I am glad I found this board - the group that my doc's office referred to me doesn't exist anymore, and I am more comfortable discussing some things online than in person.

My surgery is 2 months away. I am excited and scared all at the same time.

I haven't always been fat - I have yo-yo'ed my whole life. Sometimes thin, sometimes fat... all times on a diet of some sort. To be honest... I am uncomfortable being thin. I don't like the attention, and I am hoping there are others on here that can help me with that. I saw someone's post that said "you have to let the walls down to let others in and yourself out" and I really love that. I just need help learning how to do it.

I'm about 230lbs - 5'2" and hoping to get to some weight that makes me comfortable and healthy.

I'm nervous about following all of the directions, about what to tell people, about changes I can't anticipate. I'm worried if I ever decide to get pregnant.... I'm curious about how fast I will lose weight, about whether or not it will come back on in the future... If I can accept the person I will change into. I'm worried about sagging skin, complications and dying.

I wish I had done this earlier in life. I feel like I missed out on the last 10 years by being too consumed with how my body looked.

I know I am all over the map here - but I just needed a place to vent everything I am feeling without judgment.

Welcome and gratz on having a date set for you surgery. Don't worry about being all over the place. That is so normal. You will find that just about everyone has the same fears/concerns. I know how much it helps being able to read about others' experiences and ask questions. You are in the right place. Everyone here is so supportive. Best of luck on your journey. Keep us posted.

Hi and welcome

I think your concerns are ones we all go thru... but I am hoping that the end result will be the reward for it all.

No one will judge you for what you put... we're all here for the same reason - support, so guaranteed what your feeling someone else out there is feeling too.

Good luck

Kathy

I fell the same way....and have a lot of the same questiions that you have ... my date is set for 7/26/10.... and i have changed my mind a few times but me being able to come on here and read what everyone outlook on this is makes me feel much better about going on with it ... but good luck im sure you will be just fine...

Trooper,

I'm having the same problems trying to figure out how I'm going to handle the attention that I'll probably get as a "thin" woman. The thought just makes me cringe. Crazy! I say crazy because I want to look more attractive and finally get some male attention, but it also makes me want to run and hide. I've been dealing with this in my required counseling sessions over the past 6 months. Unfortunately I don't have a good point of reference because I've never been thin in my adult life. Smaller, but never "normal" weight.

The therapist and I discussed some ways I can manage this but it really boils down to just deal with it as gracefully as possible and hope to learn to like it. As of right now, I don't think there's much else I can do. I've tried to move back to focusing on maintaining the proper post op diet and exercise routine and healthy healing after surgery. The rest of it is just going to have to fall into place. :thumbup:

Welcome to VST!

Im sure you will be just fine .... as you come down to size you will learn how to be thin everyday...lol good luck to you mary

Hi trooper, and welcome. Congrats on getting your surgery date. It's great that you recognize all of these emotions before surgery. You'll be able to work through them, and know that you are not alone.

I think a lot of your concerns are normal. There are several successful pregnancies to VSG mommies. We are currently trying to conceive, and are anxiously waiting for the day we read "Pregnant" on the evil white stick.

I haven't had the issue of handling attention from being thin. I actually like it now, the husband isn't too happy with it, but he's realizing that it's normal for other men to find me attractive. I love that I get noticed for the way I look now instead of how huge I was. The biggest issue for me with letting walls down was in allowing people, mainly women, in and establishing solid friendships. It's not that I don't like having girlfriends, I just didn't want to let others close to me because for so long, I was just the funny, loud, comical, pretty-faced fat girl/friend. How were they going to like me if I wasn't any of those things anymore? I figured out that I didn't have to be the funny, loud one anymore, they just liked me for me.

I lost my weight, and traded in the bad habits for good ones. That doesn't mean that I'm perfect, but the sleeve has made my decision-making much easier. My excess skin doesn't bother me 98% of the time. The other 2% is a fleeting moment of "I hate my boobs, if I could just tone up more", but I would not trade the saggy boobs and wrinkly inner thigh skin for the fat rolls that being 270lbs gave me.

We'll all be here for you. Just reach out to us, and know that you're not alone in this journey.

You have found the PERFECT place to prepare for this journey! Congrats and ask any questions you have! You have folks at all stages here and so we can all help you!

Welcome!