https://www.medicalbag.com/white-coat-chronicles/divorce-surgery/article/571606/

This is pretty sobering.

So, what do you guys think? Do you have concerns about your surgery and lifestyle changes contributing to problems in your marriage?

I think divorce after wls would be more prevalent in a co-dependent relationship. Roles change and insecurities arise causing all sorts of issues.

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There are a lot of issues that can contribute....transfer additions are a huge one. Where people who used to use food to cope turn to alcohol or other substances and end up damaging their relationships/careers/etc.

On January 29, 2018 at 1:03 PM, abefroman329 said:

When I talked to my therapist about it prior to surgery, she suggested I keep in mind that my wife was with me at my heaviest and loved me the same as she does now, so I should keep that in mind if I'm considering leaving her for someone who would then leave me if I got back to my heaviest.

...

This logic didn't stop my ex-wife. She lost a total of over 350 pounds (she was over 500 pounds at her heaviest). I sold my house to pay for her multiple plastic surgeries. Once she had her new body she left me for a thinner richer guy. She was shameless about it -- no sign of guilt no feeling bad.

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by CalGuy64

After my ex-wife lost her weight her personality totally changed. She became pretty damn narcissistic.

Obesity is heavily correlated with mental health issues. Not saying everyone who is fat has mental health problems....but there's crossover for sure. Many mental health medication contribute to obesity.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758035

I'm grateful to have defied the odds. I had the VSG in August of 2015, and though the first few months post-op were challenging, overall as I've become healthier so has my marriage. I had been very concerned prior to having surgery. I have Addison's disease and PCOS, both of which impact my physical as well as emotional wellbeing and can make it more of a struggle for me to calibrate my emotions properly when I'm stressed, and that is intensified even more when I'm hungry. I was worried I'd become unreasonable, intolerably cranky, and have difficulty reigning myself in because I'd be constantly ravenous, but I actually wasn't (yay!). I was scared I'd make him feel deprived and like he had to radically change his lifestyle to fit mine, but also that I'd feel resentful if he didn't, putting him in an unfair Catch-22. I was very worried that I'd lose all my hair and develop loose skin, but neither of those fears were actualized, either. My hair thinned a bit, but that's it. My skin is tighter and more toned now than before surgery. But I'd made my husband watch "skin" videos brave women who'd had WLS and a lot of loose skin had made and uploaded to YouTube, so that he could see that it could possibly happen to me. We talked about a lot, and made plans and compromises in advance.

19 hours ago, CalGuy64 said:

This logic didn't stop my ex-wife. She lost a total of over 350 pounds (she was over 500 pounds at her heaviest). I sold my house to pay for her multiple plastic surgeries. Once she had her new body she left me for a thinner richer guy. She was shameless about it -- no sign of guilt no feeling bad.

Sorry to hear that.

19 hours ago, Creekimp13 said:

Obesity is heavily correlated with mental health issues. Not saying everyone who is fat has mental health problems....but there's crossover for sure. Many mental health medication contribute to obesity.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758035

Its also associated with adverse childhood experiences (which of course can be related to mental health issues). My ex was abused (both physically and sexually) as a child.

Its also associated with adverse childhood experiences (which of course can be related to mental health issues). My ex was abused (both physically and sexually) as a child.

This is more common then people thank. Have seen my inlaws in the same scenario which you have described in your relationship. I’m sorry you had to go through that.

Thankfully I have found the opposite to be true in my marriage. I think me losing weight and in a way getting my self confidence back has made our marriage stronger because I've in a way became myself again, the person I was when we first started dating way back in high school. I think it's important to realize that your spouse is going through this too and things like increase attention from the opposite sex and financial strain due to medical costs (if applicable) and increase shopping needs could put stress on a relationship. I just make sure I'm communicating well both what I need and asking what he needs in our relationship.

I can totally see it. I am just beginning on this journey and I already feel like my husband is not 100% behind me. He's made the comment a couple times that he thinks I'm gonna loose weight and leave him

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Interesting, But I'm not too concerned I've been with my husband since we were 14....22 years later still going strong and I haven't always been overweight and he's always been my strongest supporter through all my health issues. My guess is if your relationship is rocky before hand chances of it getting better after are slim but ya never know. May be a good time to have a nice sit down with your significant other to voice any concerns either may have. Communication is key!

Both my husband and I had WLS in December (him, early December, me late December). The whole journey has strengthened our marriage. We have opened up to eachother like never before. We are also there to support eachother as no one really knows what we are going thru unless they have had WLS themselves. We are happier as individuals so our marriage is better.

10 hours ago, bookworm1983 said:

Both my husband and I had WLS in December (him, early December, me late December). The whole journey has strengthened our marriage. We have opened up to eachother like never before. We are also there to support eachother as no one really knows what we are going thru unless they have had WLS themselves. We are happier as individuals so our marriage is better.

My husband and I are also both going through this process together, though we are at a much earlier stage and our surgeries will likely not be that close together. But so far, it has been nice being able to discuss it so openly with him. We've talked about different things we find in our research and about lifestyle changes we need to make. We've been enablers for each other to not eat healthy, so its time for us to support each other through this change.

I'm glad to read some positive experiences. My husband and I have been happily married for 27 years, and I just can't see surgery wrecking things.