Question:
HAS ANYONE EVER HAD SECOND THOUGHTS?
I am planning to have the LAP RNY, and I was extremely happy, because like many, I feel like there is a thin me yelling to get out:) And mind you, everyone has been very supportive of me. That is until I told a friend of mine about my procedure, she strongly discouraged it because she had another friend who done it and she says she has TERRIBLE gas and HORRIBLE scars. Well, this kind of dampered my spirits, because this is really the first time someone said something negative, I know everyone is different, and now I am beginning to wonder if I should try something else. She wants me to try Weight Watchers with her, and she says that it is working for her. I know that RNY has a lot of rules, but like every diet, you have to "train" yourself to live healthy and make healthy choices. Anyone with input please????? — Tanya F. (posted on August 7, 2003)
August 7, 2003
— amandalianne
August 7, 2003
Tanya, I think everyone has second thoughts...I havent had my surgery yet
but Ive had second thoughts too. About the weight watchers thing...if it
really worked and we kept it off then none of us going on this journey. I
have 2 small kids and I dont want to leave them BUT I know that if I dont
do something I'm going to leave them alot sooner than I wanted to anyway.
Not much advice I know but listen to your heart and do what it tells you,
only you can make this choice.I dont go much by what "other"
people say because everyone is different you may/may not have problems.I
talk to alot of people that have gone through WLS,some had complications
some didnt..its based on alot of things, how obese you are,health,the
surgeons ability and "luck" of the draw. If you decide to do WW
and it doesnt work as well as you hope you can always get the
surgery...best of luck..Love Amy
— cinamoni
August 7, 2003
I think most people second guess themselves at some point, and considering
the extreme choice we're making, it's appropriate to do so. RNY is not
like another diet. It's a major physical change that will impact the rest
of our lives. You DO have to consider all possible outcomes, and there are
much worse things that can happen than gas and a bad scar, although they're
rare. However, if you've come to the point where you know that diets won't
work for you, and being MO is affecting your health so badly that even if
you do have complications you know you still have made the right choice,
then I think that surgery is a lifesaving, wonderful option. Research,
research, and research some more so that you know what will be required
post-op to make sure you stay healthy. Then do what you think is best for
YOU, and don't worry about other people think you should do.
— mom2jtx3
August 7, 2003
I'd much rather have stinky farts and an ugly scar forever than to die at
35 of a heart attack. Or take insulin for the rest of my life. This surgery
is for people who need to lose weight to live. If we can't lose weight
through other methods when faced with the prospect of DEATH nothing is
going to help us other than this surgery.
— YaYasMom
August 7, 2003
It seems like there is always some person out there ready and waiting to
save us from ourselves! How much does this person really know about WLS? I
would bet a million dollars you already know far, far, more about surgery
than she does. Does she even know what procedure this other person had
done? What they ate post op and what medications and supplements that
person was on? Can she define what "horrible scars" are? The
biggest question is : Do you want to try another diet? Count yourself lucky
that you have so many others that do support you. I do have to say that if
you are not 100% certain WLS is the best thing for you, don't do it, and go
ahead and try Weight Watchers with her. You need to be absolutely certain
that WLS is right for you.
— koogy
August 7, 2003
Tanya, I'm 3 months post op and my gas doesn't smell any worse than it did
pre-op! As far as the scar, while it's long, it's very, very thin. In
fact, when it fully heals and the pinkness goes away, the top half is so
very very thin that you probably won't be able to see it at all. DO NOT
let these things prevent you from the great life that is just a few short
months away. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Besides, I had cellulite
and depression before surgery and those are much uglier than a scar and
gas! ha Good luck to you.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 7, 2003
Hon, I think EVERYONE has second thoughts before this surgery. The
previous poster is right, my gas is no worse now than before, and I have 5
small lap scars that will fade with time. Would I chose scars over a huge
belly... you bet I would. I am 3 months out and down 67 lbs.
— Happy I.
August 7, 2003
Yes I have scars. Yes I sometimes have gas. But you know what? I had scars
and gas BEFORE I had WLS, too. (I had a c-section and--guess what--I'm
human and I fart. LOL) I figure that I will probably never win a Miss
America contest fat or thin, but at least now I'm healthy. I also figure
that before I had WLS I would have never let anyone see my fat belly, so
I'm not upset that I can't show it off now. I sure look better in
clothes!<p>I do on occasion have really stinky gas (face it . . . do
they ever smell GOOD???) but usually only if I ate something I shouldn't
have (last culprit: a bag of peanut M&Ms). Unless you have a distal RNY
you probably won't have major problems with this. Don't let rumor and
innuendo make your major life decisions for you. It's your life and you
have to decide what you can live with. For me, scars and a little
gastrointestinal challenge from time to time are not such a big deal. How
big of a deal is it to you?
— ctyst
August 7, 2003
I have NEVER had a second thought, ever!! I'm 4.5 months post op, down 75
pounds and as a matter of fact, I have less gas now than before because I'm
not eating crap!! Yeah, I get a couple of weird burps after I eat, but who
doesn't burp. I rarely if ever have the "other" kind of gas.
Try weight watchers while you wait for a date!! And then proceed anyway!!
Good luck!!
— msmaryk
August 7, 2003
I haven't had the surgery yet, it's coming up on 9/2. So far I haven't had
any second thoughts. Yesterday I talked to my insurance company about
whole life insurance. I asked her if my weight would cause the premiums to
go up and she said more than likely. Then I told her that I was having WLS
to get healthy. She asked me "why would you do that to
yourself?" I told her that I am doing this so that I can live and be
healthy. She then says to me that she has lost 60 pounds on Weight
Watchers. I said good for her but been there done that. THEN she had the
nerve to tell me that she "just put her mind to it." GGGRRRR
Talk about mad. Then I am sitting there saying to myself do I really want
to do this surgery. She put doubts in my mind. I then realize that this
is the only way that I WILL be able to live and have a life. Then the evil
person in me says do this and you can show her. I see her struggling with
her weight and she would qualify for WLS but her not wanting it is her
perogitive. Oh well. This is a very long answer for just saying don't let
what she says bother you. Every person is different. It will affect us in
all different ways. You have made the best decision for your life, don't
let others take it away from you. Good luck on your journey!!! Jamie
— Jamie L.
August 7, 2003
I definitly had second thoughts. I first was told about this surgery almost
15 years ago. Even though I wasn't MO at the time I thought to myself that
it might be something I needed though I knew very little about it. I had
just lost over a hundred pounds at the time but I had the thought it might
come back. Well it did and then I started looking into WLS here at OH. I
went to chats and things and I read about puking and I decided someone
would have to be nuts to want to go through all that but I didn't realize
what it was really like cause I hadn't done my homework. So I went on
another diet..one of a zillion and I lost weight again. And I gained it
back. So I started thinking WLS again.. came back to OH and read and
chatted and made an appointment with a surgeon..got scared again canceled
the appointment. This time I decided I was giving myself one year to loose
the weight or be doing something about it so I rejoined weight watchers for
about the fifth time. I lost 65 pounds from January to June. I gained much
more then that from June to January so I started reading up again and by
March I had made an appointment with a surgeon..it took till August to jump
through the hoops and have my surgery. I regret that I didn't keep my
first appointment years earlier with a surgeon. I let fear keep me from
having more joyful years in my life at a healthy weight. I have lost 155
pounds in less then a year and I am thrilled.
— Carrie D.
August 7, 2003
I had second thoughts ... and third thoughts, and fourth thoughts and fifth
thoughts and .... LOL But the reason I had this surgery is because
*diets* didn't work for me. I, too, was approached by a number of friends
who wanted me to try the latest diet or Weight Watchers or whatever because
they thought the surgery was too drastic. Although I was tempted, I had to
keep reminding myself that it's easy to lose the weight from dieting but
impossible to KEEP it off. At least it was for me. And even though after
surgery I still have to make healthy choices, I'm able to do that now
because I have no other choice ... if I eat the wrong food or too much food
I get sick. Could WW do that for me? I think not! Second thoughts are
sooooo normal. But if you are at peace with your decision to have surgery,
that is all that matters. Good luck!
— MomBear2Cubs
August 7, 2003
second and third and fourth.... I was crying while being wheeled into the
oper. room I told my nurse I had changed my mind and that I wanted off the
gurney, she just smiled and gave me a little more something into my I.V.
line and that's the last thing I remember.. Thank god she knew it was only
fear of the unknown, I am sooo proud of myself for taking this step in
making myself a healthier happier person.
— Maggie M.
August 7, 2003
I had a lap proximal (60cm) RNY two years ago. I fart a lot. At certain
times of the month I can clear a room. When I'm upset about farting (in our
house we call it "shooting a rabbit.") I think "hmmm...am I
upset about the gas I have, or would I rather be doomed to an early
death?" Go to the bathroom, shoot a rabbit, and leave. Be happy that
you're no longer doomed to an early death. Be happy that you can shoot
rabbits an additional 30 years because you're healthier. There are
side-effects to everything. Being morbidly obese your side-effect is death.
Think about it.
— sandieguy
August 7, 2003
Hi Tanya,
Yes, I had second thoughts LOT'S of times. At one point I got myself so
worked up I started seeing a therapist to help me come to a reasonable
decision because I couldn't make a decision on my own - and this was WITH
the support of family and friends.
I'm now 6/5 weeks out from having open RNY. I've lost 40 lbs., I haven't
had any dumping, I've had less gas than before the surgery because my food
choices are so much more sensible, and my scar, 4" in length, is
already fading. There is a lot of "retraining" when it comes to
how we think about food, and it isn't easy. But it's a hell of a lot
easier than it was when I was going to WW and hadn't had the surgery. It's
still a lot of work, but this tool has given me my first real hope of being
a "normal" size.
Everyone's experience with this surgery is different - just like everyone's
dieting experiences are different. What works for some doesn't work for
everyone. Just read everything you can, and as you're going to need a
psych evaluation anyway, find yourself a therapist now who has dealt with
WLS patients, and let them help you come to the right decision for you.
Best of luck!
— Patti S.
August 8, 2003
Tanya-I see by your profile. Your have surgial consult appointment
scheduled for September. When you meet with the
surgeon. Have a list of questions ready covering WLS procedure. It's easy
to say "I have a friend" or " I know a friend of a
friend". You have been doing research and
asking questions already. I know the limbo of waiting for
meet with a surgeon. I have my appointment date set for September also. I
feel after I meet with the surgery things
will finally start happening. I can't say I am having second thoughts due
to my age. (I'm 51) But I gave this decision a lot of thought. Take Care
and Good Luck
— Aynikaye
August 11, 2003
I had a LAP RNY and the biggest scar on me was the size of a quarter next
to my belly button. After my tt, it was removed so I have no remaining
scars from the RNY. I don't know where your friend got her information but
it sounds like the person had an OPEN RNY, not a LAP. Also, yeah, your gas
smells a little worse then others, but I think it's a VERY small price to
pay for the way I look now. Plus, how many people are REALLY going to know
about your gas smells??!!!
— Patty H.
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