I'm Having Mixed Feelings About Bariatric Surgery

[Crabadams72 20]

I watched my mother struggle with diabetes from 1990 until her death in 2009. THAT was my wake up call. I was healthy but obese. I gave dieting a try all of 2010 and on Nov 17, 2010 I went to a WLS seminar. I had been in denial about how large I had gotten. My sister has diabetes and I knew it was coming for me next. I talked it over with my husband and decided to go for it.

I got sleeved 6/10/11 and it was the best decision I have ever made!. I am currently 145 and I am hoping to lose a few more pounds but I feel amazing!

I have no regrets.

[nydiva 27]

Thank you Crabadams72, your message is very encouraging. I went yesterday to my first appointment with the nutritionist. It went really well because I've been eating a lot healthier and adding more physcial activity into my daily life. I'm trying to make all the steps towards having WLS, all while researching, and soul searching.

I'm so excited for you that you lost weight, that is awesome. Take care and stay healthy.

~Nydiva

[Lissa 2,631]

NYDiva, You've gotten lots of great responses here. I was 352 at my highest. In 2010, I managed to lose 50 pounds on Atkins and I was really proud of myself for that. Then, in May, 2011, I got pneumonia and was put in the hospital for six days. After the antibiotics, steroids and iv fluids, I regained the 50 pounds PLUS in less than six weeks. THEN I had a blood clot that led to two pulmonary embolisms. I looked Mr Death in the eye 3 times during those couple of months.

I had already been half-heartedly researching WLS, looking at the lap band. When I finally got to a seminar, the surgeon mentioned that VSG works better for people with my specific food issues. After some medical hoop-jumping because of the blood clot, I was sleeved Aug 31, 2011. At 5 months out, I'm down nearly 90 pounds and I feel like a whole new person. I wear much smaller clothes and I can WALK again! Before surgery I could barely make it from the front door to my car! Now I can walk a couple of miles at a time, and getting better all the time!

It IS a life change. Even with the surgery, we have to make the proper food choices and get in our Protein and Water daily. But, I'd never have lost 90 pounds without surgical intervention. Truthfully, if I don't lose another pound, I'm thrilled with my results. Just knowing that I've eliminated most of my medical issues is a true blessing!

Do your research and make up your own mind. I just wanted to add my 2 cents to the conversation.

[MzPecanBrown 86]

Do your research and make up your own mind. I just wanted to add my 2 cents to the conversation.

Great post, Lissa! Very inspiring!

[starlet 28]

Hi There!

I can only tell you about my own experience, but hopefully it will help in some way.

My sister had the RNY done when I was 24 years old. She lost a great deal of weight and although I was supportive of her 100%, I felt in some ways that if she just stopped eating all the junk she ate, she would be able to improve her weight without the risks of surgery.

However, after seeing the progress she made, and working to overcome my fears and reservations, at the age of 26 I went ahead and got sleeved. I can tell you now that it was the best decision I have ever made but it took me a long time (2 years wasted! ) to come to that fact.

I was worried about "messing" with my body, I worried that it was un-natural, I worried about the long term risks, I worried about going under anesthesia. I kept saying to myself "Why don't you just eat like you already have the sleeve and then you'll lose weight without having to have surgery". The thing is, the sleeve restricts what you can eat but it also removes most of the ghrelin (hunger hormone) producing part of your stomach. Without the surgery, if I had a few bites of chicken, I'd probably be hungry again almost right away, but with the surgery the few bites of chicken fills you up and without the ghrelin you don't get that rumbly-tumbly I-need-to-eat-right-now-or-im-gonna-go-crazy sensation.

As for the other fears I mentioned, diabetes, heart disease, cancer are far more prevalent among the obese so the risks of having the sleeve, to me, were outweighed by the possibilities of having those diseases if I stayed fat. Where I work I see the effects of late stage heart disease and the amputations, blindness and renal insufficiency that goes along with diabetes. I did not want to be one of those people.

I chose the sleeve because the RNY, with its malabsorptive properties, meant a life of blood work & supplements. The band was a definate no-go because I've had too many patients with erosions and slips requiring emergency surgery. The sleeve just fit my life better.

I wish you luck with your decision :wub:

[nydiva 27]

Wow thanks for putting it in prospective for me. Your story has inspired me.

[PreciousCargo 55]

Like you and others I questioned my decision. First I began my journey with the choice of having the lap band. I went through the whole seven months of the necessary requirements and changed my mind. I heard from many people this was the lazy way. I tried Weight Watchers again and failed yet again. Then I started my research on the sleeve and began the process again required by the insurance. I had a few set backs such as being required to attend counseling for several months. Finally I was approved and awaiting my surgery date. My boyfriend, son and ex-husband all begged me not to have the surgery. I stood strong and went through with the surgery. It is hard and I have had some difficulties but I would do it all over again. There have been changes I have noticed in the last month that encourage me such as moving easily and breathing normally. My advice... research, research and research. Prepare yourself and use whatever tools out there that will allow you to succeed. Good Luck

[HotRod67 1]

I had similar feelings several years ago. I attended a seminar about bariatric surgery and while I was interested, I thought I wasn't prepared to go forward. So, I started telling a few people about the surgery. Various people and especially one of my sisters fed into my hesitation/fear and I eventually talked myself out of it. My husband continued to encourage me that I could do it on my own.

I continued to gain weight. I became less active physically, etc. So, then my weak back finally couldn't handle it any longer and a disc ruptured in my back and the next week, I had surgery.

I said I WOULD NEVER HAVE BACK SURGERY! But, I had no options unless I wanted to remain in a wheelchair . . . with a 2 year-old, a 11 yr old and a 17 yr old? No Thank You! The surgery was a complete success and all my fears were laid to rest by a completely competent and confident surgeon.

Fast forward to 2011 . . . . I went to a seminar with a friend to support her decision to go forward with bariatric surgery and for the first time I heard about VSG. Holy smokes! Can this surgery be for real? I listened intently to the surgeon who seemed completely COMPETENT AND CONFIDENT. And, I was hooked. I immediately told my husband about VSG and we went for a one-on-one with the surgeon. My husband became a "be-sleever" too! (Is that a new phrase?)

This time around, I have surrounded myself and shared my decision with supporters! No need to tell people that will add fears. I am so at peace with this decision. It feels right and I am so glad I didn't have gastric bypass 6 years ago. Sure, I wish I could've spent the last 6 years as a thinner, healthier person. But, I'm better for this journey because of what I've learned about myself and this process.

I have also joined 3 friends for a weekly gathering where we have our own "support" group meeting basically . . . and we discuss our ups & downs, cravings and victories, and Celebrate each other as a Christian sister that is moving forward in different approaches. We're reading a great book that has shed a lot of light on our emotional eating issues and I feel this has already been a tremendous help as I am at the end of my 6-month weight loss monitoring.

Hopefully, I will have a surgery date within the next 30-45 days!

I wish you peace as you go forward! Just do what feels right for you . . . but never give up!

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

I had a lapband implanted in 2001 and it removed in 2010. I would not recommend it, I don't think it works for most people in the long run.

I took at least a year before I was ready to pursue the sleeve. I started down the path of revising to gastric bypass, and one day, it just hit me that I would rather stay obese. It isn't even a logical decision, it is how I feel.

When I started getting serious about the sleeve, it triggered alot of fear and anxiety. One reason I picked the lapband was that it was "reversible" and this is not. I think what helped me was doing 2 last major efforts at a diet on my own in 2011. I lost weight on medifast, but discovered that all the soy in those products was really messing iwth my tummy and digestive tract. Of course I regained everything once I went off medifast. Then, I lost like 3 pounds on my last attempt and was very unhappy with the super low carb eating program to boot. It hit me that dieting just wasn't working at all anymore.

I encourage you to take your time in thinking through this though. The sleeve doesn't make you instant skinny. It is still alot like dieting, takes planning and focus to eat right and exercise. I have lost nearly 60# since my preop diet start of 11/30 (surgery 12/12/11) but I am still obese. While I am excited about my progress, I wouldn't want to somehow make anyone think that this is easy or even super fast.

For me, dieting just wasn't working and so far this is, so i am very happy I did it but I think you really do need to know that it isn't a perfect solution that cures all of your eating/activity level challenges.

[kenbr14 12]

Like Jane my wife had the Lapland in 2001. She initially lost 90 lbs but at a price. She hardly ate anything as many foods could not go down. Until today she throws up quite often. Because of many foods not being able to get through many people end up eating the "foods" that slide right through. Cake,candy,chips and ice cream. And many people I know end up gaining either all or a lot of weight back. The constant throwing up caused her band to slip and she had a second surgery to fix it. She wishes today she could join me in getting the sleeve. I'm 2 1/2 weeks out and I've lost 32 pounds and feel great. I have not thrown up once and everyone I speak to who is researching what to di I recommend the sleeve. But for the younger kids under 30 my opinion is to get the band as the sleeve is very evasive and non reversible. For many people that can be mentally very tough. My 22 yr old son is over 300 lbs And he is getting the band.