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Does anyone regret having surgery?

I am struggling something fierce and I seriously regret having surgery.

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I don't regret it but I am not happy right now. Liquids suck. Purees are going to suck. I want real food, not even bad stuff. I would cut a bitch for some asparagus and boneless skinless chicken breast.

I did, quite a bit. In my 4th week I was miserable. Still in pain, unable to get in more than 400 calories a day, feeling like crap, depressed and felt like my life was ruined. That I was going to be one who never found a new normal. That lasted for almost a week. It was very difficult. I cried for 7 days straight. And then I had mashed potatoes. lol!

I was listening to every one yelling at me to only eat Protein and don't cheat or be weak and have carbs. But that serving of Mashed Potatoes made me feel NORMAL. Like a real human again. I felt nicely full, I got pink cheeks, I had about 600 calories in that day and my emotions calmed down. I realized...I'd been HUNGRY. I was crying and depressed because I was starving with such limited calories for that long. So I started throwing in some carbs back into my diet. And when I'm feeling down, guess what, I have some mashed potatoes. All the haters can go jump in a lake. lol! It made me feel like a normal human again and allowed me to get over my depression/starvation hump.

I eat carbs most days...not mashed potatoes, but I'll have some kind of grain or vegetable. And early on, I ate oatmeal, mashed potatoes, cream of wheat and an occasional half piece of toast with Peanut Butter, my surgeon wanted me to have some carbs then when I couldn't get many calories in with protein.

As I advanced my diet and was able to eat a little more, I cut back on the simple carbs and rely on complex carbs now.

I regretted it for a solid week and a half. Like, actual "I really wish I could undo this" regret. Then I went into a stage of being okay but not happy with it. I also wasn't losing for a few weeks immediately after surgery so that did not help my frame of mind.

With every new food stage I felt better and more human, I'm counting down the days until I can have a piece of chicken or some ground turkey (2 more weeks!). I think the beginning is just hard, harder than a lot of us thought it would be.

@@GinaCampbell I know you've had your fair share of issues but from previous posts it doesn't sound like your surgical team was the best and you had some previous health problems. I'm not dismissing your issues, but make sure you tell the full story to someone who is contemplating surgery.

What exactly would you like me to tell?

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@@ella37 She isn't the only one who has had issues and people shouldn't assume that it is there fault cuz guess what I told my surgeon everything!!!! And I still have so many problems and issues and I have regretted it now for over 2 years!!!! I have actually told everyone NOT to have it done and my husband as well who had it 5 weeks after I did also tells people to really think about it he don't really regret it like I do for himself but he is wanting to talk out against bariatric surgery! Because when things go wrong they go REALLY REALLY WRONG

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Not sure when I said that she was the only one who had issues or that it was her fault? I happened to have made a similar post before I went into surgery that Gina responded to and then also read a VERY long thread she started here:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/374230-post-op-regrets-topics-not-popular/

When she responded to my post it really gave me great pause about moving forward with the surgery, but once I read through some of her other posts I realized that there was some information missing. All I was saying is that there are other things that can factor into regret of surgery, not sure why you took it so personally?

What information is missing exactly?

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Tired of people always placing blame on the patient. People always assume I'm doing something wrong

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K, once again I'm not sure where I placed any blame on any patient.

Also it would be helpful if the people who regret it would say WHY they regret it.

Look at what you are inferring. What is your point by saying information is missing etc!

I have gone into minute detail repeatedly as to why I regret having my surgery.

What more detail do you need?

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I regretted it for a solid week and a half. Like, actual "I really wish I could undo this" regret. Then I went into a stage of being okay but not happy with it. I also wasn't losing for a few weeks immediately after surgery so that did not help my frame of mind.

With every new food stage I felt better and more human, I'm counting down the days until I can have a piece of chicken or some ground turkey (2 more weeks!). I think the beginning is just hard, harder than a lot of us thought it would be.

@@GinaCampbell I know you've had your fair share of issues but from previous posts it doesn't sound like your surgical team was the best and you had some previous health problems. I'm not dismissing your issues, but make sure you tell the full story to someone who is contemplating surgery.

What exactly would you like me to tell?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh based on what I remember and from skimming that thread again you had IBS severely even before surgery, contracted C Diff, had acid reflux beforehand which your team did not tell you could get worse (which is odd because in the US they usually switch you to bypass if you have reflux b/c the sleeve can make it worse), had a team who didn't inform you of many of the possible risks like food aversions or post op nausea.. etc etc.

I just think it's important to give context when you're telling people that the surgery was the biggest mistake of your life. For those who are still considering it is good to hear all sides but people who have significant health problems before surgery may want to read your story and reconsider.

What I wonder is why people seek out the "regret" threads, then insist on trying to challenge those of us who do?

We are entitled to tell our stories, to express our feelings.

There are so many threads about doing research prior to surgery and knowing the full picture means hearing about people who think that this was a bad idea for them personally!

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I regretted it for a solid week and a half. Like, actual "I really wish I could undo this" regret. Then I went into a stage of being okay but not happy with it. I also wasn't losing for a few weeks immediately after surgery so that did not help my frame of mind.

With every new food stage I felt better and more human, I'm counting down the days until I can have a piece of chicken or some ground turkey (2 more weeks!). I think the beginning is just hard, harder than a lot of us thought it would be.

@@GinaCampbell I know you've had your fair share of issues but from previous posts it doesn't sound like your surgical team was the best and you had some previous health problems. I'm not dismissing your issues, but make sure you tell the full story to someone who is contemplating surgery.

What exactly would you like me to tell?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh based on what I remember and from skimming that thread again you had IBS severely even before surgery, contracted C Diff, had acid reflux beforehand which your team did not tell you could get worse (which is odd because in the US they usually switch you to bypass if you have reflux b/c the sleeve can make it worse), had a team who didn't inform you of many of the possible risks like food aversions or post op nausea.. etc etc.

I just think it's important to give context when you're telling people that the surgery was the biggest mistake of your life. For those who are still considering it is good to hear all sides but people who have significant health problems before surgery may want to read your story and reconsider.

Wrong!

If you are going to try and tell it, tell it correctly.

I contracted c diff post op.

I knew about post op nausea.

I knew GERD could possibly worsen post op.

What context is missing? What does me having pre op existing IBS D have to do with me regretting having 85% of my stomach removed?

I have said repeatedly, while my post op complications were nearly fatal, the reasons I regret my vsg are nothing to do with them.

I simply don't like the results post op of how my life revolves around food and nutrition all day every day. I don't like how I feel. I don't like being weak, exhausted and dizzy.

And on and on.

Stop trying to insinuate that I am somehow leaving some vital piece of a puzzle out.

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K. I cannot even imagine going another round with @GinaCampbell.

To the OP, you will hear 95% of posters say they have no regrets or only regret doing it sooner. Others will say they do regret it and I hope you take the time to find out why as this may help you with your decision. Maybe they weren't informed about some key point that is now causing that regret or maybe there was a mitigating circumstance. I'm sure there are also some out there who simply regret having the constant dietary restrictions. Do as much research as you can, make sure you know what you're getting into and that like any surgery there is a risk for post op complications. Most of those complications will ease up over time but things like future gall bladder removal, post op infections, and strictures are real potential issues that exist. I have noticed a lot on this board that some people who are unhappy with their decision did not understand all the consequences of this decision.

That being said, most of us love our sleeves and are happy with our decisions. Some people took weeks to adjust to the new restriction, and some took days. You may have problems with getting in foods and fluids at first, I myself have days where getting in enough Protein is a struggle but from what I've seen and heard from vets this is most likely a temporary issue. Is it worth it? YES YES 100% for me. I am down 25 lbs in a little over a month and finally feel like I have found a way to get back control over my eating issues.

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@@katragina

@@ella37 is absolutely correct. I, too, suggest anyone who is contemplating surgery read the entire thread that she referenced before making the decision not to have this procedure. I agree that the full picture came out in that thread that is not being supplied here.

@@katragina

@@ella37 is absolutely correct. I, too, suggest anyone who is contemplating surgery read the entire thread that she referenced before making the decision not to have this procedure. I agree that the full picture came out in that thread that is not being supplied here.

It's not like you to talk in riddles.

What "full picture" exactly?

And so that I am am crystal clear, I am not trying influence anyone into doing anything.

I think you will find that I continually only speak about my own experience and that of people that I know in the "real" world personally.

I still wonder why "happy" sleevers follow the regrets threads?

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K. I cannot even imagine going another round with @GinaCampbell.

To the OP, you will hear 95% of posters say they have no regrets or only regret doing it sooner. Others will say they do regret it and I hope you take the time to find out why as this may help you with your decision. Maybe they weren't informed about some key point that is now causing that regret or maybe there was a mitigating circumstance. I'm sure there are also some out there who simply regret having the constant dietary restrictions. Do as much research as you can, make sure you know what you're getting into and that like any surgery there is a risk for post op complications. Most of those complications will ease up over time but things like future gall bladder removal, post op infections, and strictures are real potential issues that exist. I have noticed a lot on this board that some people who are unhappy with their decision did not understand all the consequences of this decision.

That being said, most of us love our sleeves and are happy with our decisions. Some people took weeks to adjust to the new restriction, and some took days. You may have problems with getting in foods and fluids at first, I myself have days where getting in enough Protein is a struggle but from what I've seen and heard from vets this is most likely a temporary issue. Is it worth it? YES YES 100% for me. I am down 25 lbs in a little over a month and finally feel like I have found a way to get back control over my eating issues.

Then don't! Move along. I am one of your 5%, deal with it.

I tell everyone that things do change in time, but change is not the same as saying that the decision was correct for us.

Post op complications are not the only reason people decide the vsg was not right for them.

I just saw my dietition just after my six month mark, who acknowledges that for some of us it can take years to achieve minimum protein levels. Are years considered temporary? Perhaps.

People who are struggling need to know this. Was I told this before surgery, no. Did I read it anywhere else? No.

Congratulations on your weightloss.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am struggling something fierce and I seriously regret having surgery.

Before this turns into yet another drama thread because I came here to let you know that you are not alone, let me say this to you then let the haters hate.

Things do change. You will eventually heal. Insist on seeing your team for support, tests and advice. Drink Water because dehydration will make you sick. Keep an eye on your temperature. Any spikes in temperature should be reported to your team. Vomiting, pain and trouble swallowing should also be reported.

You can see why there aren't alot of people here who discuss their regrets. Others here just can't accept or wrap their heads around this concept.

We were either too stupid to understand what we were getting into or just need to wait for the sleeve nirvana that seeing weightloss will give us.

I would trade the over 100lb weightloss today for a do over on this decision. My weightloss has not been because of my having a vsg, but because of starvation and malnutrition. Not a healthy way to lose weight. In the "real" world that would be anorexia.

Hang in there. The "5%" of us are here, just message one of us if you need help or support.

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