Are you not sure what to do? Have the surgery or not have the surgery?

Hi, I remember when I was thinking about having sleeve surgery, I sat back and read all these posts, until I felt comfortable enough to join in and ask my million questions.  I had such great support and wonderful people who helped me along my weight loss journey.  I always promised I would pay it forward. So I am here 2 1/2 years after my "sleeve" surgery.  I had the most amazing experience.  I am now 65 years old and thought that maybe I was too old to do this.  Boy, was I wrong.  I picked Dr. Aceves to do my surgery.  That was the best choice I could have ever made.  I happend to work with a good friend who had Dr. Aceves  for her doctor and had WLS with him.  She made me do lots of research and take some time to make up my mind.  It took me 6 months to make this choice.  What an amazing journey I have had.  I started out at 225 pounds and lost a total of 105 pounds.  I now weight 120 lbs and have maintained that weight loss.  I now know I will always be able to maintain it.  I am never on a diet, but made a life style change that will last forever.  My goal is to help and support people who are just not  qutie sure if they want this surgery, or if they have questions and are scared to ask anyone.  I am here to listen to you, talk about your fears and help and support you in any way I can help you. You deserve to have it ALL, and there really is a way.  If diet and exercise were all it took, and it worked then some of us would not need to have WLS. Most of us have lost it and gained it back many time in our lives. I believe it took more strength to have this surgery than anything I had ever done.  But, I knew it had to be ALL about me and NO one else.  I had earned the right to do this for myself. Life is wonderful, and I have NO regrets what so ever. My husband fell in love with me when I was fat and so now he loves me just as much when I am healthy and thin.  He has even lost weight because of how we both eat--healthy.  I have had great support from him all the way though my weight loss journey. So if you are just sitting there and reading this and not sure what you want to do talk to me.  I will be honest and tell you the good and the bad side of all this.  It takes work on your part and effort.  This is NO mircle cure and you have to have your head in the right place and want this more than you want anything else in life. This is your tool to get to the goal you want.  It takes making good food choices, and some exercise on your part too.  I used to be the person who "hated" exercise....now I honestly look forward to it 5 or 6 days a week.  My choice of exercise is pretty easy, I walk.  So please feel free to ask questions, say what you are thinking.  There isn't anything that we can't talk about.

Take care,
Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Dr. Aceves

Congratulations!!! wonderful story of encouragement ;-) keep up the good work!!! you are a great success!!!

Wow...I'm thinking you were sent specifically to me today.  I am scheduled for surgery on 5/2/11 and I am still going back and forth several times a day about whether or not to proceed.  When I started pursuing this path I weighed 217.  I'm 5'4".  My main reason for looking into WLS was because I have Stage 4 NASH with fibrosis.  The liver specialist said that there is no cure, no medication at this time but that significant weight loss seems to help.  Having lost and gained several hundred pounds over my lifetime, I felt doomed to help myself.  So, on one hand I see this as my only chance to buy some time.  I've lost 24 pounds on the pre-op diet and now keep having fantasies that I can do this on my own, without the surgery.  My experiences with lasting weight loss say otherwise.  I'm terrified of the surgery, in part due to my age (56) and wondering if it's "too late" to bother and how hard recovery will be for someone my age.  Thank you so much for posting today.  Do you have any other words of wisdom?  I can use all the help I can get.

My words of wisdom is it is NEVER to late to do this surgery.  I want you to consider seeing Dr. Aceves.  He is an amazing doctor, and I would trust him with my life--I did and my best friends too--now I have many more years to live healthy. He is the best there is anywhere in the world.  He is in Mexicali, Mexico.  He is the most caring doctor I have ever encountered in my life. The care is outstanding by his entire staff and OH soooo clean at his hosptial--they clean 24-7. 

Each day you wait is a day longer being unhealthy.  I believe with all my heart that this is the right thing for you. And after reading about your health history this is your salvation.  There is no one I know who would say, "oh I want to have surgery."  But, if this is what I need to do, to changed my life and add years on to it I would.  If you were a drug addict I expect you to get treatment.  We are food addicts and so we need to have a restriction and the sleeve is the answer.  It is a tool that will allow you to achieve your goal.  You will become health, and add years to your life.  If I could do this at 63 years old, you have an advantage over me.  Please value your life enough and care about yourself enough to move forward to having this done.  It is very normal to have fear, I had it and everyone I know has had it too. 

I will be here ever step of the way with you, for support and questions and to talk with about your fears.  Please do what it will take to save your life.  If it were your child you would do it in a heart beat.  You are worth it.

You will never be on a diet, you will be on a lifestyle changed.  You will be amazed that you really are never hungry, you will want healthy food and you will bed able to eat pretty much what other people eat, only small amounts--less groceries to buy, share meals with someone else, less doctor bills, less medication.

I hope that helps a little, lets stay in touch and talk OK.
Hugs,
Suzanne

Suzanne,

It’s like you know exactly what’s in my head. I have a surgery date scheduled (May 13th), but I’m also on the fence about it all. Like everyone else on here I have tried several diets and lost some but then regained everything plus. I do wonder if I would have had better results if I had just tried harder. My normally wonderfully-supportive husband isn’t making this easier. He has never had a weight problem and thinks I could do this on my own if I just, “eat less and run around more" as he puts it.

We have been “trying" to get pregnant for several years, and I know that my weight is contributing to my infertility. Also, though I’m working now (as a contractor) I am actively looking for another, more permanent job. And I wonder if none of the interviews I’ve been on have lead to an offer because of my weight. I mean, if you were a hiring manager with your pick of 10 or more qualified candidates would you choose the fat girl? Doesn’t my being fat suggest something about my work ethic / character? Ughhh!

Anyway, I told my husband that I’m going to start my pre-op diet this Friday. The diet only needs to start 7-14 days pre-op, but I’m going to give it a full 4 weeks and just see what happens. If I can get the weight off on my own then maybe I don’t need the surgery? Ugh! But really, what makes it different this time? What makes me think it’s going to work this time? I just don’t know!
Thanks for the support!
DeeAnn

DeeAnnM,


All of us who have had the surgery been there a million and one times, we lose a few pds and think  I can do it just to have our hearts broken. All the way into the surgery room I was debating if this was the right thing to do. I am 9days out and I am glad I have a tool that I can work and give me positive results if I work it correctly. No one said this is going to be a miracle worker but  it can be it up to you to make it a miracle worker.   So I hope whatever you decide to do make it a choice for you and no one else. We are here to support your decision and good luck on your journey where ever it may take you.

If you ever have any questions or need to help just let me know.  I have been down this road ahead of you.  We are all in this together.  Congratulations on your choice to change your life.  You are going to love the results.

Hugs,
Suzanne

Hi DeeAnn,

I know what you are thinking because I have beed there and done it before.  I want people to know that sleeve surgery is the answer.  I have been fat and lost it and gained it more times that I can count.

Your husband can't understand something he hasn't experienced.  Don't be too rd on him.  This is all about you and NO one else.  You don't need anyone's approval.  You can educate all of them once you start losing the weight, you are healthy and happy.  If exercise and diet worked for everyone then we wouldn't have overwieght (fat people).  We have an addiction to food and this is our form of treatment.  The sleeve gives you a restriction and you are forced to eat much smaller amounts of food.  It takes you longer to eat, because you chew and chew a lot.  You start to drop those pounds and you get excited and you start to make better food choices.  You are never you going to be on a diet, you will make a lifestyle change. You will never feel deprived,  I have a cookie, just not 12 cookies. 

So go for it, this is ALL about you girl.  Never give up on your dreams they will all come true. 

I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali Mexico and he is the BEST.  Do not shop around for a price when it comes to your health you want the best there is.  He is an amazing doctor and has a top rated hosptil and so very clean.  His entire staff is top of the line.  Please tell me this is who you are going to go to.  I wouldn't let anyone but him do this surgery.

Please stay in touch.

Hugs,
Suzanne

I have been going through all of the pros and cons in my head, for what seems like forever. My hubby preferring I didn’t do it isn’t even the biggest “con", because he’s not a controlling man and I am NOT the type to be controlled. My biggest concern is what if it ends up just like all of my previous weight-loss attempts? What if I go through this process, lose a bunch of weigh but fail to make a permanent lifestyle change and regain? That’s my biggest fear. Fear number two is complications.

What an inspiring post! I am just a little over 2 months out and wonder if I'll ever get there, and if I do, will I be able to stay there! Your post gives me hope!! So, the only exercise you do is walk? I do that as well but was wondering if it was enough. Care to share what a typical menu for a day for you would look like?