:-S His will or My will?

I'm really struggling with wondering if weight loss surgery is His will or my will? Will any of you share your testimony in regards to that issue prior to having surgery?

Kim, I feel for me it was His will. For me the first time around that I tried to have WLS He closed the doors and windows on me. I had a major health issue that needed to be addressed, (microscopic colitis) I addressed it and received help. I found another doctor that had me jump through a lot of hoops before I had my surgery. I was very open with people at my church about my surgery and never really had anyone challange me about putting my weight issue to prayer, blah, blah. But my husband did. He had the most opposition from christians that said that exact same thing. It was His will for my husband's WLS also. A door temporarily closed with insurance and then he had to go through two sleep studies and had a pulmo doc that was opposed to him having surgery. Dave had to beg this doc to let him have his WLS and he eventually did. His BMI was 56, very risky for him to have surgery. Dave is a very, very type A person and is very open with everyone, but not his WLS unless they really know him well, his family does not know about either of our surgeries. Fortunately for us they live out of state. We just sent them some framed pictures and we got mixed reactions, can't read them. His family is very ignorant about the disease issue of obesity. His sister knew about my first try for surgery and was not really enthusiastic about it. Then about 1+ years later she was talking to Dave about 2 deaths in Des Moines because of that HORRIBLE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY and they they should never do it at all. So, here is why we do not tell his family about us. She is a very intelligent person, school teacher etc. But is pig headed and will not be educated on other issues that a person may know more about than she. What you really need to do is put this to prayer. Open up to God and ask Him if you should be going this route? I feel that He gives us the intelligence to think through everything and do all your research. God will open doors and windows for you if He deems it to be. God has given surgeons the ability to do this surgery and to help the obese through this disease, so I feel that for the majority of people it is God's will, we just have to ask Him and seek out His help on this issue. For the other minority of people that end up not having surgery it is maybe because of health issues or they do not try to get help. It is up to them to seek help, not for God to plop it in their laps. Sorry, I wrote a book and not a small testimony. Hope this helps. In Him, Chris

Thank you Chris, I loved your testimony. Everything you said made so much sense to me. I will be in the not telling family category. They would NEVER understand because they are not well informed. They think I have issues with self-control and discipling myself. Also, I will ask brothers and sisters in the Lord to lift me up in prayer and I of course will be seeking His answers also. Thanks again, Kim

Kim, I also wanted to say that my family all knows about both of our surgeries. They have all been supportive. In fact, I am helping my sister right now research the lap band. She lives in sothern Indiana so it may be a challange to find a doctor in her area to do her surgery. So far she thinks that she may go with a doctor from Lexington, Ky. E-mail me if you want to chat somemore. [email protected] I would love to help if I can.

I invite you to read my profile....my whole experience is confirmation that God was and is behind every step of this journey... luvitsunnyv

Oh Sunny, I cried through your whole story. The whole thing spoke to me. You look so healthy and beautiful in your pictures. My weight before the obesity always hung between 118 and 122 and I keep wondering if I will ever be there again. Thank you for that beautiful testimony. I could really identify with the time you were shopping and just broke down crying and wondering what am I doing. Yet, God is so Good and He never ever fails. Your experience is a wonderful confirmation that God is with us through the whole thing. Thanks, Kim M.

Kim, I have to agree with luvsitsunny. Read my profile too. There is not a doubt in my mind that God's hand was in my entire WLS journey. I sat on my bed in tears and just gave it to Him to do as He saw fit. I knew it was His will for me to have this done because every time the enemy tried to mess with my mind, God was right there offering me peace. Dawn

Dear Dawn, Wow there were some definite bumps in the road along the way! Your faith really sustained you I can tell. Also, your list of what you want to do once you are thinner really hit home. Your smile was undeniably jubilant after your surgery. The pictures of your children really drove home some of the reasons I want to be healthy and thinner. Finally, thanks for the picture of your incision. I didn't know what to expect. That is helpful inforrmation. Mostly, I guess the bumps in the road that I get with the Drs. not submitting things timely or papers getting misplaced are just that bumps in the road and not overwhelming signs to give up. Thank you Dawn for your beautiful testimony. KIM M.