Hi everyone,

I'm new to this and would love to have some input. I have been struggling with my weight for the past 8 years and today I had the first info session and initial meeting with a surgeon about a potential gastric bypass. I was REALLY taken by surprise when I got on the scale, I have been avoiding it for years and I thought for sure I would be around 200 - 210 and when I saw it was 300 I lost it (I'm 5'3 and 24 y.o.). It really shocked me to see just how bad it had gotten and how ignorant about it I had been.

While I was considering the surgery before, facing this number really made me feel like I need to get it immediately. However, I still have lots of doubts and fears. I am not that scared of the procedure itself (If I die on the table I guess I won't realize) but of making such a huge decision that will change the rest of my life, and could have some nasty consequences. I have talked it over with some people and they tell me that having the surgery before being 100% certain is a horrible idea, but I honestly feel like I could never be 100% sure about anything like this. Not when there is so many factors that are out of my control.

Due to insurance requirements, my surgery date would be 6 months from now at the earliest, so I still have time to keep thinking it over but I honestly feel like I will never get to be 100% convinced. If that's the case, do you think I should still proceed? Or is it a horrible idea that will leave me with a recipe for failure and regret? Were you 100% convinced that this was the way to go?

Hi, Palta. Use the time during your 6 months to research your options and get familiar with gastric bypass. That's what I did. I had a whole range of emotions during my 6 months. I started out really wanting bypass, then waffling and thinking I'd drop out. Then back to being sure I wanted to do it. I am 6 weeks post surgery and glad I did it, even though I have had a setback. It is not a horrible idea! There are pros and cons to this surgery, and you need to be prepared for a lifetime of taking a multivitamin, B12, calcium, as well as supplementing with protein shakes for a little while until you're on solid food. I love my surgeon and his whole team. They are at a bariatric center of excellence and I had a lot of confidence in him. Take your time. Learn as much as you can, and weigh your options. The answer will come to you. Wishing you .the best

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I agree with what Briswife said. You can change your mind at any point right up to surgery, so use the prep time to absorb all you can about it and what to expect afterwards. Ask questions, read everything you can, and learn about life post op. Weigh the benefits of change versus the benefits of staying the same. Someone on these boards suggested to make a list of what you'll miss post op compared to what you look forward to post op. For me, when I was totally honest with myself, it was truly eye opening. Be true to you and you'll make the choice you need to.

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It's natural to go through a range of emotions and thoughts. Use the six months to keep thinking about it, but follow through with the plan and requirements and you can always change your mind right before the surgery date. I think it's hard to be 100% sure of anything these days. I started out sure I wanted bypass, then after speaking with my doctors changed my mind to the sleeve and then I had doubts about a week before surgery, afraid of dying on the table all because I was too fat and chose the surgery. But here I am 5 months later and I had no surgery complications, no problems and I'm 49 pounds lighter.

Yeah Palta, you have inside the size you think You are, it is not an happy Occurance when the scale proves you wrong. One of the reasons I chucked one in the dumpster years ago, one of those with a voice and I didn't like what I heard! Rationalized I was punishing it by dumping it, but I just threw away what it cost!
No it is not a BAD IDEA, I am taller than you, much older than you but I could not accept 365 pounds, that's over a third of a ton, and I wasn't having fun being that way. I had tried every diet know to man and a few I think my doctor thought up while he had indigestion one evening. Maybe I dehydrated myself but the blubber remained. And when you are old (well I think well- ripened but it's a minority opinion) doctors do a little jig and they chant "You're Gonna Die!" in the same tone that bratty kid down the street you wanted to strangle,if you didn't get caught doing it! Shoot, most of the time you felt pretty good, your body was happy with all the food you had been feeding it, why do they have to rain on your parade? But at 70+ the good days are out-weighed by the painful & short of breath days. And you think" Well if I am going to die, I'm not departing without a fight!" and you know, unlike you 24 year olds, you don't have time to think about it or postpone it until later. Its hard to grab the gold to g on the merry-go- round when your eyesight isn't that good anymore! And after reflection I realized that the idea of major surgery with the body changes it would bring was much,less frightening than existing as I was, painful, obese and hating myself for letting myself to deteriorate to this point.
If you go to the surgeon you may be told "Have you thought this over, are you sure this is what you want?" that's a possible reaction in your mid-20s. People my age you get " You got to be kidding! Do you realize what a surgical risk you are at your age? You could die!" Well H-E- double hockey sticks, I already got threatened THAT if I don't have surgery, so no big whoop there! Besides I have now summoned enough courage to even ask! And I was lucky to find a program for me, a surgeon who was willing to assume the risk, I had to go through many specialists poking, prodding and listening to areas of me I didn't know made a sound. And I proved. that although the calender said 72 my body was only 45 and healthy enough to withstand this kind of surgery. Oh I still had qualms, and the pretty pervasive thought of my friends, relatives and associates- No Fool Like An Old Fool- they joked, didn't believe I could be a success. Well I am a bull-headed old broad, I set out to prove THEM wrong. Oh, inside I wondered just how much I could lose this way, but I never let on!
I am happy to relate I have lost 140 pounds from my High Weight, I believe 95 since my surgery 8 months ago, this with a post - menopausal Basal Metabolism Rate similar to a seasick See Slug. You youngins could do it probably faster than me with one hand tied behind your back. But I am proud of ME at this point, I now weigh less than when my youngest son was born 40 years ago on June 12th. If you have doubts, if you have fears you can always talk to me, I have a big virtual lap, I either have encountered anything you can think of or I know someone who has. And we live mentoring anybody new, we are still active because we want you to have a good experience too. I still have about 50 pounds to go until I reach the goal I set, oh my Bariatric Clinic would be satisfied with 20-25 more, but if I am going to compete in these Weight Loss Olympics why not go for the Gold instead of a Participation Diploma?

Take your time to decide but like everyone said you can go through the induction process, classes, etc to make sure its right for you. You can cancel whenever want up until the surgery.

Good luck ?

it took me 5 years to commit to the surgery and get my head into it i wish i could have done it 5 years ago maybe if my head was in it then i could have hands down it is the best tool i have ever bought for my self and i was more than ready for that tool to make my life last longer and help heal my body for the torture i have put it though over the years of bad choices and decisions no regrets best thing i have done for me ,always being the provider and the one who helps everyone first before myself in the past that has changed as i have to be good first to help others now if im not then i can not help others have to make sure you are ready and do your research cheers have a great day !!

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am glad to see that it wasn't an easy decision for anyone and you are right, I have 6 months to keep getting informed and make up my mind and if it comes to it, cancel it. I was reluctant to this possibility at first, as I felt it would have been a "waste of time" but honestly, after so many years of ignoring my body, all the tests and doctor's appointments I'll have to get done such as blood tests and others are probably needed anyways. Not to mention the nutrition and exercise regimen!