One persons experience with WLS

[Guest guest]

got this from one of the BPD/DS folks and wanted to

share this with you. Rita in Vermont

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Her experience only......

Had BPD/DS surgery on June 1, 1999. I went from 280 to

114 in a year. Size 26 to a size 4. I then gained back

about 15 pounds of that after 18 months which is fine

because the doctors thought that I was too small. It

took me about 8 months to gain it back. My size is

great but I have more medical problems now than I ever

did before surgery mostly due to malabsorption. I

sincerely hope that others never have to go through

what I have gone through in the past year and will

have to go through for the rest of my life. I almost

died in November from lack of iron and my body does

not absorb vitamins or minerals now that are taken by

mouth. I have alot of bathroom issues also. My calcium

levels are constantly low although I take enormous

amounts of it. I have a hernia that is the size of a

grapefruit that I can't have operated on until my iron

level get better. I have been taking iron injections

for 6 months now, and they are still not up to normal.

I will have to have those injections for the rest of

my life and they are NOT like the B12. They hurt

tremendously for weeks and I have to have them once a

week for life.

6/14/01--okay I have a new problem that I just felt

that I had to share with anyone who looks at this

profile. I suffered from mild dry eye syndrome before

the surgery and also depression which I didn't even

need meds for anymore as it was under control at the

time of the surgery 2 years ago.

I am now suffering from SEVERE dry eye syndrome from

the lack of vitamins, minerals and fats in my body. My

body cannot absorb them. Also, of course, the

antidepressants that I had to go back on after surgery

(due to my body not making enough seratonin) just

causes my dry eyes to be worse. It's a catch 22. If I

don't take my antidepressants, I get worse emotionally

and if I do, it makes my dry eyes soooo bad that I

literally tear my hair out. there seem to be no

antidepressant that doesn't cause dryness. My eyes are

so bad that I have implants in them now but they

haven't helped because my eyes are not making tears

well anymore. Dr. says that the next option is sewing

my eyes halfway closed to limit the air going into

them. can you imagine??? This is all caused by my lack

of vitamins and minerals and my lack of being able to

absorb them because of the surgery. My life has turned

into a nightmare really and I know I am the exception.

I just thought that people who were considering

surgery should know " all " of the good and bad that can

happen and then make an informed decision as to

whether you really want this and need this or not.

Remember, this is the rest of your life and for me,

it's looking towards being blind in my old age either

from the surgery of the eyes or...glaucoma which is

caused by this dry eye syndrome. It also means that my

family has to put up with me without my antidepressant

meds. Anyone who is on them or who has suffered

depression knows what that can be like.

I have definately increased vitamin intake with the

prayer that " some " of them will find their way into my

body. I have totally changed my lifestyle and how I

live and eat. I sincerely hope that no one else has to

go through this. Good luck to all. This is NOT to

scare you, just to give you insight into the " other

side " of this surgery.

7/12/01-okay, got a diagnosis on the dry eyes. Seems I

have Lupus and Sjogrens disease. Sjogrens can be

caused by malnutrition. I now have arthritis,(Sjogrens

caused) depression, no sleep, terrible eye pain, very

dry scalp and face, lower iron than ever even with the

shots (they are increasing dosage and frequency. All

this caused by the Lupus and Sjogrens and probably

caused by the surgery originally from what I have been

told. No one ever mentioned this before surgery. Just

thought you should all know the good and bad.

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