Help / Advice / Support

Hi! Welcome to the forum. :) It really is a great place to be, and I honestly couldn't have gotten through pre-surgery and these past few weeks without the amazing support and information here.

I am 6 weeks post op tomorrow.

The surgery itself has been great. My whole relationship with food has changed. I am down 40 lbs already (although my starting BMI was 56). I'm fitting into clothes that had become too tight on me. I don't feel deprived like I used to on diets.

I understand how scary it is. I thought about this surgery for years before I was ready. I tried so many ways to lose weight on my own. I am 46, was pre-diabetic, was suffering from severe asthma, and the asthma and my weight were interfering with my day to day activities. I knew I was on a slippery slope to losing my mobility and my life.

For me, the reality of my future became clear, and I needed to take action immediately for self preservation. I honestly felt like it was life and death looming in the near future.

I wish you clarity with your decision.

Thank you Oneatatime! It makes me feel better knowing someone feels the way I do! With all this great comments and advices in feeling more positive in getting my life back on track.

Hi SKimster,

I know everyone is different, but once I make a decision, it's full steam ahead! I was not reluctant at all about my decision and I have had fantastic results since my surgery one month ago. I know I still have a long way to go to give you a "qualified" response but that is how I feel so far. ...the best decision of my life!

I made sure I researched a lot and read a lot of books. Here is another thing I did. (I think the idea came from one of the books I read). I made a chart and answered these 4 questions:

1. Pros of Having Surgery

2. Cons of Having Surgery

3. Pros of Not Having Surgery

4. Cons of Not Having Surgery

This helped me make my decision.

Good luck and keep asking questions!

All the best to you.

Barb

Thank you barb! I'm going to try those suggestions! They are amazing.... thanks again for taking the time to respond!

Update: Well....that was eye opening! I did the pro's and con's and there was a huge difference. It really helped me go from flip floppy to yeah...I need to really take a long hard look at doing surgery. THANK you so much Smoka!!!

I know. I felt exactly the same way. What really stuck with me was when I did the Con's of having surgery I wrote down, "I could die", and then I when I went to do the Con's of not having surgery I wrote down, "I could die". Well, that was the eye opener for me. At that point there was no question that I needed this surgery. Btw, I am feeling fantastic, better than ever. Just be positive. You'll do great!

Barb

Hey Kimmy

I am almost at the end of the process and will be seeing the surgeon for consent later this month. I started this whole process more than two years ago and at that time when I went for my ECG the tech said "oh taking the easy way out" It gave me pause but then I kept going. When I went for my dietitian's appointment she said something to the same effect as your nurse and I almost ran screaming out of there. (turns out she was a temp) I came back June of this year because, guess what? I cannot do it by myself. I stand five foot tall and weigh between 224 and 230 and have a BMI of 45 and I cringe to tell anyone what my waist measurement is. Because I am a very small woman underneath the rolls this means I weigh twice what I probably should. If you do not decide to pursue surgery then yup you do have to do something by yourself. If you do decide to get surgery, boy is this not a quick fix, and, as far as I can tell it is going to be a tough row to hoe after surgery especially! But you are still going to be doing it on your own. Once I made my decision I just feel peaceful and excited about it. Now that the pre-surgical newbie has had her say I will let the older and smarter go ahead. Good luck.

Welcome! I asked all these questions... the things I do know are that TWH/ Guelph very skilled surgeons...Program 10+ ... OH support .. priceless ;)

Is it right for you? You will have to decide.. NOT the easy out... hard work and it?s for life. Reward is you get a new life.

Take Care!

Me again! One more thing...

At my pre-admission, the nurse there made a comment to me about doing this on my own.

Umm, I was one week away from surgery, about 300 lbs and only 5'2, had been trying my whole life to lose weight, still pre-diabetic with severe asthma, and she makes that comment to me?

We will always find people, whether they are in healthcare or our personal or professional lives, who will have their biases about what we "should" be able to do. It's not because you "only" have a certain amount of weight to lose... it's a reflection of their bias. In my humble opinion. :)

nerves are normal, by I can honestly say that this is the best decision that I ever made for myself!
If i had to do it all over again, I would have done it sooner.

Good luck with all your appointments