Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

So I am currently trying to educate myself as much as possible on gastric bypass before my consultation so I feel more comfortable, this is my second time trying to make this decision to get It done and make it happen but for some reason I'm really scared, I am afraid of change but I'm so tired of "living" like this, because to he quiet honest I am not even living my life, I am only 22 years old and I feel so trapped in my own body, I see myself in small clothes and running around without feeling like I'm out of breath in 5 seconds, I want to see my daughter grow up & I want to enjoy life again ... but why am I feeling so scared to do it? Is it normal to feel like you want to do it and want to go for it but at the same time feel so scared of it ... ????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That fear is absolutely normal. For me, once I started researching and meeting people who were having great success and meeting with doctors and nutritionists, I found myself actually getting excited about it.

The more I learned the more I realized being thin and healthy again could be my reality.

You are very young but the longer you remain obese the more wear on your physical body. I wish I could go back in time and do something when I was in my twenties. I would not have done so much damage. I am now 52 years old, I have degenerative disc disease and arthritis in my spine so bad that I have had to have 5 surgeries.

Do yourself a favor and learn everything you possibly can, follow the plan and you will literally have a whole new life.

I know I certainly do, RNY gastric bypass gave me my life back. I was not living my life before I was watching everyone else live theirs.

I was actually excited the morning of surgery and not nervous at all.

Not anymore! Good luck and if you need anything feel free to reach out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much @@Djmohr ! I appreciate so much your words, I am trying to learn as much as possible about it because I want to be well informed and I want to do it just so scary to even think about it, I am going to do what's best for me & my family, i only know 2 people personally who had the surgery done and one did great & the other gets sick constantly.. so it's kinda scary but I'm so happy I found this app so I can meet new people with sucess stories that will help me be more open about it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's normal to be scared. Honestly, I briefly looked into Bariatric surgery in my 20's when I first hit over 300lbs, but I was too scared to move forward and too unwilling to let go of my comfort blanket of fat that has safely kept me from having to awkwardly interact with people. It's all I've ever known and it scared me to consider losing that wall of protection. Now here I am, a mom with 7 kids and a husband I love beyond the world, but I'm now super morbidly obese and my body is failing me. I've got bad knees, bad back, can't breathe when I walk, and yes, after 7 kids and being huge, I pee when I sneeze, cough, jump(if only I still could). It's embarrassing! My life is deteriorating. If I could go back in time and talk to myself 10yrs ago, I'd say hey! Soda and steak is not worth the misery in your future. Just do it and unzip the miserable fat suit so you can enjoy your life with your kids. They grow up way too fast and I regret not being able to be more active with my older kids. I'm hoping if I lose the weight now, my baby, who just turned 1, will have the mother my other kids deserved, but I was too afraid to let out. Don't make the mistake I did out of fear. If you walk away from surgery, let it be because you solved the problem without the need, but don't not do it out of fear, because the years inbetween will be wasted in a pain riddled body like they are for me. I can't get them back. I look toward 40 and think it's time to be free.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow @@Sajijoma your words literally just made me so emotional, thanks so much for such kind words, I appreciate them very much & yes you need to get your life back & enjoy your children also, I am here for you if you need me at any moment ! We got this ! You aren't too late to change your life and make it better for yourself and your children !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome and congratulations on considering weight loss surgery.

We've all at some point or another reached an epiphany exactly like yours, that our weight has gotten so far out of our control that the only option left is surgical intervention.

And with that revelation comes an avalanche of associated emotions, like fear, shame, hopelessness, and doubt, but on the flip side, also hope, anticipation, and a renewed sense of self. We not only go through a process with insurance approval, but an internal process, in trying to figure out what brought you to this pivotal point, and now that you're here, how committed are you to making all the necessary changes in lifestyle required?

The fact that you're questioning yourself, in my opinion, is a good sign. You're giving the decision of WLS the due diligence it deserves. While the end results can be life changing, as with most things worth fighting for, it comes with no guarantees. This is not a fad diet, or the latest in weight loss gimmicks. You're voluntarily altering your body. You will never be the same again. That's a sobering thought.

But if you're like me, never being the same again is exactly what you're hoping for! I know I'm willing to do whatever it takes to find a permanent way out of the ditch I've dug for myself. I envy you that you are pursuing this at a young age. You are giving yourself the gift of an extended healthy life, not only for yourself, but your family as well.

Now that you've got your pinkie toe wet, I would encourage you to take the full plunge by learning all you can, here and with every other resource available to you!

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow @@Sajijoma your words literally just made me so emotional, thanks so much for such kind words, I appreciate them very much & yes you need to get your life back & enjoy your children also, I am here for you if you need me at any moment ! We got this ! You aren't too late to change your life and make it better for yourself and your children !

Yeah, we got this! I just wish I had done it earlier, but hey, 40 is the new 30, right? At 38, I'm just 28 so I've got a lot of living ahead of me....we can support each other! I'm excited for what the end of this year and 2016 will bring! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@karma2911 Welcome to this great group and also Congrats on considering weight loss surgery in the future :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So I am currently trying to educate myself as much as possible on gastric bypass before my consultation so I feel more comfortable, this is my second time trying to make this decision to get It done and make it happen but for some reason I'm really scared, I am afraid of change but I'm so tired of "living" like this, because to he quiet honest I am not even living my life, I am only 22 years old and I feel so trapped in my own body, I see myself in small clothes and running around without feeling like I'm out of breath in 5 seconds, I want to see my daughter grow up & I want to enjoy life again ... but why am I feeling so scared to do it? Is it normal to feel like you want to do it and want to go for it but at the same time feel so scared of it ... ????

Yup is normal!! It's a major decision! Like you it took me a second go round to finally decide to have surgery, and I waited five years in between!!

I hope there comes a point where you've got all the info you need, have met your team and own that I can do this attitude! Until then, we're here for ya 100%!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also am in the research stage although I had the old fashioned stomach stapling 30 years ago. Dropped 100# fast but couldn't keep it off for various reasons big one that I love food. I told myself as I was climbing back into the 200's again that I had my bite of the apple so accept yourself as being very obese. I had a wake-up call 2 years ago when I had part of a lung removed for cancer and when I got my clean and clear 2 year check in April I decided to get healthy since 60 is the new 40 also. This time I'm studying everything I can about nutrition and bariatric surgery. I hope my lung status won't stop the process since I have such shortness of breath with only 1 1/3 lung. I'm very excited. Wish me luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also am in the research stage although I had the old fashioned stomach stapling 30 years ago. Dropped 100# fast but couldn't keep it off for various reasons big one that I love food. I told myself as I was climbing back into the 200's again that I had my bite of the apple so accept yourself as being very obese. I had a wake-up call 2 years ago when I had part of a lung removed for cancer and when I got my clean and clear 2 year check in April I decided to get healthy since 60 is the new 40 also. This time I'm studying everything I can about nutrition and bariatric surgery. I hope my lung status won't stop the process since I have such shortness of breath with only 1 1/3 lung. I'm very excited. Wish me luck!

Good luck! I don't know about the risks of operations with only 1 1/3 lungs, but I'm sure your surgeon that you talk to would be able to tell you off the bat if that's a risk he/she would be willing to undertake or if they would have you get more testing to see if you meet the minimal requirements for lung function.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×