Looking for Guidance - I am scared about having this surgery

I just received a call from my surgeon's office to schedule my Gastric Bypass surgery - they can schedule me for June 20th. I just realized that I have gone throught this entire process, and maybe I don't really want to do this. YES - I want to lose weight very badly. I have a BMI of 40, so I have been told I am on the borderline for being accepted. I am a 47 year old female with bad knees and high blood pressure. Other than that, I am healthy and not on any meds at all. I have been overweight since I can remember and put on mega weight after my kids were born - it just won't come off. I know a few people who have had great success with Gastric ByPass surgery - that is why I started to look into this. I am afraid because I don't heal well - I have been told I am full of adhesioins. I also keloid scar when cut. The doctor acted as though this was not a concern when I consulted with him. I am afraid I will make my life worse then it is now if I have this surgery - serious cold feet. I guess I also can't help but wonder if I have done EVERYTHING I possibly can (non-surgically) to lose this weight.... I join Weigh****chers; I join Jenny Craig; I start an exercise program; I take diet pills; I vow to drink only protein drinks - I JUST DON'T STICK WITH ANYTHING!! I quickly told the woman from my doctor's office that I will call her tomorrow. I have to give this some more thought..... Any thoughts/guidance/support/honesty from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, Karen

I havent had the surgery yet, but I have heard such great stories of success. Even people with minor complications say they would do it again. I know I want to have surgery because I dont want to die young. I want to live a long life and I want to do so many things that I cant do now. I want to feel good and be able to walk long distances with no discomfort. Heck I want to be able to run and jump!! I didnt realize I couldnt jump anymore until one day I was playing with my niece and tried. ARG! I used to be able to do that. Well anyway.....if you are on the border feel lucky that it wont take you as far to hit your dream goal! Me I have over 200 pounds to loose. Do you see your self progressing and gaining more weight over the next couple of years. Try to go back and see what made you want the surgery in the first place and revist those thoughts. If you dont think it is worth the risk then maybe you should put it off. You can always go through the approval process again. I think it is extremely important that you are solid in what you want and surgery is a big step. They say this is just a tool and not a cure all. It may just be your nerves so try not to think about the what if's and mights. Think about the future and what you want to see. What do you want for yourself? I cant wait for my new life to begin. I am not sure if any of this helps but I wanted to respond to your post. Keep us updated....I will keep you in my prayers. P.S. It isnt easy to get insurance approval either so you must need to loose the weight right???

Hi Karen, I also have not had the surgery and feel exactly like you do. I see people that have had the surgery and look great. I am very scared to go through with it. The Dr. i saw said that i would not have any trouble with the surgery ( even though i have a chronic illness that my neurologist says no surgery. ) i wonder how honestly i have tried to stay on a healthy eating plan. i am TERRIBLE at staying on a diet. i can't stay on any diet for more than a few hrs , if even that long. i also have tried all the diets known. but i have to be honest with myself. i love to eat . what if i end up sicker that i was to begin with? i went out with a friend of mine who had the surgery and believe me , it is not easy once it is done. the people that have that surgery are very brave , in my opinion. i am almost sure that i would not have it done. but, saying that it is a personal choice that you will live with the rest of your life. so be careful.i would wait and make sure that i what you really truley want. Best of Luck , Linda

Linda - Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so happy to find someone who feels similiar to me. I LOVE to eat too, and cannot honestly say I have given any of the millions of diet plans I have tried 100% effort. Getting this close to having the surgery (they were trying to schedule me for June 20th!) has made me realize that I REALLY need to commit to a weight loss plan. If I can HONESTLY say I gave it my all and was not successful in losing substantial amount of weight, I will THEN re-visit having surgery. I work with a woman who has had gastric bypass surgery. She looks great, but has had many problems. I worry, like you, that I will end up in worse condition if I have the surgery - thin, perhaps, but not healthy. This is a wonderful website, and it is very interesting reading the posts. Like you, I think that people who have this surgery are very brave. I think that this surgery is life saving for many people. I am just not sure that I am ready yet. Thank you again for your kind words. Best of luck in whatever you decide to do!! Karen

Karen, I read your post and thought i would post to it. I had surgery on May 3rd, 2004. I weighed 306 when i had it done and now i weigh 175. I am so proud of my accomplishments with the weight loss. I am no longer taking blood pressure medicine. I am a very active person now. Nothing stands in the way of me. This surgery is hard but you weigh your options. You will be able to eat the same foods you ate before but it takes about 6 months to a year to be able to do so. Yeah it would be nice to enjoy a steak dinner with my husband and not get full after 4 bites but i chose to have this surgery and to help me lose weight and i knew this to start with. Some things i can eat more of and when we go out to eat i really like to go eat Italian because i can order a childs plate and eat most of it. I feel like i have accomplished finishing off a meal. There's time that my stomach won't tolerate anything i put in there, but the next day it is so much better. That is another hard part for me. I will not tell anyone to have this surgery. You have to base this on your whole outlook. If you know the risks and willing to accept not being able to eat some foods then i think you are ready. But if you can't accept that, then you are definately not ready to do so. It is a life changing process and it is hard at times but it does get better in the end. Hope this helps. Marti

did you get the surgery done ?? Hope all went well for you . I am scared myself, I am scheduled for Aug 12th and I am scared to death. I am like you, have a tired everything, I am afraid of the complications, I am a single mother and trust me I am all he has. he is 10 yrs old he don't want me to do it. he has me dead already. please let me know how you got through your fear , and how you have held up. Tammy