First time on board!

Hi everyone, I'm new here. My date is April 9th. GOOD FRIDAY!! I'm completing all my tests now. But, I'm still undecided. I still feel maybe I should give myself another year of FOCUSED diet and exercise. I'm still having the feelings.....Did I REALLY do enough. Was I REALLY commited. My MAIN concerns are...My quality of life as I get older. HELP!! As far as sharing my decision about the surgery. I haven't shared my decision or indecision because I'm afraid of failure. Did alot of crying in church today. Went to a support meeting today. It was good but it seemed others were more excited about my date than me. I don't want to scare or discourage anyone.

Karen, only you can decide when you are ready for the surgery. Lots of people will say just do it, what do you have to lose but the weight. I am scheduled for the surgery on 4/12. It is a very personal decision that will affect the rest of your life (I'm hoping about another 50 years Only you know what type of commitment you have made to diet and exercise in the past. I spoke with one woman who wanted the surgery but had NEVER tried to lose weight through diet and exercise before. I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to lose weight. And believe that this is the only option for me at this time. I went into the decision with a lot of prayer (I had everyone I know praying about the decision). It is very natural to have fears and doubts. It is not ok to allow the fears to control you. You need to work through them (don't be afraid to talk to your pastor or a counselor). REMEMBER, you will never be able to fully prepare for this surgery but you need to make sure you have done your research, weighed the pros and cons and believe that this is the best choice for you. Failure is only failure if you don't learn a lesson from it. If you are going to make the decision to have the surgery then commit to changing for the rest of your life, surround yourself with supportive people, down allow fear to rule, and enjoy the journey!

Shari, Thank you for your response. I'm normally not a negative person. But Satin is having a field day with me! Yesterday I was having a very emotional day. Have you ever listened to Dr.Phil when he says that you have 7 pivital moments in your life that you know changed it forever. Well, I didn't want this to be #8. In writing this I just realized something. I ALWAYS took the 7 pivital moments as bad moments and not good ones! Oh my gosh!! Maybe Dr. Phil needs to change that to the 7 positive and the 7 negative pivital moments in your life. I guess it depends on your outlook, what you perceive them to be!! Oh, my gosh Shari thank you for that break through! I want to succeed!! Thank you for being my I can think clearer now! Hugs, Karen

We got the same date!! Your decision can be made only by you but I will tell you this I let my fears and family concerns sway me 2 years ago and now I think back that if I had went ahead with my wls 2 years ago I would be at my goal weight now instead of being morbidly obese.

Joann, congrats on your date. I pray we both can look back in a year and say, "What was all the fuss"! The support from this site is great! Thank you for your input. Have you had a Dexa scan? It's a bone density test. It's like a sonagram. I'm concerned about osteoporosis. I would like to know if my bone density is good or bad. How are your tests coming? I only have my primary care physical and an EKG left to take. Two more consults and then the BIG day. Let's keep in touch! Hugs, Karen

Hi Karen~ I can relate to the uncertainty. I think I am past it now, though. I am very grateful that I have this tool available to me. After losing 60 lbs and gaining it back plus more and then losing 50 lbs and gaining that back plus more I became terrified to ever diet again. I knew I was on a dangerous course with my weight but trying to lose it through conventional means started to seem just as risky. I met a friend at a wls introduction meeting and she had surgery in Nov and has since lost 86 lbs. She is off all of her medications for diabetes and high blood pressure and more and is doing great. This has made it a lot easier for me move forward. It is a very personal decision and if someone had suggested to me a year ago that I would be doing this now I would have told them "no way!" I was afraid of failure too until my surgeon told me that "The weight loss methods had failed me not the other way around". Good luck and God bless, Angela RNY 04/05/2004