Help, I am scared !

[markwitlieb]

Hi

I am considering the Barartic surgery the gastric sleeve or LAP Band. My history is as follows; Sleep aptnia, high blood pressure and high colestorial. I weigh 225 and I am 5'6" tall. I am 50 years old. Loosing weight is not the issue, I can loose the weight, but it comes right back. My father died from complactions of diabieties. I have been to a cardiologist and Gastroentrologist, 2 different Baratic surgons. All the above doctors all agree that I should under go one of the Barartic procedures. I would like to find a doctor that might disagree with the doctors that I have already seen. I am finding it hard to come to terms with a unreversal procedure. I have tried most main stream diets and they do work, but only while I am commited to the program. These diets are not real life. It sucks to be on a diet and all you do is think about what you are going to eat.
Any advice that a medical or non-medical professional could provide would be greatly appreacated.

Thank you

[Enjoyingmynewsize]

Hi Mark,
I am not a doctor, but in my humble opinion you should not be afraid, if several doctors have agreed that the best option for you is bariatric surgery you should listen to them.
Most of us who have struggled with weight don't really have a problem loosing it, the problem we all have is keeping it off. With all the additional health issues you have, you are at risk if you are not able to maintain a healthy weight and the fluctuations can cause more harm to your heart.
I did my research before going for the gastric sleeve and talked to several doctors about this and all recommended the gastric sleeve over lap band because of the higher rate of success for long term weight loss. Yes, the gastric sleeve is irreversible, but trust me you won't be missing that piece of stomach they are taking out of you
I know surgery can be scary, but when we have other health issues that can be complicated by our weight we should think about it and decide.

This is all I can tell you from my own experience, I don't expect to talk you into doing something, just giving you a little advice as you requested and I think I can talk with some authority because I am a bariatric surgery patient who can testify that the sleeve is a great medical procedure that in experienced hands is of minimal risk. Also my surgeon who is one of the most experienced in the american continent told me that I am one of his most informed and educated patients about bariatric surgery.

Good luck!

[Gal]

Mark I had so many problems with my health ALL of which have gone only 9 weeks post op. I feel so well... I have had an undiagnosed internal infection somewhere that showed in my C-protein levels but even that is back into the normal range.

If I were you I would be far more scared of being obese than a procedure that is only uncomfortable for a few weeks and then its all over with.

Be brave and listen to your doctors.
Good luck with your decision,
Gal xx

[Mystic]

I know that it is hard to make a decision like this. I choose the sleeve after a lot of research. At first I did not know what to do either. You will have to make the decision that is best for you. This surgery is not that bad. The pros for me out weigh the cons. I wish you luck in your future.

[Hollywood_B1983]

Hey Mark, I too had the Gastric sleeve surgery. I actually just hit my one month post op this past Wednesday. I am 27. 6ft. And weighed 560lbs. I have always been big. Not necessarily fat. But in High School my football playing weight was 260lbs. Which I had a 36inch waist. I was big even for a linebacker. But shortly after Highschool I hit a rough patch and started putting the weight on. At 300lbs It wasnt a big concern to me. Because I carried it very well. But once I past 300 it just started ballooning on me. The more I gained the more inactive I became. The only thing that wasnt changing were my eating habits. Anyways thats how I found myself at 560lbs. The only time I actually hurt after my surgery was for the brief time I woke up in recovery. That did suck. After that it was a slight discomfort. I even stopped taking my pain pills the day I went Home. I had my surgery at around 6pm on a Monday. And went home Thursday (I did mine in Juarez Mexico. Alot Cheaper than in the US) As of last Wednesday I was down to 498lbs. I still have a long way to go but Its a heck of a start. Not everyone loses at that rate. You have to take my size into consideration. I haven't even had any Heartburn or Indigestion or anything since my surgery. I still have the swelling in my legs and feet. But Im sure that will go away once I lose enough weight. I aslo eat whatever I want. I have also only thrown up once. It was one of those things that I could have not. But I was very uncomfortable, so I sorta let myself. I had drank too much milk too fast. I think once you educate yourself on the surgery and get lots of feed back from actual people that have done it. I think you will decide its not so bad. It doesnt mean you can't still enjoy food. It just takes less for you to be full! If you have any specific questions don't hesitate to ask.