Did you have second thoughts?

[ladylaura 77]

Hi everyone!

I'm shooting to get my surgery the beginning of June. I'm excited...but I'm also nervous because I know this is a huge deal. I was wondering if any of you had second thoughts once you decided to do this? And then after you went through with it...how is it for you now?

Thanks

Laura

[Takingcontrol 467]

No! I was totally ready! & I LOVE my sleeve & would do it again in a heartbeat!

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,145]

Second. Third. Fourth... Lol

I'm glad I did it tho.

[ISleevedIt 379]

Since I had a 6 month process prior to final approval, I felt I was very well prepared for the surgery. By the time surgery day rolled around, I was at ease and totally prepared for it. I am loving my sleeve now....I'm still working on eating slowly and being able to tell when my tummy is full. I'll have to admit, I'm one of those that have vomited quite a few times when forgetting to chew thoroughly or swallowing too big a bite at a time. Even with this, I would do it again in a split second since I feel so much better and am off my BP med and cut my antidepressant med in half. I am very happy with my decision!

[ladylaura 77]

That's awesome!! So good to hear I think I'm more excited then anything...but of course, I think about how much my life will change after (like having kids LOL) and its scary. I am excited to feel better though!

[rdt210 82]

I did, and I think that's normal. Why would an otherwise healthy woman (I had no cco-morbidities) willingly remove 3/4 of her stomach? During my 6-month pre-op phase I didn't really diet because I actually had to GAIN about 10 pounds to get my BMI to 40 so my insurance would approve. After showing up to a doctor's appointment in my heaviest clothes and leaving my (heavy) shoes on and keys in my jacket pocket (which I also left on), I was at the right number. That gave me about 2 months pre-op to aim for a 1600 calorie/day diet. I wished I could have done that for the 6 months. Anyway, in those 2 months I managed to loose about 6 pounds. I was tracking everything in My Fitness Pal and thought "I could just continue on doing this - do I really need surgery... maybe it will work this time". Like most folks here, I have dieted since high school and lost/gained more pounds than I can count - and always more gained.

I think I started to become complacent about my weight. My all-time high was 275 in Sept. 2010, and I had lost about 60 pounds through a 12-step program (not OA, another one). I got all the way back up to 258 by Jan. of this year. I knew in my heart that it would only be a matter of time before I passed the 275 mark and would be staring 300 in the face. But the thoughts still kept going through my head... do I really look THAT bad? People still compliment me, so how bad can it be? Then I'll walk into a restaurant and have to wedge myself into a chair that I pray I will fit into. Or I'll walk into a meeting and I'm the biggest person in the room. I don't even want to get started on flying or dreaded trips to the mall to find something, anything, that would look half-way decent. I knew I had to do it.

Sooooo.... I will be 4 weeks post-op on Monday and I am very happy with my decision. I was fortunate to have a relatively easy time with everything (I'm not going to lie though, the first week pretty much sucked). I have not had one second of buyer's remorse. But by the beginning of the 3rd week I started feeling like myself again and now I feel great. I think starting on the B-complex last week may have played a part in that. I have progressed really well through the food stages and have tolerated everything I've tried. I have had no nausea (I continued to take the nausea meds they gave me for 2 weeks post-op just to prevent it from coming on), and I have not thrown anything up. I started using my elliptical this week and though I'm not at pre-op time or resistance, I'm getting 20 minutes in. I have my 1-month follow up on Tuesday and am hoping to be cleared to go back to the gym.

I also chose not to tell anyone about the surgery (except my husband and 3 very close friends). I have gone out with people and have not had a problem. I find that just because we're so focused on food doesn't mean everyone else is - most people couldn't care less what you're eating.

Anyway, that was a long-winded way of saying "yes I had second thoughts, but am very happy with my decision to go through with it."

Best of luck to you as your date gets closer.

[ladylaura 77]

Yeah I can relate to a lot of what you said! Especially the weight watchers thing. I do lose on WW, but it's never much and then it stops...then the vicious yo-yo dieting cycle starts again. So, I think this even may be safer then always going on diet after diet. Good to know the majority of people are happy they did it too!

I did, and I think that's normal. Why would an otherwise healthy woman (I had no cco-morbidities) willingly remove 3/4 of her stomach? During my 6-month pre-op phase I didn't really diet because I actually had to GAIN about 10 pounds to get my BMI to 40 so my insurance would approve. After showing up to a doctor's appointment in my heaviest clothes and leaving my (heavy) shoes on and keys in my jacket pocket (which I also left on), I was at the right number. That gave me about 2 months pre-op to aim for a 1600 calorie/day diet. I wished I could have done that for the 6 months. Anyway, in those 2 months I managed to loose about 6 pounds. I was tracking everything in My Fitness Pal and thought "I could just continue on doing this - do I really need surgery... maybe it will work this time". Like most folks here, I have dieted since high school and lost/gained more pounds than I can count - and always more gained.

I think I started to become complacent about my weight. My all-time high was 275 in Sept. 2010, and I had lost about 60 pounds through a 12-step program (not OA, another one). I got all the way back up to 258 by Jan. of this year. I knew in my heart that it would only be a matter of time before I passed the 275 mark and would be staring 300 in the face. But the thoughts still kept going through my head... do I really look THAT bad? People still compliment me, so how bad can it be? Then I'll walk into a restaurant and have to wedge myself into a chair that I pray I will fit into. Or I'll walk into a meeting and I'm the biggest person in the room. I don't even want to get started on flying or dreaded trips to the mall to find something, anything, that would look half-way decent. I knew I had to do it.

Sooooo.... I will be 4 weeks post-op on Monday and I am very happy with my decision. I was fortunate to have a relatively easy time with everything (I'm not going to lie though, the first week pretty much sucked). I have not had one second of buyer's remorse. But by the beginning of the 3rd week I started feeling like myself again and now I feel great. I think starting on the B-complex last week may have played a part in that. I have progressed really well through the food stages and have tolerated everything I've tried. I have had no nausea (I continued to take the nausea meds they gave me for 2 weeks post-op just to prevent it from coming on), and I have not thrown anything up. I started using my elliptical this week and though I'm not at pre-op time or resistance, I'm getting 20 minutes in. I have my 1-month follow up on Tuesday and am hoping to be cleared to go back to the gym.

I also chose not to tell anyone about the surgery (except my husband and 3 very close friends). I have gone out with people and have not had a problem. I find that just because we're so focused on food doesn't mean everyone else is - most people couldn't care less what you're eating.

Anyway, that was a long-winded way of saying "yes I had second thoughts, but am very happy with my decision to go through with it."

Best of luck to you as your date gets closer.

[my3sons 51]

Once I made the decision, I was full steam ahead. I had some wonderings about what life would be like after surgery- but no second thougths on having it- I had a great surgeon, no nausea, minimal pain and was back to work in two weeks- I am 10 weeks post op, down 45 lbs...I have no regrets, I honestly do not miss the way I used to eat at all- there is real hope for the first time in my life, and that feels better than anything I could put in my mouth....

[tb21872 31]

NO second thoughts at all! I was unprepared for just *how* difficult my recovery would be for the first few weeks after surgery but it was all OK because I knew it would be worth it and IT IS!!! Best decision I ever made!

[ladylaura 77]

my3sons,

That's great! I love the success stories and hearing how happy people are after I can't wait!

[FeeIsMe2 508]

Absolutely no regrets!

[prettylittleheart 95]

I totally had second guesses before surgery. I freaked out. Anesthesia scared me so much, I was just in general worried about everything - I went through an ocean of emotions. After surgery, I did have a day and half of depression which I read is very common - but after that - I've never looked back. No regrets, just happy that I have a chance of gaining my life back rather than just existing & I have control over food - food no longer controls me.

[ladylaura 77]

That's great! Yeah, anesthesia is scary in itself. I'll keep my anti-depressants close by after surgery LOL

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

As soon as I made the decision it was going to happen I didn't think twice. Then a week before my surgery I started overthinking ... That only lasted until, once again, I was stuffing my fat face with food I wasn't even hungry for and I knew then I was doomed if didn't go through with the surgery.

Not a single regret since. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!

[Not Applicable 52]

Second. Third. Fourth... Lol

I'm glad I did it tho.

I Agree!!!!

I was still making up my mind the day of surgery! The morning of surgery my husband and I were standing outside the hospital and he said to me, "You know you don't have to do this. We could go get Breakfast or go for a walk on the beach or something"... And I said, "no, I'm doing this".

Only then did I know I had made my decision.