I have my first meeting with the surgeon on Wednesday! At the seminar, they said this one would be fairly short and the second one would be about 2.5 hours!! Went into the seminar thinking gastric sleeve and left thinking bypass. Yesterday I was sure I wanted and needed the surgery; today I'm beating myself up over not losing and keeping it off on my own and thinking I need to try again! ( I've lost 100 lbs twice in the past and hundreds of 25-50 lb increments!) Sure could use some prayers, good thoughts and encouragement! I need to try to think sanely and judiciously about this and not let my emotions flip flop all over the place! Thanks!

@, congratulations on taking the first big step, educating yourself!

The emotions are just part of the process and you have to be ready to take this plunge so you can be most successful.

Most of us have lost 100s of pounds on our own over and over again. The real issue happens to be keeping it off long term. I can only speak for myself but once you get older the ease of losing that weight stops and pretty soon it seems to only go in the wrong direction.

I had to be ready to move forward but personally I waited way too long. I had sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, severe reflux, high cholesterol, stage 3 kidney disease and degenerative disc disease.

If I had to do this over again, I would have done this 15 years ago. Had I done that I would not be headed to a hospital in Minneapolis today to have a very big spine surgery.

The good news, I am down 103lbs, I am no longer obese and well on my way to goal. My diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stage 3 kidney disease and reflux are all gone! I feel fantastic and can do things I never thought I would be able to do. Even with a severe spine problem.

Take the time to get your head straight and decide if you are ready. If you are, wait no longer, it is only going to get harder and keep you from living a truly normal life.

God bless you!

@ - make your choice based on YOU. The doctor will probably have an opinion on what he recommends. my doctor said I was a candidate for either band or sleeve. I didn't want bypass. He said it was my decision, love Dr Uchal, and I waffled. My thought was sleeve after seminar. told adult daughter and she said don't do anything permanent. I changed to band. it was also going to be less down time and out patient, which I did like. I decided I needed something permanent and I didn't like the idea of the foreign object in me (and the fills, and un-fills, etc).

research and make the decision based on you. back out. do the surgery....it your life. YOU have to adjust and live with your decision.

I don't regret my choice at all. I have lost 25lbs probably 25 times in my 52 years and I was done with losing weight (and finding it back on my hips, butt and belly!)

@djmohr Thanks so much for your encouragement and words of wisdom! You are so right about it getting harder as we age, and it seems that in the past year my body has finally gotten fed up (pun intended!). sleep apnea, horrible arthritis in my knees, increased problems with degenerative disc. Your story is an inspiration! I'm sorry that you are having to have surgery today and hope it goes well, but wow! Look at how much you've accomplished!! In addition to the boost with weight loss, I think one of the things that is most appealing to me is the long term support via the doc, nutritionist and support group. I tend to be a lone ranger when it comes to my weight, but I'm learning I really need community and support.

@jane13 Thanks for the reminder to follow my heart and mind!!

Wishing you both continued success!!!