I just got approval from ins and surgery scheduled March 29, 2016. My current weight is 203 and I'm 5 3. I am so nervous! I have been loosing weight the past 5 weeks I've buckled down and lost 20 lbs, I feel better and ppl are noticing my weight loss and do not think I should get it. As an emotional eater/ bored eater/ the list goes on, I feel like this is the best tool for me. I've never had any surgery, so that alone scares me to death. The recovery, and hair loss are really beginning to mess with my head. I have pcos so it is extremely difficult for me to lose weight and actually maintain it... One slip up makes me gain 5 lbs it feels I would really love to hear some words of comfort, I am still in shock that I was approved, and now that I have a date set I am already so anxious and freaked out. My biggest fear is making this huge life changing decision / life style change, and it not really being "worth" what all I am about to give up. Help!!!!!

I know you'll do great! I've had two major surgeries in the last 4 years, plus I've worked in surgery (I'm an xray tech). This surgery is a piece of cake.

You need to do this for you. I had PCOS (I've had a hysterectomy) and have been diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome. I know what you're going through. Losing weight is hard (when you can actually get it to come off).

Tell people that WLS is a very important tool that you need to help you to continue to lose the weight. I know it's hard to deal with people and their opinions. My Mom will say that overweight people are disgusting, but doesn't think about the fact that I fall into that category and how it hurts when she says that. I am not telling my family about my journey because of comments like this.

Read up all you can about the surgery. If you can stand to watch it, there is a video on YouTube that shows a sleeve operation. Then you'll know what you'll be going through. There isn't much pain from the operation when they can use the scope to do it. There is some discomfort afterwards in your ribcage that makes it hard to breathe. The reason for this is that they inflate your abdomen with Carbon Dioxide so there is room to work in there. The soreness goes away after a few days.

Instead of being scared, try to be informed! You'll be amazed at the difference it will make. I can't wait to hear how you do!

My husband and Imwere 66-67 when we had the sleeve. Scared to death. We had been going to WL seminars 15 years for him, and nothing ever felt right about it. One seminar with a fabulous surgeon, and since I had escalated to diabetes, asthma, and HBP, I had three comorbidities that qualified me for the sleeve. I weighed about 220 then, was 5'3"' and was short of breath and neuropathy was killing me. Not to mention the rescue calls for my comatose husband when his blood sugar dropped below 40 at night. I made the decision for the sleeve, and my chronically obese husband (size 3x) who starved himself to death a million times only to regain immediately, followed me into it. Today, 2 1/2 years later, he struts like a peacock in his size Large shirts, 34 inch waist, and not one rescue call since the sleeve. I can say the sleeve was life changing. We got off the sofa, bought kayaks, bought a second home condo in Perdido Key, FL, and we travel all over. Life is not perfect, I struggle more than he does with my weight, but I wish we had done the sleeve 20 years ago before the extra health problems came. Just do it and start living!