My Very Personal Reasons For Having The Sleeve

[AmberDawn 21]

I've been debating posting this for a while. Screw it, just do it right? Well I made a list of very personal reasons I needed/wanted to have VSG back when I was considering having surgery last year. I figure I'm not alone when it comes to some of these and figured I would share to perhaps help someone else who is struggling with their decision. Some of these are shallow, some are not.

My top reasons:

1. Overall Health

2. PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome, have it due to weight)

3. Difficulty conceiving (due to weight)

4. Confidence (non existent)

5. Discrimination (at work, etc etc.)

Other reasons in no particular order:

Clothes! ( I hate LB and other +size stores and how they force you to buy multiple pieces and the sky high prices)

Limited clothing options

Theme parks (I once had to get off of a ride because i didn’t fit)

Air planes (asking for an seat belt extender, close to having to buy 2 seats)

Chairs (you know the ones, where you sit in it and almost get stuck)

sleep (could tell my sleep quality was declining, the only comfortable position was on my stomach, possible sleep apnea)

Messed up cycles

Skin (having bad acne in adulthood due to hormones being out of whack because of weight)

hair (in unwanted places)

Asthma (developed late in life probably due to weight)

Job positions (not going for them because i didn’t want to be in the spotlight)

Joints (started creaking and hurting more and more, stairs hurt)

Public places (just being uncomfortable in my own skin in public)

Booths at restaurants (sometimes i just couldn’t fit)

Intimate times with hubby (positions were limited due to my weight)

Cramped bathrooms (forget about trying to use an airplane bathroom)

Boats (no romantic boat rides with hubby, my side would be in the Water, while his is in the air)

Zip lining (not possible)

Horseback riding ( i used to love riding but no longer could due to weight)

Swimming ( i loved this too but too embarrassed to do so anymore)

Beaches (this would require me to wear a swim suit..again too embarrassed)

Dancing (hard to be graceful at that weight)

Traveling (that would require more uncomfortable airplane rides, forget about long flights cause i wouldn’t be able to use the cramped bathrooms)

Tanning (Too embarrassed to do it)

Jewelry (those cute ankle bracelets? yea they don’t fit. cute rings don’t fit either)

Laser tag/paint ball (made a huge slow moving target)

Go karts (don’t fit, and over weight limit)

Tubing (yea that would be a sight to see..)

Excursions (those fun cruise excursions? yea can’t do those cause they have weight limits i exceed)

Travel trailers ( want to go on a cross country trip in one? yea cramped bathroom again)

Back seats ( cant climb into back seats when carpooling, feel the resentment of others who have to get back there)

Job (its been proven overweight people make less, and I get this too)

Uncomfortable jokes (you know the ones told without thinking that poke fun of weight? or the ones on TV and you're the only fat one in the room)

Water parks ( what’s the point, i wouldn’t be caught dead in a swim suit around that many people)

Bowling (yea i look like an idiot trying to do this without falling over)

Crossing my legs ( ha I wish)

Team outings (limiited to what we can do because of me)

Being happy (lets face it, not being able to do so many things at my age when i'm supposed to be having the time of my life was depressing)

Feeling hopeless/helpless (watching the biggest loser knowing that I would never be able to do that and was doomed to be overweight forever)

So there it is. Of course this isn't all reasons, but the ones I could think of at the time.

I can say without a doubt, though its been hard, I couldn't be happier now that I've had the surgery and am almost half way to my goal. Some of the reasons I posted above are no longer an issue (ie. no more airplane seat belt extender!)

I know that without the surgery I would never have gotten to where I am now. This has given me a new lease on life and I plan to take full advantage of it. Good luck to all on their journey, no matter what stage you may be at!

[aroundhky 1,174]

Congrats "Amber" on your progress so far! I'm sure you'll be checking MANY of those off your list and accomplish your goals! Enjoy the ride!

[ShapeShifter 64]

Many reasons do resonate with me, and I would be grateful to be where you are this time next year. I'm hoping the hoop jumping will be complete by end of summer or early fall.

Enjoy the journey... so much to celebrate!

[frumpynomore 204]

Great job! Good luck on your journey!!!

[Vance_ 217]

You're doing great! Congrats!

[DIAMOND45 20]

Keep on expressing yourself and losing those pounds. Some of the reasons you listed were my thoughts as well for why I had the surgery. You're on your way to a new happier you, so enjoy every step of the journey and have some fun along the way!

[Lisa's Hope 421]

Thanks for posting this Amber. I've been struggling with my decison for a few days now about wheather or not to have the surgery. After reading your post and understanding and feeling all of those same things that you wrote about has convinced me that I really have to get this surgery and stop thinking and wondering if I will have complications. "JUST DO IT!!" Right?? Thanks again Amber I needed to read this. Congratulations on your weight loss!! I hope to be where you are, on the losers bench very soon.

God Bless!!

[2BonederfulAgain 17]

Simply said, THANKS. Im with you on your top 5 reasons.

[twoboysandagirl 109]

This list was a great idea. You can check them off as you go and you will be so proud when you have conccured all of them!

[Jenn31MA 149]

I havent been sleeved yet but i can relate to a lot of those things on your list. Congrats on your weight loss so far!

[AmberDawn 21]

Trust me I know that feeling of "but what if there's complications" I had it bad.

And my husband was NOT supportive at first when I told him I decided on the sleeve over the band. All he saw was the odds of complications being higher with the sleeve and he freaked out. Luckily I finally got him on board (I think he realized he had no choice other than to support me lol)

Worst of all since my insurance doesn't cover it I had the guilt of "I'm spending 14k on myself just because I won't/can't lose weight on my own" That was hard to overcome. But then I realized I NEEDED this tool. I've been fat my entire life, I've tried and tried to do it on my own, I NEEDED the extra help, the extra boost. Once I let that guilt go and decided I needed this to LIVE, I went for it.

It was very odd and surreal how it all happened for me. For years I had considered the bypass, only the year before last did I learn about VSG, I played the "wouldn't it be great if i could have that done" game in my mind for over a year. I did the "poor me my life sucks i'll be fat forever" pity party. Then one day in August of last year I said "enough is enough i'm going to a seminar for weight loss sugery" well I went and learned about the band and the sleeve even more and at that point decided I wanted the sleeve.

As you can see it took me from August 20th to the middle of October to get my husband on board and for me to finally say "I'm doing it NOW". After that it was 2 very short months of appointments and then bam, it was done.

Once I said i was going for it, i kinda went on autopilot and was just going through the motions, it never really registered that I was actually going through with it. Still to this day I cant believe it finally happened.

I guess that was my way of coping with such a huge life change. I knew things would change after the surgery as far as eating/drinking etc for the rest of my life but I never allowed myself to fully acknowledge that. I put it in the back of my brain as to not talk myself out of it. After the surgery I just delt with it, i was like "ok this is how it is now".

I still morn food and being able to eat large quantities sometimes but everytime i do that it makes me realize just how much i needed this surgery.

Thanks for posting this Amber. I've been struggling with my decison for a few days now about wheather or not to have the surgery. After reading your post and understanding and feeling all of those same things that you wrote about has convinced me that I really have to get this surgery and stop thinking and wondering if I will have complications. "JUST DO IT!!" Right?? Thanks again Amber I needed to read this. Congratulations on your weight loss!! I hope to be where you are, on the losers bench very soon.

God Bless!!

[Lisa's Hope 421]

Trust me I know that feeling of "but what if there's complications" I had it bad.

And my husband was NOT supportive at first when I told him I decided on the sleeve over the band. All he saw was the odds of complications being higher with the sleeve and he freaked out. Luckily I finally got him on board (I think he realized he had no choice other than to support me lol)

Worst of all since my insurance doesn't cover it I had the guilt of "I'm spending 14k on myself just because I won't/can't lose weight on my own" That was hard to overcome. But then I realized I NEEDED this tool. I've been fat my entire life, I've tried and tried to do it on my own, I NEEDED the extra help, the extra boost. Once I let that guilt go and decided I needed this to LIVE, I went for it.

It was very odd and surreal how it all happened for me. For years I had considered the bypass, only the year before last did I learn about VSG, I played the "wouldn't it be great if i could have that done" game in my mind for over a year. I did the "poor me my life sucks i'll be fat forever" pity party. Then one day in August of last year I said "enough is enough i'm going to a seminar for weight loss sugery" well I went and learned about the band and the sleeve even more and at that point decided I wanted the sleeve.

As you can see it took me from August 20th to the middle of October to get my husband on board and for me to finally say "I'm doing it NOW". After that it was 2 very short months of appointments and then bam, it was done.

Once I said i was going for it, i kinda went on autopilot and was just going through the motions, it never really registered that I was actually going through with it. Still to this day I cant believe it finally happened.

I guess that was my way of coping with such a huge life change. I knew things would change after the surgery as far as eating/drinking etc for the rest of my life but I never allowed myself to fully acknowledge that. I put it in the back of my brain as to not talk myself out of it. After the surgery I just delt with it, i was like "ok this is how it is now".

I still morn food and being able to eat large quantities sometimes but everytime i do that it makes me realize just how much i needed this surgery.

Oh my gosh! I can't get over how much your story sounds like mine. My insurance will not pay for this surgery either. My husband's employer pays 1200.00 month premium and it's excluded. Soooo unfair! I feel exactly like you did about the quilt of spending so much money on myself and quilty about not being able to do this on my own.

All I can say is I'm so glad you posted this today. I know I don't know you but I feel I've found someone who understands EXACTLY how I feel. I know God puts people in our lives either in person or via internet (lol) for a reason.

Thank you!

[bigkim 109]

Amen!!! I am there!!!

[DanityChai 30]

That is a fantastic list. I can pretty much agree with about 95% of them. It sucks getting stuck in a damn chair. Then you have to play it off somehow like you accidentally tripped over yourself or something to get out of it. I am getting ready to go to NYC in three days and instead of being extremely excited I am terrified that I am going to have to ask for a seat belt extender. I flew last November and was almost to that limit but I think I have gained a few lbs since then. That is all I can think about right now. Also, I tried getting on a roller coaster at Knotts berry Farm last November and it was so hard for them to buckle me in. I told them it was ok and that I woul get off because I felt like I was causing a scene but they somehow managed to squeeze my fat ass in there. I can't wait for all of those things too. Thank you so much for sharing.

[AmberDawn 21]

I would say if you only weigh 230 you shouldnt need an extender. At least not on most AA flights. I was 284(and have very large hips) when i last flew and was able to buckle on one flight and only just barely needed the extender on the other flight.

I wouldnt sweat it

That is a fantastic list. I can pretty much agree with about 95% of them. It sucks getting stuck in a damn chair. Then you have to play it off somehow like you accidentally tripped over yourself or something to get out of it. I am getting ready to go to NYC in three days and instead of being extremely excited I am terrified that I am going to have to ask for a seat belt extender. I flew last November and was almost to that limit but I think I have gained a few lbs since then. That is all I can think about right now. Also, I tried getting on a roller coaster at Knotts Berry Farm last November and it was so hard for them to buckle me in. I told them it was ok and that I woul get off because I felt like I was causing a scene but they somehow managed to squeeze my fat ass in there. I can't wait for all of those things too. Thank you so much for sharing.