Going further...and scared

Hello again everyone! Well, I have taken things a step further and met with the folks at Ingham Bariatrics. I've decided to work with them. I've got to do the pre tests now (blood work, full physical, physc. appt., sleep study, pap & pelvic, etc) I've been 2nd guessing myself. Wondering if its (it being the whole surgery) really the right decision. My family and friends are very supportive....but very concerned at the same time. Friends seem to be telling me the same thing "We're here for you, but I've known "so & so" that had this process and s/he now has ________ issues" I try telling them that its not that way for everyone, everyone heals differently, handles it differently, etc. But, they've been trying to discuss things with me on a wierd note. And I know that I have to be well educated and read about the problems that people have had (including deaths) but that freaks me out more. How can you not think at one point, you COULD be another statistic. I understand....every surgery is risky. I've been researching this option (RNY) for about 3 years now. I just never had the insurance that would cover it, until now. I know that being scared, nervous, and whatever other emotion runs thru your head is very normal. Were these normal feelings for YOU? (Just praying that I am *normal* haha!)

Hello Shawna, You are SOOOO normal. Taking the steps to have weight loss surgery is probably one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. Being scared, and nervous is a natural feeling. I too was so scared and kept asking myself , am i doing the right thing, am I crazy to put myself thru this. I do not think we would be normal if we did not have those feelings. Everyone always knows someone who knows someone else who had this surgery, they all have thier stories. But here on this board is where you get good info. and hear real stories. I wanted to run and hide the week before surgery. But I too had researched RNY surgery for about 5 years and knew that was my best option. I am now 10 months out from surgery( open RNY) And can tell you it was the best thing I did for myself. I have NO regrets and am very happy to have Had the chance to have this done. I have Lost 91 pounds and 25 more to my goal. I am very lucky not to have had any problems this far. I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel. I am very happy i made the right decision to change my life. I wish you the best of luck, have faith in your decision. Take care, DeAnn

Hey Shawna, People do the same thing when you are pregnant! Give you all sorts of horror stories. I have not regretted my decision at all. (minus chocolate craving now and again). I'm 2 months out and feel so incredibly much better it makes me wonder how I was functioning before. I breather better, I walk without aching, I enjoy my yoga and walking classes (though you would never know that to hear me during them!). I can run with my kid and almost keep up, I'm taking dance lessons with my husband and when I hold my head up as I walk- it's not in defiance to those around me anymore, it's in pride and confidence of what I am doing for me. Friends and family are great for support- but this is all about you and what you want for your life. My parents were nervous, but came around to my support or get out attitude. Yes everyone heals differently- we are all different people. As for being a statistic- do you drive to work everyday? Same chances- life is risk and being obese is like playing russian roulette with your heart, lungs, kidney's etc... If you didn't have emotions running amok I would say you haven't researched enough this is not something to look at lightly. It's not a miracle cure- it's work! It's accepting that you can't have the feel good foods anymore. It's learning what your triggers are and how to cope now that you can't eat yourself into a food coma. I am blessed with family and coworkers who are great (concerened before but a great cheer team now!) Surround yourself with those who will be honest but supportive- and support is not telling you how many dead patients they have heard of. Ask questions until you can't think of any more and hold strong, surgery is a minute, recovery is longer- but you will have a long life to enjoy it *steps off her soap box and prepares to go do some yoga and gripe about it *

Shawna, I am 21 months out and have lost 195 lbs so far. I am looking forward to my plastics in April. Please feel free to check out my pics on my profile and see how far I have come. What I have found is that, while yes, some of us have some issues, I myself have been iron deficient. I would take that over diabetes, high blood pressure, an enlarged heart and joint and muscle pain anyday!! Most people with these horror stories, usually know a story about a friend of a friend, not first hand accounts. I have found that most deaths are people at high risk for death health wise anyway. And that people with the most problems are usually people that don't follow their program. While I do not recommend this surgery for everyone, I do believe for those of us who have been severly obese, it is our best hope to lose weight and keeping most of it off. I do now have food struggles, it is not a cure all, please make sure you follow your plan! But if you have tried for years to lose weight and you have done your research, than you know if this is right for you. Wendy

Hey! So glad you went! I think it is good that you are scared, nervous, anxious, excited... I feel that makes you very normal! WLS is a really big deal no matter how you go about doing it! You are in good hands, and you are surrounded by people who care about you and are with you through the whole process! You are going to run into people who agree with what you are doing and you are going to have those who disagree with what you are doing...this has to be about you! and what you need!! Now that I am 3 weeks away from surgery I am starting to prepare at home...my husband asked me straight out the other day "can you die from this" I instantly got scared! In the back of my mind I knew I could but I was not thinking about that at all! My answer to him was "Yes!" However, if I choose not to do this (because it is my choice) at 27 years old and at 384 pounds the chances of me making it to my 60th birthday are slim to none...I already am busting out of a 26/28 size clothing, I cant fit in chairs, my seatbelt in the car will not even go around me, I wont ever have children...its worth the risks. So I told my family when they pulled the "oh no NOT surgery" card...was I can take this risk and have surgery...and have clothes that fit, able to wear my seatbelt, stop breaking toliet seats! or you can slowly watch me die...it is good for you to hear the good and the bad...sometimes things do happen...Maybe we will be seeing you at Tuesday night group! I will be back there again next Tuesday night...I get to start my shake diet this Monday...I have completed the 6 weeks for the program...I am just going to support for the next 3 weeks...I think you will find it very helpful to talk to other program participants...Hope to see you soon! christine

Thank you to everyone for your responses. I'm glad to know I'm "normal" and a lot of things you all mentioned are things I've thought/said myself. Christine...I will be meeting you on Tuesday, that's my first session. :D Once your next 3 weeks are done, you go on to the session that starts at 5:30, right? (I wasn't quite sure I understood that after I left). I'll be attending the 4:30-5:30 one right now. Are the people there from other programs or just Ingham? I know Mary mentioned that people come from other clinics to the support groups, wasn't sure if she meant both or what. Looking forward to getting things going! Blood draws done, Appointments made (physical, physc. eval., sleep study all scheduled for the 2nd week of March!)

Hi Shawna! Glad to hear things are moving right along! It goes pretty quick...by the time you get your paperwork done and all of the testing...Sleep Lab is fun..(lol) do you know if you may have sleep apnea or not? I of course said "No way do I have it." but as it turns out...I do! So I had to sleep there twice and then go get fitted with c-pap...I start using c-pap this weekend and from now on until hopefully my numbers change...phych eval was easy...I went to Br. Bracchio he was really nice, even better if you are a State fan (I am not) he just asks you so pretty basic questions then he gives you a ton of papers to fill out as well as a personality test that is over 500 questions but it is easy! They take a ton of blood!! Right now I go to the group you will be going to...I will be late always am! I get out of work at 4:30 put I just work down on the other end of Pennsylvania...I will be on my shake diet then...week one! I will be coming to the 4:30-5:30 group for a few more weeks...I am doing it for support something else to help keep my mind off of whats for dinner! It is going to be hard to drink my meals when I know I can still eat food... I do not know about people from other programs coming to the support group the 6 weeks that I have gone there has not been anyone who is not going through the ingham program...I think they are starting another support group that is to be more open to the public...I was going to ask her about that...I plan to stay involved! I hope this helps!! If I don't talk to you this weekend I will see you on Tuesday... you will know its me...Im the one who walks in late!