I'm new to the site and looking for info. Hubby's planning on bypass after first of the year. Very scared about pre and postoperative side effects. Have heard a lot of different stories. Dietician makes it sound like a terrible alternative "you'll be on more meds after than you are now". Scared, worried, confused!

I didn't have any pre-op side effects unless you count losing 35 pounds! And I didn't have any post-op side effects unless you count losing an additional 85 pounds! Pre-op I was taking meds for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and using a CPAP for sleep apnea. Post-op:

Diabetes - gone

High blood pressure - gone

High cholesterol - gone

Sleep apnea - gone

Joint pain - gone

And all of the meds that went with the above - gone. Frankly I think the comment by your nutritionist was inappropriate if not down right unprofessional. That said, you can expect to be taking more Vitamins than you probably are now. It's different for everyone depending on your post-op blood work but I gotta tell you - taking a few vitamins a day is a very, very small price to pay for all of the benefits this surgery offers.

It is major surgery and there are always risks with any surgery. There are no guarantees. There are no absolutes. But the complication rate is less than 8% and the mortality rate is less than one half of one percent. Do the research. Get the facts. Gastric bypass is a very personal decision. There are a lot of folks on this forum, myself included, that would do it again in a second. There are also a lot of very knowledgeable folks here who will be more than happy to answer your questions.

Here are some very well respected websites that will help get you started - there are tons more.

Research Websites

• http://www.hsph.harv...vention-source/ (Harvard School of Public Health)
  
• http://www.webmd.com/
  
• http://asmbs.org/ (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery)
  
• http://iom.edu/Repor...Prevention.aspx (Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science)
  
• http://www.wlslifestyles.com/ (This is a digital magazine with an ENORMOUS amount of information on weight loss surgery. Cost is $19.95 for a one year subscription and imho that's a real bargain.)
  
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/
  

You and hubby are gonna love the new him!!

Thanks so much for the info! I'll definitely check out those sites. My husband is on three different meds for BP, meds for cholesterol, triglycerides has had four cancer recurrence and a hip replacement. He has constant pain in that hip and the docs say loose weight. Easier said than done. He did well on Atkins but it not sustainable. He's tries, but not being able to exercise much because of the joint pain is a definite deterrent.

Again, thanks so much! I really appreciate it. I'm loving this ap! Learned some things already!????

You are certainly welcome! Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. This is an amazing forum and everyone here is more than willing to help. Welcome!!