Hey everyone,

I think this is such a great forum, and I have learned so much about the process, and feel a lot more comfortable about my surgery.

One question I did have for most folks is What would you have done differently through the process? From your Pre-Op to whatever stage you are right now? Particularly with exercise, nutrition, etc.

One of my concerns is definitely the sagging skin after (even though- don't get me wrong, i will take sagging skin over being 100 pounds overweight ANY DAY!). Are there things you would have done earlier to prevent that? specific exercise, products, moisturizers, skin firming lotions etc?

I would NEVER have gotten the band!!!!!!! I can't tell you what a horrible experience that was!!! The other thing is that I wish I would have had the sleeve first and sooner!

Thanks so much for your interest. I mean to do this within the next couple of days. I will let you know and thanks again.

Lan2k:

It would be very helpful if you could start a thread about the negative emotional effects of the surgery. I am very curious.

Before I had surgery I was a real foodie (also a glutton). Now, i just don't enjoy food as much. It's not just the amount I can eat, but also nothing excites me anymore. While I understand this is a good thing, I am mourning the loss of one of the activities that I found most enjoyable.

Don't forget, it's never too late to obtain therapy. Hopefully, you are in a position to get the help you need now.

One thing I would have done differently is be more diligent taking antacids, Vitamins and monitoring my Protein. I have had some hair loss - and I will never know whether or not I could have prevented it.

Lan2k:

It would be very helpful if you could start a thread about the negative emotional effects of the surgery. I am very curious.

Before I had surgery I was a real foodie (also a glutton). Now, i just don't enjoy food as much. It's not just the amount I can eat, but also nothing excites me anymore. While I understand this is a good thing, I am mourning the loss of one of the activities that I found most enjoyable.

Don't forget, it's never too late to obtain therapy. Hopefully, you are in a position to get the help you need now.

One thing I would have done differently is be more diligent taking antacids, Vitamins and monitoring my Protein. I have had some hair loss - and I will never know whether or not I could have prevented it.

Hi Sasaki... It is very unlikely that you could have prevented the hairloss. Here's some information on that. It might make you feel better about it. :thumbup1:

Health Tip: Why People Lose Their Hair: MedlinePlus

You might want to check out this thread too... :001_wub:

http://verticalsleevetalk.com/post-operation-vertical-sleeve-gastric-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/2401-hair-loss-post-op.html

LAN2K - We're here with you... :thumbup1:

Lan2K: God Bless you. You are certainly going thru a ridiculousy tough time. I wish I could help you. Please know I care about you and want the best outcome for you. It is so good of you to post, to let everyone know that this surgery is not the answer to/for happiness. It is a great tool for weight loss, but, can cause sundry problems for some. I believe it helps to go into any venture(surgery for one example) with all the knowledge available. Your side of the story is most valuable. Thank you for telling it and continuing to help us all understand a completely different side to WLS.

I am the first to admit I was not understanding of your situation at all in the beginning. I am sorry for that. I am enlightened now and will never view/judge anyone again about their "issues".

Keep us posted on your progress.

Be strong, be well friend.

Just to say hang in there to LAN2k!!!

I'm pretty happy with how everything went and am on a huge mental high, feeling much better about myself already though I have a lot of weight to lose still.

My major regret is having the band done first, not the sleeve. If I would have known what I know now I NEVER would have gotten the band! I love the sleeve, I'm only 2 weeks and 2 days out but I can't believe the difference. I can eat and not worry about spending half of the dinner time in the bathroom. I so wish I would have done the sleeve first!!!!

Lan2K: God Bless you. You are certainly going thru a ridiculousy tough time. I wish I could help you. Please know I care about you and want the best outcome for you. It is so good of you to post, to let everyone know that this surgery is not the answer to/for happiness. It is a great tool for weight loss, but, can cause sundry problems for some. I believe it helps to go into any venture(surgery for one example) with all the knowledge available. Your side of the story is most valuable. Thank you for telling it and continuing to help us all understand a completely different side to WLS.

I am the first to admit I was not understanding of your situation at all in the beginning. I am sorry for that. I am Enlightened now and will never view/judge anyone again about their "issues".

Keep us posted on your progress.

Be strong, be well friend.

Thank you for understanding. As I am now sunken in a state of depression and anxiety, ( something I've never encountered to this degree before in my life), I am awaiting my new psychiatrist to analyze the labs she receives from my primary care physician and will meet with her in about 10 days to try once again another precription antidepressant. I myself can't believe this has happened to me. Thanks again I appreciate your will to be here for support.

Lan2k

From someone who has dealt with depression most of her life, you are doing a good job taking care of it. Sometimes people don't understand what is happening to them until they are so deep in the depression that it is hard to get out. Get on some pills and if they don't work, speak up!! Not all of them work for everyone, it sometimes takes trial and error to get it right. Depression is a chemical imbalance, simple as that! so the drugs will get you back to where you need to be again. Take a deep breath, yiou will be better in no time!

Lan2k

From someone who has dealt with depression most of her life, you are doing a good job taking care of it. Sometimes people don't understand what is happening to them until they are so deep in the depression that it is hard to get out. Get on some pills and if they don't work, speak up!! Not all of them work for everyone, it sometimes takes trial and error to get it right. Depression is a chemical imbalance, simple as that! so the drugs will get you back to where you need to be again. Take a deep breath, yiou will be better in no time!

Thank you Bernadette,

I will work on this until I get it right.

Bernadette is right... I have been through the depression roller-coaster too. It does take time to find what works, but once you do, it will be ok. Also, some of the side-effects of drugs like Wellbutrin and Zoloft are short-term and not long-lasting... The lack of any kind of really negative types of side-effects with these two drugs is why I have stuck to this family of meds... I tried a few others, some gave me headaches, etc. Please know, you're doing the right thing, trying to figure this out and get on the road to happy! As for the anxiety part of this, depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. Sometimes, for me, this was worse than the depression (I have trouble sleeping, etc, and this is often associated with anxiety). Were you able to check out the list that I posted earlier in the week, of meds, how they work, and what they are supposed to do? If not, I would be happy to look it up again. Also, I did find some article in Harvard Mental Health, etc, about the issue of depression and bariatric surgery. I can email them to you at your private address if you want... VST won't let me attach them, they're too big.

Anyways, hang in there sister! You're doing awesome!

PS -- I'm glad your psychiatrist is ordering labs... There is new evidence that thyroid problems can have an effect on depression.

Depression, Thyroid Conditions, and Hormones

Depression Center: Symptoms, Causes, Medications, and Therapies

The Thyroid and the Mind and Emotions

Lan2k:

It would be very helpful if you could start a thread about the negative emotional effects of the surgery. I am very curious.

Before I had surgery I was a real foodie (also a glutton). Now, i just don't enjoy food as much. It's not just the amount I can eat, but also nothing excites me anymore. While I understand this is a good thing, I am mourning the loss of one of the activities that I found most enjoyable.

Don't forget, it's never too late to obtain therapy. Hopefully, you are in a position to get the help you need now.

One thing I would have done differently is be more diligent taking antacids, Vitamins and monitoring my Protein. I have had some hair loss - and I will never know whether or not I could have prevented it.

I am going to try to gather my thoughts together and start a thread about the negative emotional effects of the surgery. I just need to figure out how to navigate to the complications section. I also want to be sure that my readers understand that these negative emotions are not the norm. I do not wish to discourage anyone from going about weight loss through bariatric surgery if this is what they want to do. I was so thoroughly convinced that I was ready but in hind sight I really should have been better prepared psychologically. I am very glad to be a part of this vertical sleeve talk message board, it has helped me immensely.

Thank you all for being here.

Bernadette is right... I have been through the depression roller-coaster too. It does take time to find what works, but once you do, it will be ok. Also, some of the side-effects of drugs like Wellbutrin and Zoloft are short-term and not long-lasting... The lack of any kind of really negative types of side-effects with these two drugs is why I have stuck to this family of meds... I tried a few others, some gave me headaches, etc. Please know, you're doing the right thing, trying to figure this out and get on the road to happy! As for the anxiety part of this, depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. Sometimes, for me, this was worse than the depression (I have trouble sleeping, etc, and this is often associated with anxiety). Were you able to check out the list that I posted earlier in the week, of meds, how they work, and what they are supposed to do? If not, I would be happy to look it up again. Also, I did find some article in Harvard Mental Health, etc, about the issue of depression and bariatric surgery. I can email them to you at your private address if you want... VST won't let me attach them, they're too big.

Anyways, hang in there sister! You're doing awesome!

I would love to read the article in Harvard Mental Health. My email is lisnatoli@yahoo.com. Please put Vertical Sleeve Talk in the subject line so I don't mistake it for spam or junk mail. I still have the links you have posted and will be spending a good portion of tomorrow online and read what I can. Thank you so very much.

Will send over right now... digging for more information as we speak... Will post what I find!