I'm new here and awaiting my date this week.

[chathammom]

Hi- I have decided to go with the gastric bypass over the lapband. I question it every day. I ask....Is it too much, do I really need to be that dramatic? I have several co-morbidities and everyone in my family has died from heart issues very young, (50, 41, 47,) due to obesity. I have just my mom left and she too is overweight and has had several issues with her heart. I had my children late in life and want to be there for them for a much longer time. I think I know I am doing the right thing but I am so scared that something terrible will go wrong and I will be in the hospital for a long time. This would effect my family, my career, etc.
I finally found your blog- I only wanted one that I would stick with. I read horror stories!
Thank you for producing a clear, honest yet not horrifying blog for me to learn and find support.

 

[Javajoy]

Welcome to the Forum. I think you will find very supportive people here who don't sugarcoat anything but so many have been through what you will be going through and they can provide excellent information and support. They provide wonderful information, and can answer your questions.

I chose and got a lap band and am very happy with it. The Doctor chose it due to my age and physical limitations at the time.

Wishing you the very best on your journey.

Joy

 

[fkrebs]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I debated with myself over the lapband or RNY and finally after being brutally honest with myself, I decided that I wanted this to be non-reversible. With lapband, there are adjustments to be made and of course you can have it removed, so for me it would be too much of a temptation to take it out. I had my surgery last month and haven't regretted a bit since. As far something going wrong, the odds are very slim and the Lapband is safer than RNY or the Sleeve, but all three are very safe procedures. I would suggest being very honest with yourself to determine how you really feel about have a non-reversible procedure, then make your choice. Which ever you do, it will require that you work at it, neither is an easy path to walk. Bravo to you for making to the choice to proceed with WLS.

 

[Pat99]

Chathammom-Welcome to the forum and congratulations on deciding to have WLS. The emotions you are feeling are perfectly normal. We refer to this as the emotional rollercoaster ride. Almost everyone feels this was before and after their surgery. Some of us have even ahd regrets after the surgery and wondered if we made the right decision. Believe me, your feelings will change once you see that scale start moving in the right direction As with any surgery there are risks but compared to your family history of heart disease which risk would you rather face? Anesthesia is so safe these days and the WLS has improved so much over the decades it has been offered. But you need to be the one to make the decision as to if and when you are ready for this surgery. There's no harm in waiting for a while if you aren't quite sure yet. Make sure to come back to the forum to let us know how you are doing.

 

[Qaterra]

Welcome, Chathammom,

From what you wrote, it seems to me you're making the best choice. The best choice for you. And right now, that's the only choice that counts.

You need to be secure in your choice. Will you question your decision? Of course! It's only natural.

Just be sure you understand that wls is an ongoing journey. It isn't like a diet with a beginning, a middle, and an end. There is no end to wls. It is truly a lifestyle change. There is no going back. There is only continuing and following the plan as it has been given to you by your surgeon and other medicos, and sometimes by others on the same journey.

It isn't too early to start learning how to be a wls patient. Start taking 1/2 hour to complete a meal. Chew, chew, chew your food before swallowing. Sip, sip, sip water all day long in order to get enough in by the end of the day.

Have a sweet tooth? Begin cutting sugar out of your diet. You won't be having any later. Same thing for starches, though most people say starches are more easily tolerated than sugar.

You can do this. You can succeed and make yourself more fit and healthy, more likely to be around for a long time for your family. If you're ready. And you're ready only when you've taken a good hard look at wls and life after wls.

There are hundreds of thousands of people in the USA alone who have made this difficult decision you are now asking yourself to make. The more prepared you are, the more you understand exactly what you're getting into, the more likely your chances of success.

I hope you decide to continue your wls journey. It sounds like the right choice for you. But only you can make that decision.

Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted on how you're doing.