Are you scared to have weight loss surgery?

Hi,

Are you scared about having WLS? I was too, and I am willing to bet that 99% of all of on this site were too. We have talked ourselves in and out of going ahead and taking that big step at least 75 to 100 times. 

We have been convinced that there is something weak or wrong about having weight loss surgery and that is really all wrong—it take a lot of courage to have weight loss surgery.

For so many of us we have a disease and just like any other disease we need some form of treatment. If you needed surgery for something you wouldn’t think twice about going to the hospital and having that surgery because if you didn’t you could die. Well the same this will happen from be fat, we are going to die faster from being fat than we are from weight loss surgery. I know it is scary and the unknown is what scares us the most.

Never give up on your dreams of losing this weight and being able to keep it off. It will require WORK and EFFORT on your part to be successful—it does not just melt off of you. You will be given the tool (WLS) to achieve this. You are on the right track if you are thinking about it.

I did it 2.5 years ago and lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I am here to help you, answer any questions you might have about WLS—I had the sleeve. You are WORTH the effort it will take. It can happen and your only regret you will have is that you didn’t do it sooner.   Hugs,

MORE LIKE SCARED TO DEATH!  I Still am trying to figure out which one is the right way to go!   It's not the surgery that scares me as much as AFTER the surgery.  Especially if I go with the wrong one!

Hi,

Honestly, being 63 that was one of my BIG concerns when I had this surgery--what is the best one.  I high suggest you have the Sleeve surgery--that is the gold standard of WLS and the biggest % of people do this one for a lot of reasons.  Read about it on this site and anything you can find about it.  There are NO complications that you will have after having this. There is no after care required other than some boold panels that your PCP can run for you. It is also called VSG but usually called "sleeve"  It is safe, it gives a restriction that last a life time.  You will not stretch it out.  You eat normal foods like other people, only in smaller amounts.  Your life just keeps getting better.  You do have to make the choice to eating healthy, meaning protein first, veggies and some fruit. You start to crave these healthy foods and know that you can do this for the rest of your life--it just works!!!!  All the things we know is right, but made some poor food choice most of our lives.  I NEVER feel hungry anymore.  I don't crave some things like I used.  I eat such small amounts of food now. I do have a cookie or a small sliver of cake--just not all the time.

Dr. Aceves in Mexicali was my doctor, I high recommend you read about him on this site do a little research and I think you will find that he is highly skilled and very well respected.  In my book he is the best, and I wouldn't go any place else.  It is a very safe private hospital in Mexicali for the very wealthy people in Maxicali.  How I feel about Dr. Aceves is just my personal feelings, but all of his patients feel the same way.  That is why I tell you read about him. 

If you have more question please ask away. I am always happy to answer anything you need and want to talk about.  It is really normal to be scared. 

I look forward to any of your questions.
Hugs

 I think sleeve is a great surgery as well, but it not the gold standard and there are plenty of people that have complications like leaks. As far as 'safe', it is like any surgery, with risks and complications. I'm glad you are happy with your experience but let's not out and out lie.

Hi,

I do know that Dr. Aceves has only had 1 leak and has done over 1,000 WLS.  I can't comment about other doctors because he is the only one I have stats on.  So when you say "many" where are you getting your statics from?  You are so right there is ALWAYS a risk to any surgery and there are the chances of complications with any surgery.  I don't believe I have "lied" as you put it.  I can only comment on what I know for a fact.

Take care,
Suzanne

 

What are the risks associated with gastric sleeve resection?

 

The risk of postoperative complications average out between 3-5%. This includes infections, pneumonia or bleeding. Severely overweight patients run a higher risk of incurring operative complications. The risk of mortality is, according to literature, below 0.3%.

 

- Stomach mucus irritation and swelling due to vomiting or antiinflammatory drug use

- Wound infection

- Blood loss after surgery

http://www.obesityteam.com/weight-loss-surgery-options_Sleev e.html

Gastric Sleeve Surgery Risks and Complications

There are several risks and complications of gastric sleeve surgery:

• Leaking of the sleeve. The operation requires stapling inside the stomach, and there is always a chance that the staples won’t hold, resulting in a leak. The leaking stomach acids frequently lead to infection of surrounding tissues and other serious problems that may require another operation or a drainage tube.
• Blood clots
• Weight may be regained over time, because the stomach can stretch.

Also, the general complications of being put under like DEATH for example. 

http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/gastric-sleeve/

That is my definition of MANY. 

Hi,

I can find this same kind of information about almost ANY kind of surgery someone needs to have or makes the choice to have.  We all have a choice to make about our life and our health.  I am thrilled for you that the surgery you had has been successful.  I am sure I could pull up all kinds of informations about the dangers you were putting yourself in and things that could possibly happen after the surgery. 

I feel this is a place to support each other.  We are adults and as an adult it is my obligation to educate myself figure out the risks and have the surgery that is best for ME.  I can only speak about what I have experience and what it is like to live with "MY SLEEVE surgery."

Thanks for taking the time to share all these things.  Everyone will have to make an educated choice based on what is best for them.  When I did my research I found that Dr. Aceves was and I feel is still the best choice for me.  I spoke with 100's of people who had weight loss surgery and his name just resurfaced 85% of the time when I had WLS almost 3 years ago. 

Take care and have a great week,
Suzanne

This is an incredibly SMART way to think. (*grin*)

For some reason, I was never scared of surgery itself, although I'd never had any surgery other than my wisdom teeth out. I really felt confident that I'd be okay with surgery---but afterward? For the REST OF MY LIFE??? Did I *really* want to do something to myself that could KILL me, if I didn't change my ways? When I hadn't been ABLE to 'change my ways' significantly over 35+ years of dieting???

Once I learned about the DS, AND learned that I could, indeed, have the DS, then I was at peace with the decision. I saw the DS as the best possible solution to the problem of dying soon from morbid obesity or living unhappily with the other surgical choices. (There was no VSG back then. Which, for me at least, is just as well---I most definitely need malabsorption.)

I believe that once you settle on what's right for you, you'll be a lot less afraid.

Hi,

I loved your point of view.  And we ALL need to do what is best for us and NO one else.  I am happy that this works for you.

Like you I love what I have and it works best for me.  It is nice that there is more than one type of WLS.

Hugs,
Suzanne

I was so afraid. But, I wanted the surgery so much that it over-rode all my fears. The week before my sleeve, I had to pray every day for peace and calmness.
The morning of my surgery, it was like walking around in a dream! I was excited, afraid, nervous, ready, you name it.. I felt it. When I woke up afterward, I culd not believe it had happened.

I still can't beleive it is all done...

And you are right, the only regret is not being able to do it 20 years sooner.

On the down side... my BFF at work was all aproved for RNY, she had met all the requirements, had her date set, everything and chickened out 1 week before surgery. She regrets her choice every day now, because her choice of insurance doesn't pay as well as is did last year, and the requirements are harder to meet. My heart breaks for her, because this surgery has been the best thing I have done for myself and my family and friends.