Post VSG Regrets?

[FLPhoenix 20]

Hi everyone, I am getting closer to getting all the approvals in place for surgery. The approval I was most nervous about was the Psychological Evaluation but, it went quite well last week. Obviously, this is a big decision that I am not taking lightly so......Out of curiosity, do any of you have any regrets thus far? Are any post op issues you have encountered that have made you regret having surgery or have the benefits have really outweighed the issues?

I am mainly worried about dehydration since today I do chug a lot of Water. Thanks for your feedback!☺️

[Maribelle76 82]

I am about 3 weeks out from the surgery, and I don't have any regrets so far. It is an emotionally trying time, because I'm having to learn how to control myself in ways I've never controlled myself. I'm not a disciplined person, so it can be a struggle. But I know that this is something that I have to learn how to do or I will not be able to keep up with my children.

I haven't had any complications thankfully. I was feeling good by day four and pretty much able to do most of my daily life by seven days out with the exception of lifting. I was also worried about chugging Water, but I can get a whole cup of water down pretty quickly now. The only time I have problems is if I let my acid reflux flare up (sometimes I forget my omeprazole because the surgery had helped decrease my GERD so far). If I start to have a problem getting down water, I make sure to get some antacids and that fixes it up the next day.

My thought is that if you've come this far in the process, it is most likely the best thing for you and something that you really want in your heart. Otherwise you never would have put in the effort and time to get this far. A life lived in fear is a life half-lived...

When I got a little nervous before surgery, I started looking back through all of the monthly threads. I think I looked at the March, April, May, and June threads. It was a relief to see that all of the surgeries were safe, and the complications were fairly limited and of short duration. Maybe if you go through those threads, too, that will help give you a good feel for the risks vs. the benefits.

[catwoman7 10,845]

RNY here. No regrets whatsoever. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Should have done it years ago.

[Soon2bFit21 109]

Zero regrets. The first month was very hard recovery wise. Do I miss being able to eat certain foods? Absolutely. Do I miss being able to perform better in the gym? Yes. Do i miss the 67 pounds I’ve lost so far? NOPE! This was a completely life changing experience for me and after spending 20 years struggling to keep my weight down with over exercise and extreme dieting only to have it backfire and gain even more back each time.

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

No regrets! I'm already off half my medication and losing at a good pace and NOT having any issues. Never have, thankfully.

I think my biggest issue is gonna be all the extra skin when it's all said and done (having some already and still have about 80 lbs to lose). And sadly I don't think I'll ever be in the position to afford removing it. THAT is my only worry, I'd say, more than a regret.

[FLPhoenix 20]

Thanks everyone!

[Jaye W 218]

I am 5 months post sleeve. Was doing great, felt great, no complications, was working out at gym, hitting protein/ fluid goals, almost seemed easy. Had a gall bladder attack and had to have it removed last week even with that no regrets. Just continuing one day at a time, one pound at a time.

[SleevedK 25]

4 years post-sleeve, yes, I do regret it. The sleeve has a pretty high rate of revisions to gastric bypass in the long run due to either really bad acid reflux or inadequate weight loss. It also makes you more likely to get a hiatal hernia post-operatively, which may not sound like a big deal, but it has had a real effect on my quality of life. I didn't have a hiatal hernia until after the sleeve.
Knowing what I know now, I would have never had bariatric surgery in the first place, because I was quite healthy in spite of being fat and bariatric surgery made my quality of life worse instead of better. However, if I did want to go through bariatric surgery, I'd rather get the RNY. At least the RNY has stood the test of time over many decades and cures acid reflux instead of making it worse like the sleeve does.
Personally, I would only recommend bariatric surgery to people who already have health issues from being fat. Then it is worth the risk that the surgery might create its own problems.

Edited August 4, 2021 by SleevedK

[drmeow 323]

I am about 5 years post-op and definitely regret it as well for mostly the same reasons as SleevedK above. Yes, I lost quite easily at first but that only lasted the first year. After that I could not lose anymore no matter what I tried. The worst thing? I am ALWAYS hungry. Before I had VSG, I had done low carb/keto for quite awhile and lost well and had a lot of energy. Part of that is eating plenty of fat which keeps you full. Unfortunately, after VSG I could not eat much fat. Protein first of course, but if I had too much fat I'd get sick. I also LOVE vegetables and can no longer eat much of them. I fill up quickly at a meal but am starving an hour later.

I was told that at least in the first 6 months or so, hunger would never be a problem b/c the part of your stomach they remove is where the hunger hormones are secreted and that eventually that would come back. I was hungry from day one and it never changed.

The biggest disappointment to me was that I did want the bypass. I went in for surgery and woke up to find I had nothing done. Doctor tried but could not pull my intestine far enough forward to attach it without stressing the incision. I went on a liquid diet for a month and lost 22 more lbs, tried again with the agreement that if it still wouldn't fit, he could go ahead and do VSG and that's what I woke up with. My surgeon has a very good reputation and I trust him. My body has always done weird things. Not sure if it's just all the fat in the omentum around the intestines that was the cause or adhesions from my previous gallbladder surgery, although he did say he broke down some of those.

By 3 yrs post-op I'd not only not lost anymore but started regaining. The regain is totally MY fault, not the surgery, but I was so tired of fighting to lose with no results that I began eating junk food again and it crept up. All told, I lost 85 lbs and regained 28, and have been sort of stuck there. I'm now revisiting trying to do low carb since it works for me once I get past the initial cravings, etc.

I had some GERD prior to surgery but it went away with the weight loss, only to return with a vengeance after i began to regain. It is MUCH worse than it ever was prior to surgery. I have not had an endoscopy to see if there is a hiatal hernia or anything yet; it's on my list to get checked out soon.

[Luna Girl 307]

Only regret is I wish I had done it sooner! I am enjoying my life again and spending more time with family and friends. It has been an adjustment, and I have had some challenging days, but I know, that my physical and mental health are so much better now! Good Luck!

[kristieshannon 1,540]

Zero regrets. I’m two years out as of next week. Down from 286 to just over 140. Off all meds, off CPAP. Life is good as a fit, healthy person.

[blackpowder72 23]

Absolutely NO regrets!! Had my surgery June 7th down 50 lbs . Pretty unbelievable for me . 2 1/2 month's down 50lbs no way I could of did it by myself. I'm off my blood pressure medication, I've cut my diabetes medication by 75% . I'm back to normal energy wise , eating 700 - 800 calories a day , I'm losing on an average of 3lbs a week right now. To this point it's the best decision of my life .

[ShoppGirl 3,341]

So far no regrets here either. I am back to eating and drinking everything I did before (except soda) in smaller quantities but I am 50 pounds down In five months. I agree with others that I only wish I had done this sooner.

[blackbird9 3]

No regrets here either! I am almost 6 months out and down 92 pounds. This surgery literally saved my life.

[FLPhoenix 20]

On 8/15/2021 at 1:55 PM, blackpowder72 said:

Absolutely NO regrets!! Had my surgery June 7th down 50 lbs . Pretty unbelievable for me . 2 1/2 month's down 50lbs no way I could of did it by myself. I'm off my blood pressure medication, I've cut my diabetes medication by 75% . I'm back to normal energy wise , eating 700 - 800 calories a day , I'm losing on an average of 3lbs a week right now. To this point it's the best decision of my life .

Awesome !