Hey everybody. I need some encouragement and/or advice. I'm seriously considering getting sleeved, and it's totally freaking me out. I NEED it, as I am nearing 21 years of age, am 5' 5'', and weigh 240 pounds. There is high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease on both sides of my family, both of my parents have sleep apnea and I am borderline. So I know that it's not only to look good anymore, it's for my health. Change just scares me, and this would be a MASSIVE change. I just don't know what to do. Help :/

Hey everybody. I need some encouragement and/or advice. I'm seriously considering getting sleeved, and it's totally freaking me out. I NEED it, as I am nearing 21 years of age, am 5' 5'', and weigh 240 pounds. There is high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease on both sides of my family, both of my parents have sleep apnea and I am borderline. So I know that it's not only to look good anymore, it's for my health. Change just scares me, and this would be a MASSIVE change. I just don't know what to do. Help :/

Welcome! I felt exactly the same way as you in the beginning of my research...freaked out and scared to even entertain the idea of doing this. I still fall into moments of those fears sometimes, even though I'm now scheduled for surgery next month! Fear is normal to a big extent...I mean, the surgery is a big unknown. We can research every little fact and figure about the procedure, but at the end of the day we still don't know 'exactly' what it will be like...we just have to go through it to find out.

This online forum has been an ENORMOUS support to me through the whole decision process...it's been so helpful to ask any and EVERY question I've had, and to read about the experiences and thoughts of those who've already been sleeved....and to also find that I'm not alone in the things I worry about by reading the posts of other pre-ops.

My best advice to anyone is to take your time, keep coming back here, and keep asking questions and participating in threads. It's amazing how helpful it can be! Making up your mind doesn't have to be a race either...I went for all of the pre-surgical appointments, but took my sweet time between scheduling each one...it took me 7 months in all. I'm so glad I gave myself the time I personally needed though, because my faith in the procedure wouldn't have been there without all this time to process it. Although that's just me!

When all is said and done, go with your instinct...the hard part is just seeing past the fears and anxieties that our brains produce, and to listen more to that gut instinct. (no pun intended.) Good luck with whatever you decide! Researching for a solution - whether surgical or non-surgical is great progress towards getting healthier, so congrats to you!!

I was in the same position as yourself last November. Needing lose weight, couldn't lose it and keep it off on my own. I watched dozens of hours of Youtube videos from sleevers and RNY patients, read tons of testimonials, forum posts and blogs. Even got to talk to 3 people that had gone through sleeve surgery.

But no matter how much reassurance people give you, there's always the lingering doubt that I'm the one that it won't work on. So there's nothing anyone can say to ease your worries. I had to go through it to understand how much it improved my life. No more hunger pangs, cravings, I can walk away from sweets, I don't gorge myself at the buffet, I don't feel the need to hoard food, and I am not always planning my next meal.

I had NEVER had any type of surgery before this - 46 years and never been in a hospital. I couldn't even pick a tattoo that I wanted permanently on me! So it took a lot of determination to make that 1st phone call to my insurance company to find out the process of qualifying for bariatric surgery.

I can only say that I wish the sleeve had been around when I was 21 instead of having to wait an additional 20 years to get it.

There's only 2 real questions you have to ask yourself:

1. Do you want to be where you are a year from now?

2. Do you see things improving without help?

Good luck with your decision.

But no matter how much reassurance people give you, there's always the lingering doubt that I'm the one that it won't work on. So there's nothing anyone can say to ease your worries. I had to go through it to understand how much it improved my life. No more hunger pangs, cravings, I can walk away from sweets, I don't gorge myself at the buffet, I don't feel the need to hoard food, and I am not always planning my next meal.

I know this thread was started by Kirby...but boy is this reassuring to me!! haha. Thanks for posting

Thank y'all so much. I see myself in your comments about the ways that you guys think or thought. It's good to know that I'm not being unreasonable or over-critical of my feelings or emotions. I have a feeling that I'm going to find lots of reassurance from this site. You people are wonderful