GinaCampbell

I am back on Clear Liquids at six months out. It's my go to when things get rocky! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

God bless and best wishes for a speedy recovery! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh no! So sorry to hear this! Prayers your way. Please let us know how you are. Do you have family support? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh my goodness! I have been admitted in and out of hospital, in and out of my GP, nurse, clinic appts etc. I have been battling a C Diff infection and dozens of other post op complications. But did I receive treatment from my bariatric team, absolutely not. They considered all post op issues to be other people's problems. I am not even sure why the bariatric MDT decided to act this time. I only got a phone call from their secretary. Then a call from the endoscopy team. No letter, information or advice from the team. I am suffering though right now and quite worried because I can't control the burning. My C Diff symptoms have flared again too. I don't even know if they could be related? Is it the acid causing the bowel symptoms? Is it the C Diff causing the acid? I have no clue and no one to advise me because it crosses the different care pathways (GP says ask surgeon, surgeon says ask GP). Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

All varying degrees of what is posted in the majority of the "regrets" threads. From serious post op complications such as twisted sleeves, leaks, ulcers and strictures to predictable ones such as gallbladder removal, nausea, dehydration, non tolerance of Proteins. The most upset people are the ones who felt that they were well informed, did thorough research yet underestimated the severity of the combination of post op recovery, further surgeries, weakness, fatigue, the effort required to keep hydrated, the effect baldness would have on their psyche, the feeling of social isolation (not being to eat like everyone else) etc. People that bought products in, prepared their routine, studied their plan and couldn't utilise any of it seemed to feel helpless and frustrated. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I can only speak to what I know, that's for sure. Even I was surprised about the way the c diff has been handled. My GP is totally baffled at the bariatric system locally and is exasperated by the lack of post op care issued. From the messages that I receive here from people, mostly resident Americans, there is a higher rate of complications than is even being reported publicly here. I don't think anyone can truly give accurate numbers for various reasons. I think that every person here might class "complications" differently. I don't imagine that the few regret posts here on BP skew the facts. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't think they are. I'm in several WLS groups and yes, there are complications, but nothing like reported on this site. Perhaps that is because of the high membership of this group, the varying regions and quality of care or because people here are less fearful of reporting. If you ask my bariatric team, they deem my surgery as 100% successful because I hit goal weight at 4 months out according to their records. Because they only measure weight loss and not health, I am not reported in their stream as having "complications". I keep a presence here to support anyone I can. If I can eventually recover, then other people with near fatal post op complications can. The symptoms my team said were because I was "anxious", were because of a serious, contagious clostridium difficile infection that could have also been fatal. Not to mention passing the infection to dozens of other people. I was left with only a diagnosis. I had to fight for meds, re testing and no medical person ever once supported me or gave me information. It was devastating to be abandoned when you are physically and emotionally fighting to recover. I have my faith, but so many don't and need support. I receive messages here frequently, from people suffering from post op complications, who don't message publicly. I even get messages thanking me for refusing to stop supporting other people publicly, thanking me for telling my story. I want post op folks to know that it is okay to feel regret. And for people who are really sick, telling them how great they will feel about it all because the weight is coming off, is really not helpful. Really sick people who are losing weight through malnutrition and illness, are not pleased about it. People who may have known pre op about the nausea, baldness, etc may not have truly appreciated the degree of these normal post op issues and have regrets. For example, If the reason you want to lose weight is so you can be more mobile, to be more social, yet your baldness now prevents you, regrets are normal. Regrets don't magically disappear at 3 weeks, 3 months or 6 months. But the issues do change. The way you eat does change. Some infections heal, such as incision sites and some you battle with indefinitely like c diff. Some people lose hair, others go bald and some lose no hair at all. My daughter would rather be bald than to be fat. I wouldn't. I wasn't worried about loose skin. I knew that I would have some and planned to have it surgically removed. Now I can't as I am an unsuitable candidate. The skin on my thighs now impedes me from walking comfortably and it limits the clothes I can wear. So some of my personal reasons for having surgery were not corrected by my vsg. Hearing all the wonderful stories of weightloss, full health etc makes me happy. I love seeing people blessed and living well. This was not my outcome. I just want people's expectations and information to be correct. And most of all, for people to feel accepted, supported, heard and understood. Even when they are being silly, emotional, reckless, going off plan, there might be genuinely intentioned people needing help. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Or they are even more common than is reported on forums like this. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

What makes you think that you couldn't handle post op issues? What precisely couldn't you handle? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App What makes you think that you couldn't handle post op issues? What precisely couldn't you handle? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

When telling my story, I have made it abundantly clear that my experience has been personal to me. Of course though, that is the way of all surgical procedures. The only thing that most of us have in common is that we are or were overweight. We have different diets, different bariatric teams, live in different countries, receive different care. Our surgeries are different, our aftercare is different, our meds, Vitamins and supplements are different. Some people have complications, some don't. When people say that posters with regret issues expressing themselves here is "dangerous", that will elicit comments in defence of those posts. If pre op patients want to be fully informed, there has to be room for people to tell of all their experiences, good and bad. There should be total acceptance of people here. All people. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

For those of us who had complications or who are sick, things like the normal healing from major surgery, the psychological challenges, the new routine of Fluid and food ingestion, exercise etc, are made so much more difficult. It can feel like just too much. The trauma of overcoming all the adversities that you didn't plan for, on top of the ones you did plan for, can feel so upsetting. Especially when so many other people are seeming to go through such a different experience. I do think that there are different paths of the "regret" issue. The people who are left with life changing, permanent issues, can certainly be understood for feeling regretful. People who are just cross because they can't eat the way they used to for fun, addiction, social interaction etc need not really regret too much because they will eventually be able to eat around their sleeve. Then there are the "normal" post op patients just trying to align their minds to what surgeons did to their bodies. And the answer to all three is that by year one post op, it will be better. Maybe not right or even okay but certainly better than the initial first three month battle. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Please know that there are people out here who suffered much as you are now. And I want you to know that things will change. I used to get a bit irritated when people would say, I know how sick you are but look how much weight you've lost! No one would say that if you were sick after surgery for any other reason. My family were so upset that I had put my life at risk for an elective surgery so their support was limited. I couldn't eat anything or drink milk, Protein shakes etc for weeks. But what I could do was drink Water. And I concentrated on that. Then I could drink clear chicken broth, beef broth. This went on for months. After I was re admitted to hospital with starvation issues, I was put on a glucose drip for a week. So when I went home, I would put a 1/4 tsp of honey in tea. You can do this but you really have to concentrate. You should be taking fluids in all day long. I had to go back to clear fluids three times. You can do this. Just concentrate on healing, resting, getting well. Look inward. Get support online, from church outreach, pressure your team to do their jobs. My team was useless and I got through it. So will you. Prayers and hugs coming your way. I help support other people via message here so please reach out if you need to, you are not alone! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Drinking Water is so important and it really helps. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I know, it makes me sad. But there is no avoiding it if it happens. Not everyone loses their hair though. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had a hard time with post op complications too, quite severe ones. Both my friend and I were in the hospital for weeks. But she is now back to herself except for the hair loss. She isn't losing weight anymore now after her initial 50lb drop. She gets quite hungry and says that she can eat anything and everything. I am taking much longer to recover because I developed so many complications post op. I lost all of my excess weight and am now only losing 3lbs a week. I too have lost most of my hair and I get hungry too but I can't eat much yet. My friend is just under six months post op and I am just over so you will definitely get well and heal if you look after yourself and follow your plan. Don't lose heart, talk to your team. Stay hydrated because dehydration can cause big problems. Be drinking Water all the time. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Had to have what was left of my hair, cut off today. My hairdresser said he thought I was exaggerating about the hair loss until he saw my hair. Everyone says it looks good though so that's something! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My friend had post op fluid on her lungs and she said it was painful but she made a full recovery and is doing well now except for losing her hair. It did take some time though for her to recover but she was healed enough at three months to go abroad on holiday. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Water first, then Protein, veg and prescribed Vitamins and minerals. Bread has nothing you need in it. If you have a good look at what you are eating then check that you are moving enough to burn some calories, you can usually find the problem. If you post a normal day's eating plan here, someone will tell you where you are going right or wrong. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Everytime I tried mashed potato (it was on my plan for puree stage), I felt awful. I don't even look at that stuff now. You just had major surgery. Why would you risk harming yourself just to have that food? If you are struggling with head hunger, tell your team. If you aren't going to change the way you eat from before, this surgery won't be successful. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Just go through my posts. I have explained this completely. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You will be okay. Talk to your bariatric team. They will have a look at what you are eating and monitor your nutrition. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree. I have pretty good I insurance but I never go to the emergency dept for a cold (or head lice! ) I sure don't ream out the ED doc because "last week the other doctor gave me oxytocin for my hurt food and now you want me to take Motrin?" The majority of my noncompliance case managed patient are on Medicare. They know everything about everything and they sure don't need my advice, unless it means they will get more pain medication...I want to add that this kind of entitlement is a cultural phenomena. It's about maintaining control. So it's strongest in uneducated families who have lived in poverty of generations. Wow! Judge much?Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App No judgement. I've been an end case manager for 35 years, just posting exactly what I've seen. Please feel free to block me if my truth is so disturbing too you. Nothing on an internet forum "disturbs" me. And I block no one for that reason. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That is NOT what I was saying... I was MERELY pointing out that they are two different medical policies. And I wasn't speaking directly to you, simply pointing out MY observation on what I was reading here... Why you needed to take it personally is your business. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I am not taking anything personally, this is a public forum where commenting is quite the norm. I was also posting MY observation on what I have been reading. Just like everyone else. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am not a fan of grouping individuals and generalising regardless of the terminology. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Nope, it didn't fail. You had surgery on your stomach, not your mind. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App