Know what you ask? Know that you were ready to make a life altering decision to get wls. What did it? Was it how you felt about you're self? Was it your health? Maybe your dr? To look better? Feel better? Where are you at in your journey?

For me it was one night at work I started to feel pretty bad. I knew I had blood pressure issues but left it untreated (like a dummy). I had a CNA take my vitals and my BP was 208/120. My supervisor sent me home and I ended up being on two different blood pressure medications twice a day. And then my bp was STILL elevated. I knew from past experiences I couldn't lose the weight on my own.

I almost died from a perforated bowel due to diverticulitis, had months of wound care from serious infections afterwards...then I lost my mother, and I gained yet another 50 lbs and I was at 345lbs, and I was told I was in grade 1 heart failure. My left ventricle is thickening and my heart is hardening...working that muscle way too much, with all the weight I am carrying. I have type II Diabetes, I was on 2 oral diabetes meds, and 2 types of insulin. I took over 20 pills a day. Plus I had a whole host of other things going on with me, (fibromyalgia, PCOS, Hashimotos, High Cholesterol, Chronic skin infections, NASH etc.) that were just not getting better, including needing 2 knee surgeries (1 replacement), that the surgeon won't do unless I lose a significant amount of weight. I guess between all my health issues, and all my attempts over an entire lifetime of trying to lose with limited success, I decided this was it, if I didn't do this, I was surely going to die, well before my time. And when I thought of it....I realized I have more to do in this life. I didn't want to die.

I never did this to fit into a specific size, or be "skinny" or "thin". I don't even know what that means. I have been big since I was 5 years old. My goal weight, is 150, and I can't even honestly tell you how long it's been since I was that weight. I was 170-180 in 7th grade, so it was sometime before that. It's hard for me to even fathom being that weight, yet, I keep losing...so I think eventually I'm going to get there, and then what? I don't even know. LOL I guess I'll figure that out when I get there.

@ you are awsome. So your post op? 67lbs lighter? Did you go with bypass? Was recovery awful?

@@Soon2beslimSamantha Thanks! Yes, I am 2 months post op. I had bypass, and I had some complications during and after my surgery, so I was in the hospital for a week. BUT....I made it through fine, and everything has been going well since then. Once I got home from the hospital, things got a lot better. I've actually been through way worse, surgically.

I am really pleased with my decision. I have not had true physical hunger since surgery. Not sure how long that will last, but I have to remind myself to eat. I have no real cravings, I am not tempted to cheat, I don't even really care much about food. Sometimes I might say, I want something warm, like Soup...but that's about the extent of a craving. I'm glad of that. I also did a lot of therapy before surgery to deal with food addiction issues, why I got big, and self-comforted with food so many years. That has been the biggest help to me.

I am starting therapy before I feel that's key to my success. I have issues with food and comfort. As well as powerlessness.

@ I agree. You are awesome!

I think looking at my before and after pix tells all the reasons. You can see the physical pain I was in. I am told repeatedly now that I light up a room with my smile and energy...I am transformed.

I lost 150#in 14months with the sleeve and maintaining. My surgery was Dec 2011

Thats such a good story @@Cowgirl Jane

it was my health, I was on a downward spiral with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes. I had been in the hospital (April 2013) with a bad abscess in my private region and they said it was due to my sugar being out of control, decided to focus on my diabetes, taking ten oral medications plus shots and still not in control, I brought up WLS and my doctor said I was a perfect candidate for it, and then it snow balled from there, had surgery in December 2013. I had lots of complications during the surgery ended up in the hospital for a month but now feel like I can say it was worth it.

Wow if you don't mind me asking why did you end up in the hospital for a month

I don't want to hijack this thread, but if you look at my profile and read my story it tells it

Thank you so much I will read it.

@@Soon2beslimSamantha

I was 51 and waited way too long. I was 315lbs at my heaviest. I had type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, severe Gerd, sleep apnea for comorbitities. I also have psoriatic arthritis and osteo arthritis of my spine. I was in pain every single day.

Then I developed stage 3 kidney disease and that was the straw that broke the camels back. My nephrologist told me if I did not do something I was looking at dialysis.

I literally left his office and went on line to a website he gave me. I started the process immediately. From start to surgery day it took 9 months.

I chose bypass because of the severe Gerd.

@@Djmohr was they healing from bypass hard? Was it painful?

I did it for my health. At 62, I had many co-morbidities including two knee replacements and 17 herniated discs. It was the stroke that did me in and pushed me to follow through with bariatric surgery. I got sleeved in December of 2013 and actually have had a very nice, uncomplicated recovery. My goal was to lose 100 pounds from 235 to 135, but my doctor is ok with where I am at now, bouncing around 150. I still don't have a lot of energy, but my overall health is waaaaaay better, and I have more good days than bad.

Before surgery I had GERD, but not anymore. I had chronic diverticulitis, and six weeks prior to my sleeve, I was in the hospital deathly ill with ischemic colitis. My doctor told me later that he thought he was going to lose me. I have not had any further bowel issues at all since getting my sleeve.