Hard Decisions to make

Went to my Primary DR. Monday, Weighed in @ 14lbs lighter. that was good, Dr. thinks I should keep trying the diet thing for a bit b4 making final decision.  She gave me a history print out like the St. Alexis in St. Louis wants, She didn't really say not to have surgery but did say that I have to make sure I'm ready to stick with the diet stricktly and that I can't go back to my old eating habits. She's still concerned about the surgery because of my health history but said that the Drs. will make sure I'm ready for it. So now I just need to see the Shrink and after that I will make the final decision. I am feeling a little better but I have to lose a lot more than 14 lbs. to really make a difference. And I still have to stick to strict diet to keep loosing the weight.

It's a tough decision to make Jeanie.  I'll be praying for wisdom for you in making that choice.  Congrats on the 14 lbs!! 

It can be the hardest decision to make and does require conviction to the concepts and ideas.  My pcp kept trying to scare me and say people have died from it.  He said he lost 2 patients who had it.  But in the end the decision is yours and only you can say you can do this.  If  your health is not the greatest and whos isn't, I am sure losing weight will only help.  If you are not mentally ready for the surgery it will be hell after wards.  If you are mentally ready then you will meet each requirement and understand what you will need to do to stick to it and be healthy!

Good Luck!

My pcp was hesitant about the surgery as well, but has now begun to change his tune after seeing and hearing from me how I've changed from the surgery.  It didn't hurt that he also attending a seminar my surgeon held to educate pcps on the process in exchange for CE credits. The thing that has changed the most for me after surgery is my mind, its no longer being controlled by a football size stomach.  I don't have the non-stop urge to eat all the time, and when I do it doesn't take much to satisfy. As for strict diet, yea you have to get your protein in, but its not like I'm on one of those strict diets I did over and over. You simply eat differently because you body needs and wants different things afterward surgery.  I remember the first time I ordered a hamburger and after one bite said to myself I don't want all this bread its a waste of pouch space, I wanted the make sure that the best part of what I was eating had plenty of room.  In another instance we were out to dinner so I ordered a pasta dish that came with chicken (protein source).  Here I sat with a big old plate of good looking pasta and after one or two small bites I turned to the chicken because again the body was craving the protein not the pasta.  But the second point here is that on a 'strict diet' I would have told myself I couldn't eat the pasta at all, but now I can take a couple small bites to satisfy the urge and be done with it.  Before surgery I never would have believed I could get that type of control back in my eating. It a life long decisions, but if you truly believe your eating is out of control, its a great tool to change how you look at food for the rest of your healthy life.