law of unintended consequences
Donna,
You make it sound so horrible and you’re asking for still more unintended
consequences!!??? I don’t think bad breath is the norm. There aren’t many
of us who can live in ketosis (the main reason for bad breath) because we
love carbs. So I haven’t experienced bad breath.
I don’t fart a lot. Definitely not more since the surgery, possibly less
because I take two tums in the morning and two in the evening for calcium.
My hair did thin some around 3 months to 5 months. Could see it mostly in
the shower and as I was styling my hair. It wasn’t worse then the hair I lost
after each pregnancy. It stopped and I was no worse for wear.
I do have baggy skin…my stomach, the tops of my thighs, even the “crepe
paper” look under my chin but who cares. I look great in clothes and my
husband is the only one who would see more. He loved me fat…now he’ll love
me baggy!!
The point is these are all small prices to pay to lose the weight. Yes,
there are more consequences…vomiting (I have never done it, not even once).
Dumping (not a bad thing)…I dumped in the beginning and now it takes major
sweets to make me feel slightly bad. Bummer. The list goes on. Food that
gets stuck. Things you loved but can’t eat anymore. The desire to eat a lot
doesn’t go away. It’s not a magic pill…it’s a tool.
Most of us are pretty lucky and the surgery has been a Godsend. It’s changed
our lives and we’d do it again in a heartbeat regardless of the unintended
consequences.
Diane
7/16/01
-70 lbs. (slow but still gone forever)
July 25th, 2003 at 10:52 am
LOL Donna,
You make it all sound bad. From my own experience… I had some sagging skin
prior to surgery…just part of getting older…and not I have a bit more.
The farting thing…. well, I don’t fart anymore now then I did prior to
surgery.. in fact, I think I have less of a problem because I eat better
foods. As for the bad breath… I have never had anyone back away from me or
tell me I have bad breath so I guess brushing and mouthwash takes care of
that problem. As for hair loss… yes, that one is still happening but I had
plenty to begin with so I haven’t missed what I have lost much and it will
grow back eventually. All in all…. I think the trade off was pretty good. I
now have a body that can move and fits into size 14 clothes instead of size
28 tents. I feel sexy verses being a blob that wanted to hide and didn’t
have a lot of confidence in her looks. I guess I am just trying to say… it
is all a matter of how you look at things. I for one focus on the good parts
of this surgery and what it has given me….
If you want to focus on the negative though… you forgot dumping, diarrhae,
constipation, hernias, scars, going broke from becoming an shopaholic after
wls, dealing with unwanted attention from admiring pesky men, having to do
your own housework cause you now have the energy, being late for work because
now you sleep longer then before due to no more sleep apnea, going broke
because now you want to do everything under the sun and you don’t have the
funds to support your new lifestyle.
I think you get what I mean. We can be prepared, which is what I think you
were asking, or we can look at the negative verses the positive. Try to be
aware of what you are facing … that is good and I applaud you for it….
but also let yourself dream a little about the positive things that will
happen through the changes. The positives really outweight the negative… at
least for me. Take care on your journey.
Sandra in California
July 26th, 2003 at 2:30 pm
Thanks so much Sandra,
I am pre op, waiting for insurance approval. I read Donna’s email and
whoa! I wanted to say that all of those don’t happen to all WLS patients,
correct? I would say that everyone is different and it depends on what you
eat and drink and how well you take care of your self after the surgery, am
I correct here? If you don’t follow the rules of course some of those
negatives stated will probably happen, but the likelihood of them happening
all at once would be very slim, correct? I have not had the surgery yet,
but I have read and watched the group websites regarding these issues.
Besides, I would still take the trade.
DeDe Duncan
500+
Lewisville, TX
July 26th, 2003 at 11:06 pm
DeDe,
Everyone is different.. but I can tell you that I don’t think I have bad
breath… I don’t fart more then normal… and I don’t have problems with my
bowels…basically I am very normal… but I did loose SOME of my hair and I
do have a bit of saggy skin but it isn’t too bad. All in all… I am very
happy.
Sandra in California
July 30th, 2003 at 6:21 pm
Hi Donna –
I found your post hilarious! Different people have different
consequences but mine weren’t as bad as your post speculates.
No bad breath at all. As for farting (still laughing!), this
doesn’t happen any more than before surgery. I’m careful with
milk products and spaghetti sauce. No one but me knew that I’d
lost any hair. I mostly noticed in the shower, and having to
clean my brush more often. But everyone else thought my hair
looked shinier and healthier! Now the skin thing … you were
right on target there. Sometimes I feel like I have a 60 year
old appearance in my 33 year old body. Icky tummy and arms and
thighs. But I’m wearing a size 8 and sometimes even a 6! So if
I don’t look good naked, I can shut the lights to go to bed and
wear clothes to the office!
Good luck with your journey!
— Bari
RNY 1/99
234-144
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 08:10:20 -0800 (PST)
From: Donna Willis <hoseley@…
Subject: law of unintended consequences
Not that unintended consequences will make me decide not to get the
surgery, I am just wondering what those are. After reading a lot, I
find that: You may look better but you will have bad breath, fart a
lot, lose your hair, have skin hanging all over the place. I am
prepared for those, but are there any others that I need to be aware of
so that I can prepare for them, also? Donna open RNY scheduled 3-1-02
August 3rd, 2003 at 6:45 am
I don’t know about the rest of you, but my advice to new post-ops is to
invest in a good deodorizer. NOT air freshener because these just cover up
the smell of a post-op fart. This is because when I pass gas in a close
space I nearly pass out let alone everyone else. I have found that the
neutralizer” made by glade is good.
You ARE blessed…..Now, go BE a blessing.
August 6th, 2003 at 7:19 pm
DeDe,
I just wanted to tell you that you are very lucky (imho). My boyfriend
leaves the HOUSE if I have to use the bathroom. He says he is walking our
dogs, but I know it is the smell because when I ask him about it he grins
from ear to ear. But like you say…..everyone is different.