Does anyone regret having had Gastric Bypass?

skatermom503

Does anyone regret having had gastric bypass. I am 6 weeks out and pretty miserable. I know it's too late now but can anyone tell me if they felt like this and if it ever gets any better?

Lobster1987

The first few months can be completely awful. A lot of people regret it in that time frame. You're probably completely normal. What is making you regret it? I've never regretted mine, but that was also because I had a textbook recovery. Getting used to being full on eating hardly anything was rough, but in time, you'll be able to eat a small meal and you'll feel much better about it.

skatermom503

I actually didn't have any problems from the surgery despite being an older person. And I followed the post-op diet carefully. I am now at the phase where no foods are restricted, i just have to find out what I can eat comfortably. One problem is that nothing tastes good and my mouth tastes like stale cigarettes (I don't smoke). I am encouraged that you said the 1st few months are hard. I am more hopeful this will get better now.

Lobster1987

Oh yep! I remember the taste changes. Your taste buds will be messed up for a while. The stale cigarette taste is probably a result of you being in ketosis, where your body is burning a lot of fat. Drink lots and lots of water. It should pass. It'll happen intermittently for a few months. I had a metallicy taste and got dehydrated a lot. I ended up in the ER for dehydration, so drinking a lot right now is very important.

skatermom503

OMG, finding you was a gift! Nobody I've talked to including my doctor had a clue about taste changes. It is like a metallic taste. I'm not crazy! What a relief. It's good to know that it won't be forever (hopefully). I don't drink enough water but I;m getting better. Oddly, plain water was the hardest thing for me to drink in the first month or so at least. It actually hurt. Now I am getting more down so will just keep working at it. Thank you so much for your support. The doctors aren't all that much help because unless you've been through this, you just can't know. I looked at you pictures, and you have become a totally different person physically. Congratulations!

iKapuniai

I was thinking about creating a new topic for this question, but I figure maybe I'll ask my question here instead.

To those of you who have had, or have thought about having, the gastric bypass surgery, or even lap band, or anything alike... why? I'm not criticizing or anything, I'm just wondering.... why'd you do it? Or why do you WANT to do it? It's a TON of money, a LOT of pain, and you STILL have to diet - extremely, at that - and exercise after healing. Like I said, I'm not criticizing... I've thought about doing one of these surgeries myself at one point, then I researched and researched and found that the first few months (even a year or two!) you have to go on a pretty extreme diet, and ease your way into eating new foods.... if you could do that POST-op, why not just do it all by yourself anyway? How much do the surgeries REALLY help? And for those who have to lose some weight in order to even get the surgeries done... why not just continue to do it yourself instead of putting yourself through all that?

Love and Alohas,
Ihilani Kapuniai

tillmanlady

bump

skatermom503

Some people can do it "themselves" and be successful. I have lost a lot of weight over the years but here I am at 58 with a starting weight of almost 400# and looking towards the end of my life. The decision to use surgery as an aid is very personal and different for everyone who makes it. It isn't a cure but it will help decrease how much you can physically eat so that it helps with portion control and types of foods eaten. I agree it sounds odd to have to lose weight BEFORE surgery (trust me, I was shocked) but the reason for it is to get some fat off the liver and have a safer surgery. Most people can lose some weight if there is an end in sight like losing 30# pre-op but when you are looking at losing 150 or 200# or more, it is overwhelming and very few people can do it. I think the younger the better for this life-changing procedure so that people can live their lives, not wait to live them. Please don't criticize anyone who makes this decision, it is not an easy fix and is dangerous but if it works it will change their life for the better. And the initial low calorie diet is easy because you really are not hungry. I am miserable now but it will get better and so will I. Good luck on your weight loss journey.

xhellokittycatx

I was planning having gastric bypass surgery June 2 2010. Four days before my surgery, I called my doctors office to call it off. I was losing so much weight just counting calories and going to the gym. I was very focused. I am glad that I didn't do it. That was my choice. Surgery isn't for everyone.

Laura8603

I was thinking about creating a new topic for this question, but I figure maybe I'll ask my question here instead.

To those of you who have had, or have thought about having, the gastric bypass surgery, or even lap band, or anything alike... why? I'm not criticizing or anything, I'm just wondering....

I was over 300 pounds and the stats on losing200 pounds AND keeping it off if you are that heavy are slim to none. I wanted my life back and am damn proud of myself for taking control and being healthy again. Plus I wanted to look good, too, which is the icing on the cake.

anulle2009

I do not regret having it, I regret not doing what I was suppose to with my weight gain now. I did not have the same taste buds for awhile either. I remember when I moved from Liquids to pureed my dr. told me anything can be pureed, SOOO not true Texture means a lot when it comes to food!! I lived off mash potatoes for the first week or so when i moved to pureed food.

kybrandyb

I'm 8 months out today, and I would do it all over again. I had almost 200 pounds to lose and i have lost 140 of them. 47 to go. I felt like crap for 4 months but the weight was falling off so I was cool with it. I feel good now and can eat and actually get hungry again... but still fill up on almost nothing. I actually had the gastric sleeve.....
And to answer the other persons question , its alot easier to diet when your not hungry and excersise when your knees can hold your weight. I have such an easier time walking and can even run some now

Health_Gal

I did not have a gastric bypass, but know enough people that were miserable for years after the surgery that I would not recommend it to anyone.

bflysmile

I'm 5 weeks out and I'd do it again in a heartbeat and annoyed that I didn't do it 2 years ago when my doctor suggested it. The idea that people can just "do it on their own" is one that many people who have had surgery are going to find offensive, btw. Most of us have "done it on our own" and seen the weight come back (plus!) - nearly every diet study proves this.

For many people, a radical life style change is needed to cut the cord between your stomach and your head. There are many things about WLS that change your physiology that regaining the weight (although possible, certainly) is more difficult than when following a traditional diet plan. And on top of that things like NOT feeling hunger, having a physical reaction to eating more than you can in one sitting, and as someone mentioned being able to lose enough weight that exercise is possible - are ways that this tool can make permanent weight loss possible.

I would never recommend the surgery for someone who didn't have a history of weight-related issues. At 41 years old, I was staring at 300 pounds, early stage diabetes and sleep apnea. I was on 5 pills a day - all weight-related. Something had to change and WLS has given me a good tool to make that change.

I didn't do this to look better in a pair of jeans. I did it to save my life or not die prematurely.

jbosey

Those that had complications and died would probably say they regret it, if they could. My sister had it and is completely happy, but she cant eat more than a few spoonful of food at a time. She has a lot of lose skin, however she is in her late 60's

Chrisandsteph99

My sister had it done about 5 or 6 years ago. She lost a ton of weight and now has unfortunately gained most of it back. I try to get her motivated but it's not working. Her dilemma now is she can't ubsorb (sp) vitamins now because of the surgery and might have to have a blood tranfusion. Is this normal for gastric bypass patients? She said it is and I am so nervous for her.

BarbWhite09

My mom had is done probably like 6 years ago, or so. She regrets it. Her stomach has stretched back out & she's gained like 40 lbs of her weight back [think she lost like 130 or something like that after she had]. The stomach stretching back out was her own fault, I'm pretty sure but yea. She did have a long period of time where she would puke almost every time she ate, even though her stomach is stretched back out mostly now, she still ends up getting sick sometimes. She lost the weight rapidly & was left with a lot of loose skin, so that was another downfall. She's trying to lose weight once again, hopefully this time it will be successful; I hate to see her struggle.

nursenikki829

My sister had it done about 5 or 6 years ago. She lost a ton of weight and now has unfortunately gained most of it back. I try to get her motivated but it's not working. Her dilemma now is she can't ubsorb (sp) vitamins now because of the surgery and might have to have a blood tranfusion. Is this normal for gastric bypass patients? She said it is and I am so nervous for her.

It sounds like your sister's surgeon didn't properly prepare her for her surgery with visiting a nutritionist. When you have gastric bypass, you automatically have mal-absorbtion due to the change in the way things are digested. Vitamins are required every day to be healthy. If they aren't taken, you can have many problems with vitamin deficiency..... My husband had gastric bypass and lost 200 lbs. He is 5 years post- op and has had no problems at all. He tells me that he would do it again in a heartbeat.

Jme140

Some people are too over whelmed by the amount of weight they have gained. This over whelming feeling keeps them from being abel to get started because they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't had any thing like this done but have had that feeling of I don't even know where to start. Good luck to those who have had the surgery, Weight loss is hard work, but together we can achive a healthier life.

wftiger

I haven't but my mother did. I still miss her 11 years later. Please think about this carefully. It is so hard for the families to go on after the loss of a loved one because of this surgery.

She was never told how high the mortality rate was for the first year. Would it have changed her mind? Probably not but do some research and talk to your family.

To answer the question about blood transfusion -- is it "normal" no but it does happen a lot.

Elizabeth_C34

To the OP: I hope you can work out your issues with the surgery and congrats on your loss. I know it's hard work for anyone to lose 100+ lbs, and you should be commended for all your hard work. Please be safe and make sure you check with your doctor before doing anything against your protocol.

psmd

I have not had bariatric surgery of any kind but have studied it extensively in psychiatry, including why people do it, what type of people do it, what psychiatric issues they have, and what the effects are after.

What I will say is one of the big reasons for doing it is because it is basically "forced" behavioral therapy. Obviously those who get the surgery have already had a hard time controlling how much they eat in the first place and this is a way to do it. The most common psychiatric issue that has been found in those with obesity is anxiety--some people when they get anxious, they eat. There are also a lot of self-esteem issues that come into play. You have to adjust into basically turning into a new person.

I think you are noting the "physical" side effects of the surgery, but I would consider the psychological changes to be important as well. If you think there is any problem with how you're handling it, most surgery centers have a psychologist working for them, or some sort of counselor. Going through something like this is very difficult. Also support groups can be helpful (kind of like this thread, but in person). Good luck to you!

mandygirl5

Six years ago I had a duodenal switch (a form of weight loss surgery, different from gastric bypass) and have never regretted it for a moment! The recovery period wasn't fun, but I've never had fun recovering from any surgery I've had. The restriction of the DS helped me be able to lose weight, and the intestinal malabsorption helps my body metabolism function like a normal person. I eat a high-protein, low-carb diet, and take a lot of vitamins and mineral supplements. I will never be able to gain all my weight back (which is a scare for people with gastric bypass, one of the main reasons I chose DS), but I can, like a normal-never-been-obese-person, have weight fluctuations. I bounce within a 10-lb range, depending on if I overdo the sweets or carbs, but if I faithfully track my eating and weight here, then I keep at the lower end of that range.

So NO, I do not regret having had my DS. Prior to surgery I was a very old 30-year-old, with a host of weight-related medical issues and a not very bright future. The high-protein, low-carb diet did nothing for me then, nor did any of my other diet attempts, both alone and medically-supervised. I found success only once I had my DS, which helped me lose 150 lbs! Now I am a very young, HEALTHY, and active 36-year-old who is working on my doctorate, have moved up greatly in my career, has a ton of friends and a great life! I will never regret it for a minute!

Keep your head up, it WILL get better! Since you had gastric bypass, one of the most important things is to make sure you know and follow your "pouch" rules, as that will make or break your long-term success! Follow doctor's orders, don't forget to take all of your supplements, but most of all, ENJOY the ride down and all the new experiences that come with it! Hopefully your "buyers remorse" will subside soon as you heal and learn your new life. If you don't have other online support groups for weight loss surgery, try ObesityHelp.com. Good luck!

sskcrm

I haven't had gastric bypass, but my sister-in-law did and when I discussed having one with her, she advised against it. She said two of her friends had lapband and have not had the complications or long lasting effects. She has digestive problems if she eats a normal meal; things like nausea, gas etc. It's definitely not for everyone. I have just been too chicken to go through with it. I know many people that are successful with gastric bypass, but it is a big risk and evidently from reading your posts and from other there are big changes. Hang in there.

scubagirl319

Skatermom,

You already know my statistics. For the record, I did not have the by pass, but had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy where they remove 80% of the stomach. Did I regret it, yes for me the 1st 6 months my taste buds were screwy, things that I have always liked tasted bad, especially garlic which I use in everything. I had no energy till I learned to eat properly and take my vitamins. I was sad that I could not eat or drink the things I loved. Now at a year out, everything is back to normal, the only thing I regret now is that I didn't do this years earlier. I am a foodie and love to cook, grill and smoke. So now I just take those talents and make foods that are good for me. I have more energy that I know what to do with, I'm exercising, I participated in a Walk from Obesity walk this year and was the 2nd highest fundraiser for the Dallas area. I'm also training for a 10 mile run in Austin in April.

As for all of you naysayers, I was 454 pounds, Now 227. I have been big all my life, 95% of the people in my family are big, I had tried every diet know to man, Yes some of it is mental and you have to make the mental adjustments... BUT In weight loss surgery and normal dieting, both have high incidences of regain. Weight loss would not be the multi billion dollar industry it is if it were easy. . Do I think I took the easy way out, HELL NO, this is not easy. But for me it is working for the first time in my life. I will be one of the success stories, because I've also changed my outlook. Before I lived to eat, now I eat to live. I still enjoy good food, having an occasional glass of wine or tequila, but it is not everyday. maybe every couple of months.

So all you people who post on here with all the negatives about weight loss surgery, how about giving support, that is what this site is to be about, when people question tell them to do their homework, check out the various weight loss sites, talk to others who have had the surgery, talk to a counselor, DO NOT tell horror stories about your friends, mothers sisters husband. Death and complications are just as serious in someone who is morbidly obese without the surgery.

I'll be the first one to say surgery is not for everyone, but it can save your life.

scubagirl319

I'm 8 months out today, and I would do it all over again. I had almost 200 pounds to lose and i have lost 140 of them. 47 to go. I felt like crap for 4 months but the weight was falling off so I was cool with it. I feel good now and can eat and actually get hungry again... but still fill up on almost nothing. I actually had the gastric sleeve.....
And to answer the other persons question , its alot easier to diet when your not hungry and excersise when your knees can hold your weight. I have such an easier time walking and can even run some now

So very true, I had the sleeve too

skinnydreams165

I'm sorry you feel that way. My friend actually had gastric bypass early last year and she had a hard time with recovery. she suffered some depression and really just felt low b/c although the surgery is what she wanted, her addiction to food was not cured and she was unable to eat properly. She ended up getting some counseling and now she's feeling a lot better. she has lost a lot of weight, she looks great! she's now understanding that food no longer controls her and she is happy w/ her decison. just keep thinking positive and hang in there! in the end you will have some awesome results and you will look back and smile at how far you have come!

Lozze

So all you people who post on here with all the negatives about weight loss surgery, how about giving support, that is what this site is to be about, when people question tell them to do their homework, check out the various weight loss sites, talk to others who have had the surgery, talk to a counselor, DO NOT tell horror stories about your friends, mothers sisters husband. Death and complications are just as serious in someone who is morbidly obese without the surgery.

I think to a certain point I understand it. If someone posts a topic about opinions on getting it done, then yes I will give my opinion.

In a topic like this where the person has had it done and is asking questions? I agree with you. There's nothing to be gained by giving opinions on the surgery itself.

OP I hope it gets better for you and that you now have some good support from people on here who have been through the same/similar procedures.

scubagirl319

Excellent response Skinnydreams. That is what this site is supposed to be about. Thank you!!

suzksell

I had my gastric bypass surgery 10 years ago, and I have never completely regretted it, though I do remember some pretty bad days. I've read most of the posts in this thread, and I am going back in my mind to the way that food started tasting different to me. The one poster is right...you probably are in ketosis. I used to brush my teeth constantly and drink as much water as I could to overcome that. It happens when you are not eating very many carbs. Eventually, food will begin to taste "normal" to you again...this I promise. The key is to figure out what you can tolerate, and how often your body needs food. In the beginning, I had to eat constantly--just tiny amounts. It was as though a bite or two would fill me up, but in an hour, I needed something else. Now, 10 years later, I eat 5 times per day...still in small amounts. I lost the 80% that the docs tell you that is normal from GB. Now I want to be healthier and lose a bit more. Make sure you're drinking enough, and be wary of those liquid diets that a lot of people tell post-GB patients to use. Physically, they can really screw up your system in ways most people can't imagine (like making your sphincter muscles tighten to the point where you can't swallow real food!). Get your protein in, and keep your mouth WET. This should help!

Health_Gal

Unless someone is extremely obese to the point there's no hope for them to lose weight otherwise, I would suggest not doing it. I have not had a gastric bypass, but know people that were moderately overweight, had one, and always regretted the fact that they let themself be talked into it.

Besides all the problems with discomfort after eating, if you have a gastric bypass, you will always have trouble absorbing vitamins. Even you take all the supplements your doctor recommends, your digest system can only absorb part of it. This can cause your hair to fall out and thin, dental problems, and numerous other issues.