Before my surgery I may have weighed 300lbs but I was fairly healthy, taking only a multi-vitamin, and two prescription medications daily along with Imitrex for migraines as needed. Now that I am two years out of surgery between my vitamins and prescription medications that I must now take as a result of the surgery I pop 31 pills a day. This seems preposterous to me. How can I be considered healthier if I must take these pills daily to stay out of the hospital and to even stay alive at this point. This is just one of those days when I wonder if it was worth it. I realize that because of my weight I could have been taking all these pills in a few years anyway. It just scares me at times especially when people point out that I did this by my choice. They do not see WLS as a necessity.
I'm sorry that you are having problems. Are they directly related to WLS and weightloss? Or are they the results of being MO? Right now because of WLS, I'm not taking anything except supplements, OTC allergy med (cheaper than RX), a weekly allergy shot and one RX. Grand total of 16 a day. I knew this going into the WLS that I would be taking supplements the rest of my life. Now if I hadn't had the surgery. Prevacid for reflux, glyberide for sugar, Darvocet for back and knee pain, Soma to relieve back spasms, RX for sleeping pills, something for hypertension, and constant urinary tract infection med. I would also be in the hospital for a R knee replacement, having my back fused, A&P repair (female stuff), probably have to fuse my neck, veins stripped again in my left leg, another cardiac cath and stents, etc. I don't mean to be so blunt here and I don't know your circumstances, but for me it was a no-brainer. I either had the WLS or have a slow painful next twenty years if I was even that lucky. I'm sorry for people who have problems from having the WLS, but like you mentioned you would probably be taking these pills in a few years anyway. Is there anything you can do to not have to take all these meds? But, from experience of a 300 pound "old" lady, my life would have been pure heck and I'd be taking meds anyway. You are in my thought and prayer Ophelia. I haven't been very forthcoming with people about my WLS because frankly it isn't any of their business what I did with my body. I have enough on my plate without snide comments about what I did to myself. I just know that I'm ALIVE and can't say that I was before the surgery. I'm ALIVE and giving back to my family and community for the first time in a long time. Was weightloss a necessity for me YES! If or when I have a complication, this last year alone will be so worth it. Is there anyway that we can help you?
As a result of the surgery I developed Grave's disease ( a thyroid disorder) and Wernicke's Encepholapathy (a nuerological disorder), as well as problems with my kidneys and gall bladder. These developments have resulted in me still not returning to work full-time since my surgery 2 years ago and a continued fight with Social Security about whether or not I can return to work. My last attempt at working full time just this past August lasted on a day and a half and ended with me in the ER. Yet I am still in the appeals process with Social Security. They say it could take another 18 months until I get to an Administrative Law Judge which is my next step. That whole system is very frustrating and not made for people who have little known diseases.
Oh Ophelia: Hugs to you, my dear! I know about Graves, but the other one is new to me. GB would wish that on my worst enemy! And the kidneys WOW! That is a lot on ones plate and then to have to battle the system. I'm so sorry. I wish I could help you someway. I'll be praying for your comfort and speedy resolution of your problems. I can't say I know how you are feeling, except you will be in my thoughts and prayers!
WLS is a choice, but to blame someone for making that choice is heartless and ridiculous. I point out the choice part, not to rub it in to you, but to point out to people who feel there is no choice but WLS despite the risks, to make sure they know what the risks are before they make the choice.
After a lot of research, I decided that WLS wasn't for me. My health issues made me a poor choice for surgery. I'm very susceptible to staph infections, I may have autoimmune connective tissue disease (contraindicates lap band, and not autoimmune disease can complicate gastric bypass also). And even eating a balanced diet, I've had a couple bouts of vitamin and mineral deficiencies (sodium and vitamin D). I've also got IBS, and fibromyalgia which can have unpredictable health effects.
All of my doctors supported my decision not to have WLS, and then I was referred to a rheumatologist, who basically told me I HAD to have weight loss surgery. He dismissed all of my fears, and he was so friendly he almost had me buying it. I was all psyched about it, and hubby (who had been in the appointment) asked me what had changed my mind. I realized as we talked that the doctor hadn't addressed my fears, he had simply dismissed them, telling me not to worry about them. I knew from research that the risks for me were much greater than the average person, and the doctor hadn't given me new facts - he just told me they didn't matter. Of course they matter - just not to him. He assured me it was worth the risk - easy for him to say as it wasn't his body or health being risked.
I dropped the doctor. I did bring up to my other doctors (an ENT, my primary, and a neurologist) what the rheumatologist had argued, and they agreed with me that I was right in my original decision against surgery because of my particular situation.
The enthusiasm of that one doctor almost inspired me to make a choice against my better judgement, ignoring what I already knew. A doctor that tells you the risks, but tells you that you don't have to worry about them, might as well not have told you the risks at all.
I'm not saying that is what your doctor did. My experience just made me wonder if some people aren't entering WLS with all of the information that they really need to make an informed decision.
I once heard someone who had WLS say "if they told us what it really would be like, none of us would have the surgery." She wasn't saying this in anger, but actually justifying her doctor glossing over the risks. I pray that most patients and doctors do not feel this way. Informed consent means nothing if you're not truly informed. How can a person evaluate the risks and make a wise decision for themselves, if they don't know what the risks are?
I can't say if WLS was worth it for you, only you can decide that. Unfortunately it's impossible to know what your health would have been without the surgery. Possibly it would be better. Possibly it would be worse. But none of us have that option of knowing for sure what the impact of many of our choices are, we can only make the best choice we have at the moment. You did that. There's no guilt or shame in it, and for better or worse you're left dealing with what you're dealing with.
...My experience just made me wonder if some people aren't entering WLS with all of the information that they really need to make an informed decision...
I think a LOT of people go into WLS without a real impression of all the associated risks and the after-surgery lifestyle that must be maintained for continued health. No all WLS patients, but definitely too many.
I belong to a WLS forum online, and I hear horror stories daily, plus lots of questions that post-op patients are asking that make me think, "Really? They didn't know about this before they had the surgery?" Unfortunately, not all physicians are very up-to-date on WLS research, and many surgeons are actually more like salespeople trying to convince patients that WLS is the way to go, or that a particular WLS procedure would be better for them than another when that is not the truth, but rather a surgeon trying to keep a patient (i.e., paying customer) instead of having that patient decide on a procedure that surgeon doesn't perform.
Anyway, sorry to go off on this tangent, as I know it's not helpful to anyone who has already had the surgery. Ophelia, I'm so sorry you're in this situation and wish there was an easy answer we could offer to help. Even when we DO know all the possible risks, when you continually hear docs saying it only happens in .02% of patients, you thin kit won't happen to you. But when you become that .02%, it becomes a huge deal.
For me, having type 2 diabetes diagnosed at age 25, I am taking the risks in the hopes of curing my diabetes. I can have lifetime of diabetes (which will undoubtedly progress to diabetes-related complications like neuropathy, eye problems, healing problems, kidney problems, etc.), or I can have a lifetime of re-routed insides with the potential for some WLS-related complications. For me, I'm facing potential complications either way, so I'm chosing the route that at least has a chance at a happier ending.
I'm with you jillybean...Silly to go into something with researching it thoroughly. I knew all the risks and did it anyway...no surprises.
It's a hard row to hoe, no doubt and I haven't had all the complications you've had Ophelia...I am sooooo sorry you are going through all this. My father has Graves, it's not fun.
Oh and by the way, my mother had Lupus and chronic back pain. Tried through 4 appeals to get SSI including all the way to the judge...In the end they gave it to her. Keep pushing, that's what it's there for, you are worth it, honey.
Angela
Last edited by missangelaks; 10-11-2008 at 05:15 PM.
I'm sorry to hear what you have gone through as a result of your surgery. Honestly no one deserves it. Many people don't understand the struggles of the morbidly obese and the glimmers of hope we may see from various paths we choose. Your choice to have WLS was what you felt was right for you but that doesn't mean you deserved to have the complications that you did. I never researched WLS beyond the very basics so I am amazed to hear that there are complications beyond the surgery itself (infection, normal abdominal surgical issues). I think it is important you share your story to those that would weigh their options.
Opehlia,
Since I have researched this surgery for quite a long time and believe in preventative actions, I have a question. Why do the doctor's think that your Graves,Wernicke's Encepholapathy, kidney and gallbladder disease are related to your weightloss surgery? I take quite a few supplements, monitor my blood draws like crazy and want to know if doing this will prevent Graves, Wernicke's Encepholapathy and kidney problems. If I'm being too nosy, I'm sorry. I just want to help myself and others.
Opehlia,
Why do the doctor's think that your Graves,Wernicke's Encepholapathy, kidney and gallbladder disease are related to your weightloss surgery?
I'm not sure about the Graves Disease (couldn't find any connection between the two when I did a search), but it appears Wernicke's is caused by vitamin deficiencies. I know a lot of WLS patients end up needing to have their gall bladder removed further down the road--some surgeons even remove the gall bladder when they perform the WLS to avoid future complications.
Ophelia, may I ask wht supplements you were told to take after your surgery? I read quite often about surgeons and nutritionists telling WLS patients to take chewable Flinstones vitamins and chew Tums for calcium, but this is almost never actually sufficient supplementation. I really wish the surgeons and nuts would wake up to newer research regarding proper post-op supplementation.
Gallbladder 'issues', from what I know, are associated with weight loss in general. I had heard it was from fast weight loss but I also heard it was just being on a low fat diet for so long that your gall bladder develops issues. I didn't have WLS but I do have gallstones and was told to keep my fat levels in check. I haven't had issues for a couple years but I know that my gall bladder may be taken out one day.
These developments have resulted in me still not returning to work full-time since my surgery 2 years ago and a continued fight with Social Security about whether or not I can return to work. My last attempt at working full time just this past August lasted on a day and a half and ended with me in the ER. Yet I am still in the appeals process with Social Security. They say it could take another 18 months until I get to an Administrative Law Judge which is my next step. That whole system is very frustrating and not made for people who have little known diseases.
Opheila, I'm so sorry you are going through this!
I just wanted to mention something about Social Security. I have never met anyone, even those with well known diseases, who weren't denied SSI on the first go around. I swear they automatically deny everyone, just to see who will give up and save them money. Keep fighting them. We had to go through the system several times to get my Mom on Social Security due to MS. The system sucks, but you'll get through it!
Wernicke's Encepholapathy is caused by a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. There have now been a few documented cases similar to mine with the disease being caused by the Gastric Bypass. A few have died or gone into comas as a result of the deficiency.
I was told to take a multi-vitamin, calcium, B12, and Iron daily after my surgery. I take these every day and had since the day of my surgery, and still had problems.
According to some research that I have done it was commonplace for the Gallbladder to be removed in the early days of Gastric Bypass surgeries but is now considered not necessary unless there was a previous history of problems.
The problems in my kidneys are calcifications they said can be caused by the amount of vitamins I take.
The Grave's is confusing because I had hypothyroidism before my surgery - **** it is how I ended up weighing 300 lbs, and ended up developing the Grave's 3 months later. It was found when they were trying to treat my Wernicke's.
Are you taking calcium citrate or calcium carbonate? How often, since surgery, have you been following up with blood work to check you vitamin levels? Did you get copies of all your blood work results, or did your doc just say you were "fine" since everything was within "normal" range (prior to developing complications, of course)?
I hope it doesn't sound like I'm trying to place blame on anyone for your situation--I'm just trying to find out if there are things others can do to hopefully avoid such complications (though I know some things are unavoidable, like your Grave's may have been)
Last edited by jillybean720; 10-13-2008 at 10:49 AM.
Yes, I am thinner but am I any healthier?
Opheila, I'm so sorry you are going through this!
