Hello everyone :)

A friend told me that this was such a nice forum that I decided to join :) First I want to ask if it matters what type of surgery you have had? Or are planning to have? I'm just looking for people like me who have had WLS and are trying to live healthier.

I hope you all are having great success with your surgery of choice :) 

Welcome to the group.  We are here for support of all types of surgery.  Improved health, with wls!!!! 

The choice of which surgery is so individual.  Each of us has health issues and discussing our choice with the surgical team helps to decide what is best.

I am loving the improved life that wls has given me. 

Well I can only tell you why I chose the gastric bypass (Roux En Y).  This is info I had researched before my surgery - take these stats with a grain of salt because everyone is different, as is every doctor and program. These are in order of importance for me (1 being most)...

1) estimated 77% less hunger on average - lap band is said to not reduce hunger

2) I went to my surgeon's first lecture - it had tons of pros and cons of each type and I chose what was best for me

3) I did not want the open port (with risk of infection) and a foreign object in my body (the lap band)

4) Medicare did not financially support the sleeve

I am very happy with my decision.  I didn't have much pain and I have very little unwanted hunger/cravings - which was my major downfall before the surgery.  For instance, I love cheese and used to go overboard craving and eating it.  Now it is like every other food for me - needed for health and life but not an obsession or addiction.

Advice I would give to anyone is to reasearch every aspect possible, especially your surgeon's stats, lectures, and knowledge.