Is this the right thing for me?

Hey Toddy - Are you sure you didn't copy my thoughts before my surgery   I felt EXACTLY the same way before surgery.  I have just realized how much people socialize around food.  Since surgery, I still "socialize" like I did before, but I don't consume near as much as I could before (even if I wanted to, my stomach would tell me otherwise).  Don't worry, you won't have to go live in a monistary after surgery.  It will take a little time right after surgery to heal, but after that, when the pounds come off, you'll feel like a new man with more energy than you ever realized.  I've still got a good ways to go, but my energy level is more than I could have imagined.  I'm having a great time with my friends, and I'm not holding them back because I'm getting tired all the time.  Don't feel bad, all of us get the same feelings (WHAT AM I DOING TO MYSELF???).  Just try to relax and get ready for the best journey you could ever imagine!

Well, I'm one who's BP is now 117/68 after a lifetime of HBP, have completely resolved chronic back and knee pain and have been off my CPAP for a month after 15 years.  Compared to those problems, not drinking or eating as much is nothing!   I do have to deal with social anxiety like I didn't before.  Now I have to stand behind what I say, think before I speak, own up to consequences...all things I could eat or drink my way through before.  That is one of the very healthy consequences of the weight loss.

I have followed, and continue to follow, my program to a "T" and I haven't had any problems - never even threw up since the surgery.  For that I consider myself lucky.  My suggestion is to listen to those men on the board who have suffered through significant complications who are still glad they went through the procedure.  They are the brave ones you should address your questions to. One last suggestion.  Make a list like "the top 12 reasons I want to lose weight."  Then go down the list and identify the consequences, medical and otherwise, if you don't lose the weight.  There's an easy visual you can then use to evaluate whether or not you are ready (assuming you are satisfied that WLS is your last alternative). I would sure do it again, and wish I had done it 30 years ago (I'm 53 this week). CB

WLS was the best thing I ever did for myself, and while still very enjoyable, food loses it's appeal during the first year post op, as you learn to eat again.....how fast to eat, how much ou can eat at one time without vomiting, and which foods you tolerate. With that said, I was scheduled for the RNY, and after a lot of soul searching, I cancelled  my surgery because I couldn't live with the RNY  My life revolved around social gathers where people were eating....I didnt' want to be the "odd guy out". . It just wouldn't have worked for me....the dietary restrictions post RNY are pretty strict.  After going one more year on my own (and gaining 50 more lbs) I went back to get the RNY, and found out about the DS.  It was the best thing that ever happened to me.  The dietary restrictions are much less severe....I can eat and drink at the same time, I can eat high fat finger foods (the kind you'd get at bars) ...and I wouldn't have to worry about the sugar  making me dump....or getting sick from foods with too much fat. Again this was a better WLS option for me, it was something I could live with long term.  .  Again, not that the DS is the best option for you, but it is another option.  You are fortunate, there are at least 4 DS surgeons in Ohio......maybe you should have a 2nd opinion before you go through with it.  As the saying goes "think twice, cut once".   Scott

Last evening my wife and I took our daughter and son-in-law out to Logan's Steak House. I ate maybe half a dozen onion petals, most of a small side salad and almost all of a medium rare 6 oz sirloin. The key is making good choices and knowing your limits. Long and short of it we all went out and I ate what is now normal for me and had a great meal and a great time.  At my highest weight I was over 375 and all of what I just mentioned would have been just a good start of a meal, but at 375 I would just barely been able to squeeze in the booth. At one point last night I thought of just that. I remember just being able to squeeze in and my gut touching the table. Now at 165 I have to scoot forward to get closer to the table.  Life is good.  pan head

  Hey Toddy ... I can relate to your hesitancy, as it IS a major life-changing event, but as you have already mentioned, it will be a POSITIVE one, becoming NORMAL finally   ..   And you have to accept that YES, the tradeoff is worth it ..  esp. if it means your LIFE otherwise, dude ...   And don't you have family and friends that want you to be around a lot longer too?     Those co-morbidities you mention are called that for a reason .. they're a killer, each and every one ..   And yet they WILL resolve with the weight loss (well, except maybe for the high b.p.  --  mine didn't, for some odd reason  ) ..  And the complications you mention are relatively rare, depending on the type of surgery and the skill of the surgeon you pick (and the shape you're in at the time of surgery, which will only get worse the longer you delay).    You've already passed the first part of the process  --  and the shrink didn't tell you, "you MUST be crazy if you want WLS!" ..      Now just suck it up and DO it ..   Join the few, the proud, the gonna live better and longer  --  the WLSers!          We'll be here for ya ..      

Ditto to what has been said already.  I felt the same way you do now and I am truly amazed at how I am still able to do all those things I used to do in social gatherings, but just not to excess like I used to.  I am easily able to push my plate away and stop, where as before, I might be the last person to be finished eating.  I find the social gatherings to be even more fun now than they used to be.  Food is not the main focus anymore.  It will be truly amazing at how life will change from being totally focused and self-centered on food.  You will start to take pleasure in the other things that life has to offer - food becomes just one little aspect of your life - kind of like brushing your teeth everyday or putting your shoes on to walk out the door.  Food will no longer control your activities of daily living.  Good luck with your decision, but you can see that you are not alone with how you feel.  You are not the preson to feel this way and you certainly won't be the last. Taz