Should I...Or Shouldn't I?

[slh2016 0]

Hello out there. I haven't had surgery yet...I haven't even sent in my packet questionaire to be submitted to the insurance company for approval/rejection. I went to the required seminar back in November and weighed in. I told them at the hospital that I wouldn't be able to have surgery until April because I live with my parents and they go to Florida for winters and won't be back to "take care" of me until then. They said to send in my packet around Jan./Feb. to get things going. I just received a call from the hospital asking if I was still interested. I haven't returned the call yet partly because she is only there until 3 pm and I work until 3:30...but also because I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to do the surgery but I am so unsure. I guess my biggest question is will the surgery make it impossible for me to binge eat? I know how to lose weight on my own and have done it many times...but I don't know how to keep it off and have always regained (plus more) the weight. I think to myself that the surgery is the answer to my horrible relationship with food and that doing the surgery is exactly what I deserve for a lifetime of bad habits. However...I just don't know if that is what the surgery will do for me. What if I have it done and I still want to eat too much food. I know I would get sick but does it help you to fight the urges? I just don't want to fail again and then this time change my body only to find out that it isn't going to change Me. I really want to have surgery and be successful and be able live a life free from this prison I've put myself in. I want to be healthy and hopefully get off all my medications and I want to believe that this is the ticket to that success. Can anyone shed any light on my confusion and second-guessing? Thanks. slh.

[abp280 28]

I personally feel that perhaps counseling is something you should seek out before moving forward with the surgery if you binge. I actually have binged before many times but it wasn't a daily thing for me. I'm 2 weeks out and while It's not been easy, every day seems to be better than the last so I'm just taking my time and I do feel that the surgery was a good decision.

Maybe you could attend several support groups before making any decisions? It's definitely something that needs to be addressed prior to moving forward in my opinion. Best wishes to you in whatever path you decide!

[McButterpants 2,846]

I think I changed my mind back and forth a thousand times…I think that's perfectly normal as this is such a big decision. Your questions and concerns are valid and I suggest you get answers prior to having the surgery. I didn't address my food addiction issues prior to surgery and it was really difficult to work thru them while recovering from surgery. Take your food issues seriously - your sleeve will help you immediately after surgery and for the following 9-12 months. After the first year, you will need to control your impulses to eat, wherever they come from. My sleeve stops me from eating lots at one time, but I found out around 18 months that I can eat often - like every hour if I don't fill up with dense Protein.

Your surgeon's office or nutritionist should be able to get you in contact with someone that can help you with your food addiction questions or offer counseling.

[debp1953 35]

I changed my mind so many times, gained another 45 lbs, developed more health issues and now I'm 3 months out. Down 71 lbs and wonder why I didn't do it sooner. It's not easy and you have to really want it but it is worth it. I can walk in stores, from parking lots and with my adult children and I feel SO much better!