Hi! For a few years now my doctors have wanted me to consider the option of bariatric surgery for weight loss. Due to having 2 foot/ankle surgeries (both feet) and 1 knee replacement surgery over the last year and a half, was not able to do too much research. I attended a seminar in July and finally was able to meet with the surgeon on Monday to discuss a little bit more. Unfortunately, since I wasn't committing at the time we didn't get into too much detail. I know in my heart that if I do the surgery that there are many benefits, examples: getting off a lot of medications, curing my sleep apnea, feeling better about myself, etc. Overall, becoming healthy and gaining control over my life!!! Right now what's holding me back is psychological. I have failed at many many weight-loss attempts over the years and I'm afraid that I will fail again if I go through with this procedure. I start out committed but slowly bad habits start creeping in again. Because of this, I am concerned that I will not be able to adhere to the post surgery way of life diet. Has anyone experienced this concern? If so, what steps did you take to help resolve this concern? I have joined this forum with the hopes of gaining more knowledge and support while I make this decision. Thanks for listening.
Welcome.
We have all been where you are right now; unsure, afraid you will gain it back, psychological issues with losing weight permanently, etc. etc.,
First you talk about many improvements. Let me list mine. You will see a common pattern that we all achieve when succeeding with this surgery:
Accomplishments as a result of my Bariatric Gastric Bypass (11/4/2013)
• Diabetes resolved – off all meds, avg reading 110
• BP normal again – I am still taking bystolic 5mg. Resting pulse is around 60 and BP near or below 120/80. Without the bystolic my resting pulse is still in the 60s. However, my BP goes up to the high 130s/high 80s.
• Sleep Apnea resolved – I am not snoring nor do I believe I am stopping breathing. I will confirm this later this year.
• Legs no longer swollen
• Waist size has shrunk – Wearing size 44 pants
• Feet are smaller – I was able to put a pair of dress shoes on that I haven’t been able to wear.
• I stay under 1200 calories a day. Most days around 1000 calories.
• I have a lot more energy and I can dance, dance and dance!
• I can walk up neighborhood hills aggressively without having to stop; no longer breathless.
• My incontinence due to my prostatectomy has been resolved.
• I am able to sleep in my bed again. I had been sleeping In an upright chair to be comfortable.
• Dramatically reduced backaches; almost completely gone.
• I can bend over and tie my shoes now and I can see my toes.
• I can do dance steps again that I couldn’t do. The belly is gone!
• Now wearing size 42 slacks.
• Starting to sleep on my side again! This has happened in years!
• Intimacy much improved !!!
• Fit in to a small diner booth !
• I can run up and down stairs several times without becoming breathless
• I squeeze out between two cars that were tightly parked together. A year ago I couldn’t get out of the car; I would be trapped.
• I squeezed into a size 38 pair of pants. (6/1/2014)
• Sleeping on side is comfortable now. (6/1/2014)
• Sleeping flat on my back is doing fine too. No longer need to be propped up. (6/1/2014)
• I have reached my goal of under 200. I weigh 197 (9/9/2014)
• Size 38 Pants fitting comfortably now (9/9/2014)
Now, take a good look at my list. You mentioned many of the major opportunities to improve your health.
I recently past my first anniversary of the surgery 11/14/2014. I have been maintaining since mid July 2014.
What this surgery does for you in terms of health benefits is to give you a new lease on life. For me, I am 70 right now; I have a legitimate chance now of making 80 or more. Without this surgery I do believe I would not make it to 80. So, let me put it in these terms for you. I don't know your age and I don't know if you have thought about it. I suspect you are getting there based on ankle and knee surgery, etc., etc.
Another important factor is the surgery is only a tool. You get a new lease on life and you have about a year to a year and a half to learn a new way of eating. Food is no longer the center of your life. Portions are smaller. For the first several months you cannot consume a lot. So, you get a good head start.
Can you fail? Sure you can. There are people who went through all this only to destroy it by going back to old habits, restretching their stomach and gaining all the weight back.
Go and research the statistics on this.
I will do the same and come back with some statistics for you as well. What I will tell you is you have a huge opportunity to be successful, happier and healthier.
You should have a good support group too; especially from your surgeon's office. There should be a nutritionist that you visit, a bariatric psychologist, the Doctor, the physicians assistants, all of whom are available to you to answer any and all questions and help you as you progress post op.
I still enjoy everything that I want. I have cookies, ice cream, pasta, etc., However, it is constrained by parameters such as not exceeding 1200 calories a day until you reach goal. Now that I am at goal I allow myself to consume around 1800 calories per day.
If I find that my weight starts to creep up, I immediately go back to a more conservative eating pattern and try not to exceed 1200 again; usually I end up between 1200 to 1500 calories.
These are all new disciplines for me; disciplines to assure success and happiness.
My message to you is DO IT !!!
Learn the new habits and begin to enjoy a healthier and happier life.
Best wishes,
Ralph
