Question

What do you wish you had known before surgery, about the results of surgery, that you didn't find out until after you had the surgery.
This question makes sense to me.
Jan

Hi, Jani - good topic.

I knew that I would be coming to a general informational one hour meeting post op.  That
was about it.  I learned from the other patients during that meeting that we have to get adjustments, etc.  I thought once I rose from the op table that was it - the lapband would
do its thing - NOT.  To be fair, in the surgeon's literate at that first post op meeting OH
was listed as an aid, thank God, so I went online almost immediately.

I knew actually NOTHING because I hadn't been on these boards.  I had been to two
seminars and read their literature and general info re the operation.  I decided on lapband
because from the lit I read that nationally one out of 200 die from gastric bypass.

Pre-op, I would have been upset by these boards; Post-op, they have saved my life.  I 
had no idea what life would be like afterwards

MANY say the same thing.  I have met women in my surgeon's waiting room who after a year and losing 20 lbs KNOW NOTHING.  One was only eating ice cream type of mushy foods and
the other was just lost.  I gave them the Obesity Help website. 

I am glad I had the Lapband, but I wouldn't have been without the Lapband and Lapband 50 boards.

Thank you everyone.

Katherine B

One of the reasons I didn't choose lapband was the fills for the rest of my life.  Didn't like that much.
I've been on OH for some time now, and have learned a bunch that I didn't get from the literature.

Two big things.  First thing, you must loose as much weight as possible during the "honeymoon" - the first six months after surgery while your appetite is nonexistant.  After that, the appetite returns and you have to "work" at it.

Second point:  You must change your lifestyle forever.  You will regain all or most of the weight if you don't eat right and exercise FOREVER after your surgery.  It's been nearly three years since my WLS and I'm doing well, but I have to work very hard every day to maintain my weight.  I know that the weight will all return if I return to my old (bad) habits.

I'm hoping when my appetite returns that I don't crave the things I do now.  Hopefully they won't taste good to me anymore.

That's a nice thought but I wouldn't count on it.  That was true for me in the beginning and now everything tastes as good as it did before.  The gym saves me along with the psyche work I've done on myself to insure that I don't fall back into destructive eating paterns.  I have successfully convinced myself that  "Thin feels better than any food tastes". . . . .

Jan, I think the thing I remember the most was a feeling of anxiety the first few weeks when I would eat anything. I was vaguely afraid and worried about my "tool's" reaction. I think  this is very normal and if you realize that you are not alone in this anxious feeling it will help you get through it. The first few bites of "real" food, taking my pills without crushing them all produced this feeling. But you know what? It was ok! I'm so excited for you to hear that starting signal. Best wishes for Thursday.

I know what you're saying Karen.  I've already begun tho think about how I'm going to feel when I begin to eat real food again.  I hate to throw up, so I have a big fear of dumping.  Can't wait for Thursday.

I really felt very prepared and there were no real surprises. But I couple of things I have learned that I did not know. 1. I did not know that the bowels can get twisted and you can end up in surgery ****il it happened to me,dang that was scarey) and I did not know that you can have problems getting insurance after WLS. And 3-4 years down the line I actually thought I had a handle on my compulsive eating and would never go back.. I don't. Good discussion Jan.

I've wondered about the insurance thing. Any tips for later on?