[thea]

Greetings everyone

I'd like to know when it comes down to the nitty gritty, who should NOT get a gastric bypass or simular surgery, other than the obvious. What kind of questions should I ask my Doctor, and/or the Specialist? What kind of research should I do? Do I need to talk to a counsellor?

My step Sister had a gastric bypass done 8 to 10 years ago. For her it was the only and final answer. I'm 44, 225lbs, now diabetic, meds only, I've been over weight since grade 5 and I'm tired of being over weight, plus tired of trying all the time without some form of success. I've sworn many times that I'd never consider this as an option, but?.... I guess I need to ask the ones who have made this choice and now in my eyes are the experts to ask.

Thankyou for your time

thea

[fr1endly2]

HI THEA!
welcome to the boards! and i look forward to getting to know you
thru your posts. ITS a persona decision only you can make. FOR me
it was my last efforts for good health as i was so obesite and unhealthy.

I read books, met with surgeons, went to information seminars, reasearched online till i felt this was for me. I then picked the surgeon
i liked best met with him and went to all the preoperative specialists
required for surgery clearance.

NOW a year post op i am very happy and healthy. I have lost 143 lbs.
I went from a size 30/32 to a size 8 and still looseing. MY health is perfect,
i have energy and would do this surgery again without hestitation. I had no complications and lost at an above average rate. SURE its had its little
ups and downs and struggles along the way but it was very worth everyone of them.
ALL the best
and i look forward to getting to know you better

[Becca]

HI, thea
My nema is Becca. I also went, to all the, information seminars, and I have researchedthis for 3 years, I have went to some of the meeting's with the other bypass post op's, I talked with people, I listened, watched.

I'm not feeling good health wise; my back is hurting all the time, my feet, my knees, I have depression issues, because of the weight I’m NOT! a happy camper.
So I have many things, that have helped me make this dission, and I feel it’s the right thing to do, and I’m ready.

My husband and kids are behind me 110%, my middle son Matt is worried, about the surgery it self, but he is behind me, he tells me he wants me to be happy again.
And I have a grandson (Matts son.) that needs me to be around for along time, to watch him grow.

But before you do anything look on the internet, go to the meetings, talk, listen, read. Because it’s the biggest dissions you will ever make, and only YOU! Can/or will make this dission, and don’t let people tell you it’s bad, it will kill you, (any surgery can kill you.) it done this, it done that, to me or this person. That’s their views, not every one is the same. And you need your family, (Husband, kids mainly, you live with them not everyone else.) to be there for you.

My husband went through everything with me all the meetings I went to, the all dr's, everything he has been there by my side from day #1.

So, I hope you can get help and answers, your looking for here and on the internet. And make the dission for Y.O.U!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck Thea!!. And let us know if we can help. Their are, some really great people here, that know their stuff LOL!

[DocSanae]

Welcome to this board, thea.
Thank you for joining us, and I hope that you will feel at home with us here.

I am not WLS, but here on the board for med-tech support.
So, from the dr's point of view. Be forthright with your dr and ask what he/she thinks of whether this surgery is an option for you, keep in mind, however, there are many drs who are against this route from the beginning, so in that case, you'll probably get only a negative answer. However, if your dr's fairly familar with this surgery, or has other WLS patients, he/she will probably be able to answer a lot of your Qs and let you see the choices you have, and what you need to think about in making a decision. Also, as others have said, try to talk to as many post ops as you can, and even the pre ops as well.
Collect as much info as you can, in as many ways as you can.

Since your sister had the surgery quite a while ago, while much of her experience probably still holds true today, there will also be a lot that is different from then, especially in regards to support, and suppliments and stuff that you will have to be taking the rest of your life. I hope you are on good terms with your sister, and she is someone who can provide you support as a veteran post op.

One more thing, do you think you have issues with food and that you misuse it, or anything else for the matter? Even with the genetic tendency that makes you likely to get overweight/obese, many people have difficulty in regulating their eating, and while this surgery is a tool to make you go down that road willy nilly, so to speak, you may find you will need help to deal with some of the issues, so if there is something you feel uncomfortable about, then it may be a good idea to get professional help to sort things out, even as you are doing the research, and this may even help you in making a decision that is right just for you.

This journey is yours and yours only to take, and the choice is about how to attain a healthier life by choosing a method that works for you.

I hope you'll be able to find plenty of answers to your question here.
((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

[FemmeMode]

Hi Thea....
All I can tell you....is I don't regret it for a moment.

I have been thinking about it for several years...and started the process latst Aug...if you'd like to see my BLOG with all the details...feel free. It's got everything from when I knew I needed to call...to all it took to get approved by my insurance company.
If you have any trouble with your ins....there is a great book on this site that is very helpful!!

I am now 4 weeks post op...and don't regret it for a second. (I know...I'm repeating myself....I'm just thrilled that I'm finally on the other side of surgery!! It's like a light went on at the end of the "Weight Tunnel!" I've also lost 35 lbs. in this 4 weeks....so, I count that as a HUGE victory!!

This board is a great one to be on....very veyr personal....you can really get to know people...and it's soooo great!
Let us know what you decide...either way!!