Jleighanne,

While the final decision is between you and your doctors, we are all here pulling for you to make the best decision for you. The group here has been super supportive and informative to me as I have gone through my pre-surgery process. This group has shown me a wide variety of post-surgery experiences, both good and not so good, but everyone seems to be happy to have had the surgery. That has really helped me with my doubts.

Whatever you need, let us be your support group! Spend some time reading the last few pages of topics and you will see how friendly and welcoming the group is. Feel free to add me as a friend if you like.

Rob

Hello all, new here..
I'm in the process of preparing for surgery (haven't decided on RNY or Sleeve) my EGD is the 9th of july. I only had to see my nut once, then the next appointment she told me she didnt need to see me anymore because I did so well. I started at 585 as of my last weigh in a few weeks ago I was down to 525(pre-op).
2 months ago this was just a distant dream, now its a reality and its scaring me. I have a bad anxiety disorder, and not on medication at the moment because I have reoccurent cellulitous that is treated with a med that can't be taken with SSRI's.
I KNOW I need the surgery, but I'm one of those google everything and freak out people. I convince myself I will be one of the negative statistics. My fiances mom had the surgery, she lost all her hair..I will lose all my hair. My sister had the surgery and dumps everytime I see her (mind you, she eats some stuff even I know shes not suppose to)
I do have pre-existing conditions that I'm convinced will effect my chance of waking up from surgery..
But despite all the anxiety I have been going through, I have stuck to the diet better then I ever thought I could.
My dietician said 100 carbs or less a day, and no carbs at all with lunch. I tend to eat carbs with lunch, and less with dinner but I still stay below my 100 carbs. She said no fruit, haven't ate a bite of fruit..I still have a desert if I have plenty of carbs left at the end of the day. I eat a Little Drummie, its a mini drumstick - 18 carbs. Which I know after surgery I won't be able to eat at all.



I've told my sister I didn't want the surgery (mom thinks I shouldn't get it, so does fiance) and tried to convince myself I could do it without the surgery..but im not so sure I can or I would have never got to this weight.

At this point I want to back out..well I dont want to back out but I want to not be scared..but I am. The fears especially picked up after the class - all that information..what If i forget to take a pill? Im suppose to take diabetes medications twice a day..and I can only ever remember it once. My blood sugar stays around 108 now even post meal..so I'm happy about that.

So your Dr. is ok with you having Dessert but wont let you have fruit...seems kind of backwards to me.
Youll get more nutritional value from eating fruit(s) which is good for you than junk food which isn't exactly good for you & like you said, you wont be able to do that later.
Why not train yourself to eat healthy all away around now instead of later wishing & dreaming for something that's not on your list of foods?
Since you know of things that your direct family have gone through, talk & learn from them...you have direct advice at your fingertips!
Remember, the better You take care of yourself means that your outcome will be better.
So when you know/see what they have Not been cautious on, you do it better for yourself when its your turn.
Live the right way (eating & drinking all the right things so you don't lose your hair).
Because youre suppose to be learning & doing the right kind of eating now, youll know whats appropriate and good for your body/life later so you don't having the after affects of "dumping."
Im sure there are better alternatives to your ice cream drumstick...something you could get more bang for your buck!
Learn to curb your sweet tooth now because it wont be easier later, especially if youre still in your old ways of mindset.
Most of these surgeries come at a point of no return once you have it done (except the band which can be removed) so you cant be wishy washy, commit or come back later once you've established a routine of taking your required meds that youre on now because you "cant forget" once the surgery has been fulfilled & at that point youll be on even more meds/vitamins.
In a sense youre playing with fire (figure of speech), youre also speaking out of both sides of your mouth.
Verbally telling your family that you don't want it but showing up for medical appts which leads these medical people to believe you do want it, although you probably haven't told them of your inconsistency in taking or lack of taking your required meds.
If you cant handle the changes that are & will be required...eating/drinking/exercising/taking ALL of your meds, & overall taking care of yourself right then don't waste the money (yours or the insurance) or all these peoples time when youre not quite there yet.
Be ALL in it with your body, mind & soul that way its worth the journey, doing it 100% the right way the 1st time, with NO regrets.
Clearly you Can Do It because you've already lost this much weight, the surgery is a Tool to Help/Assist you with the rest.
Good luck!

I think many of us on this site have similar stories about pre-surgery concerns. I was having panic attacks before my RNY surgery, worrying about all of the unknowns. The day before my scheduled surgery, I was in my local supermarket, in the vitamin aisle, picking up the gummy vitamins I would need post-surgery. I still wasn't sure I would show up for surgery the next morning. A woman in a wheelchair came up beside me, searching the shelves. I asked her if I could help find what she was looking for. We started talking. It turns out that her granddaughter had emergency abdominal surgery the day before, which saved her life. This surgeon was the same one who was doing mine the next day! That brief encounter put my fears to rest. I had the surgery and, two years later, I'm still so happy I made the decision to have it.

Yes, there are lots of adjustments to make after bariatric surgery. But, there would have been many more life-threatening adjustments if I didn't have it - such as complications from diabetes and high blood pressure, chronic pain from severe arthritis, general mobility issues, and on and on.

It is your decision, but please don't feel alone in it. We are here to support you. Best wishes!

Maggy

WTG with the weight loss pre surgery. Like other people have said it is scary, it is your decision. You have to make sure that this is something you want and can live with this decision the rest of your life, so it is to not be taken lightly. We are here to help in any way we can. I also started out over 500 lbs and I am now down 170 lbs with many trial and tribulations in between (of my own making) so anything is possible if you will only allow yourself the opportunity to better your health.

Good luck and what ever decision you make, it is the right one.

Just keep moving forward one day at a time.

You have lost a significant amount of weight. Congratulations on a job very well done so far.

You have a bit of a road to travel, but I think you can do it. You know why you should get WLS. You know how not to live post WLS (behaviors that can cause dumping and hair loss). You have all the tools you need to succeed. Trust yourself, and exert control over your behavior, and you will do fine.

For me:

Getting VSG was the best thing I ever did for my health. My only regret is that I did not do it earlier. Had I done it last summer, I would be 50+ pounds thinner than I am now. Had I done it two years ago... And so on.

Be healthy. Don't be afraid.

I had the lap band done Nov 2012 and have lost 155 pounds. Still want to lose 50 more. My highest weight was 402 and I was 370 the day of surgery. I had went thru all the tests and then chicken out. But then it got to where I could not walk very far and my husband was pushing me around in a wheelchair. I have two sisters that had the by pass and lost alot of weight and then gained it back and nothing could be done. I did alot of checking around and the lap band sounded the best for me. I have a co worker that had the lap band and done well. Also it can ge ajusted the rest of my life if needed. I have not had a fill since May 2013. It is a tool and I am so sorry I did not do this sooner. Good Luck and know that you can do this for you!!