Question:
Any RnY patients out there that regret having the surgery?
I'VE HEARD SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS SURGERY I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ANY MORE!!!! MY FAMILY IS TOTALLY AGAINST IT - BUT, I FEEL LIKE IT MY ONLY HOPE. I'M STARTING TO SECOND GUESS MYSELF. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SURGERY. POSITVE AND NEGATIVE — CINDY M. (posted on March 22, 2000)
March 22, 2000
Cindy, I have absolutely "NO REGRETS" RNY saved my life, there
is no other way to put it.. I was "End Stage Obese" Knocking on
Deaths Door. My blood Pressure was uncontrolled with two different BP
meds, I was in Congestive Heart Failure, I had Sleep Apnea, and just
developed Diabetes.(that's just a few of my medical problems I had
many). "All" and I do mean all have been reversed.. I can eat
the very same things my family does (in smaller portions) I have no
cravings for sweets, my blood work is perfectly normal... My full Story
in at http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen/index.html
click on my Journal and read my story and see my PICS...
Yes, I'm tooting my own horn..Life is sweet.. ;-)
— Victoria B.
March 22, 2000
I don't think you'll find any negatives on this site everyone seems very
happy with their decision. I haven't had the surgery yet I am waiting for
approval from ins. I do have some experience my mother had an intestinal
bypass 25 yrs ago. She had problems with absorption and had to have the
surgery reversed, they no longer do this type of surgery. But I asked her
if she regretted having the surgery with all of her problems and she said
no. She was able to be thin and have more energy to live her life.
— Diane S.
March 22, 2000
I had surgery on March 17, 00. I can only tell you this , This surgery is
something you must do for yourself only!!! When you say regrets I think
that depends on what you realy mean? Will you miss eating ? will you reget
being able to fit into a booth at a restaurant? This decision is 1 that
will effect everything about you from now on. It will effect the way you
feel about yourself and and about the way you allow yourself to be seen. If
you haven't tried everything out there and you think there might be another
way to control your weight then try that first...Remember this is a last
resort..I think when you get to this point you in your heart will know what
is right. good luck, kim
— kim P.
March 22, 2000
I would have the surgery again in a heart beat. It has been
the best thing I have done for my health, self esteem, and
my life. My regular Dr. was against it but referred me anyway
Now she thinks it was a good thing. I know some people have
had bad things happen. But you go in with a positive attitude
know all the risks and possible side efects and prepare yourself
well you will have a positive outcome, and your family will
eventually see it was the best thing for you. I wish you luck.
— chris M.
March 22, 2000
I haven't had the surgery yet either but just wanted to let you know I know
exactly what you mean. It took me alot of floundering to finally come to a
decision. I had picked the vbg first because I thought it would be safer
and most people seemed "okay" with stomach stapling. I had to
make a choice of whether I was going to let someone else tell me what I
wanted or if I was going to decide. I decided that I needed, wanted and
deserved my life back and I wanted to make sure I could do it. So I am
choosing the RNY. I feel it is the only way I am going to really live.
This is only my experience thus far. Thanks for listening. Tammy
— Tamilyn12
March 22, 2000
Cindy - I am 13 weeks post op. I feel awesome! I have lost 72 1/2 lbs and
I do not regret it! I would do it again yearly if I had to. Good luck to
you.
Marjie Wassermann, Lansdale PA
— Marjie W.
March 22, 2000
Hi Cindy,
I had Open RNY proximal on June 17th, 1999. Todate I have lost 120 pounds!
I have not felt this good in about 18 years! In fact I have been disabled
because of my weight since 1988 and am now looking for work! I no longer
have high blood pressure, gerd(reflux), my asthma has not acted up for the
last 6 months, I have even slept without my CPAP machine for 3 days so far!
This was definately a life changing and life saving decision for me. I
weighed 355 pounds at 48 years of age, and was dying daily a little more!
I put on 50 pounds the year and 1/2 before my surgery. I can now buy 1X
instead of 3-4X. I can sit anywhere I want, in any style of chair! I walk
about 2 miles per day and do 5 minutes at a time 3 times a day on my
eliptical exercise machine. I can hold my 3 year old nephew and run and
play with him outside. I even enjoy being around people again. I can only
say this was the best decision I have made for myself in a very long time.
My husband of 26 years is very pleased with the continuing new me! He says
I appear to enjoy life again and he is absolutely right. And I too felt
this was my last hope to be able to loose this weight and save my life.
Hope this helps and if you want to chat please feel free to contact me
anytime.
Cheri Hayworth
— Cheri H.
March 22, 2000
I had a BPD/DS, a version of the RNY, and I have no regrets whatsoever. I
do remember feeling very similar to you before surgery - not only did I
second guess my choice to have surgery, but I started in with the
"well maybe I could diet one more time..." ACK!! My advice to
you? Do your research, assess the risks, decide whether they're worth it,
and make a choice. If your family is not supportive, use us as your
support. Remember, they don't have to live in your body - you do! Once
you make your choice, rest comfortably in the knowledge that you made the
best possible decision with the information you had, and then go for it!
Whatever you decide, it will be the right choice for you.
— Kim H.
March 22, 2000
Hi Cindy,
I had my open RNY on July 13, 1999. I can honestly say I do NOT have a
day's regret at all about having this surgery. I would go thru hell and
back to have it done over again. I have gone from a weight of 251 pounds
to 147 pounds. There are things I can do now that I was unable to do when
I was that heavy. For instance, I can run around in my yard with my kids
and our new puppy. I can carry my 2 year old son up the stairs to bed
without feeling like I was going to keel over from panting and breathing so
hard...the walking up stairs killed me. I guess the thing I noticed first
and formost after a small amount of weight loss initially, was the fact
that I could actually bend over and tie my shoes without feeling like my
face was going to explode off my head!! I can tie my shoes 10x over now
and still be breathing normally and not go red in the face. I can shop in
"normal" sizes now...before I was feelin' great in a size 24/26
jeans. I can look at myself in the mirror everyday and feel sooooo good
about myself. I don't cringe or look away when I pass one, I honestly am
probably vain, because I now enjoy looking at myself in the mirror
regularly =) As for some of my co-morbidities...my gerd is gone, my knee
no longer hurts, my carpal tunnely syndrome in my left hand has cleared up,
my feet can actually take my weight now and don't hurt. I am so happy that
Someone blessed me and gave me the opportunity to have this surgery...If I
had to do it over again and make the decision to have it done, certainly, I
would say YES, over and over again...Good Luck on your endeavor...Marni
— Marni
March 23, 2000
I'll just say what everyone else seems to say: "I would have this
surgery again in a heartbeat"! It is by far the best thing that I have
ever done for myself! I am about 30-40 pounds from goal (can't decide) in
less than four months! I feel better than I have in years! This surgery has
given me back my life!
— Morgan B.
May 2, 2000
I am not overweight, my sister is and I am in this website to become more
informed. I didn't realize how much being overweight bothered my sister
until she mentioned this surgery and my initial reaction was "are you
nuts?". She did go and have the surgery and we'll see if it worked
for her but coming from the families point of view - we don't know what you
are going through. We don't know how it is to have your problems. If it
is an informed risk you want to take your family will probably come around
like I did. Because I know that support from your family will make it so
much easier.
— Elizabeth L.
May 2, 2000
This surgery is a wonderful success for many people; however, you are the
only one who can decide if it may be right for you.
There is no way to actually know unless you do it.
I can honestly say having a gastric bypass was the worst mistake I ever
made.
I believe if I had been better educated, I would not have had the
surgery.
If I had been better educated and had come to the conclusion it was
medically necessary, I would have been a better informed patient and
therefore, better prepared for the many complications that occurred.
You might consider making a list of pros and cons, and discussing them
with someone more objective than the participants on this site or your
family; many people say a therapist has helped them sort things out.
— s M.
January 10, 2004
I realize that Cindy's questions was in 2000, but she is asking the same
thing I want to ask and went through the same thing.
I've only truly confided in 2 people about my research and you would thing
I said I'm going to kill myself and i don't care what you think.
I'm emailing thes page to those 2 people and hope they will read and
research on their own. So I guess what I'm asking is " Is there anyone
out there since 2000
that regrets the surgery or had major problems with the surgery?' Thanks,
Tammy
— T. Morgan
January 10, 2004
Tammy I have e mailed the original posters of such questions in the past
and suggest you try contacting the original poster of this question. What I
always got back was nice got my life back responses!
— bob-haller
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