LandoLivie

Hi Everybody! I'm new to this site and hoping to meet some like-minded people going through the VSG process. So, I am 37 days into this journey. My pre-op journey will total 91 days, so I'm getting close to my surgery date. I have prayed, spoken with several doctors, done tons of research, read as much as I could find, watched videos on the procedure, studied patient success stories and horror stories...and yet, I still feel like I don't have total peace about the surgery. To be honest, I'm afraid. I have small kids and I don't want to do anything that would take me from them. I know the pros, cons, and risks of this type of surgery. And although I'm still moving forward in the process ( seeing all the required doctors, etc...) I just keep going back and forth on if I'm 100 percent ready. I have struggled with my weight since I was a kid. I've tried diet after diet with success. But when I hit that wall and no matter what I do to adjust, I can't breakthrough, I tend to let go. What were the determining factors for you all? What made you say, "I have to have this surgery".

Hi Everybody! I'm new to this site and hoping to meet some like-minded people going through the VSG process. So, I am 37 days into this journey. My pre-op journey will total 91 days, so I'm getting close to my surgery date. I have prayed, spoken with several doctors, done tons of research, read as much as I could find, watched videos on the procedure, studied patient success stories and horror stories...and yet, I still feel like I don't have total peace about the surgery. To be honest, I'm afraid. I have small kids and I don't want to do anything that would take me from them. I know the pros, cons, and risks of this type of surgery. And although I'm still moving forward in the process ( seeing all the required doctors, etc...) I just keep going back and forth on if I'm 100 percent ready. I have struggled with my weight since I was a kid. I've tried diet after diet with success. But when I hit that wall and no matter what I do to adjust, I can't breakthrough, I tend to let go. What were the determining factors for you all? What made you say, "I have to have this surgery".

I think the nerves have settled...for the moment. I'm sure they will come back, but this IS something that I have to do. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and for the solid advice. @danahall5885. The last time I went to the doctor, I tried for the second time to back out as well. LOL. But after the doc and I talked I really felt better about my decision. Best of luck to each of you! I'm so proud of your accomplishments and drive to succeed. I'm looking forward to my next step.

Some people lose hair after surgery but generally this becomes a problem when they have lost quite a bit of weight around the 5 month mark. I didn't lose any hair as a result of the surgery. Those that lost hair then reported that the hair grew back in and was finer than their original hair.

I was told i could either use a Shampoo with Biotin or take a biotin supplement if i was worried about my hair. I have really long hair and havent had a problem yet and im about a month post op.

although you may not lose any (not everyone does), you're still pretty early out. I didn't start losing hair until I was about five months out.

I'm 8 months out and I only had a little it was just slightly more hair shedding then normal. It, honestly, wasn't noticeable.

The surgery & dramatic change to your diet accelerates your natural Hair loss cycle. It’s the stress on your body. Because shedding hair is a natural occurrence, taking Vitamins, using special shampoos etc. won’t stop it happening but they likely will strengthen your new Hair growth.
As with most things, we all react differently. People lose different amounts of hair over varying periods of time. Some people lose so little it’s not really noticeable. Others, like me lose lots. It does stop & then you’ll notice the regrowth. It’s a small temporary price to pay for your weight loss.

I was told that the falling hair is really because the NEW hair is growing back in and pushing the old. dead ones out. This makes sense, as the Hair loss usually starts at the time when one is able to start taking in more nutrition and able to support hair regrowth. For every hair that fell, I reminded myself that a new one was growing. That really helped my mental attitude about the whole issue. I thought I lost a lot, but absolutely no one else even noticed. I did get a short cute cut before surgery, so the loss would be less noticeable and the regrowth would fill in faster. Most people are going to have some hair loss. It's just part of the process of rapid weight loss. But it is temporary and not worth stressing over.

The hair will grow back and you will be lighter and healthier. 😬
I am almost 3 mos. post-op. I am definitely shedding more hair than usual right now and have a shorter haircut planned, if needed, due to thinning hair. So far I don’t think it is that bad, but I may just cut my hair off anyhow to go along with my more than 55 pound weight loss. I would take the trade off any day!
Good luck in your process!
Ps. I am taking Biotin, but honestly doubt it truly helps.

most people lose at least some hair (but there are some who don't lose any), but for most of us, we're the only ones who notice. It's pretty rare for it to come out in clumps, like it might for a chemo patient. It's more like shedding. I hardly lost any hair. One of my friends lost about a third of hers, but she said she doubted anyone noticed but her. It's temporary, though. It'll come out for a couple of months and then it'll grow back. And there's a good chance you're the only one who will notice.
Biotin and other Vitamins (as well as special shampoos) get mixed reviews. Some people swear they helped, some people say they did nothing at all.

hair goes through 3 phases is growth, one of those is shedding. You’re more likely to shed hair as a body preservation after traumatic events, like surgery.

Personally, I didn’t notice any Hair loss with my first surgery but I completely shaved my head 3 months after I had surgery. 🤷‍♀️ However, I am noticing a lot of new Hair growth now that I’m almost 2 months out from my second surgery.

I too was worried about that. But I am 6 months out now and really did not have any issues with Hair loss. I mean I had a tad more than typically but I also started taken a collagen powder and that seems to be helping.

I had to have bloodwork and a covid test on Saturday and surgery was scheduled for Monday. If I hadn't talked to a friend on Sunday whose 2 years out from this surgery I would have ran like Forrest Gump! I think last minute fear is very normal.

How do you find that info, out of curiosity?

I backed out 3 times. Then realized I am not getting younger or slimmer. I can’t tell you to do it if you are that frightened, but it might get worse if you don’t. Check out the complication rate on your doctor and the hospital, and compare to Nation average; that will tell you more.

Yeah its a risk of death and a risk of complication as you know. For me it was the risks from the comorbities i had they had similar outcome possibilities. It really is a personal decision and good for you being careful and putting deep thought into it. There are a lot of things that can go wrong but remember when they mention all the complications they dont mention all the medical ways we have available to treat or manage them though. I wish you alot of luck with your personal decision

I too wrestled with this decision. I was on board at 280 lbs, but after I dropped 36 lbs with diet and exercise, I considered stopping and just keep going with my 1200 cal diet. The reason I chose to move forward was that I have always been good at losing weight when I try hard, but every time I lose a bit and hit a wall, I get lazy and start falling back into old habits. Something like: diet + exercise> lose 30 or 40 lbs >get sloppy and slip back into old habits > gain it back plus 10 lbs. I'm tired of that cycle repeating over and over and I felt the sleeve was the best way to get to a place where I am happy with my weight permanently. Yes, I will have to do the work and make good decisions.
Good luck with your decision and only you can make it.

I think that’s the key. Balancing the relatively small risk of surgery vs the high likelihood that obesity will shorten your lifespan. So the choice of having WLS actually gives you a better chance to be there for your kids.

Thank you all for your kind words and advice! I am feeling better about my decision. You all inspire me to keep going.

Thanks for posting this. there are very few people on this board so long after their surgeries, and many of us wonder what it will be like in the long term. Your post is a valuable reminder that this is a lifetime change in our lifestyle and relationship with food.

I was conflicted as well, but in the end I did this because I have small kids and I want to be around for them as long as possible. I didn't have too many health problems yet, but the only way things were headed was worse so I pulled myself together and did it. And I know I've very early in the process but so far I don't have any regrets.

it's actually a pretty safe surgery, so I'm sure you'll pull through just fine!
what made me decide for sure was going to an info session (I went to several, even though they all pretty much said the same thing) and seeing the surgeon point to a chart of the human body and saying things like "80% of patients see improvement with .... 60% of patients go into remission with .... 90% of patients have significant improvement with...." (covering a bunch of different ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc)
the other thing that did it was when it occurred to me that if I didn't do something about my weight NOW, I may not live to see my 60th birthday (which fortunately - I did! And I'm sure having the surgery had something to do with that!!)

Hi! I prayed and prayed and prayed that I was making the right decision. Then one day I felt at ease and I never looked back. I was sleeved last month.

Hi LandoLivie,
I felt the same way, and I also, prayed, researched, etc. Just find a Dr. you are confident in. I was sleeved 10 days ago and I am fine and have no regrets. Three weeks ago I was weepy all weekend like I was ready to call it off after I had my date. I was mad at myself for gaining weight and not being able to control it myself. My reasons for pushing forward were for my future health... not sure how heavy you are... but genetics were not on my side... Lots of overweight, round apple body types in my family and lots of serious arthritis on the joints, high cholesterol and diabetes. My blood sugar had been climbing for a year and a half and I said I need this to stop before I am diabetic and have sleep apnea. So I did it for my health to live a long full life.
Good luck to you...