Are you scared to have weight loss surgery?

Wow I am a whimp compared to what you have losts. Way to gooooooooooo girl!  I don't blame you for being excited about getting your extra skin removed.  I can't wait to see you after pictures.  You are my hero!  YOU NEVER gave up.  CONGRATULATIONS.


Hugs to you,

Do you remember the  movie "Rocky Balboa"?  It's final Rocky movie made when  Rocky was in his 60's and wanted to fight against a younger man?  Well, in the final fight scene,  Rocky says, and I'm paraphrasing, "  It's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up."  I love Rocky.  If I ever had to do a thesis on the character,  I would call it "The Philosophy of Rocky Balboa."  For an uneducated man,  he would come out with some really insightful remarks.

Hi,

I do remember Rocky and I love your analogy.  It is so perfect for weight loss.  We have failed so many times at trying to lose weight only to gain it right back.  But, now we have a chance to lose it and NEVER gain it back again.  If you go back to your old lifestyle of eating, then you will have problems.  Hopefully we have learned about portion control and eating healthy.

Take care,
Suzanne

I was never scared, but I am dreading having to go through another surgery when it's time to get this band out. I don't do well with pain

Hi,

And you are going to love NOT having the band.  Are you having the sleeve or what?  They manage pain pretty well, so don't over think the pain thing OK.  Just tell them when you are in pain.

Hugs Suzanne

I am very much hoping to have the sleeve.

Hi,

Your reply is funny.  I am not sure what the "seet spot" is for everyone.  For me it is being able to eat healthy and maintaining my weight loss.  It becomes a habit and we need to continue that habit if it is working for us.

Take care,
Suzanne

I must honestly say that I was never scared of WLS, I knew 5 years ago it was something that not only did I want to have done I needed to have done and I seriously have been trhough I feel worse things in my life.  I took having WLS as something that was saving me from dying at an early age, I felt like not having the surgery I was trapped in this fat shell of nothing so I never had 1 doubt about having WLS.  I consider myself blessed because I know alot of people on OH haves doubts and be scared but never was I and I feel so happy to know that I finally was able to find insurance that included WLS and it was at a cost that I could afford, that is the only reason I didn't have it earlier in life.  So that is my take on the being scared about WLS.

Hi,

You have such a great outlook on all this.  I think it is GREAT.  And you know what you are 200% right.  You are taking the steps to moving forward and going for what is going to save your life. You will never have a regret.  We all know that with surgery we run some risks.  You have educated yourself and are moving forward.

You are getting all the counseling and information that you need.  You are doing it the right way.  I am so happy that you found an insurance company that understands in the end you are going to be health and someone that they want to insure.  You will end up saving them money because you will be healthy. I wish you great success, on your journey.  Thanks for sharing what you wrote.

Hugs,

As others have said... by the time it got for me NEEDING WLS (Being SMO) I wasn't so much scared for HAVING the surgery but more like "What will life be like AFTERWARDS?"

I had visions of eating very strict teeny tiny portions of jello and protein drinks the rest of my life! LOL!
Dumping on anything that wasn't 100% protein.

Then I realized two things... (Worst case scenario...) IF I died while on the operating table, I would never feel it! As someone who has done years of work in dog rescue and worked at the shelters, once your "under" well...You're under. If you died, what a peaceful way to go! You'd NEVER know it!

Two, I RESEARCHED all my options...What surgery did I want, what would my Insurance pay for, what was I prepared to make WORK for me. Because DS was out of the question (medically and insurance wise) I went with the RNY.. (no regrets!)

Being nearly a year out, I found out the greatest "fear' is not what you CAN'T eat, but the fact of what you CAN! If you are hoping the Weight Loss Surgery alone will make you comply, then it won't.... With an RNY I don't dump and can eat ANY food I could pre-op! ANY food! The hardest part post op (once you heal) is EXERCISING and constantly making the right choice! Choosing HIGH protein, low carb foods. Getting off my butt and going to the gym 4 times a week, walking daily even when I don't feel like it...Saying NO to the Hershey bar... realizing that one or two BITES is fine, but two whole bars is NOT.

So, the greatest "fear" you need to work out, is are you strong enough to do what you need to do when the surgery WORKS! If you are like the majority of people...You will NOT dump, you will NOT have complications and can eat almost anything (once you heal). Do you have the "guts" to take your vitamins every day, be diligent about your Lab work, EXERCISE and make healthy food choices? (Choosing the turkey burger over the McDonald burger?)

THAT is the hard part...Not so much the complications.
Best of luck.
Warmly,
Jackie