GinaCampbell

I hope the OP is okay too. Food aversion is often the result of food intolerance plus reinforcement created by post op nausea. Not really an irrational fear. We are taught that due to the severity of our major surgery, that vomiting post op can tear our stitches which would result in a possibly fatal leak. So when we have overwhelming nausea, at even drinking Water, post op, food is out of the question in both our bodies and minds. Then add the intolerance of lactose, the weird odd feeling of food in the new sleeve, weird taste changes, pain, gas etc. which makes you nauseous post op, all physical issues in the body. So a symbiotic problem. One that isn't often discussed. And I haven't been able to obtain any treatment from my bariatric team so am having to push my already stretched GP for help. The usual answer is that all of this will pass. And I must be honest, things do evolve continually. I just hope that someone is supporting her, looking after her. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

All varying degrees of what is posted in the majority of the "regrets" threads. From serious post op complications such as twisted sleeves, leaks, ulcers and strictures to predictable ones such as gallbladder removal, nausea, dehydration, non tolerance of Proteins. The most upset people are the ones who felt that they were well informed, did thorough research yet underestimated the severity of the combination of post op recovery, further surgeries, weakness, fatigue, the effort required to keep hydrated, the effect baldness would have on their psyche, the feeling of social isolation (not being to eat like everyone else) etc. People that bought products in, prepared their routine, studied their plan and couldn't utilise any of it seemed to feel helpless and frustrated. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I can only speak to what I know, that's for sure. Even I was surprised about the way the c diff has been handled. My GP is totally baffled at the bariatric system locally and is exasperated by the lack of post op care issued. From the messages that I receive here from people, mostly resident Americans, there is a higher rate of complications than is even being reported publicly here. I don't think anyone can truly give accurate numbers for various reasons. I think that every person here might class "complications" differently. I don't imagine that the few regret posts here on BP skew the facts. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't think they are. I'm in several WLS groups and yes, there are complications, but nothing like reported on this site. Perhaps that is because of the high membership of this group, the varying regions and quality of care or because people here are less fearful of reporting. If you ask my bariatric team, they deem my surgery as 100% successful because I hit goal weight at 4 months out according to their records. Because they only measure weight loss and not health, I am not reported in their stream as having "complications". I keep a presence here to support anyone I can. If I can eventually recover, then other people with near fatal post op complications can. The symptoms my team said were because I was "anxious", were because of a serious, contagious clostridium difficile infection that could have also been fatal. Not to mention passing the infection to dozens of other people. I was left with only a diagnosis. I had to fight for meds, re testing and no medical person ever once supported me or gave me information. It was devastating to be abandoned when you are physically and emotionally fighting to recover. I have my faith, but so many don't and need support. I receive messages here frequently, from people suffering from post op complications, who don't message publicly. I even get messages thanking me for refusing to stop supporting other people publicly, thanking me for telling my story. I want post op folks to know that it is okay to feel regret. And for people who are really sick, telling them how great they will feel about it all because the weight is coming off, is really not helpful. Really sick people who are losing weight through malnutrition and illness, are not pleased about it. People who may have known pre op about the nausea, baldness, etc may not have truly appreciated the degree of these normal post op issues and have regrets. For example, If the reason you want to lose weight is so you can be more mobile, to be more social, yet your baldness now prevents you, regrets are normal. Regrets don't magically disappear at 3 weeks, 3 months or 6 months. But the issues do change. The way you eat does change. Some infections heal, such as incision sites and some you battle with indefinitely like c diff. Some people lose hair, others go bald and some lose no hair at all. My daughter would rather be bald than to be fat. I wouldn't. I wasn't worried about loose skin. I knew that I would have some and planned to have it surgically removed. Now I can't as I am an unsuitable candidate. The skin on my thighs now impedes me from walking comfortably and it limits the clothes I can wear. So some of my personal reasons for having surgery were not corrected by my vsg. Hearing all the wonderful stories of weightloss, full health etc makes me happy. I love seeing people blessed and living well. This was not my outcome. I just want people's expectations and information to be correct. And most of all, for people to feel accepted, supported, heard and understood. Even when they are being silly, emotional, reckless, going off plan, there might be genuinely intentioned people needing help. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Or they are even more common than is reported on forums like this. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

What makes you think that you couldn't handle post op issues? What precisely couldn't you handle? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App What makes you think that you couldn't handle post op issues? What precisely couldn't you handle? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

When telling my story, I have made it abundantly clear that my experience has been personal to me. Of course though, that is the way of all surgical procedures. The only thing that most of us have in common is that we are or were overweight. We have different diets, different bariatric teams, live in different countries, receive different care. Our surgeries are different, our aftercare is different, our meds, Vitamins and supplements are different. Some people have complications, some don't. When people say that posters with regret issues expressing themselves here is "dangerous", that will elicit comments in defence of those posts. If pre op patients want to be fully informed, there has to be room for people to tell of all their experiences, good and bad. There should be total acceptance of people here. All people. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Please know that there are people out here who suffered much as you are now. And I want you to know that things will change. I used to get a bit irritated when people would say, I know how sick you are but look how much weight you've lost! No one would say that if you were sick after surgery for any other reason. My family were so upset that I had put my life at risk for an elective surgery so their support was limited. I couldn't eat anything or drink milk, Protein shakes etc for weeks. But what I could do was drink Water. And I concentrated on that. Then I could drink clear chicken broth, beef broth. This went on for months. After I was re admitted to hospital with starvation issues, I was put on a glucose drip for a week. So when I went home, I would put a 1/4 tsp of honey in tea. You can do this but you really have to concentrate. You should be taking fluids in all day long. I had to go back to clear fluids three times. You can do this. Just concentrate on healing, resting, getting well. Look inward. Get support online, from church outreach, pressure your team to do their jobs. My team was useless and I got through it. So will you. Prayers and hugs coming your way. I help support other people via message here so please reach out if you need to, you are not alone! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you! It has been difficult but I learned how much I mean to my family, how much they value my role as a Grandma to their children. So to look at it all positively is easier. My actual sleeve surgery itself was totally successful. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My family were totally against my having the vsg. Their fears were that I was not well enough (I have fibromyalgia) to survive the surgery itself and that I might have post op complications. They also felt that I could actually lose weight without bariatric surgery. Unfortunately, I did have post op complications that required re admission to hospital, then contracted clostridium difficile. It was very serious and obviously all of their fears were justified. But four months later, the drama is history. They do learn to live with your decision and they still love you. I did try and explain my reasons for going ahead with the surgery during the three years or so that I was in the pre op bariatric program, but they all really were just dead set against it. They felt that I was risking my life having elective surgery. Now that they can see that I will live and now that they see that I can sit with the family during meals and eat some food (I mostly just fake eating), things have calmed down. Even if they stay against the idea, I definitely think you should always inform your family that you are having surgery. It is upsetting, I know. I had no idea how frightened they actually were that I might not wake up from the actual surgery, until the day after. I feel that I didn't understand their specific concerns. Maybe I wasn't listening well enough. Regardless, my relationships were not permanently damaged because I went ahead with the vsg. As long as you feel comfortable with your decision and have done your best to inform them, you will be okay. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

31st of May. I now suspect that I may live. lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am still scheduled for the 31st of May. Pre op assessment this Friday the 20th. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

May 31st Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App