I was thinking about my hopes and fears re: gastric bypass surgery and decided to make a list:

Fears: complications from surgery, getting breast cancer (strong family history) and not being able to stay healthy due to malabsorption, my arthritis getting worse and not being able to take medicine for it, not being able to eat and drink at the same time (I hate being thirsty), what to say to all my nosy relatives when they ask how I lost my weight

Hopes: better health, longer life, more energy, being able to fit in my bath tub comfortably and get out without risking injury, sitting in plane and bus seats and fitting and not being worried about people next to me being irritated, not being invisible, not having men avoid my eyes like they assume someone my size is going to go after them, being able to join my husband of 25 years on hikes and outdoor pursuits, not being mortified if anyone sees my underwear cuz it's so huge, I could go on and on!

I had metatastic breast cancer back in 2012... I just got the bypass...being overweight and getting fatter by the day was worrying me....weight gain and obesity would cause it to reoccur and I have to lose this weight.I take anastrazole and lupron shots post breast cancer...now I am off metformin and ,chloresterol medication.

Nosy relatives with too many damn opinions.Keep the em out of your business...tell them you have hiatal hernia...end of story...being overweight you just may have a hernia.

Not being able to drink and eat at the same time? are you kidding me..,you will be drinking Water every second throughout the day.

Being a big fatso is no fun and I am sick of being invisible...I am too good for that...I had to do something.Bypass is working...it is helping me...take control.

Get it done ASAP ....you have to lose the weight!Most of all be happy....move on this!

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery 32 months ago and it was one of the best decision I ever made.

While you are making a Pro / Con list, here are 1,258 reasons to put on the Pro side of your list:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/219831-what-was-your-final-straw-that-broke-the-camels-back/?hl=%20final%20%20straw

@@j16

I would remove arthritis from your con list. The reality is, you remove the weight off your joints now, no more damage.

You wait too long and pretty soon the weight loss won't make a difference.

I have both psoriatic and osteo arthritis severely. My one regret is that I didn't lose the weight before I did so much damage. The good news for me, the pain in my knees and ankles is completely gone.

The bad news for me, I have ver severe arthritis of the spine and the damage is done. I take medications other than NSAIDs to help with the pain.

Don't wait, run to the nearest Bariatric center of excellence. You won't regret it.

When I was pregnant, I went to a brewery to buy growlers of beer for my family gathering and they always throw in a free 12 ounce beer while you wait. Great perk when you're able to drink but I couldn't so I offered the free beer to a man sitting next to me. He gave me a horrified look and asked "Are you hitting on me?!" 1) I'm pregnant and married. No. 2) The man wasn't even that attractive. At least a decade older than me, balding, poorly dressed... ick. 3) Sorry, jerk, you're definitely not such a hot commodity that you'd be soooooooooo far out of my league

I'm actually kind of dreading being appealing to men. I don't want to awkwardly or rudely avoid anyone's advances, and I don't want to be in anyone's spank bank.

That being said, the pros far outweigh the cons. I know I will feel so much better when I lose all this extra chub.