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What made you finally decide on the surgery as the best course to take? Im curious as to why you guys didn't decide to try on your own one more time. What made you think you were done trying on your own and having the surgery would give you a better chance?

For me, I have been trying for basically half of my young life. Id say about 12 years of trying on my own. Struggling with myself, Dieting, exercising, educating myself on nutrition. Eventually, I always fell off the wagon and let feelings dictate how i ate, got tired of going to the gym, and basically said screw it. Letting the years, strengthen my depression and hate towards myself.

Once I got so unhealthy that surgery became an option, I never even looked that way. Every time, I always told myself "let me try, one more time on my own".

This time it's different. I feel like I need a bit more than just myself. I am frankly tired of the fact that I let my teen years pass by with my weight dictating how I lived and for letting it affect me up until now. I have to admit I am scared of surgery. It seems so drastic. But Ive reached my point where I am done with the life I was living. Where if surgery will help me live a better, healthier life, Why not do it? Yes, it will be hard. Yes, it will be different. Yes, it is a permanent change. It will mean dedication. But I am kinda done with waking up daily battling myself.

So, what I'm asking is what made you finally decide surgery was the best choice? What made you think the next "one more try" included surgery?

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I was 68 years old.

I didn't have any more time to waste.

;)

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When I went to my initial consultation it was mostly because my PCP gave me a referral and I figured why not check it out. But I really wasn't considering it an option for me. But I started going through the steps with the doctors office, and they asked for a list of the things I had tried in the past. I started putting everything together for them and that's when it hit me. I had Nutrisystem receipts from 2006, 2007 and 2008, gym membership receipts from 2005 to 2015, Another healthy meal delivery service from 2013 and a weight watchers receipt from 2014.

And I was like wow... that's basically 10 years of trying so many different things and not only did I not keep the weight off every time, but I almost always gained it back plus more. So I finally had to take a serious look at myself and realize that if I was going to do it by myself I would have done it all these times over the past decade where I had put in my time and money and still not made it happen.

Don't get me wrong, i'm still scared as hell of surgery too, and I'm still working on being completely comfortable with getting it done. But I think at this point I do know that it's what I have to do, and that this time next year I'll probably wish that I had done it sooner just like everyone else here. I personally know a few people who have gotten it done within the past three months to a year and they have been very helpful to me and all have a similar story to mine. All of them are completely happy with their decision.

I hope that helps!

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I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.... I saw everyone in my family struggle with weight all their life and I didn't want that to me me...

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When I went to my initial consultation it was mostly because my PCP gave me a referral and I figured why not check it out. But I really wasn't considering it an option for me. But I started going through the steps with the doctors office, and they asked for a list of the things I had tried in the past. I started putting everything together for them and that's when it hit me. I had Nutrisystem receipts from 2006, 2007 and 2008, gym membership receipts from 2005 to 2015, Another healthy meal delivery service from 2013 and a weight watchers receipt from 2014.

And I was like wow... that's basically 10 years of trying so many different things and not only did I not keep the weight off every time, but I almost always gained it back plus more. So I finally had to take a serious look at myself and realize that if I was going to do it by myself I would have done it all these times over the past decade where I had put in my time and money and still not made it happen.

Don't get me wrong, i'm still scared as hell of surgery too, and I'm still working on being completely comfortable with getting it done. But I think at this point I do know that it's what I have to do, and that this time next year I'll probably wish that I had done it sooner just like everyone else here. I personally know a few people who have gotten it done within the past three months to a year and they have been very helpful to me and all have a similar story to mine. All of them are completely happy with their decision.

I hope that helps!

I totally get what u mean. I have compiled a history of gym memberships, trainers, 4 herbalife eras, 2 weight watchers eras, endless diet tips, and I have yet to do it by myself.

I am still working on my nervousness about the surgery and having my digestive system altered.

But I feel that this is the best next step for me. And I am hoping that by this time next year, I agree with my decision all the way.

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I had a stroke and my spine was collapsing under my weight.

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@@jenc427

Reached my breaking point when I was in a hospital ICU for 8 days. My type one diabetes was out of control. I went in to DKA. I died on the table. I'm lucky to be here. I now have a second chance in life that I don't take for granted. Just know the pain from surgery is temporary. Getting your health and your life back is amazing.

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My knees need to be replaced and I got tired trying to lose weight on my own so when I heard about the sleeve it was a GO!

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I started WLS journey last November and backed out in December.

By mid Jan or so I was 282 lbs. I freaked out. I knew 300 was going to be me in a few more more months. I changed to sleeve which was my original plan in November and had surgery in early May, no regrets at all, except wished I had done it without the two month break.

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I started WLS journey last November and backed out in December.

By mid Jan or so I was 282 lbs. I freaked out. I knew 300 was going to be me in a few more more months. I changed to sleeve which was my original plan in November and had surgery in early May, no regrets at all, except wished I had done it without the two month break.

Proceeding with surgery can be daunting. But Im glad you don't regret it!! Why did u change your mind about the type of surgery?

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    • 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. 
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    • 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.
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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