesterday, when the boss clued me in as to why our sec sometimes runs in and out of my office so hastily to give me something (I thought all this time maybe she just didn't like me  ).     I think what's going on with me though is that I'm beginning to eat more and more of the "forbidden foods" (i.e. ones that cause gas, diarrhea, etc.) or in greater amounts than I ever did before, merely b/c I can and often out of boredom for something new (or something "familiar" as a pre-op) ..      We have folks on the DS board though that are 4 and 6 years out (or more) and they seem to have their actt together (supposedly), so don't let my situation scare you off ..  It's still a great surgery and I would not have gone with any other kind  if I had it to do again ..    It has allowed me to lose over 200 lbs. in less than a year, and keep it all off, within about 5 lbs. or so, as well as comletely and permanently cure my Type II diabetes, severe ob. sleep apnea, and to have SUPER-great blood lipid levels 

Thanks, I appreciate the fact that you chimed in with a contrary experience than that of the masses!  All this relentless optimism was making me nervous. :-D  I knew *someone* had to be less that 100% about it their experiences.  lol

One thing I never realized until this week's research was that the procedure is reversible.  I was talking to a good friend today who is also contemplating WLS and we both agreed that it was a toss-up as to what was potentially worse - a life of obesity or a life in diapers, which is my "worst case scenario" fear what with my current IBS issues.  I started the process of seeing my doctor this week to determine if there's anything intestinal that I can actually *fix* before I go mucking about with replumbing, but it's nice to know that, if it's truly unbearable after a year or 2, I don't have to live with it forever.   This eases my mind considerably.

So, I'm going to focus on believing that my worst case scenario will end up not happening - it does sound like the odds are with me - and stay focused on a positive outcome.  

Thanks again!