New Here..Hoping to have surgery

Hi! My name is Shannon.I am 26 years old..married to John and we have one son Jaden Lee.I live in Louisville,Ky and I weigh 300lbs.I would like to lose about 150 lbs.I have tried losing weight various ways since I was about 12 years old.I lose some but always gain more back..when I try so hard.I do have PCOS which makes it harder to lose weight.I am on Metformin for that and my Dr. says Diabetes is right around the corner for me.I am short/small made and all of this weight might put me in a wheelchair.I have high trigycerides,cholestrol,blood pressure.I also have severe pain in my feet/legs/knees/back.I have a low thyroid,IBS,and migraines too.I take several medicine for these things.Again..I am only 26! I want to feel free and be able to have fun..live life with my son who is four.I don't want to feel so old and be so unhealthy. I am looking into Gastric Bypass.I hope I can have the laproscopic one done.I had my gallbladder out the same way and the recovery wasn't bad at all.However I've had my GB out and a C-Section once with my son.That scar is very,very low though..so that shouldn't interfere with the gastric bypass but I don't know until I have a consult.Does anyone else know? I am really wanting to hear about other people's experiences with WLS..the bad and good.I worry about dying during the surgery and my son losing me (and other family including my husband) for a surgery I chose to have.Then again..what if I don't have this and end up dying from my large weight.Either way I am fearful and worried. Then I get over being scared of dying..not over it but feeling better.Then I think about after the surgery having major complications or never being healthy.I've heard of people not being able to eat,they look bad,feel bad and can't enjoy food AT ALL.Others have to drink protein all day long.Has anyone here dealt with anything like this? What can save someone from having all of these things? I want to be healthy/fit/happy and able to live life.I think the surgery would be worth it but then again..I don't want to be miserable even afterwards? I don't want to be negative..please don't think that! I've read and heard of many positive stories.I am just getting my fears out there in hopes that someone can help me.

Shannon, Welcome to Obesityhelp.com. I know just what you are going through. There are alot of different stories out there. My advice is to go to the photo gallery and look through the pictures and stories there. I have been. I am learning alot from the stories I've read. Those will help you feel more at ease as to what you need. I am a long way from having my surgery. But I know people around me who've had it and trust me, you will find all kinds of support in your area. One big advice I received here so far has been go to a seminar at one of the hospitals there in Lousiville. You will learn alot. I plan to go to one in Lexington soon myself. It could help you more than you know. Mary

Shannon, welcome! I see that you're 26--How I wish I had done this surgery when I was 26 instead of waiting until I was 44. I regret I wasted so many years struggling with obesity. I think it's normal to be afraid. Heck, even if there were a 1 in a million change of dying, it's horrible if you're the 1. You have to do all the research and decide within yourself whether it's worth the risk. I had to get to the point of deciding that the risks of staying obese and doing nothing outweighed the risks of having WLS. When I had my DS, I weighed 277 and was 5'3 (on tippytoes). I was as round as I was tall almost. I had had PCOS, broken bones, ruptured disk, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes. Six months after surgery I have...nothing. My labs are good. I sleep at night just fine, my knees and feet don't hurt. I am buying my clothes in the misses sizes. I feel good and am having the time of my life. The downsides: I do have a large scar, but I plan on having some plastics down the road so hopefully that will be taken care of. I have to watch what I eat--if I load up on carbs like pasta or bread I get stinky gas and occasional diarrhea. I have to take vitamin supplements. I eat protein first and drink 60-80 oz water a day. I see my surgeon regularly and have bloodwork to make sure my vitamin, protein, iron, calcium, etc. are normal. And, that's pretty much all. I advise you to research all your options--there are 3 major weight loss surgeries being performed today either laparoscopically or open--the RNY which is the most common and the easiest for a surgeon to learn, the lap band which is the least invasive, and the VG/DS which is most invasive but offers the most successful weight loss to weight regain ratio. I chose the VG/DS and traveled from Lexington to Dayton Ohio to find a wonderful surgeon. Best of luck to you in your decision! -joanne s preop/current/goal 277/180/175 Loving my DS!

Hello Shannon and welcome! You have come to the right place. There is a variety WLS among us here. I researched for 1 1/2 yrs and finally decided on my choice of Adjustable lapband. I had it done 5 days ago and I feel wonderful! I also have a 4 yr old. She is sooooo full of energy and I was just not able to keep up. Now I am going to be able to because the lapband is totally adjustable, reversible and restrictive verses malabsorbative. Remember whichever one You chose is the right one for you. There is no "best" chioce because we are all individuals with different likes and needs. I know why I chose lapband, but everyone has a reason for choosing theirs. Read others profiles. Read mine! Thats why we fill them out to help others. It also helps us to be accountable. My weight loss will be slower I know but Its what is right for me. Jump right in and continue your journey to a heathier YOU!! We are much 2 young to be feeling this damn old!! I know!! I am only 32 with comorbids. I am looking forward to losing my metphormin cause of my PCOS and C-Pap from sleep apnea, and Previcid from Gerd within this 1st 3 months.

HI Shannon, good luck on your research and your decision whichever way you decide to go. I had my gb 17 months ago and i eat real food. no i cannot eat alot of what i use to but i dont need to. i eat healthy food though occassionally i do treat myself to some chips. i dont eat alot at one time, but i do not live on drinks i have never done the shakes my doctor or nutrionist did not want us to. they wanted us introduced to real food as soon as we could so that we could live normal and learn to control our food. i have not had any complications though i know some have. the only thing i had was a hernia which is normal for people who have the open. i know what you mean about the fear of dieing during surgery i cried as they rolled me back. but i had to weigh my options and i was flat out. i was not living in the shape that i was in and i decided i deserved a chance at life. i am not trying to influence you in any way this has to be fully your decision just letting you know how i did. don't get me wrong some days are hard because my head wants to eat more than my body can handle, but they seem to be few and far between now that i am farther out. God bless you on the choice that you make and keep us up to date. keep smiling rhonda