Hi Everyone,

What is your greatest fear about having weight loss surgery? I have thought about his over and over. For me it was spending the amount of money it would take to have the surgery and fail again at it, and it was quite of bit of money to fail again at another kind of weight loss.

I am here to tell you I was 63 years old when I had weight loss surgery and I had been on more diets and failed at them then a lot of you have been. I can’t count the number of times I joined and rejoined Weight Watchers—maybe 25 times. I was pretty successful at Weight Watcher and I still to this day think it is one of the very best programs out there to do. Nevertheless I wouldn’t lose the weight and get discouraged because I would plateau and get frustrated. I would also think “Oh I can do this myself” I know that plan and program so why spend the money to go to their meetings. So I would end up gaining some of it back then I would be so upset with myself that I would go right back to eating what I shouldn’t eat.

I NEVER consider myself on a diet anymore. I have made a permanent lifestyle change. It is a way of life for me. That is why having WLS has worked for me. I think the # 2 thing that scared me was the unknown. We have no idea what WLS is really going to be like, sometimes for some of us we travel outside the US, and for many of us we have never met this doctor that EVERYONE is tell us is so great. We have a million and one questions. For many our families are not very supportive of our choice for having Weight Loss Surgery.

Here is what I want you to know. It is a very safe surgery to have. Do your homework and find the doctor that is best for you. For me after 6 months research I pick Dr. Aceves. I can only speak about how wonderful and great he is because that is all I know. I can tell you NOT all Weight Loss Surgeons are great and wonderful. I would NEVER trade one day of my life after I had weight loss surgery for anything. I am healthy and happy and I am NO longer dragging around 105 extra pounds.

DO NOT let fear control your health or life. Take back the control and do something that is going to change your entire life for the rest of your life. I wish you great success. I had “Sleeve” surgery 3 ½ years ago and have kept it off, you can do this too.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Sleeved 10/21/2008

Thanks Suzanne for your looooonnnnngggg post!

I have done alot of research and watched this site and read these stories for some time before I actually joined in. I picked up some new items from your post and am grateful for that.

I am encouraged by you and your age. Since I am 50, have diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea I am preparing myself that it may take me a little longer to heal then it would have 10 years ago, but that if I am patient and follow my doctor's orders to the T it will be a success.

I am very confident in my surgeon and even more so after reading your post because nearly every point you made he or his staff have covered with me.

My process moved alot quicker then even I expected it to. I went to my seminar on January 16 and started my Pre-Op diet on February 24 and my surgery date is March 5. I have excellent insurance who did not require me to jump through hoops but they do require I pay a portion of the hosptial's fees for the surgery. So even today I was struggling with should I put my portion of the surgery cost on a credit card or postpone my surgery until I had the cash to cover it. So one of the best things you said (for me anyways) was....."You know we never think twice about making car payments. If you have to borrow the money for this surgery just look at this as “body payment.” That is so true, this is an investment in the rest of my life and therefore putting my portion on my credit card is so worth it!! Only the Lord knows how many dinners I have paid for with a credit card doing the social thing!

God bless you and I hope that we become friends during our journeys!

Awww you don't know how good reading your post made me feel. You said such nice things about me and I truly appreciate them.

And I loved it that you "GOT IT" about making body payments. Geez you are worth every dime you are going to spend to become healthy and thin, and happy. One down side you have to get rid of all your "fat clothes" and buy all new clothes. DO NOT save these clothes--only on pair of pants so you can always go back and look at them and see just how far you have come.

I am here cheering you on every step of the way. You know us "old" people need to stick together. Thanks for all your compliments. Every time I get something back like you wrote, I know it has been worth my effort to keep telling people over and over that yes, they can do this too and be successful.

Hugs,

Suzanne

how long did u have surgery for?

Hi,

Are you asking how long it took for my surgery? If that is you question it lasted about 2 hours I beleive.

If you are asking how long ago did I have sleeve surgery that was 3 1/2 years ago.

Suzanne

Hi,

Are you asking how long it took for my surgery? If that is you question it lasted about 2 hours I beleive.

If you are asking how long ago did I have sleeve surgery that was 3 1/2 years ago.

Suzanne

wow thats too long, can u eat like before since it passed 3.5 years

wow thats too long, can u eat like before since it passed 3.5 years

I had surgery 3 1/2 years ago. NO, I eat small amounts of food. I can eat almost anything I want, but only small amounts of it. That is how I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I never feel deprived at all. Having the weight loss surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

I will never be able to eat large amounts of food because I only have 15% of the stomach that I used to. The was the purpose of having sleeve surgery,change the amount of food you eat.

Suzanne