SOME ADVICE?

Hi everyone! I am new to this.Some opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated. In March,2004 I was 325lbs,borderline type 2 diabetic,was and still researching WLS,in 2 years I have lost 50lbs on my own thru simply changing my eating habits,eating salads,cutting back on starchy foods,but I still want to lose more lbs. As they say if it is not broke,don,t fix it. Since what I am presently doing seems to be working good,the thought of WLS still is on my mind. The complications I have heard of having this surgery done concerns me very much. Hearing from other members on this subject would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Everyone be careful and safe.

it's MAJOR surgery that will induce malnutrition for the rest of your life. It will be difficult to get life insurance etc. On the other hand i was where you're at and i lost 100lbs on my own while trying to get approved for WLS. eventually i gained it all back... and more. For me, dieting didn't work. I lost the same 100lbs at least five times in the past ten years. FOR ME, there was no choice. Getting WLS changed my life, my high blood pressure was cured as well as many other problems. In just six months i've lost 150lbs and have changed my life completely, proved to myself that i do in fact love myself and am happy for the first time in decades. What i'm trying to say is if you can do it on your own, do it. But if you fail and keep failing, WLS might save you. It saved me. It gave me back my life and let me overcome many things that were holding me back. But don't think it's all a bed of roses, in the past 8 months i've seen a few members of this website pass away due to complications of surgery. My own personal belief is that if you do your research, find a VERY skilled surgeon and do exactly as advised, you will be fine. But there are risks, serious risks and if you can do it yourself, you should avoid those risks. Good luck to you whatever you decide and remember, this is not a WLS support site, it's an obesity support site and whether you have WLS or not, we are here for you. This site is a very useful tool, use it to the best of your ability and you can gain (and lose.. a lot of weight).

Jay, "This is not a WLS support site, it's an obesity support site and whether you have WLS or not, we are here for you. " I can't even explain how this statement made me feel. I am into my 11 month of fighting my insurance company to get the WLS. At the state level, as soon as I get all my med records for the last 1 and 1/2. Scared to death that I will be turn down for what will be my last chance. I have started to feel left out of the board. It is not from anything the board has done but from my own insecurities. I get so excited for everyone who has had the advantage of their tool to help them lose. But at the same time I guess I am jealous too. It is hard to wait for something you know you need, something you know will work for your health, something you know you have worked hard for (your insurance) and them have them tell you, you can't have it. This is an obesity help message board and I love everyone on the Michigan Board. Guess I am just in a pity pot today. Thanks for listening. Cheryl

i can tell you this, it took me three years of fighting to get my surgery. and then i joined this board two months before my surgery was scheduled... and they woke me up in recovery and told me they could not perform the surgery!! I felt like a phony on the boards because my surgery didn't happen, and no one would have any of it, they made me know i was welcome and would be missed if i left. People INSISTED i stay and they supported me through it all. A few months later i had a succesful surgery. I don't think i could have done it with the support i found on the OH boards. I fought for three years. They don't tell you that you can't have it, they tell you they won't pay for it. There are ways to fight that and ways around it. If you're meant to have it, something will work out. You have to be patient, you have to stick with it. It's not easy, but that's the point isn't it? It's never easy. We stick together and we find the strength to overcome. That's why we're here for each other.

Hi Cheryl: I was reading your post this evening and can certainly understand where you are coming from. I've never thought about members possibly feeling left out due to not having approval yet...and your post has given me a different perspective. All I can say is that I think you are awesome...WLS or not...and I know everyone else feels that way too. Hang in there...and I wish you the best as you continue your appeal at the State level. Maria W.

thank you jay and cheryl for your input. it is great to know there are people out here who i can ask for their advice. i hope maybe to cross paths again. thank you jim