I'm Better Than All Of You...

I did the same thing -- got right down to setting the date for surgery and decided I needed to take one more run at doing it on my own. Two years later and 15 pounds heavier, I set the date for surgery. And I'm glad I did -- my only regret is not doing it sooner. I have my life back! Deb 374/247/175

Brian.. Good luck to you in whatever road your journey leads you. I've been losing & gaining practically my entire life. Jenny Craig, Weigh****chers, pills....I even wasted money on those stupid patches! I had pneumonia 1/03 and just wasn't getting better. My PCP had been trying to convince me to do wls and he finally said, "Freda, the reason you aren't getting better is because there's too damn much fat around your lungs and you can't breathe! Now, will you look into wls??" It was like a gong in my ear!!! I didn't want to die -- I w as going to become a new grandmother and I wanted to be there to see this child come into the world. Long story short, my surgery was 8/26/03 and I can tell you it was the best decision I EVER made! I started this trip at 304lbs and have lost 109, with 45 to goal. Don't get me wrong, there were lots of bumps along the road but I would do it again in a New York minute!! You have to search your soul to know what's right for you....only you know what's best. And, like the other posters have said, research research RESEARCH!!! Good luck with whatever you decide. Freda

Brian, I was approved for my RNY a year and a half ago, and like you, wanted to give it one last try "on my own" and I cancelled my surgery. I actually succeeded in losing a bit of weight, but over the course of the past year I gained all that I had lost and then some. I am now having LAP RNY on 8-23-04. I feel SO MUCH more confident in my decision. It's not that I hadn't tried before to lose weight and failed, but I needed to prove it to myself one more time. I wish you luck in whatever you choose to do! ~Jenn

Hi Brian! I think you are making the right decision. People are right when they say you have to be totally dedicated to this surgery. If you are not sure and you have the surgery, you will have more regrets than the normal person. Listen to your heart, without co-morbitities you have options. Good luc****lli

Over a year ago, my PCP recommended that I have WLS. I had tried EVERYTHING! When he strongly suggested I have surgery, it scared me into trying one more time. At the time, I could not see myself undergoing such a drastic procedure and it literally scared me into trying "one last time". So, I started Optifast under the care of a Bariatric Physician and lost 86 lbs in about 5 months. To make a long story short, in one years time, I lost and regained the 86 lbs. I swore I would never gain the weight back, but I did. Looking back now, I wish I had had the surgery when my doctor recommended it, but I know in my heart I had to try at least one last time. So, I understand exactly how you feel. Personally, I believe you have to be 100% ready and feel that you have exhausted every other means to lose weight before you have WLS. I am still nervous about having the surgery, but I am going thru with it because I believe its time and because I need to. I am scheduled for 9-20-04. Best wishes in whatever you decide.

DAVID, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT YOU EXCEPT THE SHORT POSTING, BUT I THINK YOU MAY FEEL LIKE HAVING THE SURGERY WOULD BE ADMITTING SOMETHING HAS MORE CONTROL OVER YOUR BODY THAN YOU DO. YOU MAY THINK YOUR WHIMPING OUT BY HAVING THE SURGERY, TAKING THE EASY ROAD AS IT WERE. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT, ITS NOT THE EASY WAY, JUST A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY. I AM PRE-OP, I HAVE NO SURGERY DATE YET, BUT I AM READY , NO DOUBTS, JUST LIKE AN ALCHOLIC, I KNOW I NEED HELP WITH MY ADDICTION,,FOOD. BUT HAVING SAID ALL THAT , THIS IS A BIG STEP, AND IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED MORE TIME FOR WHAT EVER REASON,, TAKE IT. I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO BE PHYSCHED(SIC) TO GO INTO THIS PROCESS-BRENDA BYERS

I am 7 weeks post-op tomorrow, and sometimes I DO still wonder if I could have done more with weight loss without surgery. Now, truly, in my heart-of-hearts, I know that I did all that I could do, and that if I had postponed the surgery would have just been prolonging the amount of time that I would stay MO. But, now that I'm post-op, and I'm never hungry, I think, hey, this isn't so hard, maybe I should have given this another go on my own..... But of course this is craziness, because the only reason it IS so easy is because I had the surgery!!! I know, I probably sound like a nut. I absolutely DON'T REGRET the surgery, it was the best thing for me to have done----I've had no complications, and I am pretty much back to normal and don't have food sensitivity problems. But every once in a while it hits me, the enormity of what I've done, and how I've changed my body. I think you're completely normal to question things, and you need to give yourself whatever opportunity you need to make peace with this surgery before you do it. Sometimes I worry about the people who are so gung-ho to get it that they head for the surgeon's table the day they're eligible and don't take the time to step back and think that you are taking for yourself. I don't mean people who've been researching for a long time, but the people who hear about it, and the next day have applied to have the surgery ASAP---where's the research, the therapy, the true soul-searching about this decision, rather than grasping at WLS as yet another weight-loss technique or diet to try? No, I'd say you are being honest with yourself, and that's the best thing to do!!! Good luck!!!!!

Brian, Good luck on whatever your decide. One thing that I've learned from my WLS experience was, that your head and your heart have to be in one accord. And when they came to the same place I never looked back. I am 11 months post op and have lost 195 lbs. Its a dream come true for me! We are here for you ! Vicky

Brian, Only YOU know what is right for YOU. No one can or should make your decision. I feel for your turmoil. It is a hard decision, as it should be. It is not a piece of cake, but I would do it again! Just follow YOUR heart, and you will not go wrong!! Good Luck to you!! Michele

Hi Brian, I had my surgery in June and it was not a decision I came to quickly. I had first thougt about it 5 years ago, but felt I had to try to lose the weight in some other way first. To make a long story short, I tried several times and did manage to lose 30 once, but gained it back. So after much thought and talks with my pcp I decided to go for it. I am glad I did. I have lost 34 lbs. as of today. I am by some accounts a slow loser, but it is better than not losing at all. My health was starting to suffer, high BP, insulin resistance, my blood suger on the morning of surgery was 134, the highest it ever was and my pcp feels I was on my way to full blown diabetes. For my self, I feel wls was and is a lifesaver. I do encourage you to do only what you feel is best for you, don't let anyone pressure you either way. I f you feel that you want to give weight loss another try, then do it. Only you can decide for yourself. I wish you best of luck.