Doubting whether or not surgery is for me

I thought I was 100% sure about surgery, but the further I get in the orientation process the more I'm doubting it. Ive been to the information session, pre surgery class, dietician and social worker. since October Ive lost 25 pounds just by changing what and how I eat. Now I'm starting to think of the cost of everything pre and post surgery....and all the downsides. I'm starting to think I can change my life without the surgery. I have no idea anymore. Any advice>?

Make sure you are 100% sure because it is not an easy street. I wasn't sure either when I first started. Re-evaluate the reasons why you wanted the surgery.

For me there is no doubt It was  the best decison for me

I've had those thoughts. But I also know that for me I've lost weight before and then when I'm not paying attention the weight comes back and then some. 

Only you know if it's right for you, if you can make the lifetime commitment. 

I've lost 30lbs since September. My surgery is booked for April 11th. I know that I will never get anywhere near a normal BMI without this tool. But I also know it's just that, a tool. Every tool needs an operator, they don't just work on their own. 

How many times have you changed what and how you eat? The tool will help you lose weight it will not help you make the right choices. You have to find it within yourself. If you're not there yet then maybe now is not the right time for you to be considering surgery. 

I need this tool in my toolbox because even though I know what the right choices  are I don't always make them. 

Just my 2 cents. Good luck to with whatever you choose . 

The surgery really isn't difficult and most patients have no complications, but depending upon your individual employment and family support situation, the post surgery recovery period can take a bit of a personal toll. Within about six months you will have the ability to consume pretty much everything you ate before the surgery (in reduced quantities) with no significant physical consequences other than you will be subverting the primary reason you chose the procedure in the first place ....... as a head start towards outwardly becoming the person you want to be.

You will always have to take your supplements so there is a relatively minor cost burden there, nothing like a cigarette or even a soda pop addiction and you should be financing this obligation from the savings accumulating from the cessation of your previous unhealthy eating habits. But you will have to adjust to the permanent requirement to take those supplements three times daily and establish routines that ensure you always have ample supplies readily available. Keep in mind that millions and millions of normal people have similar obligations to take care of diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other ailments so is not a big deal either.

What I still don't like though is losing for the rest of your life access to pain relief from nsaids, aspirin, advil, etc. Tylenol works on the brain, not at the source and really isn't effective for things like back pain or other muscular injuries. I do believe you need to properly evaluate how this sacrifice may affect your personal needs now and way out into the future.

There are other ways to jump start a serious weight loss but none seem to have the proven track record that properly conducted bariatric surgery has established in keeping most of the weight off over the longer term. It doesn't look like you have a tremendous amount of weight still to lose before getting pretty close to an reasonable size for most people so you could consider deferring the procedure for some future date if it should ever be really needed. You probably shouldn't commit to such a permanent change unless you really believe that it is the right choice for you.

My apologies, I happened to jump back and confused another member's posted weight results with yours. Please ignore my comment about you not needing to lose much more weight since I don't know where you're coming from or how far you believe you need to go before you will be happy with your body.

If we're talking about roux-en-y, I would not at all say the surgery isn't difficult.  It's a significant trauma to the body.

The worst of the complications are rare (as I've been told by the hospital), but they can be life threatening and that is one major thing to consider.  

As for the "no physical consequences", that is incorrect.  If you drink soda, you can create an irreparable ulcer, which can kill you.

Also, not having thiamine in your multivitamin can lead to brain damage and death.

My surgeon and most others would advise your dire warning about the hazards of soda pop consumption on one's physical health is overstated. While no pop is the more appropriate dietary strategy, anything in moderation including pop will not cause adverse affects to your health. Pop consumption is a dangerous area for weight loss patients because of the potential to reintroduce addictive consumption that will cause you harm if you consume too much.

Meanwhile, your multivitamin will provide the better portion of your thiamine requirement and that nutrient is available in other dietary sources which should be part of your continuing well-rounded diet.

The surgery requires skill from the medical team but for most people it is a relatively painless procedure.

> My surgeon and most others would advise your dire warning about the hazards of soda pop consumption on one's physical health is overstated

This was information given to me by my surgeon, dieticians, and nursers pre-op.

Some multivitamins also do not contain thiamine, which is why we were warned pre-op to make sure we have a multi-vitamin that contains this.  Also, some people neglect their vitamins, and the staff at the hospital wanted to be clear with everyone that this was a potential outcome of not taking the multi-vitamin with the thiamine.

I was told the thiamine requirement in the multi-vitamin is crucial during the first three months post-op as we are adjusting to being able to eat food and may not be able to get it from solid food sources for a time, depending on the speed of recovery.

I don't dispute the temporary dietary restrictions post surgery, my comments about food consumption  were intended to allay any concerns about the lifetime consequences of the surgery......  because ultimately this is a lifetime decision. 

But we're all good. ;)