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Too "small" for surgery?



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I too have had many people tell me that I'm not that big. I am 250 lbs' date=' 5'3" and have a BMI of 45. I carry my weight well. I think that I was the smallest person in my informational seminar. People don't realize that I've been fighting my weight all of my life. Diets, WW, Fen fen, hypnosis, ally, exercise classes. I started researching WLS about 10 years ago and had originally thought that I wanted the band. When I finally decided this year to do it, I changed my mind and decided to go with VSG. I have the complete support of all of the medical people that I have dealt with. I am presently waiting for insurance approval! I Hope to be done by end of August. I'm so excited ![/quote']

Sounds like me! I went to my first wls seminar in 2004 to get the RNY, band has never been an option to me. I have been trying since but things have never worked out. But they are this time, almost done the insurance hoops!

Good luck to you :)

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Wow how are you too small for the sleeve. That's insane, how much do u weigh and how tall are you?

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My BMI was just under 35 on day or surgery; over 36 when I first saw the bariatric surgeon. I have v significant, multiple comorbidities.

I don't know how old you are and I'm always a bit wary of younger people taking out bits of their body that they may find they need later on -especially if there are no health issues right now. But your family history is significant and it's not great that you can only walk a couple of blocks.

IMO this surgery - any abdominal surgery - does pose significant risks and shouldn't be entered into lightly. I had a good run with surgery and recovery but I still didn't think it was a walk in the park. Now that I'm sleeved I also realise it is still very possible to not lose or to lose and then regain the weight... this is no magic bullet and you need to work at it long term, have no illusions about that.

But having said all that, I am glad I did it and now have real hope for a healthy future and a longer life, after years of feeling completely opposite to that. I'm still adjusting but I don't feel I've 'lost' anything or am deprived. food tastes just the same and I enjoy as much as ever, just in v small quantities.

So read up, decide if this is right for you, and if it is embrace it. I'd suggest you read the "complications" and "regrets" posts (along with the good news stories) to get a balanced view. Good luck with it all.

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An interesting observation.. All of the friends and relatives that told me I was to "small" for surgery? When they see me now the are the first ones to say how much better and "healthier" I look now :D

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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