Subconsciously Changing My Mind About Surgery

[Tiffany D 3]

I finally decided I was ready to have the gastric sleeve surgery. I have done my research on pro's and con's, on doctors and facilities, on success stories and negative feedback. I plan on having surgery next month (Mid-November) in Mexico.

So now I am trying to figure out WHY I find myself seeking out negative feedback. It seems I am eagerly looking for complications, stories of regret, disadvantages, etc... My husband asked me last night if I am trying to talk myself out of surgery. Now I wonder if I am.

Does this mean I am really not ready? I see people talking about if they aren't 100% sure then they probably really aren't ready. Do you agree with that?

I know I need to lose weight and try time and time again. I will lose and then regain. Over and over and over. I am worried that I will not be able to have an "affair" with food again. I worry that I will regret having surgery. I worry that my health may be compromised due to lack of nutritional satisfaction.

Ugh! Help! Please!

[bbkipps99 48]

I have been doing some of the same. I think i just want to be prepared and well aware of the could happens. I have been looking at the stories post op and how far they have come. It helps to focus on the positive outcomes to come.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I am 10 months post op, things have gone really well but I am not always sure that I am "sure"...lol

The problem I had was I tried EVERYTHING else multiple times. I researched the various surgeries and knew sleeve was the best "fit" for me, but I didn't really WANT WLS, just couldn't find a way out of this mess without it. You know it is bad when you call a "nonsurgical weight loss" clinic and THEY tell you to look into WLS...lol

So, I am a huge proponent of being ready, but I suspect many of us will always have doubts. My number one "doubt" remains if I can keep this weight off once i get to goal.

[Tiffany D 3]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I do feel like I am questioning this because there is no way to REALLY know if this will be the right choice for me. I have tried everything and always end up heavier than before. I have two young kids that I want to be there for. I want to play and laugh and be happy with them. I don't want my weight or health to slow me down.

[happilysleeved 114]

I think it is pretty normal to have those "I'm not sure" feelings all the way up until surgery! I had, like you researched and organized and planned, etc. I had an "aha" moment in one of my nutrition classes where everything just clicked and I knew this was the absolute right choice for me. I had tried everything too! Gone up and down and up and down, and I knew that I needed the "tool" of the gastric sleeve surgery to help me not only reach my goals, but to stick with it! I had my sleeve on 9/14/12. I have not had any problems, but I'm following my plan, getting my Protein and liquids in! Before surgery I was 225, day of surgery 217 and today 197 at 4 weeks out. But, more importantly, the changes in how I feel and how much exercise I am able to do and the energy I already have for my family are what has reconfirmed I made the right decision. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Good luck on your journeys!

[kyllfalcon 768]

I was crying on the way into the operating room. But now I have not one single regret. It is truly life-changing. I know there are some unfortunate folks who have a hard time after surgery, either medically and/or emotionally, so I don't discount the gravity of the decision. I am lucky to be one of the ones who have sailed through and can eat anything, just in limited portions.

Even if you don't lose 100% of your excess weight, and even if you do gain a little weight back after reaching goal, odds are you will never again be nearly as heavy as you are pre-op. Just set realistic expectations and forgive yourself when you slip. I've been a model patient regarding my food choices up until the last week or so. I've been nibbling here and there because I'm stressed to the max at work. I forgive me. Today I eat only what is on my plan, not a bite more. Tomorrow I eat only what is on my plan, not a bite more.

Your feelings are normal. Just want to add one more voice to the "do it, you won't regret it" count!

Good luck.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

This is so true for all of us. I had to constantly remind myself that my health is #1 and that this is how I'm choosing to treat my diabetes. That's it period...... I did it even though I was scared to death and wanting to run away. I was shaking so much.... You have your list of pro's and con's which can you live with and which not. I wish I could of done this year ago.

[gmanbat 5,889]

I worry that my health may be compromised due to lack of nutritional satisfaction.

I was amazed at how little food I REALLY needed. No fainting occurred as I had envisioned. Instead, an actual increase in energy. Apparently my voluminous eating was contributing greatly to my weak and run-down feeling, probably due to the energy needed to digest the huge portions.

In my case nutrition was satisfied quite easily with proper training.

[JMarshall 352]

i was 70 % sure that i wanted to have surgery. we all have our doubts and have second thoughts about the decisions we make. The thing that pushed me to have surgery is that i was 100 % sure that i did not want to keep living the way i had lived for years. you have to weight the pros and cons of the surgery and then make you own decision. I am almost a year out and have lost 160 pounds since surgery and 200 pounds overall. best decision of my life. I can only give you my story and my experience. Good luck with your decision.

[Piplula 709]

I was amazed at how little food I REALLY needed. No fainting occurred as I had envisioned. Instead' date=' an actual increase in energy. Apparently my voluminous eating was contributing greatly to my weak and run-down feeling, probably due to the energy needed to digest the huge portions.

In my case nutrition was satisfied quite easily with proper training.[/quote']

Here here!