I should stop reading ...

 lately all the stories about hernias, bowel obstructions, throwing up, strictures, and so on are scaring the heck out of me ... maybe I need to take a break from the boards ... before I change my mind about this darn surgery!  Ugh.  

Throwing up is a big part of wls. Not that you have the surgery and just throw up, but there is a learning process that goes along with the surgery.  Like, for instance, what happens when you eat something too fast or too greasy or too seedy or too sweet.  Or, if you eat too much of something.  You learn really quickly what works and what doesn't and the throwing up stops.  As far as the other complications like hernias and such; well, some folks already had hernias.  The strictures are the luck of the draw.  Not every one gets them, some do. I got an ulcer and take ulcer meds and am probably going to have to have my pouch worked on to get rid of the ucler.  Would I do it again, in spite of the pain from the ulcer, the throwing up, the two days that I spent on a vent right after surgery? In a New York minute.  I dropped from 340 pounds on my surgery day to 109 pounds as of last week.  So, yeah, I'd do it again. 

Just listing the quality of my life: getting in and out of booths, public restrooms, plane seats, and getting up and down in the floor, walking, running, jumping, riding a bike, climbing stairs, sleeping more than four hours straight, having easier access to all parts of my body and on and on.  Not taking diabetic meds, blood pressure meds, or circulation meds.  Yeah, for sure that part.  Oh, and not getting short of breath just walking from the living room to the bathroom. 

I could go on but why?  If you have doubts, don't.  There is nothing worse than having wls and wishing you hadn't done it.  I, on the other hand, love my new life and would not hesitate to do it again, if I needed to, which I don't. 

Jeannie is right.  If you have doubts, don't do it.  But, you will be missing out on such an improvement in lifestyle.

My wife's picture is in OH this month.  She was in a wheelchair 3 1/2 years ago.  Today she runs in the house playing with the grandkids.  3 1/2 years ago I could not trust her behind the wheel of a car because of all the medications she was on.  Used to take about 30 pills a day of prescription medicine.  Now she is on 3 1/2 tablets a day, all at bed time.  I used to be on blood pressure medicine.  Not any more. 

Again, it is your choice.  But you better be sure before you do it.

Hey George
So happy that Mary is out of her wheelchair now. Wow that had to be wonderful for
you both.

 I would have felt the same way as you.  I had my surgery then found OH.  If I had read all the things that could have happened I would have thought twice about surgery;  even three times....  lol

Every  body acts and reacts differently.  I flew through my surgery and weight loss beautifully, now I'm more concerned with what I eat and when.  I have not had a lot of problems like others do.  

Focus on what is right with the surgery and the good that will come from it.  I too learned what I can eat without vomiting.  Most of that is getting rid of old habits... eating too fast, too dense food  etc.

If I knew then what I know now... lol    I would not have hesitated like I did.

Best of Luck with your decision.

Millie

PS  think of what can happen if you don't have surgery... health complications.

I'm a nurse and I was scared witless before my surgery.  All I can say is that a little over a year after surgery my life is completely changed for the better.  I had a really easy time of it with my surgery.  The throwing up is an issue at first but it is just a matter of knowing when not to take that last bite.  You will get used to your pouch really quickly and then as long as you follow the rules you'll be ok in that department.  Believe me, it has all been worth it.  I just regret not having done it sooner. 

i just want to agree with what everyone has already told you.

and if you need a break from the boards, then take a brief one.  just remember, that
people with problems tend to post more than those that are happy after their surgery.
and some people do tend to post every little hiccup they have along the way.

this is wonderful surgery, and over all people with this type of surgery have no
more complications afterwards then people who have any other kind of surgery and
post surgical issues.

be safe and well, and stay in touch with all of us, as your time allows.

jacki

You are so right.  I work in customer service and I hate it when my reps complain because of the customers.  I ask them how often they call customer service just to say you are really happy.

If you need a break, do it. As was already pointed out, people tend to post more often about problems.

Take a peek at the Before & After section once in a while. The pictures don't show the many health benefits, but will show that this surgery changes people.

I am one who has had hernias. My Dad (always thin) had 7 in his lifetime. My surgeon feels the hernias have been more genetic than caused by weight loss. None of the repairs were that bad, more a nuisance.

Since WLS almost 3 years ago, I have thrown up only twice. The first time was eating and not chewing a pork chop thoroughly. The second time was caused by eating a chocolate chip cookie - like a fool!

No more cookies for me but I can eat anything else with no trouble. We are ALL different.

The quality of life is wonderful. I am off 10 meds and have energy to spare.

You have to feel comfortable with your choice. Don't take this step unless you are 100% certain it is for you.

Good luck
Annette

I just want to say that I agree with what everyone else has said. You must be sure that the surgery is what you want and need in your life. It has to be a decision that has been made and that you are comfortable with.

I, for one, have never ever regretted my decision to have the surgery. I have had such a change in my life and I love every minute of it. There hasn't been a second that I have regretted having it. I had a hernia but that is something that is normal in my family. Kind of like Annette's. My Mom had several and so have my sister. So why would I think that I wouldn't? Yes, I had some problems after it but to be honest I still never regretted having it. It took me several months to get over the problems but there still hasn't been a second that I regretted having the surgery. I am still not sure if the problem came from the hernia or the tummy tuck that I had with it. Either way it is not important since it was what it was.

I have vomited a few times but you quickly learn what to do and what you won't repeat. At least if you stop and think about it you do. I learn from mistakes. I was told not to take that last bite...but I learned early not to take that last swallow...I got sick on water....so I changed that to last swallow because it can be anything. But to be honest when I was over eating I could do the same thing....

Please take a break if you need to..but know that no one can make the decision to have the surgery or not for you. It is a very personal decision...but it was one that I never one time regretted. I have one regret...and it was that I didn't have the surgery sooner. But I bet if you ask most of the ones that had it later in life that is a regret that 98% of them would have. And if life's regrets are that good...well we would have had a great life wouldn't we?