Anyone regret WLS?
MyOptimalLife
Posts: 51 Member
Hey there! I was (still am?) on the Optifast plan, but I'm thinking that WLS would really aid me in many ways, although I know it's certainly not the magic fix to it all. So much of weight loss (& maintenance) is mental.
With that being said, has anyone regretted getting weight loss surgery? If so, I'd love to hear your story. If not, I'd still love to hear it.
P.S. I'm in Denver so if anyone is from the area, I'd love to hear about who you chose as a surgeon.
With that being said, has anyone regretted getting weight loss surgery? If so, I'd love to hear your story. If not, I'd still love to hear it.
P.S. I'm in Denver so if anyone is from the area, I'd love to hear about who you chose as a surgeon.
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Hi! My only regret is that I didn't have the surgery sooner. I wasted too much time going back and forth about not wanting to miss out on anything. I had my surgery 3/4/14, I'm 3 yrs out, and down a little over 91 lbs (was down more, but gained about 10 lbs back, been working on losing it again). I don't miss out on anything, in fact I can do more than I could before. It was the best decision I made for myself.7
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Nope.1
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Nope! It has given me happiness that I didn't know I missing out on. I'm 9 months post-op and down 104lbs. Best decision ever!!! Like a previous poster said - I just regret not having it when I was younger.2
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I don't regret the surgery. I wish I was in a mental place to have had it earlier, or understood the CICO/nutritional things I now know earlier in life so that I may not have needed it, but once I got to where I was, i don't regret the surgery.
You can read my story here:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10123987/six-month-ramblings/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10376334/two-years
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I also regret not having it sooner
I spent 8 years telling doctors i didnt need it, that my latest diet would work
I dieted my way to 387lb and only agreed when i was told i had just 5 years left to live due to my weight
During all the work ups to make sure i was ready for surgery a few medical conditions were spotted. I wasnt dying cos of fat, i was ill because i had autoimmune diseases
Surgery gave me back my life. I learnt about nutrition and cico, im able to do so much more. Ive gone from shuffling just the length of the room with a walking stick to hiking miles with my baby on my back, a baby who wasnt a possibility 3 years ago
I had my surgery in 2014. Ive lost 143lb. Had a year and a half weightloss break during pregnancy and the first year of breastfeeding and back to losing the rest7 -
Surgery is a great tool to help you achieve your health goals. If I had health insurance I would have done it years earlier. I'm in the best shape of my life and am doing things I never dreamed of.
Most importantly I'm healthy and happy and have added decades to my life.1 -
Agree - my only regret is not doing it sooner! Best thing I ever did.2
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Like others, I only regret not doing it sooner. For all the amazing benefits I gained from it - good health, improved quality of life, etc. - I would do it again in a heartbeat.1
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I don't regret it. Sometimes I miss being able to eat whatever, whenever, but my tendency to eat like that is why I needed surgery in the first place!6
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No regrets yet.1
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I too wish that I had the surgery earlier in life however I think I had to get where I was to be committed and appreciate the tool I now have. No regrets I got my life back!1
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I only wish that the sleeve had been an option when I had my lapband put in. Just did the band to sleeve revision Nov 10,2016 and couldn't be happier!2
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I would do it over again in a heartbeat!3
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My surgery was only six months ago. I've lost about half of the weight I hope to shift. I have the same regret as everyone else... I just wish I had done this sooner. I'd have the surgery again in a heartbeat.3
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Nope, only that I wish I hadn't taken 3 years to finally do it.2
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Never a regret - 4 years post-op VSG and still happy. It does get harder the further out to are, but that's why you must work hard early on to change your habits before they catch up with you again.4
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I have had many complications... from excruciating pain... post op.., to chronic dehydration. I am in the ER at least once a month for fluid replenishment. Having said that... I am half the person I used to be... I can walk up and down several flights of stairs and am no longer prediabetic!!! Was the surgery worth it??? I really don't know... excess skin... and clothes causing rashes... but the drs say I'm healthier.,,0
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MyOptimalLife wrote: »Hey there! I was (still am?) on the Optifast plan, but I'm thinking that WLS would really aid me in many ways, although I know it's certainly not the magic fix to it all. So much of weight loss (& maintenance) is mental.
With that being said, has anyone regretted getting weight loss surgery? If so, I'd love to hear your story. If not, I'd still love to hear it.
Some perspective: A cancer patient with three months to live would gladly change places with me for my weight loss struggles. Loose skin, minor complications, and all the hard work were worth it. I would have surgery again.
The biggest gifts out of my surgery have been:
(1) changes I made on the inside, (mental and behaviors)
(2) having my health, and life back. (I get to live longer and be an active participant in my family's lives.)
(3) physical appearance was an unexpected outcome. I'm happy with it.
(4) Having perspective of what it's like to be morbidly obese to a fit health conscious person
(5) overcoming the disease of obesity. ( I never want to go back to being that unhealthy again)
When I was heavy there were many things I was unable to do. I'm making up for lost time. I'm having adventures that I never thought would be possible. I'm thankful for this second chance in life. I don't take it for granted.
live life with no regrets!8 -
I'm 11days post op and I regret it everyday. That being said I'm not that far out it could change at least I'm praying to God it does. I did tons of research thought about it for years and had a lifestyle overhaul. Something's you just don't know until you experience them yourself. I wish you the best and hope it works out for you!1
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Shull_rachael wrote: »I'm 11days post op and I regret it everyday. That being said I'm not that far out it could change at least I'm praying to God it does. I did tons of research thought about it for years and had a lifestyle overhaul. Something's you just don't know until you experience them yourself. I wish you the best and hope it works out for you!
Oh no. What's going on?
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@Mandy_1982 I'm so sick everyday I'm pretty much bedridden. I feel so bad all of the time. I can't keep anything down and I'm in pain. I had a CT yesterday to make sure it wasn't a leak. My surgeon is on vacation so the stand in doctor said he didn't see a leak but not being able to keep anything down is a huge issue. He said he's not sure what it is my surgeon will be back Monday. I'm thinking of going through the er at another hospital I feel so bad.0
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@Shull_rachael DO NOT just go into any ER. DO NOT just see any doctor. YOU NEED to see a BARIATRIC SURGEON. There have been NUMEROUS horror stories of people going into the ER and those docs screwing things up and making it worse for bari patients!2
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@NicoleL874 the stand in doctor isn't a bariatric doctor. Mine is the only one in the area. Do you think that's why he can't figure it out?1
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Nov 2013...regret it everyday for the last year and a half...my doc is horrible...told me I'm not losing because I am overeating even though I am typically around 1400 cal/day...some days all I can eat is slider food (soft, mushy) I throw up the healthy stuff a lot - the heat, time of the month and stress levels have an impact on my band...if I fly I can't eat for 8-12 hours unless it is soft...I thought the band would make it so I felt full sooner and stop eating. No, it makes eating painful. My doc told me, "exercise is not the way to lose weight" while I agree to a point I also know that I have come to love working out and how much I feel better when I do.
I am trying to "go back to basics" though and really really chew my food, not drink for 30 min after eating, I tend to avoid rice, pasta, bread...1 -
@ThineOwnselfBTrue You have the lapband? I have heard a lot of bad things about it. Most patients get theirs removed and get RYN or VSG. At my Kaiser, lapband isnt even an option anymore.
@Shull_rachael I agree with Nicole. You cannot just go to any doctor, especially this soon after surgery. My surgeon was really mad that the ER gave me a ton of steroids right after surgery. I also had to remind them that I couldn't have the NSAIDs, and they kept bringing me food i couldnt eat even after we talked multiple times about how I just had surgery and what I could and couldnt do.3 -
ThineOwnselfBTrue wrote: »Nov 2013...regret it everyday for the last year and a half...my doc is horrible...told me I'm not losing because I am overeating even though I am typically around 1400 cal/day...some days all I can eat is slider food (soft, mushy) I throw up the healthy stuff a lot - the heat, time of the month and stress levels have an impact on my band...if I fly I can't eat for 8-12 hours unless it is soft...I thought the band would make it so I felt full sooner and stop eating. No, it makes eating painful. My doc told me, "exercise is not the way to lose weight" while I agree to a point I also know that I have come to love working out and how much I feel better when I do.
I am trying to "go back to basics" though and really really chew my food, not drink for 30 min after eating, I tend to avoid rice, pasta, bread...
Please get a second opinion from another bariatric surgeon regarding the status of your band. As @Bekah7482 mentioned, many doctors don't even offer them anymore. You're having complications that shouldn't be ignored.
Exercise is not needed to lose weight but it does positively contribute to overall health and well-being.
I'm nearly 2 years out from gastric bypass and 99.9% of the time I still wait an hour after eating before drinking anything...but I'm terrible about eating too fast so I have to watch my portion control.1 -
Yes i do regret it. Before my gastric bypass I lost 101 lbs on my own. I had actually told myself that if i lost 100 lbs in my 6 months of pre surgery weight loss i would NOT do it. However, when the time came i thought with the added "tool" that wls would give me i would do amazing. Well that did not happen for me0
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Shull_rachael wrote: »@Mandy_1982 I'm so sick everyday I'm pretty much bedridden. I feel so bad all of the time. I can't keep anything down and I'm in pain. I had a CT yesterday to make sure it wasn't a leak. My surgeon is on vacation so the stand in doctor said he didn't see a leak but not being able to keep anything down is a huge issue. He said he's not sure what it is my surgeon will be back Monday. I'm thinking of going through the er at another hospital I feel so bad.
I'm so sorry to hear this. You definitely should not be feeling like that. I hate that your surgeon is out of town
If something is wrong it sucks having to wait until Monday. Is there any of your surgeon's staff you can call? Like a nurse or dietitian that could give you advice or help?
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@Shull_rachael Absolutely! If the on-call doctor is not a bariatric doctor he may be floundering! When is your surgeon back? If it's soon, I'd definitely try to wait it out. If not, there's got to be another one SOMEWHERE. It may not be convenient, but it may be worth the trip!1
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Not a day goes by that I don't LOVE MY TOOL. I've lost 90lbs and am only 15 lbs from a truly healthy BMI. I wish I'd done it sooner so my last pregnancy hadn't been so unhealthy, but I'm glad I'm healthy now and I'd do it again 100 times over if I had to.1
