This is really something YOU have to decide for yourself. If you have spent more than a decade gaining and losing and not being able to reach and maintain a healthy weight, then yes, you may need this tool.

At your age I was 100 pounds heavier than you, and an inch shorter. I swore to myself until I was 53 years of age that I could do this on my own and that surgery was for others. I almost died at 47 years of age, (and 475 lbs!) because of weight related issues. I got scared enough that I lost 152 lbs on WW, then life got tough, I got complacent and by 53 I was at 438 lbs again and on my way right back to all the problems I had before. My choice, stay on the rollercoaster, mainly going UP and die soon, or look into the surgery and have a chance at life.

I had the surgery 5/1/13. Three months later I had gotten rid of most of my co-morbidities. I was no longer pre-diabetic, my blood work was all normal, I was starting to exercise. All of this when I was @ 50 to 70 lbs below my starting weight. So far this tool has been what I needed to succeed. I weigh less now than I have in almost 20 years and while the really rapid weight loss is over, I'm still losing consistently and have a reasonable expectation of reaching and maintaining my surgeons idea of what my weight should be, and a better than average chance of getting to MY goal for weight and more importantly health and activity levels (LIFE!)

Take that for what it is worth. My story is mine. You have to write the story that will be yours and make it the success, either way you go, that you deserve and need.

And I should have known Dale would beat me to the post! lol She's got great advice, you can listen to her. ;-)

My response would be "I appreciate your concerns, and I hear what you are saying, but, since I have already made an informed decision, I am not asking for your opinion, I am asking for your support."

What they said :-) Also, I agree with bikrchk that having your mom (or anyone else in your life) attend a surgeon's visit or an informational meeting with you can really help them to understand the realities of what you're going through. My parents were initially very concerned about the idea of me having surgery, and even after 30+ years of watching me ride the dieting rollercoaster, as thinner people themselves they didn't understand why I just couldn't "eat less and exercise more" to take care of "my problem." It took my fiance, Mike, coming with me to almost every appointment, life skills class, and support seminar for my parents to see that I was really serious about this and needed their support. They were still nervous, but they came from NY to be with us on the day of my surgery, and to help take care of me when Mike needed to go back to work. Now, they're so thrilled with my progress that they wonder why I waited so long. Hopefully your mom will come around with some more information, but either way, you need to decide if this is what's right for you, because YOU are going to be the person doing all the work (and it is work, no mistake about it Good luck and we're all here for you either way!!

I've been there. I am scheduled for surgery on 2/18. At 1st my mom was definetly not supporting the idea of surgery. Then with the constant trips to the er and dr, me choking in my sleep off of my own vomitt (excuse me), UP all time of the morning, missing work, and blood pressure keep going in the hypertension 2 range; she gave in. I told her that i got to the point that i was tired of hurting, tired of being sick and explained to her that noone knew my pain EXCEPT ME AND GOD. I was totally at my wits end and if something wasn't done, i didn't know how much longer i would be here. my bp could give me a heart attack or stroke at anytime, THEN WHAT? SO, needless to say, she jumped on the ban wagon. Best wishes to u!

It has been a huge gift for me. I have been obese since 2nd grade, I have never known normal. This surgery is worth it if you are ready to do the mental work and change. If you panic at the thought of having to watch carefully what you eat the rest of your life this is not for you. 50% of pts regain their wt because they thought they could eat whatever they want and somehow the surgery would magically prevent regain. I went to many post-op support groups to meet real patients and that is where I really learned how much work this new lifestyle would take to be successful. They taught me that food addiction is something only I can cure. I took a cold hard look at my Kryptonite foods and let them go. I have embraced the 70% protein, 25% veg 5% carb lifestyle. I have lost 52 lbs since my sleeve 11-20-13. Be polite to your mother, but make your own informed decision.

DO IT!!! I'm 5 yr's out my mom didn't want me to get it either, but it wasn't about my mom, it was about me and the kind of mom I wanted to be. I remember not being able to dance a whole song with my daughter and now I can do much more then just dance!! Of course now my mom is very supportive of my discussions and glad that I did it...I think their just being normal mom's and worrying about their little girl...I'm 5'6" and I weighed 293 when I had my daughter and 252 when I had my surgery...I wouldn't change it for the world!
You Go Girl!!!
Rachel

I am 5'7" and was 55 years old and 386 pounds when I had my sleeve done. My parents have both been gone for years, so it wasn't a parent's disapproval, it was my best friend's disapproval that I had to deal with. My husbandm kids, siblings and the rest of my friends were very supportive and now that I'm down 153 pounds, so is my best friend. She just had to see proof that I really was ready to make the lifestyle and lifetime changes needed to make WLS successful.

I agree with what other's here have posted. I didn't read them all but in case someone didn't mention it, take your mother to one of the presurgery appointments and maybe arrange for her to meet someone who has done this and been successful. I looked at this whole process for 2 years before getting up the courage to do it. It's a big step, but only you know if this is your only option to get healthy. For me, I realized there were no more options. I had failed at every weight loss process/plan there is. This surgery has given me my life back!

I'm not done losing yet. I lost very slowly from the start, some of us do, and getting these last 70 pounds off is very, very slow, but I'm not ready to be done yet, so I keep working the program and doing what I need to do. Good luck with the surgery and in helping your mother to accept it and be less scared. It's great that she loves you so much!

My daughters is the one that don't like me to go with surgery. However, I am going to get it done in June. My mother is supportive with my decision and she is looking into it now. Here is what I did to help them understand about this procedure. I like they really don't understand, so I have let them read some of these posts from others plus talking to the doctors too. They have gone with me to a seminar about the surgery and support group too. Now my daughters are being more supportive.

Best wishes on your decision. I know I am going to happy with my outcome.

My response would be "I appreciate your concerns, and I hear what you are saying, but, since I have already made an informed decision, I am not asking for your opinion, I am asking for your support."

Excellent response to her. Even if it'll go in one eye and out the other, lol.

Anyway, it sounds like you have been researching and figuring out if this is right for you for a little while, so don't let her own fears deter you. WLS is an amazing tool that can change peoples lives. Congrats on taking steps for a healthier you!

BTW - I didn't and still have not told my mom but for different reasons. I would really, really like to tell her and I know she'd be supportive, but she has the biggest blabber mouth I know. I love her dearly, but no matter how much pleading to keep things to herself I do she tells people things and I don't want everyone to know. I only told the people in my life that would be supportive and not blab. My hubby, my brother & his wife, and a couple friends. I see why you needed to, though, thankfully, I didn't need a babysitter for my daughter. My hubby took some vacation days.

I was 234 lbs at 5'6" and at 47 had developed issues that stopped me from doing the things I wanted to do in life. I'm divorced and single and my mother was to be my post-surgery assistance. She was kind of a basket case after I told her. She watched my father die of morbid obesity at 54, (literally, that was on his death certificate). She wanted to be supportive, but was just so afraid for me so I took her to the surgeons office and sat her don with the Bariatric Nurse Coordinator to get he an education. I can't tell you how much that helped! She still had her motherly concerns, but saw that the benefits outweighed the risks. You will likely have some friends\family that will never be "on board" with your decision, but it is just that... YOUR decision! I recommend education for anyone in your life who's opinion you care about. For the others, agree to disagree.

For me, it was the best decision I ever made for myself. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I was on 10 different prescriptions, (High BP, anxiety, asthma, etc), was completely sedentary, (it hurt to move), and miserable. Today, 5 months later, I'm almost 70 lbs lighter, exercise hard cardio 5 days per week, wear a size 8 and take only omeprazole and supplements. I have an active social life, got a promotion at work and have WAY more confidence. Wouldn't trade this for the world!

Good luck!