Hello! My name is Mojo. This is my first post. I went to an information meeting last week at a clinic, and things are moving really fast. My daughter and son in law had the gastric bypass surgery about five years ago and it took them about a year from initial contact to surgery date. My doctor is saying as short as two months. Wow! Not so fast!

I have a psychological evaluation next week, and I see my primary doctor in two weeks for a referral. I'm waiting for a phone call to have my one and only nutritional counseling appt that my insurance requires. Once all that is done, I schedule to see my surgeon, and he submits request for authorization to my insurance. I didn't expect it to happen so fast.

I'm been overweight the majority of my life - I'm 54. I became an exercise fanatic about 3-4 years ago, and starting going to the gym on a daily basis seven days a week. Didn't really diet, but started eating very healthy. Over a 15 month period, I lost 80 lbs and felt great! Then life got in the way, and I fell and injured myself and was no longer able to exercise at the level I had become accustomed to. Gradually regained almost all the weight I had worked so hard to lose.

I'm not really sure I'm going to go thru with the surgery, but think I will. It's all so new and happening so fast, that I'm feeling somewhat fearful.

Am learning a lot from the forum of what I've read so far today.

Hi, Mojo;

Welcome aboard!

You said that other family members had the bypass....is that what you are going to have, or will you be going for the Lap band?

HH

I will be having the lap band. Personally I'm not crazy about having someone cut and rearrange my insides. I also like the fact that the band can be removed if needed.

Well, it's a very personal choice. There are plenty of good reasons for doing any of the WLS's.

Just make sure that you are doing the RIGHT one for YOU. Don't get too caught up in the "mechanics" of the procedures....choose the one that will WORK, for YOU.

This is not something that you want to "do over".

Now, you have an advantage in that you have family that has gone through this. You can see what the result has been first hand, at least for the Bypass.

But, I would look at ALL the options.

Best of Luck!

HH

I struggled with the choice of surgery too.. I finally went to my doctor, and she actually tried to convince me to get gastric by-pass, which is way too much for me. Although she did make a good point, who wants to go in for fills when they're 67... but I figure after I have kids (i'm only 21..) I won't need much adjusting, and maybe after a certain point I can actually have it removed. That's what sold me, is that if I ever get sick, or for some reason need it reversed, it can be done. Either way good luck!!