My story...

[cajun 46]

LAN2K:

I'm 62 and will be sleeved soon. With 130 lbs to lose, I am eager to get this sleeve done. Your worries about having such a drastic measure in order to get healthy is one I'm sure we all have, but I look at it as a kind of cosmetic "stomach lift"...removing the excess that I really don't need. I will still have a fully functioning stomach, just less of it. And the hormone that is produced in the section that will be "lifted out" is one that I don't need...it just makes me hungry. There will be no band to slip, no dumping syndrome and Vitamin deficiencies years down the road. Eventually when the swelling from surgery goes down, I will be eating "normal" portions, of what ever I want, not the huge portions that I sometimes allow myself to eat now. Seeing myself lose 130 lbs will motivate me to make better choices in what I eat because I won't want to go back to being so obese.

The bottom line is, although any surgery has some risk attached to it, staying like I am has even greater risk attached to it...and I am grateful to have the opportunity to choose the better path.

Welcome to the "family"!

[Malaika 50]

VERY nicely put Cajun!:thumbup:

[cajun 46]

Thanks V.A.

[LAN2k 18]

You are right Cajun and I need to hear that since it is exactly why I made this decision to begin with. I worry that nothing goes wrong mostly. When I had to have an abdominal hernia repaired I knew I had no choice. I'm second guessing myself since this is elective. I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how many sleeves my surgeon has done but he is the only doctor in the team of bariatric specialty surgeons who does/has done the sleeve. I think if I were a self pay and went to a doc who had the successful stats I have found here, I'd feel less apprehension. I found a reputable hospital relatively close to home so my parents could be with me. The hospital has a "center for bariatric excellence" or whatever, and their are 3 or 4 doctors on the team. My surgeon is the only one who does the sleeve. You have reminded me of why I have wanted this and I just hope I will get it right.

[LAN2k 18]

Thank you Cajun, you are a woman of courage and strength.

[carolnphx 16]

Lan2k, Does your Mother by any chance use the computer? If so, what I found helpful when I was gathereing info and wanted to educate my husband on WLS was I copied and sent him things that people on this site had written. I told him ahead of time that I wanted to share the info I was finding with him. I e-mailed him the things I thought would ease his mind. He could read at his own time...usually in middle of night.... and then we would discuss later. It helped him allot and he then had informed questions that we could work through. He was a firm supporter when my time for surgery came. Just a thought.

[LAN2k 18]

Good thought carolnphx, I have been sharing information with my mother for a few months now. She is fully supporting my decision although she is a little scared. We are close and although I have a sister, (who supports my decision), she lives further away from my mom and self and is busy with a business 3 kids and a husband. My mother now 80, depends on me. She would rather I were able to eat appropriately and lose the weight without undergoing the risk that surgery poses. My dad lives alone and I have not told him yet but intend to in a few days. Since he doesn't have or want a computer, I'll be prepared with printouts from these and other sources if he is interested, depending on how it goes. I hope I get his support. Thanks.