Starting to SERIOUSLY question what I am about to do...(long)
Small panic attack here...
I have been 100% go, go, go since I decided to try the WLS thing again. I have been excited, and enthusiastic and CONFIDENT that I was doing the right thing.
I spent some time today checking out the rest of the OH website and stumbled on Rants and Raves...
Long story short is that these surgeries DONT work for everyone, and they may not work for the long haul.. and the unhappy people on that board are VERY unhappy (and rightfully so)
I am not trying to bring anyone down, but I am becoming less confident. I dont want to be sicker, and I don't want to re-route my insides to end back up where I started!
Post-ops- is it truly worth it? Am I just trading one misery for another in a smaller package? Can I avoid the pouch stretching? Can I prevent Mal-absorption?
I APOLOGIZE for being such a bummer... but a few of the posts I read today just scared the hell outta me. Seriously, I feel like I just got slapped across the face with my own mortality (I am not even approved yet! Hell, I see my PCP tomorrow for the referral!)
This board is so amazing, you guys are so honest and willing to share all. I just dont know who else to ask.
Again, I am sorry to whine-
I have been 100% go, go, go since I decided to try the WLS thing again. I have been excited, and enthusiastic and CONFIDENT that I was doing the right thing.
I spent some time today checking out the rest of the OH website and stumbled on Rants and Raves...
Long story short is that these surgeries DONT work for everyone, and they may not work for the long haul.. and the unhappy people on that board are VERY unhappy (and rightfully so)
I am not trying to bring anyone down, but I am becoming less confident. I dont want to be sicker, and I don't want to re-route my insides to end back up where I started!
Post-ops- is it truly worth it? Am I just trading one misery for another in a smaller package? Can I avoid the pouch stretching? Can I prevent Mal-absorption?
I APOLOGIZE for being such a bummer... but a few of the posts I read today just scared the hell outta me. Seriously, I feel like I just got slapped across the face with my own mortality (I am not even approved yet! Hell, I see my PCP tomorrow for the referral!)
This board is so amazing, you guys are so honest and willing to share all. I just dont know who else to ask.
Again, I am sorry to whine-
Kim:
I do not know what to say other than this is surely a life changing and lifelong commitment here. You have to be sure that you are in it for the long haul. It is not an easy fix and you have to be diligent about supplements and will always have to watch what you eat or there is the possibility of regain. Not everyone has problems but that possibility is there. It is rare but there can be serious complications to include death. But, as others have said, I was killing myslef slowly. I was also quite unhappy to be where I was. For me, it was absolutely worth it. I still battle with my thoughts and shedding the weight has not shed my issues. They were there and I have to deal with them upfront now rather than bury my feelings under food. There are many things to think about. No one can tell you what to do but most people will tell you it was worth it. People that have real serious issues medical problems have cured them with the weight loss. Anyhow, best of luck to you as you ponder this! It is normal to be scared. We would worry if you weren't.
Lisa
I do not know what to say other than this is surely a life changing and lifelong commitment here. You have to be sure that you are in it for the long haul. It is not an easy fix and you have to be diligent about supplements and will always have to watch what you eat or there is the possibility of regain. Not everyone has problems but that possibility is there. It is rare but there can be serious complications to include death. But, as others have said, I was killing myslef slowly. I was also quite unhappy to be where I was. For me, it was absolutely worth it. I still battle with my thoughts and shedding the weight has not shed my issues. They were there and I have to deal with them upfront now rather than bury my feelings under food. There are many things to think about. No one can tell you what to do but most people will tell you it was worth it. People that have real serious issues medical problems have cured them with the weight loss. Anyhow, best of luck to you as you ponder this! It is normal to be scared. We would worry if you weren't.
Lisa
Hi Kim,
I understand that you can have these concerns about getting the surgery, however you need to decide is this the right thing for you. I think most people think this is the simple trick that is going to make them thin and they can go back to their old habits. My mother had the surgery done twice, once in the 80's and then about 5 years ago. She was not mentally ready to have the surgery done and did the surgery because it was a do or die situation. She never got down to her goal and has regained 60 pounds since her last surgery and is going back to Weigh****chers. She did the surgery for all the wrong reasons and was not prepared to have the lifestyle change that comes along with surgery.
So, when I decided to have the surgery, I thought about this as more of... I am going to give up something but I am going to have to still give up something in the end. No one is perfect after surgery. You are not going to be able to go and eat what ever you want and how much of it. You might have medical conditions that go along with it and you might give up medical conditions that you had before. It is a trade of.
Here is what I gave up to be thin. Candy, Cake, soft drinks, bread, pretty much a ton of food that I can't eat anymore. Getting sick when I eat sometimes, having to lay down after I eat... But on the other side of it - This is what I got from the surgery.. confidence, my feet don't hurt, I can bend over, I can fit in a seat, I can feel like I fit in, I can wear clothes and they look good, sex life is better, relationship with my husband is better, feel young again, able to walk again, play tennis, have guys check me out.... and the list goes on.... (Check out my goals on my site)
I am 41 years old and I feel better than I did when I was 31 years old. I have lost 114 pounds and have gone from a 24/26 to a 4/6. I have turned back the time on my life and have gained 10 years. Now is that worth not eating that cup cake.... HECK YEAH!
Kendall
I understand that you can have these concerns about getting the surgery, however you need to decide is this the right thing for you. I think most people think this is the simple trick that is going to make them thin and they can go back to their old habits. My mother had the surgery done twice, once in the 80's and then about 5 years ago. She was not mentally ready to have the surgery done and did the surgery because it was a do or die situation. She never got down to her goal and has regained 60 pounds since her last surgery and is going back to Weigh****chers. She did the surgery for all the wrong reasons and was not prepared to have the lifestyle change that comes along with surgery.
So, when I decided to have the surgery, I thought about this as more of... I am going to give up something but I am going to have to still give up something in the end. No one is perfect after surgery. You are not going to be able to go and eat what ever you want and how much of it. You might have medical conditions that go along with it and you might give up medical conditions that you had before. It is a trade of.
Here is what I gave up to be thin. Candy, Cake, soft drinks, bread, pretty much a ton of food that I can't eat anymore. Getting sick when I eat sometimes, having to lay down after I eat... But on the other side of it - This is what I got from the surgery.. confidence, my feet don't hurt, I can bend over, I can fit in a seat, I can feel like I fit in, I can wear clothes and they look good, sex life is better, relationship with my husband is better, feel young again, able to walk again, play tennis, have guys check me out.... and the list goes on.... (Check out my goals on my site)
I am 41 years old and I feel better than I did when I was 31 years old. I have lost 114 pounds and have gone from a 24/26 to a 4/6. I have turned back the time on my life and have gained 10 years. Now is that worth not eating that cup cake.... HECK YEAH!
Kendall
You've already been given the really good advice the only thing I can add is make sure you have complete confidence in the surgeon that you choose.
Best of luck in whatever you decide.
- Iris
Best of luck in whatever you decide.
- Iris
Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Highest Surgery Lowest Current
314.5 294 208 258.4
Hi Kim,
If going to a million seminars is what it takes to give you peace of mind, do it! I started with one surgeon, then had 2nd thoughts - more about his office staff and long term consequences of a poorly run office than him - so I fired him and chose another, one I have complete and utter faith in. It just felt right on a gut level, and I'll bet if you trust your gut, it won't let you down. Also, look at his statistics, maybe you can find some here on OH. Ask him his statistics - a good surgeon will respect you for asking (it's your LIFE your taling about!) instead of being offended that you brought the question up. Question post-ops if you can. You'll meet lots of folks through a support group. I've heard good things about Dr. Enochs - I see you have him listed.
Ask as many questions as you can think of to put your mind at ease. And like others have said, you're totally NORMAL. I still have those nagging thoughts sometimes, too.
If going to a million seminars is what it takes to give you peace of mind, do it! I started with one surgeon, then had 2nd thoughts - more about his office staff and long term consequences of a poorly run office than him - so I fired him and chose another, one I have complete and utter faith in. It just felt right on a gut level, and I'll bet if you trust your gut, it won't let you down. Also, look at his statistics, maybe you can find some here on OH. Ask him his statistics - a good surgeon will respect you for asking (it's your LIFE your taling about!) instead of being offended that you brought the question up. Question post-ops if you can. You'll meet lots of folks through a support group. I've heard good things about Dr. Enochs - I see you have him listed.
Ask as many questions as you can think of to put your mind at ease. And like others have said, you're totally NORMAL. I still have those nagging thoughts sometimes, too.
~Angela Patience + Persistence = POWER!!
Angelette to MajorMom 
Angel to Blue Rose and MsPPPants
HW/SW/CW/DGW/GW 305/294/145/167/140 -160 pounds total
Kim, I could have wrote your post, my dear. Last month, last wee****ep going through all you wrote about. I have such clear moments of time filled with confidence and hope...but then, all of the thoughts you mentioned come creeping in.
I just can't imagine putting myself and my family through all of this just to be one of the failures. I can't imagine doing it and ending up with worse health issues than I have now due to surgical complications, malabsorption, etc. Why risk this??? I keep wishing I could just hurry up and get it over with to silence all of these doubts...because once it's done, it's done...then I can just get on with things, crossing whatever hurdles arise as they arise!!!
HOWEVER!!! My husband keeps telling me that I can't live my life based on these what-if's. What if I fail...what if I have complications...what if I regain the weight...what if I end up unhealthy??? WELL...How about WHAT IF WLS DOES WORK FOR ME???...What if it prevents all sorts of health issues I WOULD have had otherwise?!
I'll never know unless I try and if I don't, I am *certain* I will live out the rest of my life morbidly obese, crippled, and most likely struck with diabetes and heart disease, only to die a much-too-young death.
That is my honesty and I have only reached this point thanks to the amazing group of friends that I have made here. Some of their replies to my posts I may be quoting a bit in mine to you, but I am so thankful to have heard their words, had their support, and am so very thankful I'm able to turn around and offer you my support and encouragement!
I will PM you my number and you be sure to feel free to call anytime. We'll get through this together and we will be SO GLAD that we did! {{{Big Hugs!!!}}}
I just can't imagine putting myself and my family through all of this just to be one of the failures. I can't imagine doing it and ending up with worse health issues than I have now due to surgical complications, malabsorption, etc. Why risk this??? I keep wishing I could just hurry up and get it over with to silence all of these doubts...because once it's done, it's done...then I can just get on with things, crossing whatever hurdles arise as they arise!!!
HOWEVER!!! My husband keeps telling me that I can't live my life based on these what-if's. What if I fail...what if I have complications...what if I regain the weight...what if I end up unhealthy??? WELL...How about WHAT IF WLS DOES WORK FOR ME???...What if it prevents all sorts of health issues I WOULD have had otherwise?!
I'll never know unless I try and if I don't, I am *certain* I will live out the rest of my life morbidly obese, crippled, and most likely struck with diabetes and heart disease, only to die a much-too-young death.
That is my honesty and I have only reached this point thanks to the amazing group of friends that I have made here. Some of their replies to my posts I may be quoting a bit in mine to you, but I am so thankful to have heard their words, had their support, and am so very thankful I'm able to turn around and offer you my support and encouragement!
I will PM you my number and you be sure to feel free to call anytime. We'll get through this together and we will be SO GLAD that we did! {{{Big Hugs!!!}}}
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