OK! My Okie people, here I go again!

Kim, it's ok to share, never feel bad about honest feelings.  I didn't have RNY, I had the band, and I'm pretty sure at times I was just as scared as you are-a complication is a complication and all the surgeries have them.  You can minimize the chance of complications by following the rules to a T.

Please don't even let "selfish" enter into your thoughts....(although I did the same thing...how selfish of me to spend this money when I could feed the hungry, save the seals, etc......) but then I realized-I'm a single person with elderly parents-selfish is being to fat to take care of them, or needing my brother to fly out for every crisis because I'm in no shape to deal with it. 

As for the can't quit losing weight-I'm going to go out on a limb here and you all feel free to shoot me down-but I think ALL these surgeries can, to some degree, exaggerate some eating disordered tendencies that already existed....and for former few failed anorexics now are able to be successful anorexics....and they are now going to have to deal with it.  Yes, our fat did cover up some things we didn't even know was there-but it is nothing that can't be dealt with.  

 

Don't let fear of what is under the fat keep you heavy.  You will deal with it as surely as you dealt with the weight, with all of us beside you.  You are now part of a special group of people who are dedicated to supporting efforts towards health-true health, and that is a rare and beautiful thing.

 

As for the "if it doesn't work for me".....been there-we all have.  I bet every one of us has felt that at some level it wouldn't work for us because we didn't deserve to be healthy or a nice size.  Pfffft.  We do deserve it and it will work.  Don't even entertain that thought.   When I realized I was having that thought I blurted out loud "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard!"  (fortunately the nurse in Mexico didn't speak English and thought I was just crazy). 

 

 

 

Kim, I went through the whole pre op process 2 years ago only to change my mind because of my fears. I was afraid I would have complications, or even die. You are not crazy and you aren't alone. I sitll have fears, but I am resigned to do it this time. I know there are people out there that have complications. I hope that I am not one of them. I have had 9 surgeries, and have never had a complication so I am hoping my luck continues. I have done a lot of praying and have found peace this time. Keep airing your fears so we can help you through them.
emily

All I can say is Thank you all so much and I love my OH family!  I feel so much better.  Last night I worried so much I didn't sleep.  I had an anxiety attack it was terrible! 

I have been in touch with my insurance and as I expected they do not cover VSG.  I think I would prefer that over the RNY.  However there are many happy RNYer's out there too!

Thank you all for your prayers and support!  I will get through this today! 
Hugs to you all.
Have a great weekend!
Kim

Sorry blunt is me...I was told about horror stories and how people died weeks after surgery. but then I really researched WLS and I mean I did some intense research from the beginnings of WLS to the latest devoplements. So after reading and just getting doen on my fat knees I said this to GOD..ITs in your hands if I am to have this surgery and survive then I wont have any stumbling blocks. You gave me this life and I do treasure it I just want to be healthy...so If its meant to be then I will have smooth sailing for surgery. AND if its your will that I do not make it then prepare a banquet table for me cause either way I am yours.
Some of the stats is this 2 out of 200 have complications that does not mean the surgery caused the complication it was a pre exisiting condition. People who have malnutritional problems are often diagnoses as it being a mental block that they have created...If you take 100 people and actually run all medical tests on them as why they cant do this or that MOST of them it will be mental the few that are physical will be due to a surgeons lack of skill of making the pouch or opening to small. THATS WHY when you are looking fora surgeon you pick a board certfied one that has creditennials to show his skill. and its not one that went to a class over the weekend and decided WLS was his ticket to being rich.
I have had 6 major complications from RNY..i lost 4 pints of blood to getting mrsa and having emergency surgery 3 days in a row for it to having 2 huge hernias and a gall bladder that was well fed to having a wound that did not heal correctly till I had surgery again to my latest one of being full of crapola...
I have leanred so much about me and how tough I really am to finding humor in all of this. I have not been scared one time and I dont plan on it.
I am a well educated person that after researching and knowing the odds about being obesed decided I would rather die on a operating table then die from being super obesed.
Each person that has complications can say they would never do it again or that it was the worse experience of their lives....But let me ask you this...do you know how many people die everyday in home accidents or just by getting in their cars to go to the store? Do you know how many women die in child birth? Or do you know the stats on how many people die from having their tonsils removed?
If those stats dont scare you thien the complication risks from WLS shouldnt either...btw 3 women out of 450 die from child birth...the stats was 10 out of 1000 die from going to the store...
I would do this surgery again...I am the smallest I have been in 24 years..I am able to do the things that beofre I would sit on the sidelines and watch others...
So in closing its your decision..cold feet sweating hands and second thoughts...are all common... I was at peace with my decision and never had any of the above....
Do a pro and con list and then have your kids your hubby to do the same....if this is really bothering you ask your self and your family is the risks worth having you around longer.
AND sweetcakes not everyone has a complication.....just a few of us....

Hey you!!!!  You have really had alot of good words sent to you on this thread already but i wanted to add just a few to you.  I know you are scared and its NORMAL!!!!  But just remember that there are always two sides to every story.  And you are only hearing the one side, it could be a much deeper reason for the failure that lead to the horror story that people are sharing.  It takes both the drs and patients to make it a success! 

I know that you are scared of being one left with a horror story to share and leave your family in debt due to all of it.  But you are looking at it all wrong.  We are at bigger odds of leaving our families in much debt by staying obese and getting more and more unhealthy.  Like for instance before i was filling 11 precriptions a month thats alot of money just for the meds.  Not to mention all the drs appointments, the regular check up etc to keep on top of what ever is wrong with us. 

Its so sad that so many and i was one of them have to fight insurance to better their health by getting heathier with the start of WLS.  I jsut dont get it. 

Please remeber I am on serious pain meds here and not sure if I am making any sense and getting my point across to you but I am trying here.  I hope that things get easier for you and I say STOP reading the horror stories!!!!!!  You arent going to have one of them I am confident of that!

Hugs to you

Kim I skipped over everyone else's comments so if I am doubling (or more) up on saying something here sorry about that.

I researched for 3 years before finally having it.  I wanted to lose weight without surgery.  I just could not.  Yes I have had a few complications but really, compared to the idea of getting diabetes, maybe having a heart attack, not being able to be ME again, it was worth it.  I was talking with Dionne last night about all of this.  I am 80 pounds short of goal but you know what?  If I never get there I am okay with that.  I feel WONDERFUL now.  I can walk, I can dance the night away, I am back into a size 38 Wranglers and I havent worn that size in nearly 15 years!!!  Yes i still have a lot of my gut but that will be the last part to go (as Ruth told me...love you sis).

The benefits of this surgery far outweigh not having in IMHO.  I got to meet you all as well and have made what I know will be lifetime friends from this site.  And God has called me to be His messenger as well after surgery.  I talk to people all the time about it and say that it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  I have several friends who are looking into it for themselves or family members.

I wish you the best in your decision and if you need me i am here for you.

Thank You Thank You Thank You!  I cannot tell you all how thankful I am for each and every one of you!  The suport I have gotten here is just the Greatest!  My husband is wonderful but he doesn't understand because he hasn't had much of a weight problem in his life, so therefore he wishes I could just diet.  He can and lose 30 lbs in no time.  I'm not made that way and I need to lose 100 not 30!  He is behind me whatever I decide!
But You all really made me feel better with your kind words
and Wisdom!
Thanks!
Kim