Little Concerned

[jennssm]

I read through these forums daily. I want to know all the information I can before I have this surgery. I have to say, it does scare me when I read "troubling" things others have posted. I know you can have problems but it's scary to think it will happen to me. Did any of you ever feel the same way when you were researching having this surgery?

Jenn

[Donald G]

I have to say I really wasn't I knew the potential pitfalls with the surgery but my surgeon was very good.

[DesertGal]

I knew things could go wrong (complications) but knew my surgeon has done a couple thousand of these surgeries and felt he knew what he was doing. But I wouldn't be normal if I didn't think of the 'other' outcome (complications). Luckily I had NO pain, No gas, No pain meds in the hospital or at home (I didn't need them). The only thing besides the initial nausea and vomiting the first 24-30 hours, was problems sleeping at night. I had been forewarned that insomnia could happen, and in my case it has.

I have taken a sleeping medication for 23 years and it keeps me OUT for the night. The pills are massive and I can't crush them (vomiting occurs and it's long lasting), can't cut them up (they are TOO big around and I get FULL from swallowing pill pieces with all the water I need to get them down), so I suffered the first few nights before my husband ran out and bought me melting MELATONIN tablets. I've never used it before and had NO idea what to take for my size, etc. I take 5 tiny melties a night and I DO sleep. I still wake up around 2:30 for a little bit, flip around, then I am back out asleep.

It's good that you read everything. I did and it helped. You will do great!

[RehabNurse]

I know you can have problems but it's scary to think it will happen to me. Did any of you ever feel the same way when you were researching having this surgery?

Nope. I was not scared.

Please realize that negativity bias proliferates on the internet. In other words, people are more likely to post their stories when things go poorly or outcomes were negative. Likewise, people are less likely to post, "My experience was awesome and I recovered without any issues!"

Less than one percent of sleeved patients have major complications. That's less than one out of 100 people who undergo this type of bariatric surgery. However, this small sector of people who experience post-op complications are often the same ones who do the majority of the posting on the internet.

[DesertGal]

Before I found this site, and I knew I would be pursuing the gastric sleeve, I went online looking for information, videos, etc... on the surgery. OMG, I came across youtube videos that were downright frightening. People complaining about the awful mistake they made, the horror stories, how they wish they'd not gone through with it and I sat at my computer screen a little hesitant. Then I did more reading on it, stayed away from youtube videos and found this website quickly.

[sraebaer]

Many people (including me) had absolutely no problems at all. Never got sick, nothing. The whole journey was easy. I think the odds are in your favor to have no complications if you do everything they tell you, but that being said, there are risks with any surgery. Some people do what they should and have serious complications. No idea what the percentage is, but I would think it's rather small. Keep researching!

No horror story here, lost all my weight and have kept it off for three years. Life changing. Best decision I have ever made.

[ghost_ryder]

I had some issues post-op, documented here https://www.gastricsleeve.com/forum/...ight=two+weeks

I would not change a thing. I am so pleased with how things have gone. It is not a picnic and you will likely fell minor pain. You need to take this very seriously, it is elective surgery and that is always risky. But look at it from your desperate side. you have likely fought weight gain for many years and is likely to only get worse from here. The longer you hold this weight the more severe the effects on your body will be. Heart issues, joint issues, head issues, personal issues; they all weight more on you and cause significant damage.

This is your time to be completely selfish. You will not succeed unless you are selfish. I say that meaning-eat for yourself, exercise for yourself, protect yourself... The more you do this, the more you will available to your spouse-your parents-your kids-your friends-etc.

[jennssm]

Thanks everyone. Lots of upbeat advice here and I'm so thankful for that. My mind hasn't changed, I still want to do it. I plan to follow all the rules and do this for myself. I want to feel better, have more energy and just overall take care of my body. So thankful I found this forum!

[mynewlife2]

I didn't get concerned until I started Internet research. My sister is one year out and had a very successful experience so I was encouraged. My doctor's office drove me nuts because they seemed to me (at the time) overly cautious, I had to see at least 5 specialists, 6 visits with a therapist. Also very conservative. Two weeks prior, partial liquids and cheese and yogurt. Three weeks post, all liquids. But guess what? I am two weeks and a day out and feel great. Was back to work in 5 days, they used a patch behind my ear and a pill the am of and I never had nausea or threw up (which did plague my sister for quite some time.) I've lost nearly 20 lbs and they tease me that I am a poster child patient. So don't be worried, don't get discouraged if it takes longer from point A to the day of surgery - it will all be worth it. I am so happy . . .

[Ann2]

There are several ways to maximize your personal odds of not having complications or failing to be as successful as possible with weight loss surgery, starting with hiring a surgeon who has tons of very successful sleeving operations. I'm talking thousands of sleeve surgeries. The VERY LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO is shop around for a surgeon on the basis of price alone. In the US, Mexico and everywhere else you can find people who are willing to do a VSG surgery for less money than someone else. Your job is to understand why they're undercutting others' prices.

The second thing you can do to avoid complications and to insure you will be as successful as possible is to FOLLOW TO THE LETTER YOUR SURGEON'S PRE- AND POST-OP ADVICE. To be as blunt as possible, don't fuck around with it. Don't try to "get away" with anything. Just follow the instructions. Even if doing so is difficult or hard or upsetting.

The third thing you can do is to have WLS surgery after you have secured enthusiastic support for your WLS from at least one family member, e.g., a spouse. Make sure they understand the WLS surgery basics as you learn them. Get them to agree not to sabotage you. Yeah, things could go wrong, but the way to reduce your stress and avoid sabotage is to get your key support person(s) to agree to actually support you as you change a lot of things in your life.

Finally, they operate on your stomach, not your brain. Not surprisingly, this fight is won by your brain. Yes, it's wonderful having a smaller stomach with all the hormonal differences that will make a huge difference in your appetite (for a long while, at least) and the restriction you will feel. Those differences will help you lose all your excess weight. But at some point those benefits become much less important to your long-term success than -- I'm just gonna say it -- YOUR TOUGHNESS and COMMITMENT TO CHANGING HOW YOU EAT AND LIVE. You will be successful long-term if you change your life style dramatically. If you don't, you'll fail to reach goal and/or regain a lot of weight.

Keep reading. Keep asking questions. Keep learning. So many people have used this surgery to turn their lives around. You could do so, too.

[Christie13]

Gastric sleeve is considered to have the lowest complication rates. I can tell you that every surgery has it's risks but remaining obese has just as many risks. There is some good information here-----> http://www.obesitycoverage.com/uncom...complications/

[LKuhns]

I have recently joined this site too. I am also in the research stage and I am trying to learn as much as I can. I will be attending my first seminar in a couple days. My daughter had this procedure a year ago and is doing great, so she is also helping me learn. I have reached the pros and cons as well as the possible complications. The complications sound terribly scary, but then the complication rate sounds very low. I discussed this procedure with my primary doctor and she is of the school "weight is all about nutrition and exercise, not surgery". Of course she is thin as a stick and never had to yoyo diet. She says the complication rate is only low if its someone else, if it happens to you then the rate is 100%. Sure wish she would have been more encouraging. I think I will place more value on what the actual bariatric surgeon has to say. Good luck with your research, I will follow you!

[tommyhnj]

I guess all doctors are different. My primary care doctor is also a weight management specialist, and she is the reason I finally started considering the surgery. Her genuine concern when she was talking to me about really came through. She just wanted me to do a consult with surgeon, and made it clear she wasn't pushing me to do it, just that I am a prime candidate given my numbers (40 BMI, sleep apena). All the research I have done makes it clear that the surgery is a tool but not the whole answer, for that we need to rewire how we think about food and make big lifestyle changes. Those are the part that concern me the most.

[jennssm]

Thank you! It's nice to know I'm not alone In the research phase. There is just so much information to take in!

[sraebaer]

I have recently joined this site too. I am also in the research stage and I am trying to learn as much as I can. I will be attending my first seminar in a couple days. My daughter had this procedure a year ago and is doing great, so she is also helping me learn. I have reached the pros and cons as well as the possible complications. The complications sound terribly scary, but then the complication rate sounds very low. I discussed this procedure with my primary doctor and she is of the school "weight is all about nutrition and exercise, not surgery". Of course she is thin as a stick and never had to yoyo diet. She says the complication rate is only low if its someone else, if it happens to you then the rate is 100%. Sure wish she would have been more encouraging. I think I will place more value on what the actual bariatric surgeon has to say. Good luck with your research, I will follow you!

Geeze, I would find a new doctor, what a nasty thing to say. A more professional answer would have been, "__% of bariatric patients have complications." My PCP is very supportive, which is good. (She is also thin as a stick.) I was self-pay and no longer use the bariatric team. She knows all the blood work to do and when, seems to be on top of things.