Re: Feeling bad and regretting surgery

[Guest guest]

Very ,very, well said Joe!

This is very important for pre-ops and early post ops to hear. I had ready

posts about this before my surgery and it helped me to very much take in

stride that nasty first month (luckily for me that is how long it was).

Dawn

BPD/DS

Dr. Hess, Bowling Green, OH

267 to 165

size 22 to size 10

5'4 "

no more high blood pressure, sore feet, or dieting!!

have met size goal, weight goal to be adjusted!

[Guest guest]

Joe, Thanks to you and all the wonderfully supportive post ops that went before you, while I did feel pretty crappy for awhile I never regretted my decision to have this surgery. I knew what I was going to have to go through and I knew from you guys that it WOULD get better. And it is getting better. I can't wait to be back 100% and then some! Thank you all !Jodie W.Age 28BMI 49.9Dr. HessMarch 28, 01/325 lbsPaid By Coresource and Aetna04-06-01 Down 20 pounds!04-09-01 297 1/2 lbs Down 27 1/2 lbs!04-20-01 288, Down 37 lbs!

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[Guest guest]

Joe, Thanks to you and all the wonderfully supportive post ops that went before you, while I did feel pretty crappy for awhile I never regretted my decision to have this surgery. I knew what I was going to have to go through and I knew from you guys that it WOULD get better. And it is getting better. I can't wait to be back 100% and then some! Thank you all !Jodie W.Age 28BMI 49.9Dr. HessMarch 28, 01/325 lbsPaid By Coresource and Aetna04-06-01 Down 20 pounds!04-09-01 297 1/2 lbs Down 27 1/2 lbs!04-20-01 288, Down 37 lbs!

---Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.237 / Virus Database: 115 - Release Date: 3/7/01

[Guest guest]

Joe

As usual you say the right thing at the right time. My husband and I had a

chat last night. I asked him if he was ready for the new me, I confided in

him that I was scared about the changes I was embarking on. Would this

surgery really make me happy. What if something happened on the surgeons

table, could he cope with that. Could I cope with maybe the depression and

whatever came my way after all the changes had happened. For me my weight

gain has been one of self preservation which in time became an obsession

with food and laziness, which developed into health problems that make any

changes almost physically impossible. How am I going to deal with all of

that and the cause that started this whole roller coaster. But then I read

your email, and I realised that we all go through similar things, that where

i am going, no doubt someone has been before me and survived. That it will

get worse before it gets better. That I am not a failure and I can succeed.

Thanks Joe

All my love Tracey

>

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: " DS Group " duodenalswitch >

>Subject: Feeling bad and regretting surgery

>Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 09:34:14 -0500

>

>I have seen a fairly common situation among many post ops. Certainly not

>among all but probably over 50%. That is a feeling which usually occurs

>most often within a week or two and can last up to four or even five

>months, though usually not nearly that long. This is the feeling that

>we've made a terrible mistake and that our quality of life will be worse

>than it was before surgery. Over and over I see people say that they are

>two weeks post-op and ask when or if they will ever get back to feeling

>good again. They wonder why they ever went to the extreme of surgery and

>why they didn't either just stay fat and feel good or try that one more

>diet or drug that might have worked.

>

>The good news is that this feeling almost always passes. Nearly everyone

>feels good again. Almost everyone gets well. The swelling, the forming of

>adhesions, the immediate effects of an assault on your body with sharp

>instruments can be very harsh and cause real pain, discomfort and misery.

>And another of the effects of this assault can be nausea, and a general

>feeling of illness and depression. But these effects heal and we get over

>them. And the feeling of " what have I done to myself " turn into " How could

>I have ever have waited so long for this surgery? "

>

>Not everyone has these feelings. And sadly, not everyone who does have

>them gets over them. But almost all do. There was a moment when I was in

>the hospital after six surgeries when I found that I could no longer walk.

>My leg muscles had totally atrophied and I could not use the toilet ten

>feet away. I had to have a nurse put the bed pan under me and wipe me

>afterwards. Forgive me if I HATED the fact that I had agreed to allow them

>do this to my body. I would have lived probably another five years without

>this damned surgery. Now what? Would I live now? Or did I want to if I

>were to be a cripple? Would I do this to myself again? At that time, of

>course not. But now, My God, yes. And I still have one more surgery

>(surgical incision closure and paniculectomy) to go. But I have to say,

>life has NEVER been better.

>

>I have heard lots of people, especially psychologist types, say that this

>surgery won't cure what ails you. That when you get thin you will be the

>same miserable person who used to be fat. Well, I'm here to say that it

>ain't necessarily so. I dreamt of how wonderful I'd feel if I were thin.

>And now I'm getting there and while things aren't perfect, they are so much

>better I can't even describe it. So to those of you who ask if others have

>felt this bad, and wonder if things will get better, I say yes, things will

>get better. And you will be glad that you had this surgery.

>

>And to those of you pre-ops who are being told that you won't really be

>changed down deep with this surgery, I say HOGWASH! You need to know that

>you may feel a lot worse before you feel better. But unless you are one of

>those very rare patients, you WILL feel better. A lot better.

>

>Regards.

>

>Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart

>San , TX, 60 years old

>Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker

>Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

>340 starting weight, currently 250

>http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

>

>

_________________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Joe

As usual you say the right thing at the right time. My husband and I had a

chat last night. I asked him if he was ready for the new me, I confided in

him that I was scared about the changes I was embarking on. Would this

surgery really make me happy. What if something happened on the surgeons

table, could he cope with that. Could I cope with maybe the depression and

whatever came my way after all the changes had happened. For me my weight

gain has been one of self preservation which in time became an obsession

with food and laziness, which developed into health problems that make any

changes almost physically impossible. How am I going to deal with all of

that and the cause that started this whole roller coaster. But then I read

your email, and I realised that we all go through similar things, that where

i am going, no doubt someone has been before me and survived. That it will

get worse before it gets better. That I am not a failure and I can succeed.

Thanks Joe

All my love Tracey

>

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: " DS Group " duodenalswitch >

>Subject: Feeling bad and regretting surgery

>Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 09:34:14 -0500

>

>I have seen a fairly common situation among many post ops. Certainly not

>among all but probably over 50%. That is a feeling which usually occurs

>most often within a week or two and can last up to four or even five

>months, though usually not nearly that long. This is the feeling that

>we've made a terrible mistake and that our quality of life will be worse

>than it was before surgery. Over and over I see people say that they are

>two weeks post-op and ask when or if they will ever get back to feeling

>good again. They wonder why they ever went to the extreme of surgery and

>why they didn't either just stay fat and feel good or try that one more

>diet or drug that might have worked.

>

>The good news is that this feeling almost always passes. Nearly everyone

>feels good again. Almost everyone gets well. The swelling, the forming of

>adhesions, the immediate effects of an assault on your body with sharp

>instruments can be very harsh and cause real pain, discomfort and misery.

>And another of the effects of this assault can be nausea, and a general

>feeling of illness and depression. But these effects heal and we get over

>them. And the feeling of " what have I done to myself " turn into " How could

>I have ever have waited so long for this surgery? "

>

>Not everyone has these feelings. And sadly, not everyone who does have

>them gets over them. But almost all do. There was a moment when I was in

>the hospital after six surgeries when I found that I could no longer walk.

>My leg muscles had totally atrophied and I could not use the toilet ten

>feet away. I had to have a nurse put the bed pan under me and wipe me

>afterwards. Forgive me if I HATED the fact that I had agreed to allow them

>do this to my body. I would have lived probably another five years without

>this damned surgery. Now what? Would I live now? Or did I want to if I

>were to be a cripple? Would I do this to myself again? At that time, of

>course not. But now, My God, yes. And I still have one more surgery

>(surgical incision closure and paniculectomy) to go. But I have to say,

>life has NEVER been better.

>

>I have heard lots of people, especially psychologist types, say that this

>surgery won't cure what ails you. That when you get thin you will be the

>same miserable person who used to be fat. Well, I'm here to say that it

>ain't necessarily so. I dreamt of how wonderful I'd feel if I were thin.

>And now I'm getting there and while things aren't perfect, they are so much

>better I can't even describe it. So to those of you who ask if others have

>felt this bad, and wonder if things will get better, I say yes, things will

>get better. And you will be glad that you had this surgery.

>

>And to those of you pre-ops who are being told that you won't really be

>changed down deep with this surgery, I say HOGWASH! You need to know that

>you may feel a lot worse before you feel better. But unless you are one of

>those very rare patients, you WILL feel better. A lot better.

>

>Regards.

>

>Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart

>San , TX, 60 years old

>Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker

>Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

>340 starting weight, currently 250

>http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

>

>

_________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

[Guest guest]

Joe

As usual you say the right thing at the right time. My husband and I had a

chat last night. I asked him if he was ready for the new me, I confided in

him that I was scared about the changes I was embarking on. Would this

surgery really make me happy. What if something happened on the surgeons

table, could he cope with that. Could I cope with maybe the depression and

whatever came my way after all the changes had happened. For me my weight

gain has been one of self preservation which in time became an obsession

with food and laziness, which developed into health problems that make any

changes almost physically impossible. How am I going to deal with all of

that and the cause that started this whole roller coaster. But then I read

your email, and I realised that we all go through similar things, that where

i am going, no doubt someone has been before me and survived. That it will

get worse before it gets better. That I am not a failure and I can succeed.

Thanks Joe

All my love Tracey

>

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: " DS Group " duodenalswitch >

>Subject: Feeling bad and regretting surgery

>Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 09:34:14 -0500

>

>I have seen a fairly common situation among many post ops. Certainly not

>among all but probably over 50%. That is a feeling which usually occurs

>most often within a week or two and can last up to four or even five

>months, though usually not nearly that long. This is the feeling that

>we've made a terrible mistake and that our quality of life will be worse

>than it was before surgery. Over and over I see people say that they are

>two weeks post-op and ask when or if they will ever get back to feeling

>good again. They wonder why they ever went to the extreme of surgery and

>why they didn't either just stay fat and feel good or try that one more

>diet or drug that might have worked.

>

>The good news is that this feeling almost always passes. Nearly everyone

>feels good again. Almost everyone gets well. The swelling, the forming of

>adhesions, the immediate effects of an assault on your body with sharp

>instruments can be very harsh and cause real pain, discomfort and misery.

>And another of the effects of this assault can be nausea, and a general

>feeling of illness and depression. But these effects heal and we get over

>them. And the feeling of " what have I done to myself " turn into " How could

>I have ever have waited so long for this surgery? "

>

>Not everyone has these feelings. And sadly, not everyone who does have

>them gets over them. But almost all do. There was a moment when I was in

>the hospital after six surgeries when I found that I could no longer walk.

>My leg muscles had totally atrophied and I could not use the toilet ten

>feet away. I had to have a nurse put the bed pan under me and wipe me

>afterwards. Forgive me if I HATED the fact that I had agreed to allow them

>do this to my body. I would have lived probably another five years without

>this damned surgery. Now what? Would I live now? Or did I want to if I

>were to be a cripple? Would I do this to myself again? At that time, of

>course not. But now, My God, yes. And I still have one more surgery

>(surgical incision closure and paniculectomy) to go. But I have to say,

>life has NEVER been better.

>

>I have heard lots of people, especially psychologist types, say that this

>surgery won't cure what ails you. That when you get thin you will be the

>same miserable person who used to be fat. Well, I'm here to say that it

>ain't necessarily so. I dreamt of how wonderful I'd feel if I were thin.

>And now I'm getting there and while things aren't perfect, they are so much

>better I can't even describe it. So to those of you who ask if others have

>felt this bad, and wonder if things will get better, I say yes, things will

>get better. And you will be glad that you had this surgery.

>

>And to those of you pre-ops who are being told that you won't really be

>changed down deep with this surgery, I say HOGWASH! You need to know that

>you may feel a lot worse before you feel better. But unless you are one of

>those very rare patients, you WILL feel better. A lot better.

>

>Regards.

>

>Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart

>San , TX, 60 years old

>Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker

>Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

>340 starting weight, currently 250

>http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

>

>

_________________________________________________________________________

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