Regrets?

Thank you, Elaine.  You bring up some good points about relationships to food and eating.  This is something that really concerns my husband.  He thinks that I have a lot of "head hunger" and is concerned that this won't necessarily end with the gastric bypass and that I'll continually be making myself sick(gee...thanks for the vote of confidence :(.  I think it will definitely be something to work on.  But it sounds like the bypass helps with the process.  Also, I'm am going to start with a therapist that my nutritionist recommended to try to get to the bottom of some of my eating "issues" prior to the surgery. Thanks so much for your response.  It looks like you're over 1/2 way to goal.  Wow! Lisa

Congrats on taking the steps to a healthier you.   I encourage you to do all your research and decide on what surgery works for you.  There is RNY, Lap-Band, DS, VSG options.  There is a great book sold on Amazon called "WLS for Dummies".  This is a great group here and we'd be willing to help in anyway. 

Carly: I can tell already that this is a great group.  I will check out that book, too.  I love the "For Dummies" series. Thanks, Lisa

I am one of the people that inamed (make of the band) never tells you about. I had two, yes two, unsucessful surgery attempts at placement of lap-band in 2002/2003. Due to a structure difference in my anatomy the lap-band was not a possibility for me. I was devesated, and did not seek a RNY at the time. Well after 4 yrs of losing & gaining, and trying every diet know to man (yet agian), and going to therapy.  I decided I was NEVER going to be able to sucessfully lose weight & KEEP IT OFF with out RNY. I had my on august 14th, so far some rough moments, and yes some regrets as I am expirence a set back but long term I realize this was the only choice for ME.

I'm sorry about your rough time since the surgery.  I hate to pry, but if you feel like telling me, what kind of set-backs have you had? Unfortunately, it looks like this is a bit of a gamble as far as complications go.  It seems like some folks have them(complications) and some have been fortunate enough not to. Please...feel better!  And keep me posted on your progress. Thanks, Lisa

Congratulations on becoming proactive for your health, researching infromation , and becoming informed.  Although I am still fighting for approval I hope the following helps. I have been researching the different types of surgery for about 3 years. I had a long discussion with both my GI doctor and surgeon about the different surgeries and types of complications from both.  Originally I was also very anti RNY, but have since changed my mind. One of the main reasons I decided on RNY is based on my severe reflux disease and large hiatal hernia. According to my docs the ligaments that connect the stomach in reflux and hiatal hernia patients become very stretched and this can predispose a lapband patient to complications such as band slippage.  This board has been a wonderful resource for other information and differences between the surguries. In the end we must all decide what is best for us and our travel our own path. Good luck in your journey. Linda

Hi, Linda: Good luck to you too!  Right now, I'm doing the 6 month supervised diet.  I don't even want to think about the insurance approval(but I am, of course)! Thanks! Lisa

I chose RNY because I need to lose almost 200 pounds. I am 4+ months out and already down 100 of them. I will tell you that I ended up with a wound infection and battled that for 3 weeks. Those 3 weeks were really tough and during that time I did wonder if I had made a mistake. I will now tell you that this is probably the best decision that I ever made. Keep doing your research and best of luck to you!!

Thank you, Marla.  It sounds like you're doing fantastic!  Congratulations!

You know, you never quite know what you are going to get with this surgery. I made up my mind early out that I was going to document my surgery on my webpage to share my experiences and share the good, bad and the ugly. I resolved that I would not be a complainer and would deal with whatever surgery brought my way.  I think that is really important - to have the right mindset before going into the operating room. As it turns out, I have had a recovery much easier than most.  I was at the mall the 2nd day home.  I have never once thrown up and I've only dumped twice in my life (at a year out - once on a McFlurry and once on a sundae with the works). I don't dump otherwise - I can have a piece of cake and ice cream without dumping at all.  I never had the nausea problem right after surgery that some people have.  It seems to be all in the luck of the draw. I was looking forward actually to dumping to help curb my sweets - and it turns out that I'm one of the 40% that don't dump generally.  My tastes did not change after surgery at all other than maybe that I like vegetables more than I used to. My only regret is that I put off surgery for so long thinking that I could just do it on my own.  I wish I'd made up my mind earlier. It's truly the best thing that happened to me. Dawn