Re: Post Op Changes Question VERY ,VERY LONG!!sorry

[Guest guest]

What does your surgeon say about the continued diarrhea. I am preop (surgery

4/20...this Friday), and am only going on secondhand information here, but at

five months out to have diarrhea to the extent that it limits your life to

such a degree seems pretty awful. Also, have you had labs drawn? I would

worry about what that would do to your system, as well.

As far as the rest of your post, I think there is such an intermingling

between being obese/morbidly obese and physical/emotional reactions to it,

that it is hard to know where one stops and the other starts. For myself, I

have no way of knowing what the future will bring. At this point, I am

mainly concerned that I DO lose weight. Having had a failed stomach stapling

20 years ago, I've already been through a MAJOR surgery with absolutely

nothing to show for it. Because my expectations going in are reasonable

(i.e., I really want to live longer, gain mobility and have the choices that

non-obese people have regarding anything from finding clothing, finding a

place to sit at a restaurant or in an airplane, being able to fit into the

desks so I can continue my education, etc.) I hope that whatever comes down

the road will all be positive. But...if I've learned any unhealthy behaviors

because of my obesity, and don't find my way to living the life I really

want, I'll work with that when the time comes.

For me, losing weight is only the first step. Making sure I have the best

life possible is up to me.

And...if complications of the surgery (diarrhea, etc.) stand in my way, I'll

deal with that when the time comes too.

For me, this is a life or death proposition. I am not throwing away a fully

functional, healthy life in order to try to improve an already satisfactory

lifestyle. I am losing my mobility, my functioning, my health, in a rapid

downhill decline. I am having this surgery to give myself the chance to have

a future.

I think we will all wake up on the other side, the exact same person we were

beforehand. I hope so, anyway. I really like who I am, I just want to

change the outside to match the inside.

Dawna

[Guest guest]

What does your surgeon say about the continued diarrhea. I am preop (surgery

4/20...this Friday), and am only going on secondhand information here, but at

five months out to have diarrhea to the extent that it limits your life to

such a degree seems pretty awful. Also, have you had labs drawn? I would

worry about what that would do to your system, as well.

As far as the rest of your post, I think there is such an intermingling

between being obese/morbidly obese and physical/emotional reactions to it,

that it is hard to know where one stops and the other starts. For myself, I

have no way of knowing what the future will bring. At this point, I am

mainly concerned that I DO lose weight. Having had a failed stomach stapling

20 years ago, I've already been through a MAJOR surgery with absolutely

nothing to show for it. Because my expectations going in are reasonable

(i.e., I really want to live longer, gain mobility and have the choices that

non-obese people have regarding anything from finding clothing, finding a

place to sit at a restaurant or in an airplane, being able to fit into the

desks so I can continue my education, etc.) I hope that whatever comes down

the road will all be positive. But...if I've learned any unhealthy behaviors

because of my obesity, and don't find my way to living the life I really

want, I'll work with that when the time comes.

For me, losing weight is only the first step. Making sure I have the best

life possible is up to me.

And...if complications of the surgery (diarrhea, etc.) stand in my way, I'll

deal with that when the time comes too.

For me, this is a life or death proposition. I am not throwing away a fully

functional, healthy life in order to try to improve an already satisfactory

lifestyle. I am losing my mobility, my functioning, my health, in a rapid

downhill decline. I am having this surgery to give myself the chance to have

a future.

I think we will all wake up on the other side, the exact same person we were

beforehand. I hope so, anyway. I really like who I am, I just want to

change the outside to match the inside.

Dawna

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am five months post-op so I am not a long time post-op, but a

post op none the less. My take is that this is a loaded question. I

think for the most part overweight people have to " compromise " so

much in their daily lives that they don't realize it until their out

of the situation. In society there really is nothing more looked

down upon than fat. It's a fact they have done studies after studies

that people even children don't like fat people for the most part. (

I know this is going to piss off a lot of you, but just hold on

before you get angry). I can go into the studies they've done

regarding societies take on us, but that isn't really the point

here. The point is that after years and for many like myself ALWAYS

feeling left out of society never feeling totally normal. Even those

of us like myself who have tried to live normal lives

feel " different " because well, we are. We can't wear the same

clothes, we can't do the same things, we're always self-conscious of

our bodies. The list can go on and on. Let's face it there are so

many activities where they just won't let fat kids even

do...gymnastic, dance, cheerleading yada yada yada (obviously it's

harder for women)

These blatent prejudice start for many of us when we were very

young. So, it takes years to realize how that has formed us as we

grow. I don't think the true reality can ever hit for it is to

painful. I think that is why people go from obese to morbidly obese.

The cycle has begun. I'm not saying that metabolism doesn't have a

lot to do with it I just think being a socail outcast can also play a

large part in peoples self-esteem. So, for many we comforted,

rewarded ALLOWED ourselves little pleasure of food along the way.

I know I am on a huge soap box right now, sorry... The thing is

when you are " switched " to the other side you start to notice at

least as a young women the HUGE differnce. People, help me know when

I drop things, men hold the door open when the barely EVER did

before, men flirt with me (been single for 3 years), again the list

goes on..

Now here comes my take on your question. Did my personality

change..NO Am I however, aware of how things could have been all this

time if I hadn't been fat my whole life..you bet! Do I feel

depressed..at time yes, but has my person changed not a bit and I

think that's what makes me mad at times. People can't stop telling

me how good I look or how differnt, great, super blah, blah,

blah..well, in a way they are also telling my how shitty I've looked

for the past ten years because they can't stop talking about how much

better I look now!

I have had some difficulties with this procedure. I have diarhea

all the time and I have absolutly no energy to do the things I want

to do now that I am thinner. I can't leave the house for very long

or go very far in fear the bowel problems. So, at times I do get

pissed off that I am going through so much just to be " healthy "

because I am far from healthy right now and I am far from living

a " normal " life due to all the diarhea. So, I guess there is so much

going on after this sugery the fact that you have to go to such an

extreme just to live a sub-normal live. It just sucks.

Okay? I think I really needed to get that off my chest for

whatever reason. I am truly sorry this is so long and in a way off

the subject. I guess I needed to majorly vent. If your still here

thanks for listening.

Brigid

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am five months post-op so I am not a long time post-op, but a

post op none the less. My take is that this is a loaded question. I

think for the most part overweight people have to " compromise " so

much in their daily lives that they don't realize it until their out

of the situation. In society there really is nothing more looked

down upon than fat. It's a fact they have done studies after studies

that people even children don't like fat people for the most part. (

I know this is going to piss off a lot of you, but just hold on

before you get angry). I can go into the studies they've done

regarding societies take on us, but that isn't really the point

here. The point is that after years and for many like myself ALWAYS

feeling left out of society never feeling totally normal. Even those

of us like myself who have tried to live normal lives

feel " different " because well, we are. We can't wear the same

clothes, we can't do the same things, we're always self-conscious of

our bodies. The list can go on and on. Let's face it there are so

many activities where they just won't let fat kids even

do...gymnastic, dance, cheerleading yada yada yada (obviously it's

harder for women)

These blatent prejudice start for many of us when we were very

young. So, it takes years to realize how that has formed us as we

grow. I don't think the true reality can ever hit for it is to

painful. I think that is why people go from obese to morbidly obese.

The cycle has begun. I'm not saying that metabolism doesn't have a

lot to do with it I just think being a socail outcast can also play a

large part in peoples self-esteem. So, for many we comforted,

rewarded ALLOWED ourselves little pleasure of food along the way.

I know I am on a huge soap box right now, sorry... The thing is

when you are " switched " to the other side you start to notice at

least as a young women the HUGE differnce. People, help me know when

I drop things, men hold the door open when the barely EVER did

before, men flirt with me (been single for 3 years), again the list

goes on..

Now here comes my take on your question. Did my personality

change..NO Am I however, aware of how things could have been all this

time if I hadn't been fat my whole life..you bet! Do I feel

depressed..at time yes, but has my person changed not a bit and I

think that's what makes me mad at times. People can't stop telling

me how good I look or how differnt, great, super blah, blah,

blah..well, in a way they are also telling my how shitty I've looked

for the past ten years because they can't stop talking about how much

better I look now!

I have had some difficulties with this procedure. I have diarhea

all the time and I have absolutly no energy to do the things I want

to do now that I am thinner. I can't leave the house for very long

or go very far in fear the bowel problems. So, at times I do get

pissed off that I am going through so much just to be " healthy "

because I am far from healthy right now and I am far from living

a " normal " life due to all the diarhea. So, I guess there is so much

going on after this sugery the fact that you have to go to such an

extreme just to live a sub-normal live. It just sucks.

Okay? I think I really needed to get that off my chest for

whatever reason. I am truly sorry this is so long and in a way off

the subject. I guess I needed to majorly vent. If your still here

thanks for listening.

Brigid

[Guest guest]

Brigid,

Still here and thanks for venting.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Brigid,

Have you talked to the nutritionist at your WLS surgeon's office ? Or

have you tried Metamucil or even Maalox ? Others have reported when

they take Maalox, the chalk in it helps to firm up their stools. You

shouldn't be having diarrea to that extreme so far post-op. Please

check into to this as we don't want you to start developing iron or

protein deficiencies because it's not absorbing in your system

properly. It's definitely more than an inconvenience! I know they

have a 1 yr date for OSSG Graduates, but there are also ppl on OSSG

Results or Post op Problems that may be able to give you more

concrete advice. I definitely recommend seeing a doctor who's aware

and knowledgable about WLS so they can give you appropriate care as

well.

Wishing you the best health,

Anita

Pre-pre-op in Denver

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