Would you do surgery again?
I agree with the group. No regrets but I wish I could have had the sleeve 20 years ago. How different life could be... I started looking into surgery in 1995, and was scared by the malabsorption of Gastric bypass and RNY, thought they really work for some people. I thought the lap band would be the answer, then I heard about the sleeve and it was the answer to my dreams and wishes and prayers! I'm not losing as rapidly as some others but I'm really happy and have had no problems eating. I worried about loose skin too, but I'd rather have it loose than full of fat! I will have no qualms about having plastics once I reach goal.
putting one foot in front of the other... 
I had the surgery almost a year and a half ago, and it was, without a doubt, the best decision I've ever made and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
For me as well, it's not all hearts and roses. I had GERD even before the surgery and post op was even worse. I also have a lot of loose skin, as I was almost 400lbs on the day of surgery. My arthritis in my knees did not magically disappear like I had hoped it would.
Post op, I was strict with myself not to try and go back to a lot of carbs - I let the reconditioning do its' job, because why would I want to go back to eating the way I did that landed me at 400lbs? Even at 18 months, about the only carb I have regularly is some reduced fat crackers...other than that, it's an "all protein, all the time" diet.
So what makes it worth it?
- Not forcing my family to wait for a table instead that open booth, because I can't fit in it.
- Going to a movie and sitting through it in comfort.
- Shopping in the ladies section of the store, and not the women's section.
- Pushing a full cart of groceries to my car and not being out of breath when I get there.
- Bending over and tying my shoes.
- Having the seat belt fit when I fasten it.
- Not spending my every idle thought on fantasies of food
- Having "normal" people actually look at me and speak to me, instead of looking through me.
These things and so many others make the entire experience priceless. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
For me as well, it's not all hearts and roses. I had GERD even before the surgery and post op was even worse. I also have a lot of loose skin, as I was almost 400lbs on the day of surgery. My arthritis in my knees did not magically disappear like I had hoped it would.
Post op, I was strict with myself not to try and go back to a lot of carbs - I let the reconditioning do its' job, because why would I want to go back to eating the way I did that landed me at 400lbs? Even at 18 months, about the only carb I have regularly is some reduced fat crackers...other than that, it's an "all protein, all the time" diet.
So what makes it worth it?
- Not forcing my family to wait for a table instead that open booth, because I can't fit in it.
- Going to a movie and sitting through it in comfort.
- Shopping in the ladies section of the store, and not the women's section.
- Pushing a full cart of groceries to my car and not being out of breath when I get there.
- Bending over and tying my shoes.
- Having the seat belt fit when I fasten it.
- Not spending my every idle thought on fantasies of food
- Having "normal" people actually look at me and speak to me, instead of looking through me.
These things and so many others make the entire experience priceless. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Without a second of hesitation.
If you would have told me a year ago I was gonna be a size 2/4 and living a life I couldnt even dream about I would have had a good laugh with you and a good cry later.
I could never have ever done this on my own. Not even possible.
I got asked 2 days ago if I model. Me. Model. Some part of my brain still thinks I am a fat girl, I literally said without even stopping to remember I am skinny now: No one would want to see me modeling and laughed. Life is a lot different now and all for the better.
Never forget where you are now and always remember how you were treated and who was nice to you when you weren't skinny. I have all kinds of people being nice to me now, but I keep the friends closest to me who loved me before surgery.
If you would have told me a year ago I was gonna be a size 2/4 and living a life I couldnt even dream about I would have had a good laugh with you and a good cry later.
I could never have ever done this on my own. Not even possible.
I got asked 2 days ago if I model. Me. Model. Some part of my brain still thinks I am a fat girl, I literally said without even stopping to remember I am skinny now: No one would want to see me modeling and laughed. Life is a lot different now and all for the better.
Never forget where you are now and always remember how you were treated and who was nice to you when you weren't skinny. I have all kinds of people being nice to me now, but I keep the friends closest to me who loved me before surgery.
My surgery is scheduled in April so I can't talk about regrets or non regrets yet but I'll tell you what I am thinking now as a pre op like yourself. I hate the fact that I MUST have surgery. I hate that I or fate or bad genetics have combined forces to make me fat and I hate even more than the physical appearence issue (coz that's really a non issue for me) the fact that I now have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. All of which are brought on in my case by overeating. I hate the fact that I am an emotional eater of all the wrong things. No, we never go for carrot sticks as comfort food, do we? We go for fries, pasta, burgers... mac and cheese, mashed potatos... ice cream.. ya know, comfort!!! Well these are not going to comfort me when I am having quadrouple by pass surgery on my heart I guess. I am 47. I basically had a conversation with myself and kicked my self in the butt for having waited this long. On the other hand I am glad I waited because five years ago I was approved for the RnY and backed out at the last minute. Glad I did because now the sleeve seems to be a much better option for me.
Loosing the weight on my own is not an issue now. I could probably if I really put my mind to it. And I will have to put my mind to it to work the sleeve correctly. My problem is two fold - keeping it off and having some hormonal impact of the sleeve to help with the diabetes and cholesterol principally. Not sure that those would be impacted if I just lost the weight without the removal of the ghrelin.
So that's where I am. Not sure if I answered you at all about regrets of surgery - but sure, who the hell wants to go under the knife? The fact of the matter is that it gets to a point where it is no longer really an elective surgery but a medical necessity. Time has run out. No more farting around with this or that fad - this time it has to be done right.
Loosing the weight on my own is not an issue now. I could probably if I really put my mind to it. And I will have to put my mind to it to work the sleeve correctly. My problem is two fold - keeping it off and having some hormonal impact of the sleeve to help with the diabetes and cholesterol principally. Not sure that those would be impacted if I just lost the weight without the removal of the ghrelin.
So that's where I am. Not sure if I answered you at all about regrets of surgery - but sure, who the hell wants to go under the knife? The fact of the matter is that it gets to a point where it is no longer really an elective surgery but a medical necessity. Time has run out. No more farting around with this or that fad - this time it has to be done right.
5ft0; highest weight 222; surgery weight 208; current weight 120
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