Tonight's Support Group Meeting

I just wanted to thank everyone for coming to the support group tonight!  I enjoyed meeting several of you all. Also, I found it so very helpful and am very thankful for people sharing their experiences and stories.  It's such a helpful forum when you really want the truth and facts around WLS! 

I started this journey so embarrassed about me having to turn to WLS as an option and really didn't want to talk to anyone about it.  I've learned over these last couple of months that talking about it and reaching out for support has been so helpful in many ways.  Mainly, one that has led to me picking gastric bypass as best surgery option for me and finding a surgeon and surgeons that I can really trust.  It's still a little scary but very excited for the journey ahead.   

I also really enjoyed hearing others' experiences and insights.  I changed my surgery to bypass as well since I can't deny this serious sweet tooth I have.  It would be a shame to spend all of this out of pocket expense to just blow it down the road because I was in denial about the type of surgery I need!  I'm really nervous and scared and excited all in one.  Can you also feel like grieving too?  Thanks to everyone for letting me pick your brains!

Grief!!!  Yes, you nailed it!!  I don't know that I totally recognized it before but I think that is so true!

Thinking about it, getting the WLS or even the bypass is similar in my mind to what a breakup with a bad or abusive relationship feels like.  You recognize that food in this case has been harmful even dangerous over the years but you would keep going back to it time and time again.  When you finally feel like you've had enough and it's time to break the cycle, like having WLS in this case, a part of you feels nervous, scared, or even apprehensive about the future and what a post-op life will really be like.  Just like when you breakup with a bad relationship.  You know it's the right decision to make but it still can be scary.  

On a side note, broke the news to my mom that I was thinking of doing gastric bypass instead.  She was really not too happy about it, which I totally expected.  She has of coarse heard of some bad outcomes with that surgery, which has what has kept my dad from considering it.  After talking with her and explaining my reasons and all of the research I've done, she seemed to feel a bit better about it.  They are on vacation right now but once they get back she is going to contact someone that she knew that had it, has taken the weight off and kept it off.  I really hope that person can give her a different, more positive perscpective of the gastric bypass.  She will be the one that will be with me helping with the kids while I recover from surgery so I really need some postive support from her.  Just like they said in support group, just expect that there will be some that don't support your decision for WLS.  I just hope my mom is not one of them but if it is, I will deal with it. 

My mom didn't really support me in having the gastric bypass either- she too, had heard multiple terror stories from people about it.  I'm stubborn, and barged through with it, and am so glad I did.  She has since come to realize that while it is a serious surgery, it doesn't always have bad outcomes.  You have to wonder- did these people who had bad side effects follow all the directions? If they did, maybe there was some other health issue that contributed to the "bad".  Keep an open mind- and do for YOU as no one else will.  I'm 21 months post op, and I'm down to 192 as of today. I've got another 47 lbs to drop..and I'm trying to get it off before my 2 year anniversary date of Sept 10.  I love my RNY!