Confused on making this decision or not.

[Jillianmi 1]

I never considered weight loss surgery before 2 weeks ago. I guess I felt that I'd always one slim down....one day. My turning point came a when my husband and I went the doctor. We are trying to have a child, but are not having any luck due to complications with my body/weight. My doctor suggested either weight loss surgery (putting off having a baby for a year) or going to an infertility treatment center and consider IVF. I cannot afford infertility treatment nor do I want to put my body through that. Also, I don't know if it would work with me being at such a high weight. At 32 with a bmi of 50 and countless attempts at trying to lose weight I am finally considering weight loss surgery. However, I'm terrified and unsure if this is the right decision for me. I was wondering if others could share their "turning point." Or what helped them make the decision of weight loss surgery (specifically the sleeve) vs trying the conservative method of diet/exercise without surgery. The whole concept of removing parts of my body just scares me and I'm not sure what the best choice is for me. Plus, I have this odd fear of being violently sick after the surgery and having stomach issues the rest of my life. I'm new to this site and this journey so I appreciate any advice you are willing to share.

[JALUVIC 79]

Hi there. I want to reply to you tomorrow if I have time. I have an interesting perspective to share.

[AvaFern 3,516]

I understand your concerns and most of them I had as well. The whole cutting out your stomach thing is very permanent sounding, and it freaked me out quite a bit. I was self-pay, so between the day I decided to go to the education session to the moment I was in the OR was about 3 weeks. I didn't have a lot of time to stress out about it. I was super sick the first few days after surgery, and my sleeve is one of the few that really has no tolerance for anything good- as in no sugar, no fried stuff, no breads, pretty much nothing yummy. This is ok though because I can have a bite or two of that stuff, and really it's all I need. I would still have surgery even knowing how many times I have barfed in the last 16 months, lol.

I'm not sure what my turning point was. I had dieted my way up and down a span of about 90 pounds throughout my 20's and this last time I just could not lose the weight again. I was so unhappy and ashamed of myself. The sleeve has been wonderful for me- hopefully you will love it as well!

[fit4life123 108]

After years of dieting and constantly worrying about my weight and getting depressed, and having weeks when I would lose consistently but then stall out and get frustrated and go back to old habits until I gained back all I lost plus more only to repeat the cycle.

I am 22 now and I finally have had enough. I want to be fit and do things I thought I couldn't because of my weight(worrying if I was too heavy for a roller coaster, bungee jumping, surfing, etc.) I wanted to be active and healthy and I needed help.

I was afraid of course, and lost almost 50lbs before getting serious about surgery. Then I gained about 15 back and was 270. I was afraid of getting back up to 307 again or more and decided enough was enough.

I want to have a better quality of life and the pros outweighed the cons for me. I'm young, relatively healthy (other than the whole obesity thing) and my family history is deeply rooted in diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failure, etc.

Plain and simple this surgery saved my life. I would never be able to exercise as much self control without this tool. I chose the sleeve because there was no rerouting of anything.

My advice is to do research. Lots of it. I got really anal about it and impressed my surgeon, NUT, and psych because some of the people they saw assume this surgery is a magic bullet cure all which requires no work.

[Elode 8,093]

Like Nike says "just do it"!! Ha! No I can't really tell you what to do all I can tell you is its the best decision I ever made!

[Blazzrr 37]

You must know that you have tried everything and that nothing is going to work for you. Diets would never have done for me what this has, but to get through the tough parts you must come to this belief yourself and really know it.

You must feel willing to dig deep and do whatever it will take to make this wonderful change to your life work. I was told this choice is a last resort, something to do once you really, truly believe that losing it and keeping it off on your own will not work.

If you decide to do it, then choose the most experienced doctor you can find and your worries about stomach issues should be a non-issue.

[alwaysvegas 702]

Severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, but I waited until pre-diabetes as the turning point.

Now, all cured.

But you really need to read and watch as much information as possible, including people who regretted having the surgery and those who failed to keep the weight off despite being sleeved. Know all sides so that you have healthy expectations for what the sleeve will and won't do.

Edited February 17, 2015 by AlwaysVegas

[Pac-woman 325]

I know how you are feeling. I have fought the idea of WLS for many years. I was totally against it. Yet, I tried working out, being active, careful of what I am eating (without success obviously) and my turning point was a trip to Canada.

I went there for a wedding and when I saw I could not buckle the seatbelt in the airplane I wanted to die. I was so embarrassed that I flew the trip hiding the belt from the stewardess so she doesn't ask me or call me out. Stupid huh?

Then I saw what I looked like in all the wedding pictures and I was at my heaviest at 275 and I literally looked like a cow in the dress. I couldn't stand the sight of myself. Then the walks up and down town in Canada tore my legs up. I had swollen legs every day. On the airplane back (same thing with the belt) and my ankles and feet looked like the size of elephants. They were so swollen and painful.

I got home and after being pist with myself I made an appt with the surgeon for a consultation 4 days later.

He recommended which one would be best for me, but I had to option to pick. I went with his recommendation the sleeve.

Having the piece of organ taken out of you is not the hard part. I will be honest here and not sugar coat a thing. The hard part is:

1. Passing gas those first few days. They stuff you with so much air for surgery that it lingers. It is what actually feels painful. Once you fart (I am not kidding), you will see rainbows and butterflies.

2. Going through the motions of the eating phases and teaching your newborn tummy what to eat, and see how it reacts to it. Taste buds will change; stomach will be temperamental and may not like certain things. It is a journey and not an easy one by all means.

I am at 5 wks post op and still struggle with solid foods, because if you chew to quick (yes you have to chew like a camel until the food becomes dust in your mouth before you swallow) food can get "stuck" in your esophagus giving you an uncomfortable feeling. Not life threaten, just pressure on your chest and you will want to barf it up to relieve yourself. This will teach you to slow down in your eating. (I am still learning).

All the veterans say it gets easier, and it does a little daily and weekly. But nevertheless, it is a process to be dealt with.

I personally, have no regrets as I am happy I have lost 44lbs so far from my heaviest weight back in May of 2014 when I started the entire process before and after surgery. I feel better, more energy, I smile in pictures more, I love myself a little more.

I just have to learn how to eat properly with my new lifestyle and the quantity of a toddler.

That is the honest truth.

[Karenlrn 41]

My sleeve was 7 weeks ago. I'm very happy with my decision. I weigh under 200 for the first time in 12 years. My sleeve has tolerated almost everything I've tried so far but in much smaller servings. I do have pain when I don't chew enough and when I eat too fast. I've only thrown up once since surgery. I've lost 29 pounds since surgery. The hardest part for me was giving up caffeine and diet pop. I can have caffeine again but I don't want it yet. I enjoy being caffeine free and I don't miss pop as much as I thought I would. I'm becoming more active then I used to be. I feel much better. Nothing tastes as good as this feels. The sleeve is the best decision I ever made! This is my experience but you have to decide whats best for you.

[kyrickchick64 468]

I have always been fluffy but active then I started with back issues after an accident. My insurance didn't cover it so I shelved the idea again. Then I blew out my knees first one then the other. Finally my brother died at 62 and it freaked me out the thought of dying in 11 yrs. And the insurance now covers it so I took it as a sign. March 2nd here I come