millersrnclk

Here are some good places to start your research!

http://www.hsph.harv...vention-source/ (Harvard School of Public Health)
http://www.webmd.com/
http://asmbs.org/ (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery)
http://iom.edu/Repor...Prevention.aspx (Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science)
http://www.wlslifestyles.com/ (This is a digital magazine with an ENORMOUS amount of information on weight loss surgery. Cost is $19.95 for a one year subscription and imho that's a real bargain.)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/

You have to weigh the pros and cons....yes there are risks associated with the surgery but the risks associated with obesity are horrible. Why do you friends say it's not worth it? What kind of problems are they having? My mom had bypass 31 years ago, lead to her changing her lifestyle and she is a rock star, looks great and could run me in to the ground. Yes she takes daily vitamin d and monthly B12....but so worth it. Have you considered a band or sleeve? The weight loss isn't as dramatic but if the bypass scares you it might be worth considering. Whatever you do, I encourage you to take your life and future into your own hands and become a happier and healthier you while your kiddos are still little and before you miss so much of their childhoods. Good luck my friend, you can do tis!

Hi Newbie! Welcome. We all had those feelings of doubt and being unsure. The best way to overcome all of that is by educating yourself. Only you will really know what is right for you. Read everything you can get your hands on, including the Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies book, which is quite informative. Also, peruse this site and obesityhelp.com and you will get all the good, the bad, and the ugly--and the remarkable and inspiring! None of us can tell you if this is right for you. But a good conversation with a gastric surgeon and maybe even visiting support groups in advance would go a long way toward making your decisions. Yes, start with your primary care doc as he/she will be an integral part of your care and pre-op activity if you decide to go through with it; however, your primary doc may not be the best source of information about the surgery. Honestly, they seem to know what it is and that it could benefit the obese, but not much more. After all, it's not their specialty. Information is your best bet! I'll leave you with what my surgeon told me: the lap band is a slight risk, the gastic sleeve slightly more, and the gastric bypass even moreso. But the most dangerous and risky thing you can do about your obesity is nothing!

ugggh people suck! Keep ur chin up! Soon enough, you'll be thin and they will still be stupid.