Hello, my name is Martha. I am new to this forum and I was looking for a bit of advice. I realize that this is a decision I have to make, but I am all over the spectrum right now with all sorts of emotions. I am excited, scared, confused, mad, happy etc...I have been approved for the Sleeve on Monday 06/03/13. But I am really scared of all the complications I read around here. I went to see my surgeon (who I am very pleased with), I went through all the classes and seminars, and they made it seems so straight and clear cut. I knew at that point I could work on the healthier lifestyle, and begin frequent exercises! As I started my research on the internet, I began to get scared, reading all the negativity and complications. They have been discussed with me in my surgeons office but he explained as if they were extremely rare complications. Especially for someone in my condition. No, diabetes, blood pressure issues or sleep apnea. Cleared with flying colors from the Psyche, the heart dr, and the lung dr. Now I feel I am so stressed out and I don't know what to do??? when the hospital called and Friday and told me my surgery time... I gasped and told the lady, Ill be there if I don't decide to leave the country and never come back! (Needless to say I am still here). A lot of my decision is based on my 10 yo son. I want to be here for him for as long as I can!! and the Question now is, which one has me closer to Heaven? Sorry to bring this up, I know not a great subject, but it is reality for me (maybe toooo dramatic). Its really hard to talk to family, friends & co-workers, they all say "go for it!" uuhhhmmmm, wait a minuite, you are not going through what I am going through. I must add, I have never had an elective surgery, just an unexpected C-Section and of coarse I didn't have time to research the internet for that surgery since it was all of a sudden. I really love to hear all the great success stories here that had no complications I truly deep in my heart envy all of you. And those I have read that have complications I will continue to pray for you!!! Any words of encouragement or discouragement would be greatly appreciated!

Everyone has a different experience with it. The surgery will bring huge lifestyle changes. I, personally, thought I made a huge mistake the first week out of surgery but once I transitioned to more solids and things felt more "normal" my feelings started to change. In other words, it's been great changes for the whole family. A lot less eating out, healthier ways of cooking, more Water intake by everyone, more active as a family. I have days where I get mad because I want to go devour biscuits from Red Lobster but I think about how much better I already feel and I accept it. I cannot lose weight on my own. I have come to terms with that. I will have good days and bad days.

As for the risk of death the actual statistics are very, very low. Complications can happen but hopefully they won't.

Everyone on here has had the same fear too. I did, that's for sure. I only had diabetes and every test came out really good and I passed. I did it because if i didn't do it then I would be dying an early death. So I chose to take the risk. To be totally honest, i wold do it again in a heart beat. Sometimes we just have to gamble and take the risk. There are some individuals that have had complications but compared to the vast majority, it's very minimal. A lot of people that have had this surgery have moved on to live their healthy lives because they are healthy. A lot of the veterans do stay around to give back to our community. I am one of them, but someday, I too, will have moved on. This is the circle of life. I chose a healthier life and I love my new skinniness and wouldn't trade it for anything......