I read some interesting comments today and I wanted to make something really clear.

Out of all these people around the globe that are on this website, there are going to be some of us that have found post op, that this surgery was the wrong decision.

If you want this website to be honest and truthful, a source of good solid information for people considering surgery and a source of support for people post op, then everyone's experiences should be welcome.

The reason's I think this surgery was wrong for me has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with my post op complications!

And as for comments about people who regret their surgeries and have complications because:

• "houses were dirty"

• "they didn't follow instructions"

• "they haven't seen the great results yet"

• "they are just negative people and negative people are more vocal

So, just let me tell you this, some of us simply made a mistake.

We thought this was a good plan, we took advice, did our research, attended the seminars and weigh ins (in my case, two years attending).

We met our surgeons, we discussed our pre existing conditions, we spoke to our family and friends.

I myself have a counsellor, did CBT counselling for the entire two years pre op and am deemed emotionally and mentally sound. (just as an aside, my NHS CBT counsellor did not agree with this surgery).

I checked with my pain mgt team about the efficacy of my medications post op.

And it was still a mistake!

And so what?

It happens. And people like me should be able to explain these things without others trying to negate our admission of this mistake by offering excuses as to why we are unhappy with our decision.

I could have floated onto a cloud, had magical unicorns lick away my stomach, and woke up in paradise fully healed, sipping a cocktail in the sun and I would still tell you that this was a mistake for ME. And for many of my friends.

It doesn't matter how many years post op I get, I will consider this a mistake.

My house is not dirty, I followed instructions to the letter, I consider my bariatric discharge booklet my life guideline and I never variate.

I keep in touch with anyone and everyone in my medical care stream that might be helpful.

And complications happened. And yes, to many of us in our bariatric system. But again, it was not the complications that disturb us.

We all have different reasons for regretting it.

Most of us feel that we were misinformed, which doesn't help. My neighbour regrets her bypass because of her now permanent diarrhea and no improvement in her diabetes. She tells me that she has to think about food most of the day just to keep herself fed (choosing the right foods so as not to vomit), and she could have simply dieted harder if she had known she would have to think of food all day. She is three years post op and she still struggles with dehydration. Her hair never grew back after the initial drop out.

I myself am only 9 weeks post op and have had complications so I can't know what my future holds.

I miss eating quickly and simply in a way that doesn't have to be well thought out.

I want to be able to eat a full salad, maybe even with dressings, without worrying about which component might not agree with me.

I want to be able to eat any kind of meat I want cooked how I want in the quantity I want.

I want to drink beverages with my meals.

I miss a morning coffee or afternoon tea. I miss ice tea. (I know other people can drink it but I can't now).

I don't want to have to plan my food day meticulously or be different from others around me eating.

I want my medications to work again in the way they did pre op to control my fibromyalgia symptoms.

And I have definitely seen weightloss results. As I was lying there starving to death for seven weeks, I have lost all but 20lbs of my expected and required excess weight to satisfy my healthcare team. ( I am still only getting around 500 cals a day in, but have constant diarrhea so who knows how much stays in).

I now look "normal" except for the grey pallor in my skin and the nappy I now have to wear because of fecal incontinence (my IBS-d was totally controlled before surgery).

I am six dress sizes smaller but can only leave my house if I don't eat anything and wear adult protection in case of Water causing an "accident". Or in case I become faint from lack of food and fall.

So I do actually feel that had I read a forum entry like this, I might have thought twice.

And that's a good thing. If people are scared, that's okay. Let them hear more than just "don't worry, I was fine, you will be too!" Because maybe they won't!

So this is not about complications, it's about people.

One size does not fit all. Some of us should have simply accepted our weight, or worked harder to diet it off. Had I taken in only 300 to 500 calories a day for 9 weeks pre op, I would have lost all this weight anyway.

If you are happy, well done! If you are dead set on going ahead, ignore this. If you are a high BMI person (think 600lb life), God bless you, this may save your life, if you are a food addict, I feel your pain.

You will still have to diet post op! You will still have to exercise.

If you are undecided, then simply take a breath, think about it, really examine your food issues. Could you do more to lose weight? Could you move a bit more and eat a bit less?

Anyway, I am where I am and I plan to make the best of what I have left. And I intend to keep making sure that pre op people have a good think and post op people like me have someone they can talk to.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting me.

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Thank you for keeping this thread alive to all who contribute. I understand your need to both helping me highlight the point of my starting this thread, raising awareness and some people's need to attempt to silence my whistleblowing.

To all the people who are messaging me privately, thank you for your support. I understand why it is hard to give me support "publicly".

I am happy to take the flaming and bullying, so determined am I to make changes for other people in the future.

I don't want anyone else to take abuse though.

Why on Earth people are bringing US politics in here, is beyond me.

I do get the essence of the post that started it, but it isn't helpful. The bullies are doing as much as they can to silence me instead of just moving along and ignoring it.

Bored people I guess.

It gives me something to laugh at though at the end of very long and painful days.

It never ceases to amaze me how a difference in opinion can cause such disgusting behaviour in these "supportive, caring" human beings.

Attacking continually a sick, disabled person who is isolated due to a contagious infection and doing her best to move to a more medically suitable property while facing further hospital admission and procedures.

Oh and all on 300 to 400 calories a day.

Why not simply unfollow the thread? Move along. If you don't consider your sleeve a mistake, why hassle me on this thread?

Do your worst. Water off a duck's back.

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@@GinaCampbell

I wish you well and I sincerely hope good health finds you soon.

I think we'd all have regrets if we had to suffer through what @@GinaCampbell has been through.

That said, I am still suspect of the NHS practitioners in your case, more than the general side effects of a well executed VSG.

I think we'd all have regrets if we had to suffer through what @@GinaCampbell has been through. That said, I am still suspect of the NHS practitioners in your case, more than the general side effects of a well executed VSG.

Don't faint when I say I agree with you 100%.

@@GinaCampbell

Here are some direct quotes from you::

"I have not had a long term weight issue, or food issue etc. I was not desperate nor incapable of losing weight either."

"I wasn't obese because I ate what I wanted, I became obese following a period of a five year illness which left me bedbound."

and this one...

"My daughter thinks that I have not given conventional dieting enough of a chance. She feels that I could lose weight normally if I tried harder. I explained that I am addicted to food, cannot stop overeating and that my disability prevents me from exercising. I now am 95% bedbound."

If you can't see the obvious contradiction in your own words then you are too far in denial to get yourself any help. You cannot have a different and unreasonable fabrication for every problem. Instead of rudely making one excuse after another to people trying to help maybe you should face up to reality.

Gina, I hear you and sincerely send prayers your way as anyway you look at this is a very hard situation to be in and overcome. At your end, our end, pre op and post op none of this is an easy feat and none of this is a walk in the park. Life is tough as it is and no matter what side of the fence your on all you can do is one day at a time. For me personally the only reason I don't like horror stories or failed surgery stories are because three years ago when I was healthier and 70 pounds lighter still obese though I was deathly scared away because of some girl called iggychick who scared the begeezus out of everyone so much that this forum deleted all her posts and banned her. So I was deterred from surgery and three years later worse off for it and I'm two weeks to my surgery date. So that's my story or a bit of it so now you know where I came from. Good luck to you.

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I unsubscribed from this thread but because a couple of people repeated what I had said previously, I keep getting emails. So i decided to read thru & wow....it sure has gotten long.....had me hooked just like a soap opera...people telling Gina not to worry, they were sorry for what she is going thru....have hope....but Gina came out battling, lol. Take this & that & I will not be silenced! This is long enuff & crazy enuff that we could turn it into a screen play!

People have proven that Gina admitted she had problems BEFORE the sleeve, by her own admission on this very forum....some of those same problems, she says on this thread, were caused ONLY BECAUSE OF the sleeve. Hmmmmmm....things came back to bite u but do u apologize? No....u come out swinging with the another line about those people are checking up on u....lol....omg....u just won't stay down for the count!!

Another thing that u wrote but I don't think has sunk in to your conscious is that you could have stayed on 300-500 cal diet without the sleeve....right.....that's bull & u know it....u couldn't stay on a diet that low in carbs for long.....so it IS helping you girl!!! Yay for the sleeve!!!

By the way, your "team" that is on your side, including your G?....They r telling you that they agree with u so that it will shut u up. There is nothing else that they CAN say to u without getting attacked like u have attacked so many others on this thread, who tried to console u & give u hope. They give up & say they agree, while praying they don't see u again.

Don't get me wrong, I feel very bad for your pain, if it's real... I have to wonder how much of it is a bunch of bull since you had most of these problems BEFORE the sleeve.

I see you have internet capability so u should have used it to find out more info on wls instead of relying on other people including yur surgery team.

Buyer beware....you said yourself you weren't a candidate yet you went for it. The responsibility lays on yur shoulders & no one else's. However u blame your health care, your surgeons, the nurses, your daughter for not thinking u should have the surgery in the 1st place (so now I guess SHE was right?...bet u haven't admitted to her she was right either)...oh & have I left out anyone? Oh yes, those of us that tried to give u hope & encouragement but got slammed in the process, lol. And now we r laughing coz this thread just seems like some big joke..are you getting a kickback from the diet gurus out there? Don't get wls, diet instead? Buy buy buy our products....is that what this is?

And yeah u can point out my short form....its coz I don't want to waste words more than I have to with u, but want to get MY view across.

That said....I am going to TRY & unsubscribe again....hopefully I won't get another email, lol.......

@ALEX B..... Fix the glitch in he unsub system please.

Everyone, hope to see u on a more informative thread, be it one for OR against the sleeve. Like many on here, I believe everyone needs a voice but one that contradicts herself is just plain awful, no matter how entertaining at times, because misinformation could end up causing someone else to make a wrong decision. Being overweight with all the associated risks is bad enuff, but a thread like this that someone may take seriously can do a lot of harm..........& Gina, thanks for the visit to lah lah land again...now, beam me up Scottie.

Can't fix my post....I meant low calories NOT carbs.

Gina...floor is yours now. Time to slam me again. Page 28 of your soap is ready for your input. This thread is just like the road accident that everyone slows down to look at.

Ciao babe. Gonna try to unsubscribe again.

Sophie makes sense to me. Research would have covered all those possible issues.

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You can't research what you have never heard of.

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@@GinaCampbell

Here are some direct quotes from you::

"I have not had a long term weight issue, or food issue etc. I was not desperate nor incapable of losing weight either."

"I wasn't obese because I ate what I wanted, I became obese following a period of a five year illness which left me bedbound."

and this one...

"My daughter thinks that I have not given conventional dieting enough of a chance. She feels that I could lose weight normally if I tried harder. I explained that I am addicted to food, cannot stop overeating and that my disability prevents me from exercising. I now am 95% bedbound."

If you can't see the obvious contradiction in your own words then you are too far in denial to get yourself any help. You cannot have a different and unreasonable fabrication for every problem. Instead of rudely making one excuse after another to people trying to help maybe you should face up to reality.

Ridiculous. My child's OPINION on my situation pre op, does not make it fact!

Nor does it change this actual topic.

You can't "help" me like a sleeve.

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@@Alex Brecher

Can this thread be moved to Gastric Sleeve Surgery Complications Support Group ?

I think it belongs there.Thank you.

The topic is being unhappy with your sleeve post op.

Not about complications.

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There's no need for personal insults, in my opinion.

Sincerely,

The Queen of the Sleeve Cult

Then why sling them?

Just move on. Leave us who dislike our sleeves here. We simply want our voices heard. m

Why do you want to silence us so much?

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Gina, I want it to be clear that I'm not looking to silence you in any way whatsoever. What I am looking to do is find out why some people (and I'm not really talking about you, but others who've posted in this thread) seem to have so very little information/understanding of the procedure they've had, and what can be done to change that. If someone says "I thought I'd be able to eat anything, just less of it", then they weren't truly knowledgeable about what was going to happen and IMO, true 'informed consent' was not obtained prior to surgery.

I was given a couple of lightweight handouts prior to my procedure, but I supplemented that with copious research...it would be impossible for ME to go forward with anything this serious without investigating it to the limits of my ability. Maybe it's because I work in healthcare, and am married to someone who works in healthcare, that I've never assumed that any doctor/nurse/caseworker has the time, concern and/or inclination to tell me EVERYTHING that may possibly arise from any procedure, medication, etc.

Your situations sucks, plain and simple. If I had been in your shoes, with the health concerns you already had, I wouldn't have considered VSG for even a moment. But clearly, the information needed wasn't readily available to you and I find that concerning, in an abstract sense. Is it a shortcoming of the NHS system, or is it global and involving many/all healthcare systems. I have family who've lived in Europe all my life and they've used nationalized health systems with great success, and I have family in the US who've been utterly and completely failed by our for-profit health systems.

My local bariatric program is not executed well. It is scarce in it's information, appts are rushed as is surgery.

I met all the surgeons in our program pre op, then on the actual day, it was a surgeon that was new that I had never met. I only got to speak to him briefly just before he operated on me. I had never met my anaesthetist until minutes pre op.

I, and others in my pre op stream feel that the surgeries should stop for now while the team concentrate on treating veterans who are still sick.

Our post op care varies dramatically patient to patient.

My particular hospital was going through industrial action during my surgery. I wasn't informed and it wasn't made public until I was post op and I saw the screens on computers and saw the employees crying and organising meetings in hospital rooms, kitchens etc.

You are correct. I should not have gone ahead with surgery.

Thank you for discussing the actual topic.

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I unsubscribed from this thread but because a couple of people repeated what I had said previously, I keep getting emails. So i decided to read thru & wow....it sure has gotten long.....had me hooked just like a soap opera...people telling Gina not to worry, they were sorry for what she is going thru....have hope....but Gina came out battling, lol. Take this & that & I will not be silenced! This is long enuff & crazy enuff that we could turn it into a screen play!

People have proven that Gina admitted she had problems BEFORE the sleeve, by her own admission on this very forum....some of those same problems, she says on this thread, were caused ONLY BECAUSE OF the sleeve. Hmmmmmm....things came back to bite u but do u apologize? No....u come out swinging with the another line about those people are checking up on u....lol....omg....u just won't stay down for the count!!

Another thing that u wrote but I don't think has sunk in to your conscious is that you could have stayed on 300-500 cal diet without the sleeve....right.....that's bull & u know it....u couldn't stay on a diet that low in carbs for long.....so it IS helping you girl!!! Yay for the sleeve!!!

By the way, your "team" that is on your side, including your G?....They r telling you that they agree with u so that it will shut u up. There is nothing else that they CAN say to u without getting attacked like u have attacked so many others on this thread, who tried to console u & give u hope. They give up & say they agree, while praying they don't see u again.

Don't get me wrong, I feel very bad for your pain, if it's real... I have to wonder how much of it is a bunch of bull since you had most of these problems BEFORE the sleeve.

I see you have internet capability so u should have used it to find out more info on wls instead of relying on other people including yur surgery team.

Buyer beware....you said yourself you weren't a candidate yet you went for it. The responsibility lays on yur shoulders & no one else's. However u blame your health care, your surgeons, the nurses, your daughter for not thinking u should have the surgery in the 1st place (so now I guess SHE was right?...bet u haven't admitted to her she was right either)...oh & have I left out anyone? Oh yes, those of us that tried to give u hope & encouragement but got slammed in the process, lol. And now we r laughing coz this thread just seems like some big joke..are you getting a kickback from the diet gurus out there? Don't get wls, diet instead? Buy buy buy our products....is that what this is?

And yeah u can point out my short form....its coz I don't want to waste words more than I have to with u, but want to get MY view across.

That said....I am going to TRY & unsubscribe again....hopefully I won't get another email, lol.......

@ALEX B..... Fix the glitch in he unsub system please.

Everyone, hope to see u on a more informative thread, be it one for OR against the sleeve. Like many on here, I believe everyone needs a voice but one that contradicts herself is just plain awful, no matter how entertaining at times, because misinformation could end up causing someone else to make a wrong decision. Being overweight with all the associated risks is bad enuff, but a thread like this that someone may take seriously can do a lot of harm..........& Gina, thanks for the visit to lah lah land again...now, beam me up Scottie.

Yet again, an inaccurate post.

Misinformation caused ME to make a wrong decision therefore I am highlighting my experience.

Of course I have discussed with my child that she was right and I was wrong! Why would I discuss it here and not with my family.

You neglect to mention that I almost DIED post op and my friend almost died post op.

I did research mortality rates at my local hospital and my bariatric program.

All we keep hearing is "this has never happened before, sorry".

Just delete the emails when you see them in your inbox.

One button. Use it.

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Oh please did you seriously just turn this thread into a support trump opportunity? Get a clue and stop using a Bariatric forum for your political agenda, it's so out of context not to mention it's not even close to being the right place for that post. You just made a nonsense thread into a political bs thread not even worthy of this forum anymore, Alex Brecher please shut this thread down.

This thread may have gone off topic but that is no reason to shut me and the original topic down.

I do keep trying to urge people to keep on topic and maybe not post unless they have had the sleeve and don't like it.

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People educate themselves everyday. And it begins with not knowing.

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