I will regret this for the rest of my life

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

I'm 3 months out and 51 pds down. I wasted 20 years of my life being afraid to accept the miracles of modern medicine. After your surgery you will know that this is not the easy way out. The more people who are not afraid to tell the truth about having had the surgery, the sooner this stigma will be lifted. Could I have lost weight on my own? Sure, done it hundreds of times. Did I keep it off? Nope. But this little tool; this incredible little miracle of modern science has given me an awareness of food as fuel and body as biology and I will not take this for granted. I regret the choices that got me here but not the choice to commit to a sustainable way out. I hope the choice you make brings you the results you desire.

Well said!!!!!!!!!

[couger94 19]

Here's how I dealt with / internalized it. If I had a tumor I would have it cut out because to not have it cut out would mean death. Well. My stomach is my tumor. To not have it cut out meant death. This surgery is no more cheating then having a tumor cut out is cheating.

Also the surgery changes your body chemistry and metabolism. Which if I had to guess your metabolism is non existent like mine was. Just my $.02.

[Dirana 7]

Too busy losing weight to feel bad about losing weight. You lost it, you look good, and you feed better. The end greatly outweighs any means.

[MichiganChic 3,262]

I would NOT have a surgery I was certain I would regret, unequivocally. I considered WLS for 20 years before I had it. I was pretty sure I could lose weight if only I just tried harder. I'm a registered nurse, brought up in the world of science, and thought I knew everything there was to know about dieting and weight loss. I even knew the statistics about the dismal failure rates, but I thought I could/should overcome that brutal reality. So, while I dieted, lost some weight, gained some more, I went to several surgeons over the years, even went so far as to have the pre-op testing completed, and always backed out. At the time, RNY was the only option, and I just couldn't get on board with the malabsorption thing (and still can't). So, I thought I might regret it, and I never went through with it. Once I learned of VSG, I KNEW it would be the right decision for me, and I have not regretted it. Lots of people say their only regret is not doing it sooner, and while I do wish I had this option 20 years ago, I do not regret having a surgery I knew I would regret.

[Shells_Almost_There 357]

Plus, you could do what I do and not tell anybody why you keep shrinking or why you can only eat small portions of food at a time.

Amen!

[Kasey Parker 31]

It's normal to feel that way.

I lost 120lbs on my own, to gain them back. And now am turning to surgery bc I learned I can't do it alone. Plus, when I lost weight, I was too strict and exercised way too much. Sometimes I get embarrassed that I'm going through with surgery, but thankfully I have so much support to help me through. I know a lot that lost it on their own and gained it back.

[BethinPA 305]

If you are having serious reservations about the surgery, then you shouldn't have it. This journey is difficult enough for folks who were motivated before going under the knife. I'm almost a year out, and I'm here to say that it is STILL difficult! This surgery will not solve all of your problems regarding overeating. So don't do it unless you feel you are truly ready to do it.

I remember when they wheeled me into the OR, helped me onto the operating table and were strapping me into place, I looked up at the nurse anesthetist and thought " I could say stop right now, and not go through with this." It took all I had to keep my mouth shut until they put me under! And I am glad that I kept my mouth shut, because I know this was the right decision for me, and I never could have been as successful without it. It is truly worth it and is the right decision for lots of people - only you can determine if it is the right decision for you.

[Peggy D 123]

I would NOT have a surgery I was certain I would regret, unequivocally. I considered WLS for 20 years before I had it. I was pretty sure I could lose weight if only I just tried harder. I'm a registered nurse, brought up in the world of science, and thought I knew everything there was to know about dieting and weight loss. I even knew the statistics about the dismal failure rates, but I thought I could/should overcome that brutal reality. So, while I dieted, lost some weight, gained some more, I went to several surgeons over the years, even went so far as to have the pre-op testing completed, and always backed out. At the time, RNY was the only option, and I just couldn't get on board with the malabsorption thing (and still can't). So, I thought I might regret it, and I never went through with it. Once I learned of VSG, I KNEW it would be the right decision for me, and I have not regretted it. Lots of people say their only regret is not doing it sooner, and while I do wish I had this option 20 years ago, I do not regret having a surgery I knew I would regret.

You're telling my story, too, including being a nurse. I first looked into WLS nearly 40 years ago when the only option was intestinal bypass. I'm certainly glad I did not have that. The majority of people who did have it died within 5-10 years, usually less. I've know about gastric bypass for many years but am not at all comfortable with the malabsorption issues. I had never heard of VSG until a year ago & when I did I, too, knew it was the right procedure for me. I do wish the VSG had been around 30-40 years ago, but we cannot change what was & can only go forward from here. Had I still been working, I probably would have learned about it sooner. My one regret is that I didn't hear about VSG 4 years ago when my current insurance started covering it.

My surgeon did tell me at my first consult that he thought the duodenal switch would give me better weight loss & increase the chance of my diabetes resolving. But I told him I don't want anything to do with malabsorption & he said "that's all I need to hear."