SashaWLS

I've been talking about this very topic for weeks in therapy... I have thin clothes in my closet, and wonder if, after I'm banded, should I keep my fat clothes... What I'm coming up with is that maybe it isn't so good to live in the past or the future, and maybe it's best to focus on where you are at the moment and what you need. I don't know if it's helpful to use our past or our future as a "measuring stick" to see if we're being successful or a failure. Either way, I wish you all the best to a speedy thin!!!

How much does the band help you alone, vs. you really pushing to follow a plan like weight watchers or something else? I know everyone says "the band is a tool" but I want to know what that really means... If you just eat what your body tells you, do you lose nothing??

For him it's a numbers game. The band is MUCH safer than the sleeve overall, and complications in the band are FAR less severe than the complications of the sleeve. If all goes well, then it's fine. But if you're that 1% who has a leak, then it could be 5 months of misery in a hospital or death... He said he'd do the sleeve if that's what I really want, but he wanted to give me his point of view... And the fact is, I believe him. It makes sense. And I don't think I have the right to risk causing some horrible health problem if I don't need to. I have a 4yo daughter and a husband I love, and a great life and wonderful friends. It doesn't seem like it's worth doing ANYTHING that has that kind of risk... That said, I'm really scared that having the band is like having nothing. And that I won't be successful.

The surgeon is Dr Fielding at NYU in ny... He's supposedly one of the world leaders in all bariatric surgeries... For him it's a numbers game. Having a leak is HORRIBLE and possibly fatal, and the band has nearly equal weight loss over a 5 year period... I don't know, I'm really upset.

I was SURE I was going to get the sleeve. There are 100 reasons from the ghrelin elimination to not wanting a foreign body in me, to hearing horror stories about the band, and the list goes on... But the surgeon today really really strongly advises getting the band for the safety ratings, and he's talked me out of getting the sleeve... But now I'm home, and I'm sitting here crying. It feels irrational, but I'm so scared that I won't be successful. That I'll get surgery and just continue to be a big fat failure at losing weight just like I always have been. So many people say they stop losing or gain it all back. And I just don't trust myself to muscle through it. I don't WANT to be on Weight Watchers again. I already lost 75 pounds and gained it back. I don't WANT to never be able to eat rice again. But I really really don't want to be fat anymore. I don't know what to do... I don't have the right to put my life at risk and get a surgery where I could have major life complications. It all just feels hopeless. Have you been where I am?

I was SURE I was going to get the sleeve. There are 100 reasons from the ghrelin elimination to not wanting a foreign body in me, to hearing horror stories about the band, and the list goes on... But the surgeon today really really strongly advises getting the band for the safety ratings, and he's talked me out of getting the sleeve... But now I'm home, and I'm sitting here crying. It feels irrational, but I'm so scared that I won't be successful. That I'll get surgery and just continue to be a big fat failure at losing weight just like I always have been. So many people say they stop losing or gain it all back. And I just don't trust myself to muscle through it. I don't WANT to be on Weight Watchers again. I already lost 75 pounds and gained it back. I don't WANT to never be able to eat rice again. But I really really don't want to be fat anymore. I don't know what to do... I don't have the right to put my life at risk and get a surgery where I could have major life complications. It all just feels hopeless. Have you been where I am?

I was SURE I was going to get the sleeve. There are 100 reasons from the ghrelin elimination to not wanting a foreign body in me, to hearing horror stories about the band, and the list goes on... But the surgeon today really really strongly advises getting the band for the safety ratings, and he's talked me out of getting the sleeve... But now I'm home, and I'm sitting here crying. It feels irrational, but I'm so scared that I won't be successful. That I'll get surgery and just continue to be a big fat failure at losing weight just like I always have been. So many people say they stop losing or gain it all back. And I just don't trust myself to muscle through it. I don't WANT to be on Weight Watchers again. I already lost 75 pounds and gained it back. I don't WANT to never be able to eat rice again. But I really really don't want to be fat anymore. I don't know what to do... I don't have the right to put my life at risk and get a surgery where I could have major life complications. It all just feels hopeless. Have you been where I am?

That's awesome!! I'm so happy for you! Are you up and around, or back to work yet? Do you have more energy, or are you still feeling like your'e recovering?

Hi there... Sorry if this is a repost, I'm not sure my other post went through (can't find it!)... I was wondering if you guys wouldn't mind sharing your experiences: 1- How long did you have to wait before your surgery from the initial consult? Did you feel that was too soon, too long? 2- How quickly were you up and around. And just *how* up and around were you? Were you ok to do work or were you lying in bed... Could I be on the computer? What was it like post-op? Things are busy for me right now but I do see a lull for a few weeks in April, so I could do the surgery at that time. But since May will be stressful, I'm not sure I'll be 100% up to it. I wouldn't be terribly physically active, but I just have a lot of stuff going on... Alternately I could do it in June when things calm down, but I'm nervous as it is and I think the waiting will kill me!! What's your advice? I'd like to do it in April, but don't want to rush recovery. Any thoughts? Thanks so much!!! Sasha

I've done "The Master Cleanse" before which is a 10-day fast, and got that... I read that it's because you're getting the toxins out of your body. But I don't want to say for sure because I haven't had the WLS yet. :-) How do you feel, 8-days-out???

I just want to thank you guys for posting during your experience!! Good luck to you both and speedy recovery!!

How long were you out of work?

Hi there... I have my consult tomorrow (saw the dietician and nurse today) and I assume he'll want to set a date... Which TOTALLY stresses me out!!! I want to do this, I'm excited, I'm looking forward to it, and I'm also scared. So I thought I'd ask you guys about your experiences... 1- How long did you have to wait before your surgery from the initial consult? Did you feel that was too soon, too long? 2- How quickly were you up and around. And HOW up and around were you? Were you ok to do work or were you lying in bed... What was it like post-op? I have a TON going on right now. I'm moving my elderly father in March. Work is very busy right now. And I have a big volunteer project which is crazy busy for me in May... My two options for surgery dates are in April or in June... On one hand, I'd love to have part of the summer feeling good about myself, and I don't want to sit and think about this for too too long... But on the other hand I don't want to rush recovery if I'm not going to be feeling well... What would you do? Thanks so much!!!