Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Sleeves Any regrets????why and why not????



Recommended Posts

Hi guys Iam scheduled for VSG on Thursday April 4 , not much support from family , my parents thinks it’ll shorten my life because possible complications iam 28 5’7 weight 258lbs !!! Some days I feel like backing up ,some days i really want to go for it ,but then again I don’t want to do it and god forbid something happens 😥!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was sleeved March 12, 2019. As of now no regrets. It definitely has been hard but for me the potential health benefits outweighed the risks.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am 5'7 and weighed 357 on surgery day (March 11) it's now been almost three weeks. I am down to 322. I can most definitely tell you that those first two weeks were absolute hell. I was feeling regret the moment I came out of anesthesia. The pain was just so unbearable. I ended up in the ER a day after being released from the hospital because I was in so much pain. BUT... things did get better and as of now I just feel sore. I am almost to the pureed stage. I am so sick of drinking my meals. In all honesty I'm not feeling super positive about this decision. I just want to feel like myself and I just feel blah. I don't mean at all to discourage you or scare you. This is just my story. Best of luck and a quick recovery.

Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, I am going to preface this with the fact that I know I am not typical. The stats show that most people don't have complications. I'm the only person I've met from my doctor's office that had complications. So, please know this is just one person's story. I feel like you asked if anyone regrets this, and I don't want you to think that nobody does. BUT, linked below is a good thread to read to remind yourself that even though there are people like me out there, there are a LOT of people (likely the vast majority) who have had a good experience with WLS. So, good luck.

I had surgery in October 2018. If asked today if I'd do it again, I'd be a no. But I know that can change tomorrow. And my doc and nurse say that how I feel is not forever. But, about 2 months ago (so about 3 months post-op), after a REALLY easy first 2 months, I started getting more reflux and more nauseated by the day. I could deal with the reflux, but I HATE being nauseous. And I feel like I spent all of my energy trying not to throw up. I wwas nauseated about 90% of my day every day. I felt SO much worse than I did before and I cried every day. The doc took me off two meds, put me on a new reflux med, and I'm feeling a lot better. But I still get nauseous whenever I eat. I can eat less today than I could when I started solids 4 months ago. I can hardly drink because I'm so nauseous, and I can't drink within 1.5-2 hours of eating because I hurt so much. The doc and nurse said they'll work on figuring all out. That said, I'm not in a position where I feel like I believe her. I regret this mightily. I've even lost a significant amount of weight (over 100 total, 80 since surgery, 64% of EWL), and it is still not worth it. I broke down crying at my therapy group a few weeks ago. At this point, my team has no idea why I'm nauseated. And they are concerned enough about malnutrition and dehydration to be monitoring me closely to see if I need a PICC line. I did this to feel better - and I feel a lot worse.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No regrets at all because life is already short and playing Russian roulette with your health feels wasteful. Obesity and related health problems will shorten it even further.

Good luck 💜

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No regrets at all 4 months post-op sleeve. Already lost 35-50 pounds, get rid of GERD, got rid of sleep Apnea and I'm just getting started. I have 50 more pounds to lose and things are just going to get better and better. I never had any complications or problems with surgery or after.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have no regrets, although I would warn you that in the course of this surgical journey you MUST change your relationship with food. Early on in my recovery (maybe the first 3-6 months), I went through a bit of a "mourning" period where I realized that I could no longer use food for comfort, celebration, or any number of ways that food became like that little green mucous dude in the Mucinex commercials. He's there talking to you, trying to share life with you, and gets upset when you finally kick him to the curb.

In terms of "complications", I have a little bit of nighttime reflux. It's nothing that can't be dealt with and certainly nothing like what "notmyname" above describes.

Would I do it again? Absolutely and had I known then what I know now, I probably would have done it much sooner. I lived obese and a slave to my relationship with food for too long. There's a saying..."nothing tastes as good as thin feels". I'm by no means "thin" (yet), but I'm thinner than I was and I feel REALLY great!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Even with complications, I have absolutely no regrets. If I hadn't had surgery, I'd still be a year older now. But instead of where I am now, I'd still be obese, with aching knees and hips. At some point, I assume that diabetes and high blood pressure would kick in. Every year you get older, the harder it is to recover from all this crap, so I'm glad I did it when I did. I won't sugar-coat it, the last year has been tough. But, oh so worth it.

Perspective-wise, if you're 28 and 258 lbs., what do you think you'll weigh in 5 years without surgery?

Edited by Orchids&Dragons

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, S@ssen@ch said:

you MUST change your relationship with food. 

First off, on the subject of WLS no truer words were spoken. I wish the surgeons would stress this much more. What a lot of people fail to recognize is the real potential to lose all of your hard fought weight loss. This is because you did not change your relationship with food.

I've learned that people with long term successes did two things (1) change their relationship with food. They now eat to live instead of living to eat and (2) they started some sort of exercise regime.

Supergirl, it's a journey for sure but one with many benefits. The good thing, if you work hard at it those benefits can last a lifetime. Good luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I only had my surgery on 3/27, besides feeling sorry for myself that I can't eat that waffles and fried chicken I just saw on a commercial (but have never thought of eating before in my life!) the only regret is that I waited so long. I am 57 and wish I considered this years earlier. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No regrets here and I even had it done in Mexico so I don’t have a lot of medical support follow up here. I’m 5 months post op and I’m down almost 70 pounds. It feels so great and my only regret is I let myself talk myself out of it for so many years.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, supergirl88 said:

Hi guys Iam scheduled for VSG on Thursday April 4 , not much support from family , my parents thinks it’ll shorten my life because possible complications iam 28 5’7 weight 258lbs !!! Some days I feel like backing up ,some days i really want to go for it ,but then again I don’t want to do it and god forbid something happens 😥!!!

My wake-up call. My heart to stop beating in the hospital. I shouldn’t be here. I regret that it took that moment to understand that my weight was slowly killing me.

Going back and forth and questioning your decision is normal. Pre surgery jitters are normal. You and your family are going to be nervous about treating any disease with surgery. Complications are a risk. Staying obese is a risk.

Surgery is not for everyone You can back out. If you change your mind down the road you can start the process again.

Learn from all the good and bad experiences But, know your experience will be unique to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On ‎3‎/‎30‎/‎2019 at 8:05 PM, S@ssen@ch said:

I have no regrets, although I would warn you that in the course of this surgical journey you MUST change your relationship with food. Early on in my recovery (maybe the first 3-6 months), I went through a bit of a "mourning" period where I realized that I could no longer use food for comfort, celebration, or any number of ways that food became like that little green mucous dude in the Mucinex commercials. He's there talking to you, trying to share life with you, and gets upset when you finally kick him to the curb.

Mourning is the perfect word! I did have to grieve for some of my faves I know I can no longer indulge in. Mainly bread and pastas!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×