New here...cold feet

Like most everyone here I'm sure, I have struggled with my weight all of my adult life and have tried nearly every diet known to man -- often with initial success -- only to return to my original weight or more soon after. I am now at my biggest size ever (around 400lbs at 5'7"!) and have decided that it is time to consider WLS. I have been reading the forums here for well over a year and hope to leverage the support and collective knowledge here as I move forward! I am going to Dr. Araknow's information session the second week in December and already have cold feet. I am obviously concerned about the risk of complications but hope that my lack of other health problems (no high BP, diabetes, heart problems, etc.) and relatively (although less so every day :)) young age of 33 will be on my side. You all are really an inspiration and I hope to be able to give back as much as I take as I go through the process. Thanks! Jeremy Meriden,CT

If it helps, like you, I was a very heavy guy who also had cold feet (and, initially, even a little ambivalence) about bariatric surgery. What helped was finding out about the approaches of several different surgeons and then deciding upon the surgeon with whom I felt I could forge (for me) the best long-term relationship given the importance of after-care. In my analysis (and we all approach the process with different sets of fears and anxieties), I was most worried about the recovery from surgery and what I would use as a coping mechanism (after the loss of my ability consume mass quantities of anything that was nearly edible). So, for me, I decided upon a surgeon who would operate on my laparoscopically (despite my BMI of over 61) and who had the kind of mentoring program that I felt would give me the emotional support I needed. Fortunately, for those of us in CT, there are many very talented surgeons (both open or laparoscopic) with differing approaches for aftercare, each of whom can provide the program that will best suit your own needs. Good luck in making the decision that is best for you.

Welcome to our Ct Message board! We do all understand your emotion feelings toward surgery and recovery after surgery. We have been there before and can help you step by step on your processing. You know our Chef Julio... He was like you over 400 pounds and lost 200 pounds after he had this surgery. He will going to have Tummy tuck surgery tomorrow! WE are rooting for him. We will rooting for you and help you if you ask us any questions. Good luck on your processing. Dr Aranow is my doctor too. Good Luck! Kathy K

hi jeremy, i just had surgery with dr.a in aug.it's the best thing i have ever done for my health.i didn't have pre -existing problems but i feared developing them in the near future.i have +15 years on you and am losing weight weekly.there are no guarantees on anything but the alternative is to live half a life. glad you're taking the first step and wish you luck. joni

Hi Jeremy, I lurk at this terrific--but often intimadating--board but your post inspired me to respond. Please don't duck out of the information session! If you need someone to meet you there, if that will mean that you will actually attend, I will be happy to join you. The photo that accompanies my post was taken when I had lost about 50% of my weight - had surgery by Dr. Aranow in March of 2004 and I am sustaining a 214 lb. weight loss. Most importantly, I had significant co-morbidities, including diabetes (took 3 medications daily), hypertension (took 2 medications daily), sleep apnea (slept with a mask over my face to keep breathing at night), and other medical issues. I was dying. Today, I am off all medications, my health is normal, I have no signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, and I'm connected to my husband at night instead of a breathing machine! I run 2 miles every day when prior to surgery I could not take 10 consecutive steps without having to sit down. This is a journey of self-care and discovery, the surgery is not a miracle cure. But attending the information session is your first step toward taking back your life. I hope this helps. You have friends here. Take good care, Maureen

I know how you feel.I am new here to and have not had my surgery yet.Just look ahead into the future.See the healthier you.See yourself doing all the things you cant do now because of your weight.That's what I do to keep from getting cold feet .Good luck to you.:-)

Hi Jeremy, Like everyone here says, go to the information meeting. "Knowledge is Power" I'm heading into my next surgery quite comfortable because of the kindess of those on this board that have traveled the road before me. So relax and listen closely . There is a new life waiting for you. You just have to decide if you want to do it! Best of Luck!

Hi Jermemy, We have all had those cold feet. I thought I would never eat again if I lived thru the surgery. Well, I lived thru the surgery- no problems- AND I EAT!!!!!! I really thought i wasn't going to eat. But I have ALMOST everything. There are some things I won't have. But I don't miss anything. I work in a Restaurant and before I considered the surgery I watched two customers who had it done shrink before my eyes. And I watched what they ate. So that really reasured me that there is life after surgery. And at age 33 you have a whole life ahead of you to live. My husband said to me today that it was too bad that we wasted the best years of our lives being fat. I told him now we can make up for it. We're 53 years old. Oh sorry I'm 53 my husband is 52. He NEVER lets me forget it. LOL good luck. Koukla 338/187/? surgery date 9-16-05 height 5'6"

Hi Jeremy, I am new to the boards too and just began investigating WLS in October after my doctor suggested it. I have carried this extra weight for 17 years. I spent the 80's either pregnant or nursing a baby and I have 4 beautiful young adults now. But my baby will be 17 tomorrow and I have continued to gain weight. So now it is time to think about me, for a change....lol. I am scared too but attended 2 different seminars. I have selected my doctor and met with him and feel much more comfortable. I brought someone with me to the seminars for moral support. My mom came with me for the first and my husband for the second. My family is scared too, but my husband feels better after attending the seminars and accompanying me to meet the psychologist/social worker. My next door neighbor had the surgery done 2 years ago and is 200 pounds lighter. These experiences have all been positive. Please go to seminars, listen to all the details, and do your research. You will feel much better. Good Luck! Tina

Jeremy, Welcome! You've made a good first step in getting to know about this surgery. What I recommend, is, go to amazon.com and look up all the books they have on weight loss surgery. Then, copy this list and bring it to your library and find as many as you can. They can order the books for you from other libraries, also. Then, READ, READ, READ. Know what this surgery is about, how it's done and you'll be well informed. Dr Aranow's seminar is VERY, VERY indepth. You will also leave there with a wealth of knowledge of the subject. It was at his seminar that I right there decided that he was indeed the surgeon for me and it put the fear of death into me that I would die a lot sooner from being morbidly obese before dying from the surgery. He's done SO many of these surgeries since 2003 that he's got the procedure down pat and his incidence rate is very, very low. He hasn't had a real "issue" arise (as far as the last time I spoke to him in Sept) during or after surgery in some time. Years, actually. Maybe little things pop up here and there, but no major complicatons. He's perfected his techniques with open surgery. When one person had a suture line leak, he had to go back in and repair it. From then on, every one of his surgeries gets extra staples and sutures to prevent anyone else from having a leak there. At the seminar, you'll be given a packet of information that you will have to fill out regarding your health, diet history, etc. You will have to have this filled out to bring to your initial consult with Dr ARanow at his office should you choose to meet with him. During this consult with him (it's one on one) he will go over your packet of info and let you know what tests you will be required to have (gall bladder ultrasound, dietitian consults, psych consults and other tests if need be) and how much weight you will need to lose prior to surgery to show you're dedicated to having this surgery and shrinking the liver fat so that he can operate more successfully. This is to your benefit. He's a straightforward surgeon and plays by the books. He will tell you straight out that he will be your surgeon for life if you dedicate yourself to also playing by the book. He's compassionate (some say arrogant and ****y, but I say self confident which is well earned in my opinion) but not the touchy feely kind of guy. He welcomes all questions and concerns, so have your list ready to go. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to email me. My husband also had surgery 9 months after I did with Dr A. I had very minor co-morbidities like Gerd, high cholesterol, etc. My husband had high blood pressure and gerd, and high cholesterol, etc. We're both down or off meds completely. I've lost 130 lbs in one year and my husband has lost 85 since May. We have friends who have lost over 200 lbs and many here have lost hundreds of pounds, also. I had little if any problems from surgery. Nausea from anesthesia, which I have if I have a tooth pulled. But, that's about it. A little discomfort from surgery, that pain meds took away. Recovery is pretty easy. But it is, afterall, major surgery, and it does run risks, as always. We will be happy to answer any questions and eliviate any fears that you may have. We all get them in the preparation for this surgery. It's totally normal. Good luck! Paula