LOOKING BUT SCARED!!!!!!!

HEY!! I have been surfin this place for a while now and thought I had my mind set! Went to the Seminar! (Jan.29th,'07) Got alot of info! Talked with Dr. Nighbert and was so ready to do this!! Then got some blood work done and my results have me weirded out!! Had a few highs & lows and then my (TSH) Thyroid hormone is very low! .21 to be exact! and the range starts at .34, so my Dr. says more tests....OK......then I get on here to look around the message board...and come across a entry from & about Vickie R. and I begin to worry!! (I dont know her but my heart goes out to her!! and her family) I have been haveing reservations about if this is right for me and then when I saw she was sick again, my heart sank! and I begin to really be concerned! I know that things dont happen the same for everyone! But I am still very unsure about this now......I know the best way to figure it out is research, research, research!!!! does anyone else have some info that might help the way I'm feeling!!!

Hi, I think personally that being scared and worried is something that is normal for all of us. I don't know exactly whats going on with Vickie or if its totally caused by surgery (sorry, Vickie, I guess I need to stop reading so many books and get back on here more often lol, I'm out of touch) so I can't say alot about that. I do know that I started this journey weight 324 pounds and no amount of diet and exercise ever helped me get any of it off. I never believed I could lose weight, I never believed I could be as thin as I am now, not that I'm skinny but I'm a heck of a lot smaller than I was. I don't know what to tell u except don't give up. This journey is worth it. Losing weight is worth being scared and nervous at the beginning. Everyone is. Research and find a dr that u feel in your heart u can trust your life with. Pray about it. I researched. I was scared, I was nervous. But then I heard about Dr Shina. I went to his seminar, met him. I knew instantly that I would be fine. I was not scared the morning of surgery (I chose the open incision instead of the lap) I was EXCITED that finally after being big all my life I might actually be able to lose weight. U know its a wonderful experience to wonder what u will look like thinner when u've never been thin and then to actually see it happening. I wish u the best and if I can ever be of help in anyway just holler at me. Find a surgeon u trust. Go with your heart. Hugs Angela [email protected] [email protected] messenger

It's totally normal to be scared. The first thing you want to do is to be sure to research this surgery through and through. My hubby and I read every page in the pages of this web site and made contact with a few clinics before making our decision. We ended up at St. Joes East and haven't regretted our decision for one minute! I read profiles in the Ky forum, looking for anyone and everyone that had surgery at St. Joes, which gave me a feel of what to expect. I gave them a call and made their seminar which I found very informative. I met all the surgeons there and they had it where you could talk and ask them questions personally afterwards. (they stayed after the seminar and you could approach them) The staff is wonderful and straight forward, as well as thorough and you immediately feel safe and confident in their abilities to take care of you. The thing I want to stress to you is that you can't base other people's experiences as your own. What happened to me, might not and most likely will not happen to you. You want to be sure to weigh the risks with the health problems that you face at this moment and measure the pros and cons of the surgery. You also want to know what specific type of surgery you want and be sure to check your surgeons background of success and failures. I was so afraid to ask Doc Steiner if he had anyone die on him, but it was an important question to me. I asked him if he did and he was more than happy to tell me his background and anything else I felt pertinent to the surgery. If you find a doc that's not so forthcoming, avoid them at all costs!! It's a tough decision all the way around, no one says it's easy. There are a lot of risks and a huge amount of commitment afterwards to make this tool work for your body. It's not a quick fix and to not realize that this surgery is a lifetime effort, could very well have adverse effects to your success. I wish you much success and if you have any further questions, please feel free to email me. Take care and good luck-- Dee

Hi Wantmylifeback.......i just wanted to say that Dr.Neighbert did not do my surgery,i had mine with Dr.Randell Bolar. Dr.nerighbert took me on as a transfer patient. I will tell you that at st.joe they have gave me th upmost attention. They have all been there for me when i needed them.And i will say that if i need anything and i call they are there right then. And i will say that i am one in a few in there office that has gottin down to this weight. I am trying to maintain and get all my nurishment in. I drink boost 4 times a day and i live on liquids. That does not mean that you will have my probs. Only you can make this desicion. I would still do it in a heartbeat. But i would look for a doc that is going to be around and i will say that st.joe is getting bigger and bigger. Also i no atleast 20 people around Ky that goes to st.joe.And everyones favorite is Dr.Steiner. I can tell you that when i first started looking into this i had second thoughts but i knew that i needed this to be able to be around for my daughter and hubby,and i can tell you i have alot of good days. I jump with her on the trampoline and ride bikes. I no that right now i need to focus on my health and what i need. And i have had a few set backs but im on the road to a better me. I leave my faith and what is in store for me in gods hands. I just dont have alot of time to post here lately because my daughter is a fulltime cheerleader and as you all no it is basketball season. But you take care and if you have any?? you email me and i will get back with ya.......................Vickie

I agree, we are all scared. But for me personally, I became MORE afraid of having a heart attack, a stroke, or kidney failure (again). I became more afraid of dying from my co-omorbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol). That said, it doesn't lessen what YOU are feeling. You SHOULD be scared. It's a big surgery, which always has risks. It's also a committment to a life change. Deep in our overeater hearts, none of us feels like we can really do this, or at least, the feeling varies from moment to moment. But we really can, one step at a time. I agree with the others. Do the research. Ask other physicians that you trust for the names of surgeons that they would recommend. Then, find patients who have used this surgeon and get their opinions. Take the time to go to a support group and meet people. Ask everyone you know if they've known anyone who had the surgery and how they felt about it. Get their phone numbers and call them. Before I had the surgery (two weeks ago today), I talked to at least 20 people who had either had the surgery or knew of people who had. I never found anyone who was sorry they had it done (both lap and gastric). I even had an aunt who had it done last August (she's lost over 50 lbs and hasn't had any problems). I also had a 2nd cousin who had the same surgery in December. She thought the surgery was a breeze but she had the surgery in Mexico and went to a diferrent doctor for her first fill. I don't think she's been compliant at all, and, as a result, she's not lost near what my aunt has. I learned things from both of them. But, in the end, I had to make my own decision and be at peace with it. It helped me to talk with the psychiatrist at the bariatric center where I had my surgery. He helped me sort it all out and by the time I went for my surgery, I felt "ready." I had a complication, and I"ll admit I wasn't prepared for a five day stay in the hospital. But after two weeks, I'm still glad I had it done. I've not had a "fill" yet and the liquid diet was a challenge but I'm past it. Now, I have to meet the challenge of the next four weeks (before I have a fill). I'm up for it. I read the success stories of others for motivation. I'l learning by trial and error. I ask questions. I'm not going to give up this time. I'm going to use my "tool" and get this weight off. It took me two years from the time I first heard about gastric bypass until I was finally ready to pursue it. By then, I had decided the Lap Band was right for me because it seemed less risky and it is reversible (but that is just what is right for me at this point). So, this may not be the right thing for you right now. Do what your "gut" tells you. Pray about it. Seek advice and listen to your heart. Even Vickie said she's still do it. But Vickie is not you. Whatever you decide will be right for you. Don't let fear rule your heart or mind but make the decision rationally. Then, you'll be at peace about it. I'll be keeping you in my prayers. Karen

HEY OUT THERE!!!! I want to say thank you to everyone!! I really appreciate the information I get when I put something out there!!! Even though I know none of you on a personal level, I really feel like there is a connection!! and for that I am grateful!! I really want to say that I am glad that Vickie is doing better! (I am still scared but I still know this is a good outcome) ! I know research is the key!! But sometimes I feel like there is too much out there!! lol as for the WLC at St. Joe's the more I go there the more Iknow how much they care about their patients!!!!!!!!! I really feel like they are experts at what they do!! and I am glad I have them on my side!!! Just really wanted to say thanks to all!!!!!!!!!! Keep me in your prayers!!