how the roles reverse..

I remember being 5 years old and visiting my Mom in the hospital after she had the vertical banded gastroplasty. I remember she gave me this little necklace.....it was a red heart and I treasured it. I guess it was to make me feel special because back in those days...it was open incision and she was in the hospital much longer than I will be (if all goes well)

Now, it seems all too strange that 25 years later it will be ME in the hospital...with my (almost) 4 year old son. I just wish I had learned my lesson from her and never ended up here. NOW my Mom will be babysitting MY baby, as her baby gets the sleeve.

Anyone else have family members/ parents that have been through this too?

I wish you the best on your journey. We have all wished we had learned our lesson earlier. I was 115 pounds when I married, gained 40+ pounds with each child, lost all that weight, had a hysterectomy, gained weight and kept gaining weight, enjoyed eating and kept gaining. Now, I plan on learning, never stop learning and leaning on others for support! We are here for you!!

Just don't blame yourself for your obesity ("I just wish I had learned my lesson from her").  No one deliberately chooses to be fat, like no one deliberately chooses to get cancer.  If we had that choice we wouldn't need surgery.  Be gentle with yourself!

Good luck with your surgery, and we all look forward to welcoming you to the "loser's" bench!