AM I MAKING A MISTAKE?!?
HEY EVERYONE!
I AM 21 YEARS OLD AND I WILL BE HAVING GASTRIC BYPASS BY THE END OF THE SUMMER. IM STARTING TO THINK I MAY BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE. I READ ON HERE HOW AFTER SURGERY YOU BECOME DEPRESSED AND EVEN THE LITTLEST THINGS ARE EXHAUSTING. IM JUST WONDERING WILL THIS LAST OR IS IT TEMP? ALSO, RIGHT NOW I AM STILL VERY YOUNG AND HAVE NO MAJOR MEDICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE WEIGHT RIGHT NOW BESIDES PCOS. HOWEVER, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLERSTROL, AND DIABETES RUN IN MY FAMILY. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCESS W/ LOSING WEIGHT EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN LIKE 8 YEARS OLD. SO I DECIDED TO HAVE THE SURGERY BUT NOW IM WONDERING WHAT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ARE? I KNOW THE INABILITY TO ABSORB NUTRIENTS PROPERLY BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER MAJOR THINGS THAT I SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SINCE IM SO YOUNG? THE MAJOR REASON I WANT TO HAVE THE SURGERY IS BECAUSE THE DOC TOLD ME I MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO HAVE KIDS IF I DONT HAVE THE SURGERY BUT HOW WILL THAT EFFECT A BABY?
No one can make this decision for you and you make some very valid points which you do need to think about. However, think about if you continue going on with your life as an obese person. Will it be any easier dealing with diabeties in your 40's? A heart attack needing a bypass in your 50's? A premature death?
I was 25 when I had my surgery and I do not regret it in the least. I had no other health issues but I knew I would probably had some later on if I didn't deal with it now. Why would I want to spend anymore of my precious life unhealthy when I could do something to change? The benefits outweighed the cons by far for me. You will be tired at first but you would with any surgery. It's all temporary, just like anything else in life. I am 6 months out and my life is totally normal.
As far as having kids, I plan to have more kids and that was never really a scare that my RNY would detur from that. I just figure that I'll just have to take care of myself a little bit more than a normal pregnancy making sure I get all the vitamins/minerals I and the baby would need, maybe a few more prenatal visits, etc.
If you are really scared to the point of panic, maybe it would be to your benefit to postpone your surgery until you have done more research and feel comfortable with your decision. It is a huge life change, so you have to be ready. You are at a tough age because your friends will want to go out, drink and do all that and you might not be able to join in. Are you ready for that? If you truely want to lose weight for good and be healthy, it wont be a big deal. It's hard to say no sometimes, I know firsthand!
Best of luck to you though and keep reading and talking to people about surgery. Prayer always helps!
~Emily~
I was 25 when I had my surgery and I do not regret it in the least. I had no other health issues but I knew I would probably had some later on if I didn't deal with it now. Why would I want to spend anymore of my precious life unhealthy when I could do something to change? The benefits outweighed the cons by far for me. You will be tired at first but you would with any surgery. It's all temporary, just like anything else in life. I am 6 months out and my life is totally normal.
As far as having kids, I plan to have more kids and that was never really a scare that my RNY would detur from that. I just figure that I'll just have to take care of myself a little bit more than a normal pregnancy making sure I get all the vitamins/minerals I and the baby would need, maybe a few more prenatal visits, etc.
If you are really scared to the point of panic, maybe it would be to your benefit to postpone your surgery until you have done more research and feel comfortable with your decision. It is a huge life change, so you have to be ready. You are at a tough age because your friends will want to go out, drink and do all that and you might not be able to join in. Are you ready for that? If you truely want to lose weight for good and be healthy, it wont be a big deal. It's hard to say no sometimes, I know firsthand!
Best of luck to you though and keep reading and talking to people about surgery. Prayer always helps!
~Emily~
"Tis better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not"
IM NOT SCARED TO THE POINT OF PANIC, HOWEVER AS THE SURGERY IS GETTING CLOSER IVE BEEN SECOND GUESSING IT ALL. THIS IS WHAT I'VE WANTED SINCE I'VE BEEN 15 YRS OLD! MAYBE JUST BECAUSE IT IS GETTING CLOSE MY NERVES ARE GOING CRAZY. YEAH YOU MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT DEALING W/ DIABETES AND HEART ATTACKS THATS ANOTHER REASON I WANT THE SURGERY. I HAVE TAKEN ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. MY FATHER IS ONLY 40 AND HAS HAD 2 HEART ATTACKS ALREADY. BOTH MY GRANDPA AND UNCLE HAVE DIABETES. AND EVERYONE ON DADS SIDE HAS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHLORESTROL AND IS OBESE. TO SEE WHAT THEY SUFFER THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS IS ENOUGH TO WANT THE SURGERY ALONE. I DONT THINK THAT I AM NECESSARILY UNEDUCATED OR NOT READY FOR THE SURGERY, JUST THINK MORE SCARED THEN ANYTHING.
AS FAR AS THE GOING OUT W/ FRIENDS THAT SOMETHING I AM WORRIED ABOUT. IM NOT AN ALCHOLIC OR ANYTHING BUT DRINKING ON WEEKENDS IS PART OF MY SOCIAL LIFE. I KNOW THEY SAID EVENTUALLY I WILL BE ABLE TO DRINK AGAIN BUT HOW FAR OUT? I CAN GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME W/O DRINKS BUT I DONT WANT TO NEVER BE ABLE TO DRINK AGAIN. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS W/ THE DOC SHE SAID AT ABOUT 6 MONTHS I COULD START HAVING ONE BAR SIZED DRINK. BUT I KNOW PPL THAT HAVE HAD THE SURGERY AND STARTED DRINKING 2 MONTHS OUT, NOW IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW MY BODY TOLERATES IT?
THANKS FOR ANY HELP-
ASHLEY
AS FAR AS THE GOING OUT W/ FRIENDS THAT SOMETHING I AM WORRIED ABOUT. IM NOT AN ALCHOLIC OR ANYTHING BUT DRINKING ON WEEKENDS IS PART OF MY SOCIAL LIFE. I KNOW THEY SAID EVENTUALLY I WILL BE ABLE TO DRINK AGAIN BUT HOW FAR OUT? I CAN GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME W/O DRINKS BUT I DONT WANT TO NEVER BE ABLE TO DRINK AGAIN. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS W/ THE DOC SHE SAID AT ABOUT 6 MONTHS I COULD START HAVING ONE BAR SIZED DRINK. BUT I KNOW PPL THAT HAVE HAD THE SURGERY AND STARTED DRINKING 2 MONTHS OUT, NOW IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW MY BODY TOLERATES IT?
THANKS FOR ANY HELP-
ASHLEY
Everyone second guesses themselves before surgery. I think I'd actually be more worried about someone who had no fears at all, so this is a good thing that you are experiencing this.
As far how your life is going to be after surgery, it's going to be more normal than you might be thinking (pending any complication, hopefully not though!). Like I said, I'm 6 months out and there isn't anything real different about how I live my life than anyone else except I eat smaller portions of healthy food and I look at exercise as part of my life's job. It's not that we are so different than others, we are just more aware of what we are doing and putting into our bodies to make and keep us healthy.
Alcohol. My whole point in getting surgery was so that I could finally be like a normal person. Normal people drink on ocassion and I do too. However, when I drink I only have a glass of wine and I'm done. It absorbs so quickly that I'm already buzzed after that much. If I go past my limit (glass and a half) I feel sick...not throwing up sick, but just not good..and the next morning I feel not so good. I think after we spend some time putting good things into our bodies, when we do put something like alcohol which isn't so good, our body will let us know. At this point, I don't really have the desire to drink because of how it makes me feel. You will have to be careful though because a little goes a long way. Everyone is different and can tolerate different amounts but just remember that alcohol does have calories and can stall your weight loss efforts.
You sound pretty level headed about surgery, so I think you will do just fine!
Good luck!
~Emily~
As far how your life is going to be after surgery, it's going to be more normal than you might be thinking (pending any complication, hopefully not though!). Like I said, I'm 6 months out and there isn't anything real different about how I live my life than anyone else except I eat smaller portions of healthy food and I look at exercise as part of my life's job. It's not that we are so different than others, we are just more aware of what we are doing and putting into our bodies to make and keep us healthy.
Alcohol. My whole point in getting surgery was so that I could finally be like a normal person. Normal people drink on ocassion and I do too. However, when I drink I only have a glass of wine and I'm done. It absorbs so quickly that I'm already buzzed after that much. If I go past my limit (glass and a half) I feel sick...not throwing up sick, but just not good..and the next morning I feel not so good. I think after we spend some time putting good things into our bodies, when we do put something like alcohol which isn't so good, our body will let us know. At this point, I don't really have the desire to drink because of how it makes me feel. You will have to be careful though because a little goes a long way. Everyone is different and can tolerate different amounts but just remember that alcohol does have calories and can stall your weight loss efforts.
You sound pretty level headed about surgery, so I think you will do just fine!
Good luck!
~Emily~
"Tis better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not"
Hi, I am very similar to you. I am 23 and have no major health problems, but did have PCOS which was causing me to be glucose intolerant. I decided to have the surgery because I had struggled to lose using other methods. I have my surgery one week ago today (june 8th) and came home the next day. I haven't had ANY problems. I wasn't nauseous, I could get my water down, the pouch has tolerated everything I've tried so far, minimal pain, etc. I was a bit scared by some of the posts on here too, but it wasn't the reality for me. I was energetic and ready to get out of the house by thursday, and I had a fairly typical weekend. I would not be concerned about your energy levels or be afraid of pain. I would say that I have had some emotional issues and ups and downs, but I think that is typical of any big change in your life. I think that dealing with our food issues is what allows us to be successful and make real change. Anyway, feel free to message me and good luck!
-Whitney
-Whitney
all the feelings your having are normal. i was the same way. i was second guessing myself. i had my surgery in feb. of this year. i am 27 (was 26 when i had surgery) ill be honest with you... i had some complications after surgery, nothing serious....but total i spend about 4 days in the hospital.
do i regret surgery? NEVER!! I love my RNY. I am 4 months out and have lost close to 90 lbs. I have about 50 more lbs to go....I havent been this healthy in a long time.
like the other person said though, this is a decision you have to make for yourself. I am a supporter of WLS because it saved my life. keep reading on the board and find a support group that can answer your questions...Ill be more than happy to answer any questions you have, there are a lot of things that some people wont tell you because its too graphic, or maybe some are to shy to tell the gross stuff, me....i dont care. lol. email me if you need anything!
good luck, and god bless!
do i regret surgery? NEVER!! I love my RNY. I am 4 months out and have lost close to 90 lbs. I have about 50 more lbs to go....I havent been this healthy in a long time.
like the other person said though, this is a decision you have to make for yourself. I am a supporter of WLS because it saved my life. keep reading on the board and find a support group that can answer your questions...Ill be more than happy to answer any questions you have, there are a lot of things that some people wont tell you because its too graphic, or maybe some are to shy to tell the gross stuff, me....i dont care. lol. email me if you need anything!
good luck, and god bless!
I had RNY and came home the day after surgery. So, I am exactly one week out today. I am pretty much doing everything I want to. For excercising, I have been going on walks with my dogs for about an hour. So far, as for normal activities, I have been shopping, out to eat (although it is hard to find foods that fit the after surgery recovery diet), taking my dogs to the dog park, visiting family and friends, etc. I really feel like I am back to normal in all areas except food. I have pretty much no pain. If I do take pain meds, it is just a bit of tylenol at bedtime. I feel GREAT. In the hospital it was a little painful, but the meds they gave me kept it under control. I think it is really a good thing to do when you are young versus older with the health problems. I have healed so quickly! Also, since starting the pre-op diet, I have lost over 15 Lbs. My weight at my last surgeons appointment ( when I scheduled the surgery) was 268. I am now around 250, although I don't have an accurate scale, so that is give or take a few. I'm not hungry. Sometimes when I eat my stomach gets gurgley, but that's it. I haven't had trouble with any foods I've tried. I don't regret getting the surgery at all, but it is a big adjustment. It is really hard to see others eat things that I know I can't have. I think this will become easier with time. Let me know if you have any more uestions, I am happy to help :)
-Whitney
-Whitney
hey girl i know this can be really scary. but this is the wrong place to ask if is a right decition to have wls. `cuz everyone here who has it LOVE IT!!. and will tell you that this is the best thing they have ever done for theirselfs. and the ones who are about to have it are sooooo excited about getting it. so this is a decition you have to talk about with your family and ur dr.
i think u are in the best age to have this change and learn to work it ,while younger the person is they can change their eating habits easier... and u are wasting your best years being fat u have no idea how ur life can change. i was fat all my life and be able to feel the way i do and gain a new confidence is just amazing.
if u decide to not have the surgery.. try to lose the weight dieting and excercising (things that u have to do if u have or not the surgery, just making that clear lol)... prolly if i knew the way i was gonna feel i woulda try harder to lose the weight by myself before altho i tryed to many times before. your body deserves to be fit and healthy u deserve so start working on it. don´t wait till have the surgery
so u need to think seriusly about this `cuz is a life time comitment!!!.
soooo good luck!! and if u have any cuestions please let me know i`ll be very happy to help u out if i can.
hugs
i think u are in the best age to have this change and learn to work it ,while younger the person is they can change their eating habits easier... and u are wasting your best years being fat u have no idea how ur life can change. i was fat all my life and be able to feel the way i do and gain a new confidence is just amazing.
if u decide to not have the surgery.. try to lose the weight dieting and excercising (things that u have to do if u have or not the surgery, just making that clear lol)... prolly if i knew the way i was gonna feel i woulda try harder to lose the weight by myself before altho i tryed to many times before. your body deserves to be fit and healthy u deserve so start working on it. don´t wait till have the surgery
so u need to think seriusly about this `cuz is a life time comitment!!!.
soooo good luck!! and if u have any cuestions please let me know i`ll be very happy to help u out if i can.
hugs
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