HELP i need info and YOUR thoughts

Hello , My name is Ashley, i am 19 years old and weigh 380 lbs!!! I have tried everything diets and pills exersize everything. Nothing seems to work I have been reaserching WLS for a long time now have read almost every article on WLS there is to read . I just would like some feed back from someone who has actually had the surgery First, was it worth it?? I would think it would be definatly but i have read many many horror stories and would like to know your thoughts. Second Did it hurt?? I know it will a litle bit or alot but if yall could give me your info anything that you think would help it would be great!!!! Thank you so so much god bless all of you Ashley

Ashley, It was worth it. My only regret is I did not do it when I was much younger, I have kids your age. It was not all that painful, they give you plenty of drugs to keep the pain under control. You also need to read everything as your life will changed entirely. If you want to know about people's journeys. Check out there profiles, you can click on their name on the message boards or go to recent profiles, also many surgeons have a patient for profile section and you can also check out the feedback on the surgeon you want to use. Take Care, D

i have been reading that your hair my fall out is that true and i understaqnd you have to exersize that is not a problem but what about all the extra skin did yours go away???

Ashley, Yes. there my be a little hair loss but usually it's not noticable to anyone but yourself as you see it in the brush or on the floor. It just thins out a little, that where protein and vitamins come in, you must take these every day for the rest of your life. I also have some exta skin not to bad, as my surgeon said, for being 50 and obese my entire life. I went from size 26/28 to a 2/4. Never expected to get this small, would heve been happy at a 10/12, but I just ate right, did my protein shakes, exercised and did not eat a single sweet until I reached goal. I didn't have this surgery to have a perfect body, I had it to be healthy. I wanted to be able to go up the stairs without being out of breathe by the 3rd stair. To be able to walk, with out my ankles hurting, to be able to get in and out of a car easily and fit comfortably behind the wheel. This surgery is a difficult decision and it is something you should do only for yourself, nobody else, and to do it for the right reasons. D

Hi Ashley I had open RNY done 9 months ago tomorrow. It has been more than wonderful for me. There are risks which you have obviously read about. The potential does exist. However, and I only speak my opinion here, for me the risks were outweighed by the potential benefits. At 28 I was diabetic, had high blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and a whole host of other problems that left me wondering whether or not I was going to make it to see my next birthday. Now I don't. I had another birthday and hopefully will have many more! Did it hurt? I can't say not at all but the pain was a lot more bearable than what I had imagined. I had no prior surgeries or anything of the like to compare pain to ... so I was a little worried. But by the end of the second week I was driving and going as many places as my endurance would allow. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to email me! I'll email you so you'll have my email address. Best wishes to you! Hugz, Cathy

Ashley, I'll be 4mos out on the 12th of this month. First of all, YES it was definitely worth it. I don't regret it and only wish I'd not been so stubborn and done it sooner.. MUCH sooner. Did it hurt? Well.. this is a funny question.. yeah. Surgery hurts.. but it wasn't unbearable. It hurt when I got my tattoo eight years ago, too.. and it hurts when I pull a muscle or give myself a cardboard or paper cut.. but the interesting thing is.. the memory of the pain is mild. The pain, at the time, seemed like it would never end.. and thank God for pain meds... but once I turned the corner.. it was like I suddenly had pain amnesia.. I forgot all about the pain and discomfort right away.. There are other things.. Not everybody loses their hair -- I am losing some but I always lose some.. I have loads of hair. If your hair is thin or fine to begin with.. you'll probably notice a difference.. but here's the good news: Hair grows back. Don't fool yourself into thinking this is easy.. it's not. You're still going to have to alter what and how you eat.. and most importantly WHY you eat.. the only difference is there is a physical barrier that will stop you from doing the wrong things for a while.. hopefully, you'll develop good habits while you have the chance. One thing is certain, you can't look at this as another "diet." This is not a "diet" in the sense of the word to which we're accustomed. This is a complete lifestyle change.. and it's real.. you can't NOT make changes -- your body typically won't let you go on the way you did before. Keep reading as you get further in the process.. there are loads of helpful stories and profiles on this site.. Good luck to you! I hope this turns out to be the right way for you!! Stef Lap RNY 11/12/04 390 -> 321 -> 175