My doctor has me thinking!

[Allens Comedy 8]

OK, here goes. Saw my Dr today nd she asked me if I had ever considered GBP...Honestly, I HAVE thought about it but never had a doctor come out and just ask me like that. Now, I am seriously considering it.

I am type 2 diabetic, 5 foot 7, 324 pounds as of today, and have severe sleep apnea. My doctor said that this surgery will help get rid of ALL of that along with eating right and some exercise. What I would give to sleep again on my couch or in any bed without having to lug around this stupid machine.

BUT, I'm wondering the pros and cons. Anyone wanna chime in and help me make this decision? Tell me the good and the bad. For better or worse. Will I regret this, or will it change my life for the better?

[joatsaint 2,814]

I would see if your doctor knows of any WLS support groups that you can attend. That way, you'd get multiple viewpoints on the different types of WLS. You'll get much more information than the bit we can type in these response boxes.

But having said that, having the Vertical Sleeve was the best decision of my life. BUT I was at a point in my life when I was ready to change. I didn't have anyone suggest it to me. So the biggest thing, is, are you ready to change? Are you ready to commit to doing whatever it takes to alter your relationship with food and your lifestyle? Because that's what it takes to be a successful WLS patient.

WLS is major surgery, no matter how commonplace it seems on TV or coming from a doctor. It has risks associated with it, including death. So please be sure it's what you want to do and you are firmly committed to following the post-op diet and lifestyle changes that come along with it.

[scstxrn 213]

I concur with Joatsaint. You have to be mentally ready or the surgery seems to come with hell for side effects. It is uncomfortable to eat off plan, but not impossible. I can still stuff myself - and depending on if it's one bite or five determines if I'm uncomfortably stretching out my sleeve or puking.

Regardless, you have to be in the right headspace to make it work, and to avoid being miserable with it.

I also dealt with more fatigue the first couple of weeks after surgery than I had before.

My clothes fit weird - loose skin in my stomach area keeps pants from fitting my rear end unless I want the belly skin hanging over the side (I don't)... so I wear a lot of dresses.

My cpap is gone, but there are people who still need it post surgery.

Comfort food is no longer comforting or comfortable.

I'd do it again tomorrow.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I was completely against any kind of surgery and had discussed it with a therapist in the past.

What changed is that my new PCP suggested I at least learn some more and consider it.

He referred me to a surgeon and I started the process with the goal of learning as much as I could and then deciding.

I was surprised to learn how much had changed and how much progress had been made in techniques since I first heard about the surgery.

I started learning a lot beginning with the online intro seminar provided by my surgeon.

After speaking with the psychologist she recommended a book that had stories of people's WLS experiences good and bad.

Joining BariatricPal, reading, asking questions, and going through my surgeon's program really helped a lot. I also went back and contacted a few folks I knew who had had surgery to get their take.

It was a long process, but I was sleeved on April 20 and couldn't be happier. More importantly, the experience is nothing like I envisioned back when I first had that conversation with my PCP and before.

Keep reading, and keep asking questions.

Best of luck.