Necessary But Scarey

[Scaredy Cat 92]

I'm 5 feet and weight 260 (BMI 51). I have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, achey knees, etc. My family history of heart conditions, obesity, and cancer on my father's side is not good. Five out of the seven children in his family have died of cancer. I somehow managed to get myself right in line to be just like him. I know that for me, this is medically necessary. I know it will almost immediately improve my health. I know that my children (ages 10 and 14) will have me around longer and that I will enjoy doing more things with them. I know I NEED to do this. But I am so scared. I'm not scared of the surgery itself but the long-term "living with the sleeve forever". What's it like five or ten years from now. Is there still satisfaction from eating so little? Is there weight gain. Is everyone still as happy as they were when they lost the first 100? Looking for a little support I guess. Thanks,

[crystalintville 66]

My BMI was 51 when I started (310, 5ft 5.5") and I'm now 37.2 halfway through 19 weeks later. I feel so much better and with a tummy so little many times it honestly feels like a Thanksgiving dinner after a 3 oz pc of chicken and a couple bites of veggies. I'm happy about where I'm headed and my self esteem is a million times better than 4 months ago. I have a 10 and 12 year old myself and for the first time in a long time soon I'll be able to go to the theme parks with them and actually ride the rides with them. I know there can be weight gain but when you can only eat 4oz at a time and you stick to eating mostly healthy Protein foods for 3-4 times a day I don't see any big gains happening. Most of my family is obese and 3 of 4 grandparents had/have cancer so I know the dread feeling of what if. When is your surgery?

[Scaredy Cat 92]

My BMI was 51 when I started (310' date=' 5ft 5.5") and I'm now 37.2 halfway through 19 weeks later. I feel so much better and with a tummy so little many times it honestly feels like a Thanksgiving dinner after a 3 oz pc of chicken and a couple bites of veggies. I'm happy about where I'm headed and my self esteem is a million times better than 4 months ago. I have a 10 and 12 year old myself and for the first time in a long time soon I'll be able to go to the theme parks with them and actually ride the rides with them. I know there can be weight gain but when you can only eat 4oz at a time and you stick to eating mostly healthy Protein foods for 3-4 times a day I don't see any big gains happening. Most of my family is obese and 3 of 4 grandparents had/have cancer so I know the dread feeling of what if. When is your surgery?[/quote']

I'm at the very beginning of this process. Surgery probably won't be until Spring. I joined this group because I was looking for information and I'm delighted to read how great everyone feels. Like I said, I know it's necessary, guess I'm just a scaredy cat LOL! I also joined because I know I'll need this kind of support. ????

[JMarshall 352]

I know I NEED to do this. But I am so scared. I'm not scared of the surgery itself but the long-term "living with the sleeve forever". What's it like five or ten years from now. Is there still satisfaction from eating so little? Is there weight gain. Is everyone still as happy as they were when they lost the first 100? Looking for a little support I guess. Thanks,

I am 11 months out and down over 200 pounds. i can eat anything, just not a lot of it. there is still satisfaction from eating, but not the same as i had before. I actually taste food now instead of inhaling it. also now that i eat less it free's up time for talking and having conversation at meals. My satisfaction comes less from food and more from the experiences that i have now with friends and family.My satisfaction comes from feeling better as a whole. There can be weight gain as with any WLS but with the sleeve it takes work. you must eat the wrong things sun up to sun down to effectively gain weight.

[Scaredy Cat 92]

Thanks so much for the encouagement. In my head, I see me sitting down to dinner with my family and hoping to be able to have what they're having but just a lot less of it. I also envision having lots of Protein Shakes, bagged frozen chicken and lean cuisines on standby for those nights when I need an alternative. I know it will be a big adjustment.

[Lissa 2,631]

I don't eat lean cuisine. Ugh. I keep bagged frozen chicken, chicken wings, prepared fajita meat, tuna kits, etc in my house, along with mini babybel cheeses. I eat fish, chicken, beef, pork, whatever meat I want, and I make sure my veggies are steamed or frozen because raw veggies aren't high on my feel good list for my sleeve. I go out to eat with friends and have no problems.

I still live my normal life, but I eat less than I did before. I've added in exercise and I've become a gym rat. I would have NEVER predicted ME becoming a gym rat before surgery.

I had a list of co-morbidities as long as yours and a death sentence hanging over my head when I had my sleeve. I'm happy to say that death sentence has been commuted.

If you're scared, just think how much more pain and suffering you'll endure as an obese woman. I have an aunt who has had 20+ surgeries to try to save her sight, her arm, her leg, and her life because of complications of diabetes and obesity. I chose to have ONE surgery to hopefully avoid all of those other surgeries. It was an easy choice for me. Yeah, I was scared going into the OR, but now my future is so bright I have to wear shades!

Good luck with your decision and your journey.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I was terrified of the sleeve surgery. Lots of reasons, but in the end it was the same as yours - fear that once again I would "fail". My sleep apnea doctor made a very good point. He played out the "what if" scenarios. What if i regained all that lost weight 5-10 years down the road? Well, that is 5-10 years of a much improved quaility of life!!! What if I regain a portion of the loss even sooner? Well, that is still better then where I was at 308 and gaining!! What if i only lost "some" weight and don't make it to goal? Well, weighing 200 beats the heck out of weighing 300 - trust me on this one!

I have a positive attitude, and I certainly plan to maintain (and continue losing!) this weight loss but he is absolutely right, my life is so much better even if I don't get "perfect" results. Frankly, I feel really good even though I am still a ways from goal.

I am only 9 months out but so far, so good. I had the lapband for 10 years and from the very beginning it was hard to live with;. The sleeve is easy peasy by comparison.

[raerae39 8]

Best thing I ever did getting "sleeved". I am no longer a prisoner to food because I am in complete control. Also, I eat pretty much what I want, just way less than before and work hard on getting in Protein. I do stay away from bread, but I am just a month out. So, I am on soft cooked veggies, chicken, eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt, etc. I have lost 30 pounds in a month and for the life of me do not know what took me so long to get sleeved! Surgery was easy, very little pain and nausea. My recovery was about two weeks. Anybody thinking about doing this, it will be one of the best things you ever did for yourself. The cravings for junk food have vanished and on occasion I have a few little pieces of chocolate, but it is a few, not the whole bag!