Just took a deep breath and entered the dark world of the complications forum and quite soundly wish I hadn't.

And before any of you "moral of the story" folk get on your orange boxes to say the usual stuff like "you need to be aware" and "it's best to know before" to a certain degree you are correct of course but realistically how does that help me pre op ?? - does it make me any safer ? - does it make me any wiser ? (well okay maybe I'll give you that one) I'll tell you what it has made me - thoroughly and bloody scared.

Like a lot of you - I have had my share of health dealings in the past and quite frankly, if it wasn't for utter ignorance and denial, I might never have had some of the important surgeries that I needed because I might have read something scary and then ran away.

Tell me I'm not the only one here that thinks a little denial is a good thing !!

hahaha, whatever works, I guess. Me, I have to know everything and then weigh the odds. I am fine. My estimate was spot on.

No it's not.. I'm more of a full disclosure kinda gal. Stop reading horror stories if that's going to affect your mood and attitude towards having this procedure. Be positive you'll be ok..

It was a certainty that I was soon to die if I didn't deal with the fat...and quickly.

I did it.

The odds of complications seemed an acceptable risk given the circumstances.

I won.

You're all right - I know and yes I do think I should stop reading horror stories - thank you !!

Your risk of dying is higher driving to hospital then having the surgery. Make sure you've got your seatbelt on.... watch your speed... and tell the pre-op Nurse, "Bring on the Versed" Before you know it, you'll be in recovery saying "really? it's over?"

Hah !! Love it thank you thank you !! You guys rock !!

I think it is important, even pre-op. I read up on all the horror stories before my surgery as well as after because I wanted to know the signs and symptoms of them and be on constant vigilance. I'm 2 weeks out now but you never know, I could still have a leak in the next couple of weeks. I need to be informed. No burying my head in the sand over here.

It just makes me crazy, though, when I read a few of a the complication stories and a poster states, "If I would have known this was a possibility, I would have never been sleeved."

Really? You agreed to have 85% of your stomach removed permanently and you don't know what the possible complications are?

Denial is one thing but ignorance is something else.

I didn't feel the need to know all the gory details of possible complications. I knew what the most "common" complications were, and I knew what the signs were. I asked my surgeon if it was possible to have a complication and NOT be aware of it...not have pain, or fever, or swelling, or some sign to alert me to a problem. He said not really...if something were seriously wrong, my body would let me know. I guess I tried to be informed enough, but not get overly caught up or freaked out by the details of bad outcomes. I trusted my surgeon's skills & I knew the statistical probabilities were on my side. I'm just over 3 months out & have had a great recovery. Good luck to you!

It just makes me crazy, though, when I read a few of a the complication stories and a poster states, "If I would have known this was a possibility, I would have never been sleeved."

Really? You agreed to have 85% of your stomach removed permanently and you don't know what the possible complications are?

Denial is one thing but ignorance is something else.

You are right - and of course I am aware of any surgery carrying complications so yes when people say "gee I wish I'd known" that is really ridiculous- I guess what this all comes down to is - some people (including my mother) want to know all the ins and outs and some others (like me) cannot shake off some of the scarier aspects so for us, in order to move forward and have this potentially life-saving surgery, it is better we do not immerse ourselves too heavily in the "what ifs"

This makes me think of something funny I read on this forum a couple of weeks ago (and to the author of that post I mean no disrespect) she was pre op and she asked if anyone knew of any better tasting B12 sublingual than the brand she was using. She said it tasted awful and she couldn't stand it.

I know the brand because I use it too (tastes like cherry cough mixture not bad at all) but what made me giggle was she was happily planning having a doctor in a foreign country cut out half her stomach but she REALLY couldn't get on with the yukky tasting B12 stuff !!