Second thoughts setting in

I have been waiting patiently for 17 yrs to be able to have WLS , so finally I am able to have it done, and in my second month of three to get a date. My Dr. wants to do a RNY due to my type 2 diabetes, and I have been feeling really good about it, but lately so many people even ones that don't know me personally are begging me not to have surgery at all. Stories of nursing home stays, many hospital stays, to not being able to keep food down and death due to malnutrition. Now I am getting worried that maybe I have made a bad decision. Should I feel this way? I have done what the dietitian has laid out for me, no caffeine, no sodas (carbonation) no sweets. More water, etc... this is the first time in my life that I really see myself thinner and healthier. And thanks to these people I am terrified that something will go wrong and my husband kids and grandkids will lose me. Any help Please????? 

these people are truly ignorant,in the truest sense of the word. everyone has horror stories about WLS,but very few have any real experience. 

I say do what you need to do FOR YOU,and keep it to. Yourself. Everyone in your world certainly has no need to. Know all about your medical business,do they? 

Personally, having weight loss surgery was the single best thing I have ever done for myself. I had  had type II for a couple of years,not insulin dependent. My blood sugar normalized the evening of the morning I had surgery and has remained normal for the past 5 years. 

Remission of diabetes happens with the sleeve as well as the bypass. It depends on how long one has been diabetic and the treatment they require for it. 

After you evaluate your situation,if the sleeve is what YOU think YOu can live with. And make work,then that is the surgery you should choose. It IS your choice,regardless of what a pcp may say. 

GL

You can get in the car to go pick up a quart of milk, and get killed in a car accident, too. WLS is much safer than driving down the street. Lots of people have pre-op jitters. Don't let the naysayers stop you. You have waited a long time for this surgery. If you cancel, you'll regret it. My life is so much better now - I urge you to go forward.

When you decide whether to have a surgery or not, compare the health risks you might have after surgery with the risks you will most likely have if not having wls. Think about how much pressure extra pounds put on our cardiovascular system, plus diabetes, sleep apnea, joint pain etc. Like the previous member said we could get into a car accident, but it doesn`t mean that people should stop driving. There is always some risk, but a risk you put yourself under if not taking care of your obesity is by far greater. I support everyone who is approved by their doctors to have wls, because I know people that did it, and how their lives changed. You can see that in their facial expression. Nobody that I no has ever regretted.

I had gall bladder surgery (not as serious) but all the same I did great after that, as far as the malnutrition I fully believe that if i follow the dietitian and the Dr, plan that I will be ok, but man its scary hearing all this stuff.

this fear is normal most likely before any surgery, much less an elective one. imo ask yourself why you are having wls, and is it worth the risk vs benefit. whatever those are to you

so far as the people saying not to have it, horror stories, etc. well, it's not their surgery or life to live. lot's of things come with risks. i had surgery and some told me the same. you will always hear one thing or another from some people. question is what do YOU think? and what do you want and expect from surgery? 

also, its wls. do you want to lose weight, or can you live with it? can you lose it without wls? these are all questions and concerns most of us had to ask and answer for ourselves, usually. thing is it really is just one thing or another. you are either having this surgery, or you aren't. what happens from there is typically up to you beyond the ordinary risks associated with surgery, and potential complications. but as said, that comes with any surgery. and other things in life, as well 

I agree with what everyone else has said.  In addition to all the great ideas and suggestions, may I add that you talk to your surgeon and let him know your fears.  Find out how many surgeries of this type he has done and how many patients he has lost.  You will probably find that the mortality rate is very low.  Being obese is more of a problem than having surgery in the long run.  I, like you, waited a long time to have my surgery and once I put my mind in gear it was a breeze.  Only you can make the best decision for YOU!  Best of luck

It is normal to be apprehensive. I was always confident when I spoke to people about having surgery, even when I was questioning inside. Only one person didn't respond positively to my decision. They were not the ones I needed to sort it out with. Everybody knows somebody or a friend of a friend who had it. Take it all with a grain of salt. Things were much worse in the early days of WLS, and many of those stories are probably hold overs from then. Things have improved tremendously. My doctor has never lost anyone in 4,000 surgeries, what made me think I was going to be the first one? You can do this.

NYMom you are right about how was has become much safer. They used to have to "open you up" to do the surgery. Now it is five small incisions. I was very confident with my surgeon and everyone associated with him. Plus, the pre-op process was very stringent - lots of screening, testing, and informational meetings. The doctors want you to be successful as much as you do.

Thank you for all of the advice, I really appreciate it, I really need the support!!!