CharmingTortoise

I think some people engage in magical thinking - they think that somehow the stomach is the center of all of their problems. They believe that once most of it is removed, they will suddenly want to eat healthily, want to exercise and will be this incredibly happy person. So after the surgery is performed and they realize that all their hopes and dreams did not come true, they are so disappointed, and wish they could go back in time and not have the surgery. It has to be a really bitter feeling for them.

I am still pre-op, but...
I totally agree with AmandaRae and PdxMan. Before I came to this site about 5 months ago, I knew 2 people who had had the procedure and they told me how absolutely wonderful it was. My idea going into my research was that I would be exactly the same, except I would lose the cravings and be unable to overeat. I never thought about Hair loss, possible leaks, possible worsening GERD, not being able to drink before and after eating, anemia, constipation... etc etc.
In my case, this is a life or death issue. I will be going into this with my eyes wide open, fully knowing the ramifications and that this is absolutely a drastic, permanent change I will be making. I also know that I could end up liking my appearance even less than I do now (at least in the short run - with the flabby skin and hair loss)- but that is not the point.
The first surgeon I went to NEVER mentioned any of the possible complications, how my life would change, anything at all except - "let's get this scheduled." I think much of the blame lies with (a few) bariatric surgeons.
For people who are jumping on the bandwagon because they see all those amazing, gigantic roadside advertisements with before and after photos... the motivation may be primarily appearance. If that's the case, and adequate research and soul-searching is not done ahead of time, I'm sure the "what have I done" syndrome could come as a rude shock (the "WTF" moment).
I thank God for the people on this site and their honest feedback and information.

First let me say I do not regret this surgery, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I can understand if someone has regrets because of complications, to me that's a natural response.
But for the life of me I cannot understand the regrets due to not being able to gorge themselves with food. Why did they have the surgery? The whole concept is to stop you from eating huge amounts of food -- it's like a smoker trying to smoke with a nicotine patch on... it just doesn't make sense!
I feel like saying it's not the surgery that's the problem it's you!

I was a low BMI patient, and I have no regrets. I don't see any reason I should have waited until my BMI was higher to have the surgery. I gained forty+ pounds in a year and couldn't lose it again two years later. I was rapidly sliding towards morbid obesity... So why wait until I got there?
My feet were beginning to hurt terribly when I walked, I couldn't cross my legs, I had trouble wiping, even. I thought all the time about food, or weight loss, to the point where I felt imprisoned by my weight issues.
I chose the best surgeon I could find even though it cost me more out of pocket. When I made the decision to do the surgery, I did a week long pre-op diet to shrink my liver even though I didn't have to, because the rationale made sense to me. I stuck to post-op plan, and so far it's been life changing. I feel like I'm free from some terrible prison. I can't eat what I used to, and the vast majority of the time, I don't want to. I love the absence of desire for food. My moments of depression are less severe because I don't compound them by turning to food...
I felt like I was at the end of my rope. I would have loved to achieve this loss through diet and exercise, but after failing so many times, you just can't do it yet again-- not when failure seems certain.
I don't think it's an influx of low BMI patients who are causing a surge in those regretting the surgery. I think either you are ready for an extreme, drastic change in lifestyle or you are not. This is an extreme change; it modifies all social contact, not having food to gorge on, not being able to drink, but I can live with it because my issues surrounding my weight have meant I've really limited my social contact over the years. My life was intolerable. I couldn't stand it the way it was before. I feel like I finally have an opportunity to rediscover the world I was avoiding for so long. I feel liberated.
And just as a btw: I was self-pay Mexico. I told no one. I did not loop in my PCP.

I can't wait not having to limber up and then contort my body trying to clip my toenails.

I had to take a flight a couple weeks ago, I didn't bump into everyone going down the aisle, was comfortable in the seat and even had room in the buckle! I can't wait to go to Great Adventure this summer and get on the rollercoasters. I had to get off a ride a few years ago because I couldn't fit quickly enough!

Looking forward to no longer stretching out my clothes before I can even put them on!
Can't wait to buy a bra that does not look like two tents stitched together!
My watches are all waiting patiently for me...they want to be worn, and I want to wear them!!!! So sick of not being able to wear my favorite watches.
I am really, really, really looking forward to dancing with my kids!!!!

Release my inner fashionista by buying clothes I actually like that resemble living room furniture from the 70's, and not have to pay more money for the additional length and width on said clothing. Plus-size clothes are very unfortunate looking.

Buy trendy affordable clothes NOT in the plus size section

I can't wait to not have to...
...use a beach towel after a shower bc the reg towel doesnt fully cover me
...walk out of a store with nothing after trying on clothes for over an hour bc nothing fits rights.
...assume people are talking behind my back.
...make jokes about myself and how fat I am before others get the chance to do it...

Can't wait to live my life to the fullest and not watch on the side lines.

I can't wait to....
.....Tell Lane Bryant to kiss my butt...
.....Take a bath and have more than 40% of my body covered by water! (I miss baths)

- I can not wait to not be winded after walking up stairs.
- I can not wait to not dread thinking about what I'm going to wear.
- I can not wait to not only shop online.
- I can not wait to have an option to wear a girdle.
- I can not wait to look down and see my last parts.
- Lastly, I can not wait to LIVE MY LIFE TO THE FULLEST EXENT WITHOUT food CONTROLLING MY LIFE.

I can't wait to do more than just missionary in bed. I want to be in control damnit!

I can't wait until getting dressed isn't a crap shoot. Can I point my toe and get it into the leg hole of my underwear on the first try? Will I need to throw my pants on the floor and kick my way into them? Will I dislocate my knee trying to get my socks on? Funny but not so funny. Someday I'll laugh at it! Today's not that day...

Oh boy I could go on and on with this thread!
-To be able to sit on an airplane and not feel squished or not need a seatbelt extender (I actually bought my own)
-To be able to get on a plane and be fearful that I'm going to be asked to buy another seat :/
-To be able to fit on a roller coaster (nothing more embarrassing than the ride employees moving me to multiple seats)
-To be able to go into a restaurant and be afraid of not being able to fit in the booth
-To be able to go to a football/baseball game and not need an aisle seat
-To be able to be in a crowded room and not say to myself "wow, I'm the fattest person in here"

I know this might be a little vain....but I LOVE anthropologie (way too expensive but I love the clothes)! When I get to my goal weight I want to treat myself to an outfit from that store!

I can't wait to NOT see women on Biggest Loser who are smaller than me, at their heaviest.

I know this sounds trivial in the list of things I can't wait for, but I can't wait to have smaller clothes that don't slip off my clothes hangers. So tired of cleaning up the bottom of my closet floor full of clean clothes.

Let's see...I can't wait to be able climb a flight of steps without thinking I'm going to die, shave in the shower without feeling like I'm having a workout, not to have to slide the towel between my butt cheeks to make sure it's dry, sleep in the same bed as my boyfriend (because he currently cannot tolerate my snoring) and to be able to put lotion on my own feet.

I can't wait to get rid of my C-PAP mask & machine!!

I can't wait to ski again and go hiking! Last hiking trip....I thought I was gonna drop in front of my two young girls.

Oh, and I will be thrilled when I'm reviewed fairly at work! It's like fat people are just automatically assumed to be lazy slackers. I consistently do more work, and better quality work, than some of my thin and younger coworkers. Yet they always get better performance reviews, and I'm always told to take more initiative to do more things in the lab. Even when I test this and do EXACTLY the amount of work another analyst does, and take the exact same amount of down time, the boss always comes out and tells me to go do stuff. I'm so sick of trying so much harder than everyone else just to be thought of as barely as good as anyone else.

I have had the same issues and I love going on roller coasters I have actually had the ride attendants push on my chest harness so hard that they were doing push ups off my chest in order to get in latched....Very embarrassing I was sleeved on 2/5 and can't wait to be able to go on ride and not have that happen...