Anna Nim

My dad could not be anymore against the idea of WLS - and I haven't even told him yet!

I was supposed to have surgery five years ago. I was nineteen, in college, financially dependent on my parents, on my dad's health insurance (through his own business, so he was footing the bill for all things medical related). I had talked to my mom about WLS, and she was 110% on board, but I was much, much closer with my mom then my dad. We decided, knowing my dad and how he is, that we wait until all the test were done, insurance approved surgery, and we had a date, before we were to tell my dad. And that blew up in my face. My dad flew off the handle. He demanded to meet with the surgeon, and I humored him, thinking it would help things. It didn't - my dad threatened the surgeon, and 48 hours before surgery, my dad pulled me from the health insurance.

My dad is a recovering addict. He struggled with narcotics and alcohol for most of my life. He is currently eight years clean and sober. My mom passed away almost four years ago, so her support is no longer there. I am twenty four now, I do not live at home, have my own insurance through my job, and am financially independent from my dad. I have gained almost 40 pounds since I was supposed to do this five years ago, and that's disheartening, especially since I have a friend who did it a month before I should have, and her progress is incredible!
Despite being an adult, and despite having the support of everyone else around me, I know my dad will freak out with the news that this is something I'm planning on doing again. And, despite everything, he's still my dad and I will tell him. It's a struggle though, and something that stresses me out to no end. I'm sorry your dad doesn't seem to be in your corner, but he does seem to be coming from a place of concern (even if his scare tactics are insensitive). We need to do this for us, not for our dads. We have researched, planned, and thought about the decision we are making, and it is not for them. I wish you peace with your decision, and that your dad can find peace with it also.

Right on thanks.
Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

Sorry you are having such a bad experience. Just making sure you realize this is a sleeve procedure post so malabsorption really isn't a problem.

That's is if you get normalcy...... I am three months post op and pray to god everyday to feel better and am starting to regret having the surgery period..
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Ana Kim - I think you have to look at the sum of everyone's experiences, not just the few answering your post. There are several people that have successfully lived with RNY for more than 10 years. Check out "The World According to Eggface", "Miles to Go", "Bariatric Foodie" and "The Bariatric Girl" blogs. These are all long term RNYers who have been successful. This surgery requires a commitment to following the Vitamin regimen every single day for life. And to take the best bariatric formulated Vitamins out there - for example I take Nutrametrix Vitamins and Calcium which are Isotonic, which means once mixed with Water they are like the liquids given in IVs and they are 95% absorbed. Normal vitamins found in stores are only 25% absorbed so you have to take 3-4x the amount.
If you are going to go the Mexico route I highly suggest you find a Bariatric Nutritionist in your area and consult with them on the Vitamin and post-op eating regimen. That way you will know exactly what is necessary to remain healthy after surgery.

I agree with this statement. Friends and family with great intentions often don't understand the mental, psychological element that we suffer. It's why we became morbidly obese. WLS gives us a tool that insists that we face these addictions and behaviors.
It might be hard for the average person of "average" weight to really understand the metal aspect, and that WLS isn't just a whim, it's often our only option.

I have no idea about sleeve I had RNY IN 2003 at age 24. I do use ninja daily and take tons of Vitamins and supplements. still have issues with Iron, B12 and D but folic acid and Calcium are always good.
Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

Fredbear if you talk that way to your Father, can't imagine how you'd talk to your friends, you must have a lot of friends.

That car didn't stall! That car drove itself over a cliff bar and straight into mashed potato heaven!
LOL!!!!

You know, I was with someone who *supposedly* was sensitive to salt (a covert, lying, narcissist..but that is a different story:) . So, I started cooking with a lot more garlic and onion powder (and cumin, chill powder, etc). To me; garlic and to a lesser extent, onion powder takes the place of salt-garlic has that tang. It took a long time to switch by taste buds, but even this long after that, I still do not dump salt on like I used to by any means.

This is a great post and well written too.
It does give me pause to how life will be post Sleeve and ironically is a bit depressing. I had the fantasy that I simply would not want food (like I did the first few weeks I was on Byetta that one time). I had such a deep sense of relaxation, being freed from the ADDICTION of carbs. I see it will be a bit more work. Course I have to remember it is not natural to have that much carbs around, even when I was a child the Evil Carb Hore was not that insidious in society...and neither was Facebook and Youtube,etc.. at least TV shows had commercials and ended every 30 min/hour... You are right, you can not get gas without a gauntlet of nasty temptation.
Keep it up!

I bet because you are eating more healthy and not getting the salt in your food and natural foods are less salty.

My doctor doesn't have me on any one thing. I'm drinking the Premier Protein, powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury powder (unflavored to add to whatever) and health wise powder drinks. Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App

PLEASE BELIEVE ME - I questioned that up until the time I was in the hospital, in my gown, and was given something to 'calm me down' before being wheeled to the OR.
I literally thought of leaving!
The rollercoaster of emotions was insane!
The liquid diet sucked because I was starving and watching everyone else around me able to eat. That messed with me a little.
I'm 4 days out and I could punch myself in the beak for thinking those things!!!
This is the BEST thing I've ever done and I'd absolutely recommend this surgery as well as do it ALL over again!!
Hang in there and baby step it!!!
Stay strong and get as much support and inspiration that you can!
You're going to be ok!!!!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I felt the same. I started the 5th. My surgery is the 12th. I felt like this, this morning but actually now...I don't feel too bad. Before my stomach was burning, bad headaches. Etc.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Every day I question if I'm going the right thing!!

My Dr. has two weeks of low carb (less than 30 grams a day), and while I am not perfect at it, I have lost 6 pounds in 10 days. Then it is one day of Clear Liquids before surgery.
I am also cutting caffeine. I have tapered off and made it thru the worst of the days, but I am sure missing it-but not missing the 'addiction' of it.
Sleeve set for the 14th!

I am betting @@Anna Nim nailed it. Since I had surgery, I was taken off my BP meds. A short time later, I was told I needed to start adding salt into my diet! My BP was getting low. So you may be craving salt to help retain Water and maintain your BP.

I bet because you are eating more healthy and not getting the salt in your food and natural foods are less salty.

I bet because you are eating more healthy and not getting the salt in your food and natural foods are less salty.

I bet because you are eating more healthy and not getting the salt in your food and natural foods are less salty.

Funny, I had severe Iron deficiency anemia, a vit D deficiency and a B12 deficiency BEFORE WLS. I just had my 6 month appt and my labs are all stellar. It's like I revamped my diet and started eating for fuel instead of fun...

My dad died in 1982 after a gastric bypass. I am fairly certain his surgeon was NOT trained properly in the technique--and there was a lawsuit. Despite all that, my mother (who is also a RN), opted to get a gastric sleeve, and now I am getting a gastric sleeve too. Yes, there are risks but honestly there are risks with any surgery and just from being obese in general. Thanks for giving a dad's imput, @@LittleBill

I have three friends who are each 10 yrs or more out from RNY. They have all had incredible success long-term. Two of them did get WAY TOO skinny for a while, and had to re-adjust to get good nutrition in. They all have to take bariatric Vitamins for life. But they eat "normally" just small amounts, chewed really well, and they have to focus on Protein and nutrition when they choose their foods.
That is not to say serious malabsorption issues don't happen. Just that it's not a given.
And of course, if you choose the sleeve, malabsorption isn't an issue. If you don't take multis and eat healthy food, you run some risks of minor malnutrition, but stuff that's easily fixable and avoidable.

@@Anna Nim **Even if you ignore the 60% to 70% probability of indigestion, nausea and dehydration, the percentage of occurrence of mild to severe complications is a huge collective 88.9% !!!

GERD 47%
Nutritional deficiency 12%
Gallstones 23%
Acute Stricture 3.5%
Deep Vein Thrombosis 1%
Staple line failure 2.4%
Total: 88.9%**
First, I have to say how nice it is to see someone at least try to use statistical evidence to argue for/against something instead of just emotion or "I have a friend whose son's daughter's hairstylist's dog trainer had the surgery and died". That alone deserves a big round of applause in my opinion.
That said, the above is a completely erroneous way of interpreting the data he read. Probabilities don't add up to one large number, they're concurrent. You don't end up with a nearly 100% chance of some sort of complication by adding all the low incidences together
Another point to make in rebuttal is that several of the risks of WLS are known risks of remaining obese. GERD, gallstones and DVTs can happen if you choose to do nothing and remain obese as a result. And there are a host of risks of remaining obese that your dad didn't consider. Diabetes, hypertension, joint degeneration, heart disease, sleep apnea, depression...the list is long and frightening. And deadly.
You know that at the end of the day, you're an adult and it's your decision, but I know how hard it is to deal with complete opposition from a parent. My mom was dead-set against me having the surgery and is still skeptical and not entirely supportive. She's coming around but still says 'well, we'll see if you keep it off' and 'you have no idea how this will be affecting you in 5 years', both of which are true. I'm 52, she's in her mid 70s but she's still my mom and I do value her opinion and experiences...but she's just one source of information and support, not my entire world any longer.
Good luck