Why did you have WLS? A new question added... See top of first post.

Thank You Judy, 

I needed a bit of a spiritual pick me up too. I usually work on the overhead projector for songs and scriptures during church service and worship, but I haven't been able to do that now for months because you have to walk up stairs. Those stairs are very straight up and down, so I can't even make it half way without having to turn around or fall. it is just that so many things will be changed, granted for the better, but change is not something we usually like to do.

it's hard to believe that this gift from God is right around the corner for me. I certainly wish you all the best and pray that your recovery is swift.

Are you seeing a therapist?  While surgery changes out stomachs, it doesn't do anything for our heads.  My therapist is a really important part of my Obesity Recovery Team and I'm grateful for her. This can be a really challenging time!

I had my DS 11 years ago in order to STAY ALIVE. I was 45, not expected to see 50. I had extensive arthritis, high BP, high cholesterol, and diabetes runs in both sides of my family. I was a walking---although not very well!---time bomb.

Yesterday was my 11-year anniversary from surgery. I still have arthritis, but I can still take NSAIDs for it, and I am SO much more mobile at 170 less pounds. My cholesterol runs around 100, even though as a DSer I eat a LOT of fat. No diabetes, thank goodness! I do still take one pill for my BP---apparently it's genetic, since both my parents and both my brothers also have high BP. But now, mine is considered "well controlled" with just the one pill, instead of the "not well controlled" it was on three different meds pre-op.

Believe it or not it had nothing to do with vanity.  Ten years ago it would have been vanity only!  My biggest reason was not having energy to play with my kids, and horrible knee pain that made carrying my baby up the stairs to bed near impossible.  I'm hoping I can be s better mom if I'm lighter and in better shape, with more energy.

It is amazing how many replies this thread has generated. I am so grateful to all of you who have replied and shared your experiences with me and the others who have viewed this. I know that each of you have in some way touched on one thing or another that I'm also feeling. It certainly helps to know that what I'm feeling and thinking is "normal".

I'm still ping ponging the decision to have the surgery. The reason is because I've finally been able to lose weight on my own for the first time in my life. As of this morning, I have lost 28lbs. I weighed in at 296. I haven't been below 300 for at least 2 to 3 years. My morning blood sugars have been in the 130s and mid day below 100 or even below 90 a couple times.

Can I do this without surgery?

I had wls to get healthy and try to avoid dying at 61 like my mother after 30 years of type 1 diabetes.

Wy dad dies on Sept 6th 1983 and his birthday was November 22nd.  He would have been 61 on this next birthday. I am only 14 years younger than that. He didn't have weight issues, although he did suffer from hiatal hernia, so he had a pot belly. He only weighed about 175 at 5'6. He dies of congestive heart failure. I want to live longer than that.

I lost 60 pounds before surgery and I still had surgery. I've always been good at losing weight. I've never been good at keeping it off. From 2004 to 2007 I lost 240 pounds "on my own". I gained all of it back plus a few pounds. I firmly believe that WLS gives me the best chance of keeping the weight off. 

I didn't have weight loss surgery for vanity reasons. I know from last time, I'll have lots of hanging skin and my face will look older. I'll feel much better, though.

I had surgery because after years of avoiding serious medical problems (54 years) my luck was running out. In the last few years I developed sleep apnea, lymphedema and high blood pressure. I worried about how many other medical problems were about to arrive.

I have never been successful at losing more than about 10 lbs at a time before now. I do not know if I am a yo-yo or not.

Does the surgery help the morbidities better than just losing the weight? IE, my diabetes. The main one I worry about, as well as high cholesterol HBP and all of my others, but diabetes the most. If I just change my eating and lose the weight, will I still have the same issues as I do now. Or does the RNY procedure change the absorption of nutrients so much that it cures these disorders.