I am scared to death!

[Heidijenn 15]

I am from MS., I am 50 years old. I am 5'5 and weigh 260lbs. and I have diabetes, high cholesterol, blood pressure, and acid reflux. That being said you would think it would be a no-brainer to have the surgery. I have started the 6mo. program required by my ( I will have all my appt.'s and tests done in January),so I should be able to have my surgery in May or June, and the more I think about it the more I think I can't do this!!!!!

I have lost weight on Weight Watchers but after a couple of years I start gaining the weight back and then i just quit and end up gaining all my weight back, so I can loose it I just can't keep it off, so I feel if I don't get this surgery I will just get fatter because I have no willpower and I need the help of the surgery to not eat so much that I feel miserable.I am scared if I fget the surgery it won't work for me and I will just waste the money and I will loose but then gain it all back or something will happen and after the surgery I will be sick and it will cause more health problems. I am just so confused, how did y'all be so sure that you were going to have this surgery and you had no second thoughts, because I would really like to feel that way but right now as i type this I just don't think I can do this!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

[BPruitt1987 4]

Hello..I want to start by saying that I have NOT had the surgery either yet but I am also in the process of my 7 month dietician program. I am completing my 6th month tomorrow along with the first set of blood work and then my last one January 25th. I started my journey in July this year and I have definitely had my ups and downs with the surgery, whether to get it or not. Can I do this and I CANT do this. I've cried in bed for hours wanting to give up because I want to eat or because I want a cigarette. It is definitely an emotional roller coaster but I can say that every time I cry and get it out of my system I'm ready to jump back on the band wagon. I've had a bad month this month with the holidays my scale says I've gained 9 pounds of the 30 I have lost. I had to mandatory lose 17 per insurance requirements. I know what you are going through and I have had all those same emotions. I think that we are just so scared that this surgery will not work for us and that we are going through everything for nothing but I know we aren't. We just have to remember why we are doing this and how excited we get when we think of how much better we will feel and how we won't have to be on all these medicines and the energy we will have the feeling of being able to walk long distances without our feet killing us and our backs. You CAN do this. I just started this community and this is my first post and I have been reading stuff on here all day and just the excitement people have and the good things people have said have made a difference in how I feel about it. We are all gonna do this together. YOU can YOU can YOU CAN do this!!!!!

[Patricia Sides-Morey 13]

You can do this. I think I had all those worries before I had my surgery but I know it is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I have lost 93# since my journey started. On my last doctor visit they reduced my cholesterol medication and he said that maybe on my return visit in Jan. that I should not have to take any. My blood pressure is down. I am using less pressure on my cpap. I have so much more energy and am enjoying life so much more.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

What you are feeling is very common. This was my first surgery ever so I had no idea what to expect. I went from 150% against surgery (I was sure I would be the one failure, etc.), to ready to get it over with when time for my surgery arrived.

I read and researched and listened to my surgeon and NUT. The more I learned the more I came to realize how dangerous it was for me NOT to have the surgery.

I am disabled with mobility issues. I was sleeved April 20th of this year and couldn't be happier with my recovery and experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I am getting my life back and regaining my mobility. I swim laps and do Water aerobics at least an hour and a half 4-6 times a week now.

For me, the risk for not having surgery was much greater than for having it. Once I realized that I haven't regretted the decision for one second.

I have a long way to go, but couldn't have dreamed of making this much progress with years of dieting.

[McButterpants 2,846]

When I decided to have surgery in August, 2013, I was at my heaviest weight, I was disconnected from my life and family, and I was completely miserable. I, too, was able to lose weight, but gained it all back, plus a few pounds for good measure. My doc was starting to talk about diabetes and my blood pressure was going up and up with each visit. I hated myself, I hated my body and I hated my life.

I finally went to my husband and said, "I want to explore having weight loss surgery." He asked me "Why?" Seriously, can't you see me? He couldn't believe I had gotten to 256 pounds - he didn't see that. I was still the same 25 year old girl he met 20 years before. I went to the surgeon's office, cried on the scale as they weighed me and walked out determined to have the gastric sleeve. I knew that no amount of dieting was going to get me where I need to be - what I would need to do lose 75+ pounds is not sustainable.

This is not a decision not to be made on a whim - it's scary. Do your research, know the risks.

For me, short of marrying my husband and having my son, this was the best decision I have ever made. My life is the polar opposite of what it was 2.5 years ago. I never, in my wildest dreams, could have imagined how awesome my life would be. There are ups and downs in this journey - I have recently been thru a down period - but I am back and I'm fighting again. This is not a magic bullet - it's hard work and you will live with this for the rest of your life. YOu have to be committed - you will never be able to eat like you did pre-surgery. Sometimes that is frustrating. All you can eat buffet? Nope. Soda? Not any more. But I have realized that a lot of those things that I thought I was going to miss, I don't.

So, research, research and research. Do some soul searching. Network with people on this forum. Decide if it's the right thing to do. If you decide you want to, you have to commit to it and the lifestyle you'll need to live.

Best of luck to you!

[magtart 603]

I was 59 years old and just sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had been dieting for a lifetime and it never stayed off. I had been on Weight Watchers countless times.

I don't even know when/how the idea first struck me, but once it did I was unstoppable. I am not one to overthink things. Once I get an idea in my head, watch out. I think it was less than 3 months from the first thought about surgery until I was in the OR and going to sleep.

Just stay calm and look at the big picture. Good luck!

[Miss Mac 6,262]

Why did I go ahead and do it? I had a stroke because of my blood pressure and other health problems complicated by my weight. Another reason was that my spine was collapsing under my weight and I have 17 herniated discs and was quickly becoming a cripple.

If it takes you a month, read through this thread:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/219831-what-was-your-final-straw-that-broke-the-camels-back/

It has 1,227 replies so far and will give you some insight as to why we accept the fact that we need help.

[Skepford 16]

I am just starting out. I am scheduled to go to the seminar on Jan. 28th. You will do fine! Just keep thinking of how much better you will feel. Surgery is definitely scary! I've had two major surgeries since 2012. Yes, you'll have some pain, yes there will be limitations at first, but you'll get past those.

I love reading all the comments. I'm like the one person on here who mentioned that once she makes up her mind to do something, there's no stopping her and after 3 months, she's headed off to surgery. I hope all of mine goes that fast!

[beachmom 5]

I'm also 50 and scheduled for surgery in February. This has been a long and difficult decision for me too. I have done every diet, even had a band many years ago yet still I have failed and continue to gain weight. Turning 50 was actually the catalyst for me as I have become more aware of my health and mortality, I can no longer ignore the impact being overweight is having. I've done a lot of research and my feeling now is that I really don't have anything to lose by having the surgery. I'm going to work really hard at this and hope I'm successful this time.

[stillme43 7]

stillme43

I'm 72 year old great grandmother who decided to have the vgs because of my lack of mobility. My BMI is borderline so I'm walking a tightrope trying to comply with the regimen that my nutritionist recommend and trying not to lose below the weight that will disqualify me, I'm hoping to have my surgery in February. I vascillate between being excited that it is going to be soon and being worried that something might disqualify me. Just soldiering on day by day and soon it will be done and will all be worth it