JuliusJ

Hi folks, I am contemplating the sleeve gastrectomy and have already started the process which is 6 months of classes and various clearances from other doctors. However, I have been having second thoughts about this because I'm scared. I like to eat. I don't eat healthy. I try to but the taste is often unbearable. Never liked veggies much except for a small few (broccoli, green Beans, corn, yams, collards). I grew up with poor eating habits and a mother who believed food is love. She loved to cook for my brother and I growing up and often I would have 2 or 3 plates of whatever she made. Also, I love ice cream, chips, McDonalds, KFC, etc. I can avoid fast food but I work a lot and I"m in school so having something quick and easy is nice. I hate the time to prepare a meal and cook it when I can just pick something up. Anyone have ideas on healthy fast food? I'm just really scared because food makes me feel less depressed. I got down sometimes because I'm not a very happy person and I eat to feel comfort. I don't do this every day but maybe 2 days a week of ice cream, chips, or whatever I have in my house. I know the surgery will not allow me to eat all that without feeling sick. I've been told that you have to fill our pouch with healthy food like Protein and fruits and veggies. I just feel like asking if I don't have the willpower now to eat healthy, how is that suddenly going to change after surgery? I really want to lose weight as I am 40 and weigh 290 pounds at 5'6". I have been very overweight all my life. I have peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and knee pain. I want to enjoy whatever time I have left. My parents both died in the past 2 years - one of heart attack and other of pancreatic cancer. Dad died at 64 and mom at 70. My grandparents both died in their early 70s. My aunts and uncles all have medical problems several with diabetes. I don't want to end up like them. I want to be healthy, happy, and live a long and satisfying life. Sorry that I went off on that tangent. I'm just torn because of the emotional impact this may have on me and I don't want to regret this decision either way. I guess I'm having fears about not being able to medicate myself with food and I don't know if I want to go through with this because I won't be able to do that anymore. What have you all done to replace food in your lives for emotional support, comfort? Also, do you get hungry a lot after you have the surgery or does hunger go away. A coworker of mine said he wished he had the surgery years ago. His only complaint is loose skin. He said he doesn't get hungry and actually has to remind himself to eat. I can't possibly imagine that because I'm always hungry, my stomach growls constantly, and I LOVE unhealthy food. Right now, I am 4 or 5 months away from a surgery date so I decided to try hard to eat better and exercise every day for 30 minutes. I know I wont lose the massive amount of weight I need to lose by doing that but I can lose some so I want to start there to see if I really need to go through with this.

Thank you all for your replies. I read them all and most were very helpful. The consensus was that I should go talk to a therapist and nutritionist. Well I did see a therapist to get clearance and she gave me clearance but it was brief and I didn't tell her everything. I also saw a nutritionist who lectured me about my eating habits (rightfully so) and told me I have to do something because in 5 years I will have diabetes. I see the nutritionist once a month for 6 months before they will do the surgery. Yeah I need to go to ongoing therapy but I have to find the right one for me which I think will be a challenge. I have other issues besides being overweight that I know I need help with. I kind of thought getting thin would build my confidence and help me with some of those other issues I have. I don't really have a support network at home so I don't know if I can do this without having that. I have to decide if I can work on issues with a therapist concurrently while I get the surgery OR wait a year or two go to therapy and figure some things out. I am leaning towards the latter. My family isn't really supportive of this decision and both my brothers tell me "Why don't you just exercise?" I don't think I've given that option enough merit to be honest. When you get to be nearly 300 pounds, exercise can hurt! However, all my doctors feel I should have the surgery based on my health issues and my obesity. I just don't want to regret it afterwards and I don't want to play the lotto with my health - both mental and physical. I have a lot to think about and I will certainly make a decision one way or another by default but this much is certain....something has to change. Thank you again. I will be sure to let you guys know what I end up doing. I'd love to continue to hear from people who've had the surgery and if you have any regrets however small. I want to hear what is good about the surgery and not so good. I want to know if there were others who enjoy "bad" food as much as I do and how they were able to kick the habit. Is it possible to still eat some of those foods but just a bite or two? I could tolerate that. I will keep checking this board for answers to those questions. I know everyone will say you shouldn't be eating those foods anyway. Well, then why don't I just start eating the right foods NOW and exercising daily without the surgery? I think that's my path for now until I am convinced surgery is the only way. Thanks again!

I had heard you only need a week off of work but I don't know if this includes heavy lifting jobs. It probably requires several weeks off. I have a job where I work in the field traveling to people's home and in the office at my computer. I don't really do heavy lifting but a lot of driving and stressful situations. I think I am going to take two weeks off when I have the surgery.