Stories Wanted

Hello everyone, I've been reading your posts and I have a a favor to ask you. I am just starting out on this road and still researching everything to make sure I am making the right decision for me. I am scared of having the surgery, but more afraid not too. I have two small children, 2 year old and 8 month old and am afraid I won't be around for them to grow up if I don't do something about my weight. Anyway, for those of you who have had the surgery, would you do it again? I am not worried about the life altering life style changes, I am worried about complications, recovery and the other horror stories that seem to be everywhere. Thank you

Sherri, I would do it over a millon and one times. I am 2 years out and it has been a long road but has saved my life more than one. The best way to get stories is to start reading profiles. Some people don't update their and others do, but you can get a lot of information of the struggles from pre-insurance troubles to goal. Good Luck in your Journey, it was the best decision I've ever made. D

Hi Sherri~ I researched a long long time whether or not to have this surgery. About 5 years ago a "friend" suggested in a not-so-nice way that I have it and after I got over my initial stubbornness I started looking into it. I read profiles, looked at pictures, read as much info as I could on the procedures and made my final decision. I had a little trouble initially with insurance not wanting to pay for the place I wanted to go to (out of network) and then I found the COMP clinic. Things happen for a reason. I couldn't be happier about my outcome thus far. I've lost 126 pounds and no longer suffer from all the things that made my life miserable. I would encourage you to check out as many profiles as you can, research as much as you can and ask any questions that you have! I know that by the time my surgery was approved and I was going in, I had NO question as to whether or not I was doing the right thing. I just KNEW. And I had a great feeling that everything was going to be OK ... and it is. Best wishes to you! Cathy

Hello Sherri ~ my wife and I have each had Lap RNY and we would both do it again. You'll only be as successful by the amount of excersising. It is another form of dieting...but losing 100+ pounds is not uncommon. Good luck with your decision and there is no shame in deciding not to do it. Check my profile for more. Phil

Sherri, I would absolutely do it again. In fact, if I COULD do it over again, I would have done it much sooner. I wouldn't have waited until I was 35. Like most of the others, I did a LOT of research before I made the decision.. and it took me two years to come to the conclusion that the risks of surgery were far outweighed by the potential for a better life.. and the certainty that I WOULD DIE very young and very uncomfortably from complications of super morbid obesity was 100%. It wasn't much of a choice to make, IMO. Read the profiles of the people on this board.. I think you'll see that many of us went through the same frustrations and bouts of uncertainty as you are right now.. You're definitely not alone! Stef Lap RNY 11/12/04 390 -> 309 -> 175

Hi Sherri You are soooo not alone. I think everyone battled at some point on whether or not to do this. It is a big decision. I know that for me the last 6 months were really tough. Looking back now, I can see that I went through a terrrible depression. That is something I had never done before. When i first talked to the doctor about it, he totally agreed that it would be a good thing for me to have done, and that is what got the ball rolling for me. I really don't have very many co-morbities yet, but given time, they would have all showed up.. My biggest problem is arthritis in knees and feet. all due to being overweight. When the pain for this began, I became unable to be as active as I wanted to be, going up and down stairs became almost impossible for awhile. then i found out that in order to have the surgery you need to quit smoking, so in Oct I did that, by December, I was not a happy camper at all anymore. So much so that my Husband looked elsewhere for compionship and some of my freinds quit hanging around me. they said I had changed and that i was very "negative". At the time, I couldn't see it, but now I can. I am 2 days away from having this life changing, altering surgery. Yes, I'm scared, who wouldn't be. but i've come to terms with it, and know that God is the only one who will decide when it is my time to go. I work in a hospital as a respiratory therapist, and I take care of the "horror" stories that you may have heard about. So I have first hand experience and knowledge of what can happen. But I also see all the good and life saving things that this surgery brings to so many, it changes the quality of our life dramatically, at least that is my hope. I'm tired of being restricted by my weight, I want to live life to its fullest!!! Being on the sidelines is getting old. I'm out of my "depression" , is time to open a new door in my life, quit feeling sorry for myself and get on with LIVING. Love you all, please keep me in your prayers this week as I journey over to the "losing" side of life. Kristi

HI KRISTIN JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO YOUR POST TO SHERRI. YOU'VE HAD QUITE THE TIME LATELY BUT IT WILL BE BETTER IN A FEW DAYS. I WAS VERY ACTIVE IN SPORTS AND THEN MY KNEES STARTED GETTING BAD ALSO AND MY METABOLISM CHANGED AND THE WEIGHT STARTED POURING ON. DOCTORS WOULD SAY-EXERCISE,WALK BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE CUTTING YOUR KNEES OFF TO EASE THE PAIN - YOU CAN'T DO THAT. ANYWAY-ALL OF OUR PRAYERS WILL BE WITH YOU AND YOU WILL BE ON THE LOSING SIDE. I HAD MY SURGERY 2/8/05 AND HAVE LOST 54 POUNDS AND I FEEL BETTER ALREADY. I HAD VERY LITTLE PAIN AFTER THE SURGERY(OPEN RNY), AND I WAS OFF WORK 6 WEEKS. SO GOOD LUCK AND WE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU-SEE YOU ON THE LOSING SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUSAN

HI SHERRI LIKE THE OTHERS-YES I WOULD DO IT OVER AGAIN. I TOO WISH I COULD OF HAD IT DONE SOONER BUT FOR INSURANCE REASONS IT TOOK ME 3 YEARS BUT IT TURNED OUT FOR THE BEST BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE THE SURGEON THEN. I CHANGED GROUPS AND SURGEONS. HAD MY SURGERY 2/8/05, HAD VERY LITTLE PAIN AND HAVE LOST 54 POUNDS. MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO DO RESEARCH-THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WLS. LAP BAND IS LESS INVASIVE. WHATEVER YOU DECIDE-GOOD LUCK! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!! SUSAN WILLIAMS

Hi Sherri. I feel al least 15 years younger than before my sugery.I would do it again in a minunte.I don't care about food anymore.I used to think about food all the time i would be planning lunch and dinner at the breakfest table.I have more energy now than i had 8 years ago.Don't believe me me just ask my wife she says i won't leave her alone! I was wearing size 62 pants and 7x shirts now less than 4 months post-op i wearing size 48 pants and 3x almost 2x shirts.I don't hide from people anymore.The only thing that ****** me off is the my 20 year reunion was last year and not this year!!!!!!!DO IT YOU WILL LOVE YOURSELF AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! date of sugery 12/27/2005 459/338/220

Sherri, I would DEFINETELY do it over again! I was terrified to have the surgery, but after 4 years of research I finally did it. I also had 3 small children. My youngest was only 6 months when I had the surgery. I am 135 pounds lighter after just 14 months. I feel so great and so much younger!! The recovery wasn't bad. The first week was the worst of it, then it got better every day. This surgery isn't for everyone, but it is the best thing that ever happened to me. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. [email protected] Mellisia Lap RNY (1/5/04) 342/209/170