Today is a milestone for me. I have made the appointment to start my 3 month supervised diet with the surgeon/nutritionist/counselor. I have so many feelings- but mostly I feel relief. Relief that I am finally going to be able to do something to help me feel better and get my life back. I have be blessed with 4 beautiful children and I want to feel like doing all the things they need and want me to do. I am 5'3" and weigh 225ish; no co-morbidities (yet) to speak of but lots of things coming from my being too heavy (bladder problems, joint problems, pain, etc.) I have considered this for 2 years and researched and prayed. I think it is finally going to work out this time. I have been a lurker on this forum forever and it gives me so much hope to see all of the success stories. It is also scary to read of something going wrong but good to be informed of everything. Just wanted to check in and let you all know that I am joining you on the journey.

Congratulations on your decision. I know what you mean by the feeling of relief. For me, I think it was the surrendering which helped me. I had to finally admit that I could not do this on my own and I needed help. That with the help of this tool they call VSG, I would be finally able to be the person I always knew I could be, but just struggled to reach.

Yes, it is a drastic step, but it is one that has helped me to develop such a better relationship with food. Food no longer controls me and it feels so good to be able to say that. I honestly never thought I could live a life where food did not dominate my every thought, but today, that reality has come true.

Complications do exists, as you point out, and it is good to know what they are. But I also think it is even more beneficial to know how to mitigate some of those complications. IMO, the first of those is to begin working between the ears. Then, be compliant with your pre-op diet. Being compliant will also begin to help you understand your issues as your brain begins to tell you it doesn't WANT to be compliant. Why is that? I also started exercising vigorously a month or so pre-op to get my endurance up. I believe it helped me have a trouble free recovery. Then, of course, those first 6 weeks post are critical and difficult as everything has changed. Emotionally, it is a rollercoaster, but it is a GREAT ride!

Congrats, keep reading, search the site for any topic you are interested in and post any questions you have.