Question:
Should I postpone if any doubt?

I went to BTC and had my inital consultaion on 03/03/03. Dr. was great and explained the procedure and risks. I am waiting for insurance approval but I am having second thoughts. My BMI is 44 so that is reason enough to have the surgery, co-morbidities are shortness of breath, joint pain, back pain, GERD, and depression. I am not currently on any medication. I am worried that my quality of life will go down after the surgery since I am not "that sick". The reason for thinking about the surgery is my family history. Heart disease, diabetes, knee replacements, high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc, etc, etc. I guess I should do some soul searching. Just wanted to get some comments from others like me. Sorry for rambling. — Mike H. (posted on March 16, 2003)

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March 16, 2003
Mike, you mentioned depression. Have you had a psych evaluation? Untreated depression can interfere with your recovery and ability to abide by the guidelines after surgery. If you are depressed now, WLS probably won't cure it.
— Kasey

March 16, 2003
Please read my profile.... and email me.
— Cinderz H.

March 16, 2003
Dear Mike, I WOULD postpone if you are not completely (sp?) sure about the surgery. I beleive that people should go into this with their eyes wide open and their questions answered. There are risks, but, for me, the benefits outweighed (pun intended!) the risks ENOURMOUSLY! I am three months out and already this surgery has changed my life for the better. However, this is a very personal decision, and you should take the time you need to be absolutely sure.
— fieryfish

March 16, 2003
With that family history do you REALLY want to wait and get ill? WLS was the BEST decision I EVER MADE! My quality of life is way better. I worried too and feared death. Perhaps that was a good thing, it helps to make lots of minor irritations not worth hassling over. Car troubles, poor service and stuff like that. Read my profile life is great, although it didnt fix our finances....
— bob-haller

March 16, 2003
I know how you feel. I was approved 3 times and canceled each time, from the early 80's to finally having RNY wls in 2000. My only regret is I wasted all those years being fat and not living! Best of luck with your decision
— ZZ S.

March 16, 2003
I thought I was not "that big", I didn't really have any co-morbidities other than my feet hurt. But in hindsight, I can now see how large I was, and how miserable I had become. Being ale tofully live life now, let me know what I had been missing out on- do you really want to wait for bad health to have surgery- the recovery would be much more difficult then.
— ~~Stacie~~

March 16, 2003
I too had very little co-morb problems but have the same family history probs. I am getting to where my legs and back hurt more and more. I want to get this weight off me NOW! My dad was 34 when he died of heart attack. I am 34 now. So far no known heart troubles but I want to act NOW. I'd keep going with the ins and stuff. This can take a while (I started my journey Aug or 02 and my surgery is scheduled April of 03....8 months of waiting). You can research more and then make your decision. God BLess. Jamie
— Jamie M.

March 16, 2003
Just curious - why do you think your quality of life will go down after surgery because are are not "that sick"? I decided to have surgery before I gained anymore weight and while I was in relatively good health! I consider myself lucky that I had not developed heart disease or diabetes , and only had high blood pressure (controlled by 2 meds) to contend with. I can't imagine how quality of life would go down after surgery. Losing weight and feeling better every day!
— koogy

March 16, 2003
Thank you so much for posting your question. I pretty much have the same co-morb. as you.and feel the same way. It is scarey. Make sure this is what you really want. It is a personal choice. I am having my surgary April 14. I realized I am more scared of the surg. then the after life. Yes I do worry maybe I will be sicker then going in, but I think to myself can I really stand to live longer the way I am. And the answer for me is no. I want to at least try for a better life for me and my family cause when mommy isn't happy no one is happy. Good luck, if you want to talk e-mail me
— shannon M.

March 16, 2003
I am with Susan. I am 2 weeks post-op an my decision to have this surgery (with similar co-mobids) was to have it while I was still young strong and somewhat healthy. I did not want to wait another year, 25 more pounds and health continueing to deteriorate. This is a big choice and for me it was the RIGHT choice. I have no regrets and look at each new day as one day longer I have to live. Good luck and best wishes for whatever choice you make, it will be the right one for you.
— Liz B.

March 16, 2003
Not "that sick"? Isn't that kind of like saying you don't have "that much cancer" so why start chemo? I think this is a lot like pre-wedding jitters. If of course you simply can't do it...or decide you just aren't ready, then don't do it. But if you want a better quality of life better to do this now, than to wait until you are SO sick that the surgery is very hard on you and your risks of complications become much higher. Best of luck on a hard decision!
— [Deactivated Member]

March 16, 2003
Hi Mike, This is a really hard decision, and if you absolutely are not ready to do this, then dont. In my case, I wanted to do something about my weight before my health got really bad. I'm only 33 years old and already I was starting to have a lot of problems with my blood pressure cause of my weight. Just about all of my mom's side of the family have had weight problems and have had a history of heart attack, stroke, etc. I didnt want to end up like my grandmother and be dead of a heart attack in her 60's or like my uncle and have a massive stroke in his 60's. I figured it was time to do something about it, and I'm so glad I did. Good luck to you Mike!
— Kris T.

March 17, 2003
You have to do this when it feels like it is the right time to do it. Seventeen months ago, I jumped into this eyes open and fully committed to doing it, with no doubts. I weigh in the mid 140s now and feel great. I am very happy with my decision. But, it is a life changing process. Especially at the beginning when you need to learn to eat all over again. There is hunger, hair loss, etc. You need to be truly ready to face the challenge. When you are, you will be very glad you did it.
— Julie S.

March 17, 2003
First of all, if you have doubts, you should definitely postpone. It's good though to go ahead and get all your approvals though so that when you are ready, there's nothing stopping you. I would like to point out something. You say you are pretty healthy.....with a BMI of 44, you won't stay that way. I was at the mall one day before my surgery and started watching the people as I passed by them. I was always bad for looking at a heavy person and wondering if I was bigger than them or if they were bigger than me. All of a sudden it dawned on me that I was not seeing any morbidly obese senior citizens....I mean no one over the age of 55 or so. Over the next couple months I did my same watching and consistently found the same thing....very few morbidly obese senior citizens. This scared the crap out of me! I didn't want to die before I was a senior! I'm a nurse, and you know where I see seniors that are morbidly obese? Either homebound in a wheelchair or in a nursing home. You'd be surprised a the number of residents at a nursing home that aren't the usual sick geriatric 80 or 90 year olds that just can't take care of themselves anymore....there's an increasing number of 50 and 60 year olds that just can't get around and take care of themselves because of their morbid obesity....they have joint problems, ulcers that won't heal, etc. Just something for you to think about. We all pretty much started out healthy, but it will not last with the weight you are carrying. Good luck to you!
— Lynette B.

March 17, 2003
Mike, I have to agree with Susan and others. I too was pretty healthy when I had lap rny almost 3 months ago (age 45). My bmi was only 43 (317#, 6'). I had apnea and high blood pressure. I felt I wanted to live the last 1/2 of my life healthy and active. So far so good. I'm down 85 pounds, feeling and looking good. No more blood pressure medicine or cpap machine! That said, if you have ANY doubts about the surgery, don't have it. It is normal to feel some (lots of?) anxiety, but to have full fledged doubts is not a good thing. I'm also fortunate to be part of a weight clinic that has group sessions daily and those were a tremendous help for me. They consist of both pre- and post-ops and the information you get is priceless. Good luck.
— Smitty B.

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