Mary, If you have this surgery, why would you have it? I had it b/c I've lost the same 70 lbs about 4-6x's. Since the surgery I'm off my cholesterol meds and my diabetes meds. I had no energy to do anything before the surgery and now I go to the gym 3-4x's a week and feel good about it. I love that I'm fitting into normal- sized clothing and feel good about myself. No, you will never be able to eat the same way again but you will be able to eat the foods you like/love- just not the same quantity.
I am no longer diabetic. My last A1C was on the border of prediabetic and normal, so soon. I won't be prediabetic either.
My knee pain is 90% gone (losing weight doesn't bring back cartilage unfortunately).
The tendonitis in my elbows that has been plaguing me for the past two years has resolved itself. I think the main reason it wasn't healing before was because I was always having to push myself out of a sitting position.
I haven't had an edema flare in my feet in months, even though I don't take meds anymore. I don't take prescription meds at all anymore.
Do I regret not being able to gorge on the foods I loved? Sure... But that's a passing thought. I also allow myself a few bites of foods I am craving. 2-3 bites of sushi rather than stuffing myself at an AYCE. One egg roll from my favorite restaurant in San Jose (when we drive down to see the surgeon) rather than the 6-12 I use to put away. I splurge on high quality ingredients, like fancy cheese or expensive cuts of steak. food is about quality not quantity now.