Question:
Why am I reading about so many complications after surgery?
I have my pre-op appt on Sept 27. To be honest, I am getting doubts now that I should do this. I have been reading letters from post-op patients and have found that ALOT of people are having alot of complications. Pains in their sides, incision hernias, NO appetitie, losing hair, can't get in their protein and many seem to be feeling bad and also having alot of follow up surgeries. This concerns me. Anyone have any feedback on this subject? — Kellie K. (posted on August 27, 2002)
August 27, 2002
I felt exactly like you did before my surgery. I read about every death,
complication, and side effect I could find and overlooked all the success
stories. I didn't sleep even a minute the night before surgery, just
questioned my decision. I cried the whole way to the hospital and almost
freaked out on the table before they gave me any sedative. I am a worrier
and freely admit that, BUT let me tell you...I HAVE NO REGRETS! I had
surgery (Open) on July 2nd and have had ZERO complications!! To be
perfectly honest with you after I came home from the hospital I was no
longer in need of pain meds. I did everything my surgeon told me to
do...EVERYTHING!! And I am fine and may I mention down almost 50lbs. I
went from 289 to 241!! woohoo The surgery was not nearly as bad as the
tricks my mind played on me while waiting for surgery. I've said it a
million times now...the WORST part of the entire surgery is THE WAITING FOR
SURGERY!! Be confident in your surgeon, do as he says and you will do
great! Hang in there and THE VERY BEST OF LUCK TO YOU! Tonya
— Tonya H.
August 27, 2002
I had 2 strictures but would do it all over again! It is so worth it.
These are just minor annoyances that people have to deal with after WLS.
Losing hair, I did that and now going through it for the second time at 10
months out. Still worth it. Vitamins and protein supplements are just a
fact of life after WLS. I would rather struggle with trying to get that in
rather than remembering BP meds, heart meds, diabetic meds, GERD meds, and
so on. Hernias aren't a complication, rather a side-effect. I consider
complications to be life-threatening and needing immediate attention.
Those are rare, although do happen, and even then, those that have them say
that they would do it all over again. I do go through periods where I have
no appetite, and sometimes have too much of an appetite. I used to wonder
about it, now I just go with the flow. Also you only see the questions
about things that people are concerned with. People typically don't write
to the Q&A board saying, Wow, I'm having a great week, any others? Or
I haven't lost hair on my journey, have you? Or I DIDN'T get a hernia, did
you? Or My appetite is perfect, hows yours? If you saw all these in
addition to the 'bad' stuff, you wouldn't be so worried, but you just don't
see those. But I would like to say: My hair is falling out, but thats
OK...I struggle with protein and remembering my vites, but I'm getting them
in!!...I'm eating great today, my appetite is perfect...I haven't struggled
with temptations today....I feel really good....My nails and skin are so
healthy...My bowel movements are normal...I am sleeping wonderfully...I
awaken feeling refreshed...My clothes fit beautifully...I can paint my
toenails without holding my breath...My feet don't ache...my back doesn't
hurt...I love to shop!!...I could go on probably forever. My point is that
you don't see all these positives written here everyday, but people are
living these positives!! Just ask and people are more than happy to tell!!
— Cheri M.
August 27, 2002
There are days when I look at my body and am disgusted with what my
deflated skin looks like, embarrassed to get naked becasue my boobs hang so
low. There are times I sit at my make-up table and wince at the wad of
hair that just appeared on my hairbrush. I think back to the beginning,
when my incision heavily drained fluid for a whole month and I was ready to
scream if I had to go to WalMart buy yet another box of gauze pads. I
remember the time I left work early in a panic, becasue I had broken out in
some weird rash and swelling on the skin of my belly and had to rush to see
the doctor. Occassionally, still...I get a funny pain now and again on my
left side that makes me double over for a minute. Just this morning, I
discovered a small lump under my incision that I am sure is a developing
hernia. I went to ball games all summer and sometimes felt crummy that I
coouldn't join all of my friends in the beer, and franks, and hot pretzels.
Some days I'd kill for a beer, or even a simple peanut butter and
strawberry jam sandwich. BUT, you know what? Despite all that, I am truly
happier than I have been in my whole life. Losing 113 pounds (so far) has
presented me with a peace inside of me that I didn't know was possible to
have. I can jog, and climb stairs faster than anyone I know. I smile all
the time - and people notice! I walk with the confidence of a Miss America
contestant. I look back at the past six months as a journey of ups and
downs - as anything in life has ups and downs - but, a journey
none-the-less which has made me a a woman more comfortable in her own skin.
And that is something I wouldn't give back for a million dollars. I know
you are scared, but barring serious, serious complications (which are few
and far between), the end result will be worth it. Best wishes to you in
your journey.
— PaulaM
August 27, 2002
Hi...I wouldn't call losing hair, post-surgical depression, difficulty
getting in protein (in the beginning), and no appetite (in the beginning)
complications, exactly. These things occur with this type of surgery
almost all the time. Just about everyone loses some hair, has a period of
depression as you naturally would with having general anesthesia. With a
1-2 oz. pouch in the beginning, yes, it IS difficult to get all your needed
protein in. It's difficult to eat anything, hence the rapid weight loss.
I don't think most people have "a lot of follow up surgeries". I
think of the great number of people who have WLS surgery, the group that
has REAL complications like incisional hernias is very small in comparison
to the whole. I had nausea for the fist 10 weeks, no energy, and regretted
every day in the beginning. Now, 4 months later, I'm feeling MUCH better,
although I have plateaus constantly. But I know I never would have been
able to lose 71 lbs. any other way, and I have great confidence that I will
reach my goal of about 120 lbs. lost. Also, regarding hernias in general,
if you follow the doctor's orders and don't lift anything over 20 lbs. for
the first 8 weeks, you'll have a better chance of not getting a hernia.
And actually don't lift anything over 10 lbs. for the first 3-4 weeks. It's
not a guarantee, but it will help protect you somewhat. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
August 27, 2002
Glad I didnt back out, surgery saved my life. Early on some have troubles,
but after about a month things get better. Posters come here for help, and
thts a GREAT thing. But many more have no troubles and uneventful
recoveries. <P>POST OP IS THE PLACE TO BE!<P> Now relax take a
post op to dinner, attend a support group meeting, and look at the before
and after pictures here. Soon yours will be there with PRIDE, since you
will be a big looser too. <P> I worried unnecessarily pre op, wasted
the better part of a year fretting over something that wasnt a problem:(
— bob-haller
August 27, 2002
I too have to step back and think twice about what I am going to do. I look
at the message board and at other peaples postings and think if I really
want to put myself through this. Then I see the positive postings and
realize that that is where I want to be. For every person that regrets the
surgery I bet you that there are 100 people who say that they will do it
all over again. So do I take my chances? Sure do. Why because I KNOW
EXACTLY where obesity will bring me and I am not looking forward to it. WLS
outweighs obesity everytime.
I think that it is in our nature to look for the negatives when introduced
to something new. Stop looking for that and focus on the good things that
the surgery will bring. I for one cant wait to be born again.
— Teekay80
August 27, 2002
Complications? Well I suppose you could call them that. Just recently I
had an infection develop that make me very sick. I had to have my spleen
and gallbladder out as well as part of my liver. For the first two months
I was very sick, unable to work and felt like..well like doodoo all the
time. At five months out I still have days where I feel pretty crappy,
still have diarrhea, still get pain here and there sometimes...BUT I can
walk now, I can bend over, I can move without pain, I can put on panty
hose, I can sit in a booth/movie seat/airplane seat, I can wear my seat
belt, I can cross my legs, I can walk with my head up, I get flirted with,
I look pretty, I feel comfortable in my clothes...I could go on and on.
Yep, we all have "complications", we all have pain...it is MAJOR
surgery. But I am betting if you ask 100 post ops that are 6 months or
more out at least 97 of them would do it ALL again to get where they are
today. I am proud to say that I have lost a total of 117 lbs so far, and
am not stopping yet cause I still have 63 to get to my long term goal! :)
Being POST OP is where it is at my friend!
— smedley200
August 27, 2002
I think if you are going to have this surgery, you definitely have to take
into account that it is a major process, and something can go wrong. I had
a complication that is rare, but not unheard of..a kinked intestine, and
the doc had to go back in and fix it. However...I am doing great now at 6
weeks post-op (4 weeks since the second surgery) and eating fine, feeling
pretty good (tired by afternoon, but that's it!). My advice? Research alot
like you are doing, and take care of yourself pre-op by walking/exercising,
drinking liquids, eating in the new way (high protein, low carbs and fat),
taking the vitamins you would be taking post-op. Basically, act like you
have already had the surgery and you will find the recovery and chances of
complications lessened! Hope this helps.
— missmollyk
August 27, 2002
Any time surgery is performed on morbidly obese patients the chances for
problems are there because these are higher risk patients than the norm. I
had my surgery 8/15 and so far so good. I've had no problems. You
research like you're doing, educate yourself about possibilities, plan for
the post-surgery time by not over eating, losing some weight prior to
surgery, making sure you get yourself in the best possible shape possible
prior to surgery and then it takes faith in your doctor and faith in God.
Most patients don't have problems, but that takes a committment to follow
your doctor's orders to the letter post-op. If you can commit to that,
you'll probably be just fine!
— Cathy S.
August 27, 2002
The key to this is to educate yourself about the surgery and the risks
involved. Not everyone has complications--but, a few do. I had mine July
24--no major problems--a few times food didn't want to agree---but that is
to be expected--- I have this posted on my frige to keep me from
grazing---Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!
— Linda L.
August 27, 2002
There are many more people having this surgery, and it is much more
publicised. We are more connected through the internet and sites like this,
so, more of our stories are getting out. And people who do not have
complications tend not to be on sites like this as much. Any major
abdominal surgeries have high incidents of "complications". But
the complications that you mentions area NOTHING like the complications
that I was having being obese. I may have thinner hair, I may have to work
hard at getting my protein and water in, I occasionally get a
"hitch" in my side which I think is scar tissue, I had to have a
dilitation because I had a small stoma, and some days, frankly, I did not
want to eat (mind you at 8 months out, this is NOT a problem). And I miss
the hell out of cheese cake!! But here are the trade offs- I sleep with out
waking up short of breath, I do not have chest pain, I can walk up the
stairs with out having to take a break half way up (shoot, I can go up
consecutive flights of stairs now!!), I can go for a bike ride with my son,
I do not cry at my closet door every time I have to go somewhere, I do not
avoid group situations, I can sit on the floor and get up by my self, I get
flirtation versus looks of disgust, I can actually lift more weight (kinda
weird, but I can carry a couch with my husband, something I could not do
preop), I am much more motivated about almost everything in my life. And,
most importantly, I actually feel like I have a future. Would I do it all
over agian?? Go bald, hungry, follow up procedures, and yearn for cheese
cake...you bet!! So, you need to decide what is worse for you, dying like
you are now, or doing everything you can to be healthy (complications and
all). It is your choice, Good luck in making it, it is a very hard one.
— Vicki L.
August 27, 2002
You should be scared! I'm not saying that to be rough on you, but everyone
should go into this with their eyes wide open. Surgery (WLS or others)
does'nt always go the way we think. Some are lucky and others are not. I
spent the first year with no energy- like the sh## was knocked right out of
me. I thought I'd never get any energy back. I still don't have alot, but
I'm not the walking dead anymore. Last year I had some serious problems
with low potassium. (Possible heart attack in the making!). This year, it
is fine. But my B-12 is still low and I have twice a month shots. Now for
the last couple of months I've had terrible pain in my right side. A doctor
thought it was a kidney. Now it seems it may have been....
"stuff" in there because of lack of bowel movements. Seems it has
been one thing after another. However I'm working through these things. And
you know what? I'm glad I researched WLS and knew the good and bad. And I'm
glad I did it. Last year I wore a 3X shirt. Yesterday I bought a SMALL
jacket and actually it is slightly loose. Who would have ever thought that
"I" would EVER wear a SMALL again. I'm still in shock. The main
thing (if you have WLS) is to do EXACTLY what your doctor tells you. AND
KEEP ON TOP OF EVERYTHING WITH FREQUENT BLOOD TESTS! This will tell you
when something is out of whack so it can be treated before it gets to bad.
Best of luck to you.
— Danmark
August 27, 2002
Hi there. Yes there are complications, fortunately I have not really had
any. I had Open DS on 08/12/02 so I am only a little over 2 weeks. My only
issue is I get a little tired late afternoon, but other then that I am
doing great. I am actually going back to work next week. Good luck!
— Stephanie B.
August 27, 2002
If you spend a great deal of time reading every possible pain and
complication on this board, you're going to scare yourself to death. I did
it. I would go from incredible excitement (like I'd won the lottery) to
tears of extreme fear.. mostly from reading the Q&A here. A couple of
things worked for me. 1) I talked to everyone I could who had my surgeon.
You'll find that people do have complications.. but it matters who you are,
who your surgeon is, and what kind of surgery you have, among other things.
I found that my surgeon's patients had few complications. 2) Remember, if
I don't have a weird pain, or I'm not throwing up.. I'm not posting here.
So you're not going to see much from those of us who've had uneventful
surgeries. I had a marvelous recovery and have had not major or even minor
complications. I have had weird pains, but there is a long healing process
here that I think some people forget. No pain I had, other than my initial
surgery stuff was so bad that it stopped me from working or exercising.
So, I never asked a question here. Please please put everything you read
into perspective, including from me. You don't know a lot about everyone
who posts here.. what they may or may not have done or how well they took
care. That said, complications just happen.. sometimes because we fail to
do things, but more often.. they just do. This is major surgery and with
an obese person as the patient, its much more risky.. but many people have
come through it just fine.. and I'll bet you will too. Remember, if you
watched some of our talk shows on these days, every day, you might get to
thinking that the whole world was like that... and you know its not, right?
Good luck! I wish you the best!
— Lisa C.
August 27, 2002
If you spend a great deal of time reading every possible pain and
complication on this board, you're going to scare yourself to death. I did
it. I would go from incredible excitement (like I'd won the lottery) to
tears of extreme fear.. mostly from reading the Q&A here. A couple of
things worked for me. 1) I talked to everyone I could who had my surgeon.
You'll find that people do have complications.. but it matters who you are,
who your surgeon is, and what kind of surgery you have, among other things.
I found that my surgeon's patients had few complications. 2) Remember, if
I don't have a weird pain, or I'm not throwing up.. I'm not posting here.
So you're not going to see much from those of us who've had uneventful
surgeries. I had a marvelous recovery and have had not major or even minor
complications. I have had weird pains, but there is a long healing process
here that I think some people forget. No pain I had, other than my initial
surgery stuff was so bad that it stopped me from working or exercising.
So, I never asked a question here. Please please put everything you read
into perspective, including from me. You don't know a lot about everyone
who posts here.. what they may or may not have done or how well they took
care. That said, complications just happen.. sometimes because we fail to
do things, but more often.. they just do. This is major surgery and with
an obese person as the patient, its much more risky.. but many people have
come through it just fine.. and I'll bet you will too. Remember, if you
watched some of our talk shows on these days, every day, you might get to
thinking that the whole world was like that... and you know its not, right?
Good luck! I wish you the best!
— Lisa C.
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