What was your deciding moment for surgery?

Jan had a great idea that got lost in a post and I just found....... Her question was What was everyones deciding moment to go on with surgery? 1. I couldn't get through the day without eating 8 advil and massive back problems and in a depression and went and saw my PCP and Told her I thought my body was failing me...She told me pretty much that It was and then I asked about RNY and she was all for it and super supportive and I had bloodwork that morning and was shortly after diagnosed with full blown Diabetes. I was on a self imposed Diabetic diet from then on....The rest is history. I had been searching for websites on RNY and stumbled on to Youtube and then found OH, Hook, LIne, and sinker I hit jackpot....All the support and info I ever wanted and needed was at my fingertips!

Thank you Shanna for bringing this up. My deciding moment was when i couldnt breath when i walked(thats a scary feeling)plus 4 insulin shots aday and i started the process of surgery but was denied twice. But i kept trying thank goodness for tricare. But i told my bf when i cant take care of myself in the bathroom im done ill mortage my house to get the surgery..

My deciding moment was my girls telling me how much they wished I would come out and play with them.......so I did, and I got STUCK in the slide we were playing on.  Mariah had to try her best to pull me out, which she was able to, but that was the deciding factor there.  The girls both said that maybe I shouldn't play with them until I was physically able to again, and I understood what they meant.  They were little enough to not understand, but old enough to know how to put it nicely, and not hurt my feelings.  I thank them for being the key to my success in my wls. They have been my best and loudest cheerleaders I could have ever dreamed of having! I don't know that I would have gotten this far if it hadn't been for them having so many questions for me. They would ask me different things every day about what would happen, and how I would feel, and what I would look like.....all that good stuff! LOL  Those two girls are my rock, thats for sure! And I am so very thankful for God giving them to me!!!

I had went for a consultation at St. V in 2001 but a month later my husband unexpectedly died so dropped the plans as I had three children at home to raise and was afraid to take the risk and leave them as orphans.  By 2007 I was having to use a handicap parking tag as my knees were so bad I could hardly walk.  I was in constant pain from my knees and feet and was exhausted all the time.  My defining moment came when my doctor told me that I was pulverizing my knees with each step I took due to my weight and that within less than 5-10 years I would most likely have to be in a wheelchair and be facing knee replacements.  In the short span of 1 month I had my PCP, orthopedist and rheumatologist all suggest I consider gastric bypass surgery.  The rest is history!!   Thank you Dr. Campbell for the push! Peg

My deciding factor was the fact that I knew if I kept on the track that I was on I would die young. That runs in my fathers genes anyway so why pu**** even more? I was 52 at the time (I had my surgery at 53) and I was a terrible diabetic. I had been taking oral meds and 5 insulin shots a day. My blood sugar was still out of control at times. I was finally put on a insulin pump but couldn't use regular insulin in it. I was so insulin resistant when I used it I had to change it every day. I had to get 500 insulin to use. It was through that pump that I finally got it down but still had to use it all the time giving myself a bolus of insulin all the time. I thought I am still putting all that in my body and that can't be that good. I had a heart problem, even though the surgery can't do anything to repair the damage that has been done, it made the heart pump better and I know that I have given myself added years of putting off a heart transplant or death. My back hurt so bad all the time. I have several major things wrong with it and now it doesn't hurt near as bad. I can even walk around Wal Mart and not use a cart anymore. I approached my 3 doctors with my thoughts and they were all for it. They were very helpful and even gave me the name of the my doctor. Now I know that my life is not only happier but that I am going to have it for so much longer than if I had never had the surgery. I thank God everyday for the gift that has been given to me. I also thank Him for letting me know that I am worth the gift.

In May of 2006 I seen a doctor for the first time in ten years.  I was diagnoised with high blood pressure and one point away from being on cholesterol meds.  I also have a fatty liver all this was such and eye opener and I felt so humiliated, however my doctor was so nice about it all and was really encouraging to me.  I also had a previous ankle injury and the additional weight was causing me problems when trying to walk.   My mom and dad are on multiple pills a day, most of which could be stopped by losing weight.  I always wondered when my time came (I knew it was inevitable) to take all the pills could I change?   I seen this as a time to make the changes necessary to get my weight under control so I joined Curves and started eating better.  I lost ten lbs the first month and thought I was well on my way.  Well the second month rolled around I lost 6lbs, still quite good.  Month three brought zero weight loss and over the next four months I was able to lose two lbs.  This is when I started looking at wls.  I think all the yo yo dieting and being post menopausal has taken its toll on my body. 

Some of it was vanity also, I am so sick of being the heaviest person almost everywhere I go.  When I went to my first group meeting for WLS I came home and told my sister the best part of the meeting is that I wasnt the biggest one in the room for a change.   Jeannie

My deciding moment was when I went to the ER for breathing , this doctor told me DIET or Just take the "T" off diet. It really put the fear in me. My PCP would ask me every visit if I was ready for WLS I always told no way!! When I said yes he said "lets get this party started".So we started the paper work that day. Even though my journey started with a few bumps, I would do it again. For every pound I lost I gained a new supportive family member here on OH. I love you all more than food  BiG HUGS, Gail

HI all! My diciding moment was after my best friend in the world, Melanie suddenly died and I thought I had too much to live for. SO I started on a mission to get surgery done before I met the same fate. To this day I still miss her terribly. I tried to have a RNY done for 8 years. Everytime I tried to have the surgery something would get in the way. We had the 6 month doctor supperivsed weight loss plan that my doctor reccomened Weigh****chers. After 6 months and losing just 17 lbs. we sent this off to my insurance company and they said that weigh****chers wasn't an approved plan so there went that attempt! Next we changed insurance and it was 18 months so we worked at finding a dietitican and had one set up. Then GOD intervened and there was a flood at the office and the dietitcan told me I should find someone else because they would not be able to see patients for some time. SO then we changed insurance again and I thought that I would be able to have it then and even paid for the physc eval out of my own pocket. Well something else happened then too! But 8 years later here I am and I go to see Dr. Jones on Tuesday for the second time since surgery and do we need to talk! I am unable to stand almost anything that I should be eating and drinking! Hopefully between the doc and the nuts I can get no track and start to feel better! SO wish me luck or keep me in your prayers because I can use all the help I can get at this point! I know that this will be worth it in the long run but in the short run I am not so sure! I have lost 40 lbs. but still can't walk worth a darn!

I really appeciate all of your help and support here though. My husband hasn't been to supportive and when we are out stops at drive-thrus all the time. SO thank you all for all your help! I will stop babbling on now and wish Gail the best of luck! Just know Gail that the Lord is with you! Michelle 

 

Well for me it took hearing from my back Surgeon, " Ellen, you have to lose weight or you will be in a wheelchair for life. I have done 3 surgeries on you, & your back can't carry all the weight. If I have to do another one, it will be pins, rods, etc. and with your Spinal Degenerative Arthuritis, you won't probably be able to walk". Oh, did the idea of that scare me, especially since both of my parents had been in one, and I saw first hand what it did to them-physically & emotionally to lose their sense of freedom. I didn't want my family to have to do that with me. I was on 18 medications,sleep apnea, extreme high blood pressure,pre-diabetes,had several anxiety attacks( hospitalized several times) physically unable to walk without a cane, and  majorly depressed.  It took me 2 yrs. to get approved~1 denial by Ins.~ 2 yrs. of therepy, 6 mo. of Drs. supervised weight loss & 10 Support Group meetings ( with signed sheets  that I'd been there;I went to alot more, but 10 is what the Ins. required),lots of questions, tests, family disapproval ( they are my GREATEST supporters now) and faith that my health would improve and I would make it through the journey to wellness. I have never regretted it, the fight to get my approval, the hard work, the surgery, the few complications, all are worth any minor discomfort I might have experienced. I am off 14 medications, able to walk 2 mi. and hr. most days, play on the floor with my grandkids, & more!! God has answered my every prayer- sometimes saying "not now, courage, you can do it, patience, trust me,it will get better" & more. I have found life long friends on OH,  who have enriched my life more than any food can/could!!!! Your support & faith in me is amazing & so appreciated. I only hope to pass on what I have learned & help others experience the joys of our journey. Together we can achieve the unexpected! ((((((hugs)))))) Ellen

my deciding moment was having a heart attack at 35.