Regrets

[UPRR Wifey 89]

luckysmomma I totally understand, that good ol' comfort food

[Chimera 644]

Having my vsg surgery is one of if not the best decision I have ever made - I had complications with surgery that were a bit scary, and it took close to 6 weeks post surgery until I started to feel better.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. No question.

[erp 2,016]

I am one month out today. I have zero regrets. I was lucky, the pain was manageable most of the time. I recovered quickly. The lifestyle change is a challenge. I struggle to get in enough calories, Water and/or Protein depending on the day. Today I wasn't hungry so the calories are low but the Protein and Water are good. Yesterday it was my water that was too low. Eh, I live and I learn. I wouldn't trade the last 6 weeks for anything (I'm counting the crappy pre-op diet too) and here's why: I just regained at least a third of my wardrobe back- my clothes fit better, I can wear high heels all day again comfortably (and you better know that I am rocking them every day right now!), I have had at least half a dozen people tell me how great I look in the last two weeks, I got my glow back- literally my skin is smooth and glowing, I am a slow loser and I'm ok with it- no one knows I had WLS! I'm losing my double chin, I can cross my legs more comfortably, and the best yet- I'm finding me again- my internal strength to make better choices for myself.

OP-I don't know you and I don't know if WLS is right for you or how you will fair afterward but I hope your experience is like mine. Sure I've had some bad days (can you say constipation) but man I wouldn't trade any of the bad for all the great stuff above. Best of luck in your journey and to all the struggling sleevers that post.

[Evolving 973]

My only REGRET is not doing this SOONER!

I am 11 weeks out now and I have had a smooth recovery' date=' no hunger, no food intolerances and steady weightloss.

It's worth every penny of the 16K I spent to do this - and if I didn't lose 1 more pound, I'd still be estatic because there is no price tag for how great I feel physically.[/quote']

Agree!!!! I'm 3.5 weeks Monday will be a month! Slowly starting foods again but worth it!!!! I have a hardddddd time w Protein as well but it'll be ok

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[karenb4729 309]

Right after the surgery I had some moments of regret... I think its normal to have a moment when you wondered what the heck you did to yourself. But, I am almost 10 months out and very near my goal. I have had to really focus hard to get there but I wouldn't have come close without the sleeve to help me stick to my eating plan of under 800 calories, under 40 grams of carbs and 80+ grams of protein... it's what works to help me lose each week.

[Luvinkk 2]

I don't regret it I use muscle milk only 2grams sugar per serving. I found also soy Protein even easier to mix. I use the vanilla and all types of flavor extracts, orange,peppermint, rum, ect. Or a small amt. sugar free Jello for a variety like key lime. It helps. I have no regrets 3.5 Weeks. Already cut med doses in half that is so exciting. And being diabetic and a times 2 heart attack person this has helped so much.

[tigerbelle 328]

I am finding this thread very interesting and thought-provoking...I do think everybody is different because of the different outcomes, but also because of differing expectations and motivations for choosing WLS...in my experience posting here, I would say at least 90% of those who post are glad they had the surgery even though they have had times of doubt and rough spots...but I would also say that maybe about 75% of those who post were motivated primarily to lose weight to look better or be able to do more physical activities, and those who have lost a significant amount of weight and feel they look better and are more physically fit, seem to be the ones who have no regrets at all...I have no real point in making those observations, other than just providing some feedback from what I've read over the last several months

at age 51, while I would find benefits in looking better, fitting better in clothes and feeling more physically fit and able, my primary motivation for seeking WLS is to save my life from the increasingly terrible complications of diabetes and poor circulation--and I am not exaggerating or over-dramatizing here...to me it is almost like a dr is telling me that my appendix is inflamed, and if I don't take it out, it is going to burst and probably kill me...I would be glad to have the surgery and save my life, but I am not going to like it or welcome it...and that is how I feel about WLS...I already regret that things in my life health-wise have lead me to the place where I feel this surgery is my only real chance to get control of the diabetes...but as I've posted already in other threads, I can totally relate and understand the loss of my "friend," my comfort food, the only thing I've found that can actually soothe my anxieties and at least temporarily make me feel better (it's also killing me)

I am just particularly frustrated right now, because I have finally made the decision and mentally prepared myself for the VSG and now my surgeon is telling me he is unsure about being able to do my surgery laparascopically because of some unusual physical effects from previous abdominal surgeries...he ordered a CT scan Friday to aid him in making a decision, and I have been calling his office and the lab today--with no one returning my calls If he tells me he has to do the surgery open, I just don't know what I am going to do because that is a game changer for me...even to possibly save my life, I am not sure that I can mentally take the risk of open abdominal surgery--mainly because of the emotional trauma I experienced in 2009 after a risky and complex surgery that resulted in a 3-month hospital stay for me with 2 months additionally home bound under nursing care...the thought of going through something like that again just 4 years later has me enveloped in fear...so I am just waiting on the surgeon to return my call with a decision

I just had to vent...to anyone still reading, I apologize for the rambling

[LaceSleeve 76]

No regrets! Good luck

[Chimera 644]

Tigerbelle - I wish you the best of luck for a healthy and safe outcome with your situation.

When my family and I went to the information seminar is when I got my wake up call - when our surgeon outlined the statistics of mortality, of success of losing most or all of your excess weight, and then keeping it off over the long term if your BMI is over 40 (which is tiny, think it was between 1 and 3%).

A lot of folks say they wish they had done it sooner - I suppose I could say that too, I might not have gotten as big and my skin might not have gotten as stretched. But honestly, it came it the right time - for both my husband and myself who also had the surgery.

Things are certainly not easy - but I will take this kind of hard over the hard of obesity, or in my case super-morbid obesity - where people in society have no problems expressing their disdain, or in some cases disgust for you due to your struggle with weight. I hold multiple degrees, am a college professor at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and consider myself to be both kind and hopefully a tiny bit Enlightened - yet I was often reduced to tears by adults on the street calling me a fat pig, or the giggling and mean stares.

I have been using this experience as an opportunity to learn as much as I can about how I got this way in the first place - I've done all the therapy - years of it. I've lost all the weight - a few times in fact. This time it feels different, that I finally have a toehold that I can get ahead of this beast of an addiction - which I believe is fueled by the processed food industry and the metrics of how our society operates these days (more sedentary in a nutshell). It just adds to the dilema.

Occasionally I read comments from folks here about how they could have lost it without the surgery - usually because the loses are not large or fast enough. I suppose this may be true, but I know for myself that no matter how much I lost on any diet or program be it Duke, Optifast, countless Weight Watchers memberships, Atkins, South Beach etc, etc. that my regains were right around the corner - and painfully rapid.

Now, with the tool of my sleeve I feel like I finally have some power over this.

I often think of this quote - I think it is from Robert Quinn that "we have only two choices - deep change or slow death."

Wishing you insight and clarity with your decision - I know it is not an easy one.

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

No regrets here and I wish it was doable 20years ago. I love the fact that my life no longer revolves around food. I choose when and what to eat instead of spending all my time shoving any and everything in my mouth. I'm feeling healthy and I'm like other normal people now.

Unfortunately, this isn't the surgery for everyone and they don't find out until post-op that they can't let go of their addiction to food. Therapy may be a healthy choice for some of you now that you're having issues post-op

WLS is what you make it. I am hell bent on being a better me

[fatrosie 176]

My only regret is that I completely forgot to ask my surgeon to take a picture of my stomach he removed! It's gross but would have been soooooooo cool to see!

[jac1970 39]

My only regret is that I completely forgot to ask my surgeon to take a picture of my stomach he removed! It's gross but would have been soooooooo cool to see!

I had an ovary removed and asked for a pic too. I still have it! Lol