Can Someone Please Talk Me Out Of It?

[betterthanbefore 19]

Having problems sleeping. I am wondering if i am making ghe right choice. I need to loose about 80 lbs...help!!! Feeling really own and sad and surgery is already this coming monday.

[frumpynomore 204]

I had doubts right up until they took me in to the operating room. I even went through deep depression for about 2 weeks afterwards feeling like I had self mutilated my body. I am 4 months out now and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I had 90 lbs to lose and kept thinking I really didn't need the surgery...I could do it myself like I have all my life. I was a yo-yo dieter, up and down, up and down. I would have to work at dieting and exercise so hard only to gain it back again. I would stay thin for awhile and then be fat for years and then get thin again. That's all over now! No more yo-yo dieting!!! There was a reason that you decided to have the surgery...don't forget those reasons. Your fear is controlling you right now. Write down your reasons if you have to so you can keep referring to them every time you have a doubt. This is for you! Don't doubt yourself now...you've come to far. The alternative is to stay overweight and nobody wants that. Stay strong and be convicted in your decision. Good luck...I promise you that you will not regret it!

[Living again 11/17/2011 40]

I did the same thing started almost 230 I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and miserable I almost cx my surgery it was the best thing it is normal to feel what you are feeling I am alive again I feel so so good ..!! Good luck!

[Lissa 2,631]

I'm not going to try to talk you out of surgery. I do, however, sympathize with where you're at right now. I remember being scared to death and "knowing" I wouldn't wake up from surgery. Obviously, I did and, despite being here every day, plus attending support group meetings and talking to tons of sleeve patients in other forums, I've only heard of one person who didn't survive surgery. For that matter, I've only talked to 3 people out of hundreds who regretted having the surgery.

This surgery is life-changing and life-saving for so many people. Right now your head is telling you all kinds of horror stories and asking you things like "Why can't I just diet and exercise?" The truth is that most of those horror stories never come true and that most people who lose weight by dieting gain the weight back anyway. I believe it's less than 5% of successful dieters who keep the weight off for more than 5 years.

The sleeve isn't magic, but it's an amazing tool to help us with losing the weight and maintaining the loss afterwards.

What you're feeling is normal. I think every one of us has had similar thoughts pre-op. It's part of the process, but it's just our mind trying to cope with all the changes we know are coming. However, those changes are amazing and wonderful!

Good luck! I can't wait until you're on the loser's bench with us.

[Rootman 1,101]

Nope, can't. I was scared shirtless (remove the R ) but was more scared of dying prematurely. I had BP and sugar problems, high cholesterol, adrenal problem, neurological problems due to pads of fat cutting off nerves, you name it I had it in one form or another.

Just had my yearly physical at 1 year 4 months post-op and everything is dang near PERFECT. At 51 years old I have the blood work of a 20 something year old.

It works - that's all I can say about it. Now you have to make up your own mind. What is it? Are you going to be fat, miserable and sickly or do something about it?

As always IANAL and IANAD so please make your own informed educated decision.

[IowaAndy 95]

I thnk that you are having the pre-surgery jitters and starting to second guess your decision. I know that it happened to me and I was also having trouble sleeping and kept thinking about if this was really what I wanted. For me it was a little easier as I had the band and I was vomiting all the time and I still have about 100 pounds still to lose after losing about 90 pounds with the sleeve.

I am so glad that I went through with the surgery. The band is gone and I do not vomit at every meal because of food getting stuck. I have lost 42 pounds on my way to goal and I am feeling great. My back, knees, feet and all of me I guess does not hurt anymore. I am off a couple of my medications and can actually eat without vomiting. This is a change of your life and eating habits but your stomach is the one that you have to listen to. It will tell you when you have had enough. I never feel hungry but I know that when it is noon I need to eat something.

I think your feelings at this time are normal and you will also have second thought after you have the surgery but I think that if you are looking at losing your excess 80 pounds that this is your solution. Prayers to you on your surgery.

[betterthanbefore 19]

Thanks everyone for replying. That does help a lot! It almost made me cry. Especially becuase I do think about dying, and leaving my wonderful kids on the operating table. I worry about, "What if i get sick later? " What if i get cancer? and if I do get cancer, then how can i eat enough to treat the cancer? i know that does not really make sense: I have already done all my exams, and I was not required to do the pre-op diet; He only told me not to be eating as much, and to sometimes replace a meal with a Protein Shake. I guess it is due to the amount of weight that I have to loose.

I have all of everyone's symptoms. I try and not visualize them cutting out my stomach. I worry about the staples and the healing of my stomach, and think how will it be possible to eat with my stomach just being cut? I also think about the juices in the stomach and if God put them there, then they must serve a purpose, so what now without them? The acid in there plays a role to absorb nutrients, so how will all of this effect everyone in the long term. I have not really heard from people that have had it for 10 years or so: the max that i have seen on here is about 3 years:

Will I look older when i loose the weight? will I look all wrinkly? Will I look fabbly: and what if i loose too much weight and then can't gain weight later?

Will I be healthy? Will I be anemic? Will I did of lukemia? I could go on and on, but these are all thoughts that go into my mind! It is crazy: I try not to think about it, but goodness! It is getting the best of me. I am very nervous, and try to remain calm, but these racing thoughts are just a little crazy for me right now.

However, all of these replies do calm me down: Just the fact of hearing that some of you were feeling the same way, and that it all turned out okay:

Well, that helps tremendously, so from the bottom of my heart! Thank you sooooo much!