When I was preparing to have my sleeve surgery, I spent a lot of time on this forum. I found most of the people here to be very helpful. Even though there's every kind of personality here, we all have one thing in common: we wanted to lose weight and be healthier.

Approaching any surgery is scary. There are real risks, and real rewards when all goes well.

I have struggled with weight my whole life. Total sugar junkie. Used food to replace every unmet need I had, to repress every emotion for which I was unprepared to deal.

I gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the course of my life. Hundreds.

When my husband died eight years ago it broke me. I shattered, and it took me almost a decade to put myself back together. During that time, I lost everything: my beloved, my home, my income, even my sense of self. And I spent the next eight years eating to fill this giant empty void inside my being where someone who I thought of as the love of my life used to be.

I ballooned up bigger than I had ever been, surpassing my previous high weight and moving into the 320s.

I avoided social situations, and only left the house when necessary. I was afraid I would have to ask for a stronger chair when invited to sit down for dinner at somebody's home. I was afraid that I would need to sit down every 20 or 30 steps during a leisurely stroll through the mall with a friend. My body ached; sometimes the pain was so bad that I could scarcely move-even sitting still was painful.

Life had become extremely small.

Deciding to get the surgery was surprisingly easy, but getting through the approval process and going through with the surgery summoned up terror in me that had been there since my first surgery when I was three years old.

I thought it would be a miracle if I were able to get the surgery, simply because my trauma was so severe for so many years that it seemed like an impossible feat to put myself in the hands of medical professionals, who I have never trusted all my life.

With lots of support from my mother, my sister who had already had the surgery, and my therapist, I was able to get the sleeve.

And it changed my life!

I also decided that I was going to make up for lost time now that I was going to be able to physically get around again. I sold all my stuff, ditched my apartment, bought an RV and moved in! And it's wonderful! I could not have fit in here, nor could I do the things necessary when living in an RV, at my previous weight.

This surgery has allowed me an opportunity for a whole new lease on life. I am officially one year postop, and I am down about 130 pounds, with another 30 to go. It's amazing the difference a single year can make!

If you know that this is right for you, and the only thing giving you pause is fear that is not coming from your true intuition: there are many people on these forums who feel that this surgery has saved our lives.

I am one of those people. Here is a before and present a photo of me, in a year, this could be you!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edited December 3, 20169 yr by JupiterinVirgo

Wow, what a difference! You have definitely been through a lot to get to where you are today. Congratulations for taking bull by the horns and taking control of your life!

I am so glad you shared your story with us. You inspired me. I so needed this!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for sharing! I went through with all the requirements and found I am in great health so I really want to get rid of these extra 100# and hopefully say goodbye to my sleep apnea. But as I sit here waiting for the insurance approval or denial I am terrified that I won't go through with it. Part of me hopes they deny it, even though I worked hard to get this far in the process. I've never had surgery and the being out under is the only thing that really scares me. I know I can handle everything that will come my way after the surgery. You are so strong and encouraging.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using the BariatricPal App

When I was preparing to have my sleeve surgery, I spent a lot of time on this forum. I found most of the people here to be very helpful. Even though there's every kind of personality here, we all have one thing in common: we wanted to lose weight and be healthier.

Approaching any surgery is scary. There are real risks, and real rewards when all goes well.

I have struggled with weight my whole life. Total sugar junkie. Used food to replace every unmet need I had, to repress every emotion for which I was unprepared to deal.

I gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the course of my life. Hundreds.

When my husband died eight years ago it broke me. I shattered, and it took me almost a decade to put myself back together. During that time, I lost everything: my beloved, my home, my income, even my sense of self. And I spent the next eight years eating to fill this giant empty void inside my being where someone who I thought of as the love of my life used to be.

I ballooned up bigger than I had ever been, surpassing my previous high weight and moving into the 320s.

I avoided social situations, and only left the house when necessary. I was afraid I would have to ask for a stronger chair when invited to sit down for dinner at somebody's home. I was afraid that I would need to sit down every 20 or 30 steps during a leisurely stroll through the mall with a friend. My body ached; sometimes the pain was so bad that I could scarcely move-even sitting still was painful.

Life had become extremely small.

Deciding to get the surgery was surprisingly easy, but getting through the approval process and going through with the surgery summoned up terror in me that had been there since my first surgery when I was three years old.

I thought it would be a miracle if I were able to get the surgery, simply because my trauma was so severe for so many years that it seemed like an impossible feat to put myself in the hands of medical professionals, who I have never trusted all my life.

With lots of support from my mother, my sister who had already had the surgery, and my therapist, I was able to get the sleeve.

And it changed my life!

I also decided that I was going to make up for lost time now that I was going to be able to physically get around again. I sold all my stuff, ditched my apartment, bought an RV and moved in! And it's wonderful! I could not have fit in here, nor could I do the things necessary when living in an RV, at my previous weight.

This surgery has allowed me an opportunity for a whole new lease on life. I am officially one year postop, and I am down about 130 pounds, with another 30 to go. It's amazing the difference a single year can make!

If you know that this is right for you, and the only thing giving you pause is fear that is not coming from your true intuition: there are many people on these forums who feel that this surgery has saved our lives.

I am one of those people. Here is a before and present a photo of me, in a year, this could be you! ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1480776848.497729.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Wow... Thank you so much for the encouraging words.... You look great!!!! And most importantly you feel great as well.... ????

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

When I was preparing to have my sleeve surgery, I spent a lot of time on this forum. I found most of the people here to be very helpful. Even though there's every kind of personality here, we all have one thing in common: we wanted to lose weight and be healthier.

Approaching any surgery is scary. There are real risks, and real rewards when all goes well.

I have struggled with weight my whole life. Total sugar junkie. Used food to replace every unmet need I had, to repress every emotion for which I was unprepared to deal.

I gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the course of my life. Hundreds.

When my husband died eight years ago it broke me. I shattered, and it took me almost a decade to put myself back together. During that time, I lost everything: my beloved, my home, my income, even my sense of self. And I spent the next eight years eating to fill this giant empty void inside my being where someone who I thought of as the love of my life used to be.

I ballooned up bigger than I had ever been, surpassing my previous high weight and moving into the 320s.

I avoided social situations, and only left the house when necessary. I was afraid I would have to ask for a stronger chair when invited to sit down for dinner at somebody's home. I was afraid that I would need to sit down every 20 or 30 steps during a leisurely stroll through the mall with a friend. My body ached; sometimes the pain was so bad that I could scarcely move-even sitting still was painful.

Life had become extremely small.

Deciding to get the surgery was surprisingly easy, but getting through the approval process and going through with the surgery summoned up terror in me that had been there since my first surgery when I was three years old.

I thought it would be a miracle if I were able to get the surgery, simply because my trauma was so severe for so many years that it seemed like an impossible feat to put myself in the hands of medical professionals, who I have never trusted all my life.

With lots of support from my mother, my sister who had already had the surgery, and my therapist, I was able to get the sleeve.

And it changed my life!

I also decided that I was going to make up for lost time now that I was going to be able to physically get around again. I sold all my stuff, ditched my apartment, bought an RV and moved in! And it's wonderful! I could not have fit in here, nor could I do the things necessary when living in an RV, at my previous weight.

This surgery has allowed me an opportunity for a whole new lease on life. I am officially one year postop, and I am down about 130 pounds, with another 30 to go. It's amazing the difference a single year can make!

If you know that this is right for you, and the only thing giving you pause is fear that is not coming from your true intuition: there are many people on these forums who feel that this surgery has saved our lives.

I am one of those people. Here is a before and present a photo of me, in a year, this could be you! ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1480776848.497729.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for sharing your Story.

And offering words of encouragement.

Like you I have been struggling

with my weight all my life. I need help

I've been going back and forth

with the idea of having the sleeve.

I think you help me make up my

Mind.

Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

I ate AMAZING and u look AMAZING. Keep up the great work. U rock!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Are*

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congratulations! You are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

Good afternoon, you are inspiration to us here. Thank you for sharing. You look amazing and happy. I'm sure driving your RV around is fun. I'm praying God will bring you someone to appreciate you. Today is my 4th day of my liquid diet and feel so weak. How did you do it?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Hard for others to understand how a traumatic event (death of your beloved and in my case an narcissistic relationship that took all from me) just BREAKS you and yes, it can take years..sometimes forever to recover. The shattering is real. That is what instantly got my attention. The withdraw from others is real.

My surgery in in 11 days. Besides health, hope that it marks the new phase in my life.

You look great and keep up Your Life

Good afternoon, you are inspiration to us here. Thank you for sharing. You look amazing and happy. I'm sure driving your RV around is fun. I'm praying God will bring you someone to appreciate you. Today is my 4th day of my liquid diet and feel so weak. How did you do it?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I had the same experience during the liquid phase of the diet before surgery. There were times I was too weak to even walk from the car to the store for more Protein shakes! During my preop liquid phase every few days I would eat a salad with chicken on it because I really was afraid I was going to die from starvation but it will truly was not head hunger. My body was very weak because at 300+ pounds, three Protein shakes a day wasn't enough to keep me standing upright.

Postop was much easier in the sense that I definitely did not want to eat anything. I did not experience hunger. Only exhaustion and some pain which went away after about 10 or 12 days. The fatigue lasted for several months.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I want to earnestly thank everyone of you from the bottom of my heart for being so receptive, and so kind in your responses. I read them all. And I am so grateful if in some small way my story helps you to claim the life you truly deserve. Aliveness has become my primary value. I am pursuing it with all my primal might. LOL

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you so much for sharing. Your story is inspiring. I lost my mom when she was 49 due to heart disease. I want this surgery because I want to live. I have a 5 year old daughter and I don't want to miss a second of her life.

I hope I too will have an inspiring message to share next year.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for your message. It easy ones mind some. To see and hear what all took place for you let's others know that all is well. Sorry of everything you've had to go thru but this has truly made you a better person and testimony to others. Tks again and keep us all updated on your progress.

Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for posting. I have been thinking about finally talking to a doctor about weight loss surgery. It was nice to see this today :-)

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Wow. You've read my mind. I'm going through with it but I'm scared of everything. Scared of failing. I've had 38 surgeries to date so the idea of surgery is fine. But the emotional roller coaster afterwards is scary.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App