Encouragement...

I am in the process of meeting with surgeons to be assessed for surgery. While I am sure that this is the path that I would like to travel, I am fearful. I am been on this website and navigated around quite a bit. While I have both read and seen pix of the successes, I also have seen the In Memorium section. While anything is possible, I am not afraid of the negative outcome. This fear made me put off meeting w/ a surgeon for 6 months already. Now that I am considering it again, I am resistant and the thought of meeting w/ a surgeon again is causing me great anxiety. Any suggestions?

You really need to think about the positives. They really do outway the negatives. Remember, this surgery is just as risky as gallbladder surgery. You should find out if there is a support group in your area and attend some meetings. I think the more you educate yourself on the procedure and the entire journey, the better you'll feel about the decision. Also, think about where you will be if you DO NOT have the surgery. For myself, I've added years of healthy living since I had wls and don't regret it one bit. Best of luck & remember we're always here for you. Tammy 291/284/213/145

I can understand how you feel. I had my surgery July 8, 2004. My son will be 4 in 2 weeks. I was worried about the surgery and what would happen if it didn't go ok, but then I thought to myself what would happen if I didn't have the surgery and I stayed as heavy and unhealthy as I was. I was 290 and 5'1". I had high blood pressure and was borderline diabetic. I also couldn't keep up with my son to follow him around without getting out of breath or my legs hurting. My PCP said that if I didn't get the weight off, there was a good chance that I might not be around to see my son grow up or have a long life with my husband. Now I am 175 and I feel so much better. I run around with my son and have so much fun. I feel it was worth taking the risks to feel better. I have also found that since losing the weight, I feel better about myself mentally as well as physically. I would really do a good job researching the surgeons. I used Dr. Michael Leitman. If you find a surgeon that you are very confident in, it may make you feel better about having the surgery. It is a very big decission and a very personal one. We can give you advice, but in the end it is your decission to make when the time is right for you. I wish you luck. If you would like to chat, feel free to e-mail me. Jackie

Hello hun ~hugs~ I have to say that the first meeting I had with my surgeon I cancelled the day before because I was just to nervous but once I was ready it went well though I was still so nervous but I got through because it was something I felt I had to do for my life! It is good you researched both the good and the bad! It is better to know about all the things that can happen then not knowing. What helped me was I put it in my mind that I had to do this and to just get through it. I tried to not think about all the issues when I was in the office but just to listen and take it all in. I just kept telling myself I am only getting info, nothing more at this point and it seemed to help some. I took my hubby along because I knew I would be so nervous and miss things he was saying. Well I wish you all the best hun and keep posting, it sure helped me.... Debra P