Hey guys and gals, I have been reading everyone's posts and doing my research on gastric sleeve for a couple months now. And I ran into a couple things that I could see as potential problems. I wanted to see if I could get other sleevers perspectives on this. First off, the mental addiction to food. I am an emotional eater, happy, sad, bored or otherwise I reward with food. It is a terrible habit that I formed when I was young. I have been over weight for 24 years and have been on just about every diet out there. The most weight I have ever successfully lost was 50 pounds and of course like most people over a period of time gained it back plus some. I have about 150 pounds to loose now and know that I really do need the help.
So my concerns, I have been trying to diet like being on the sleeve for about a month now. Been cutting down my portions, chewing (first time I ever had done that, lol), not drinking before / after meals 30min, and walking 3 miles 3 times per week. I also have a pretty active job so I am on my feet moving around most of the day. But FOOD keeps sneaking back into my life! Granted I don't eat as much as I used to, but when I try to eat healthy for long periods of time I find myself always sneaking back to food that is high in sugar, fat, calories, etc. I just am not sure about the mental battle that I know I am going to face after surgery. And that scares me, a lot. I so desperately just want to be "normal". To fly on airplanes without worrying about a seat belt extender, be able to go to Universal Studios without worrying about trying (and failing) the test seats on the roller coasters. To be able to buy normal clothes. Not to mention all the health benefits.. bleh, Is it better to leap and just deal with the mental struggles after the fact???
Okay, last concern.. long term consequences from surgery. I am pretty much over the initial complications. I figure if I am going to die from surgery I can't stop that from happening. I wouldn't even have to get the surgery, I could just be walking down the road and some doctor on the way to preform a gastric sleeve surgery could run me over. So I am comfortable with my chances there. But what is going to happen 5 months, 5 years, 10 years down the line? What are the consequences for having the surgery?
I know that this surgery is new and there is not enough research yet on the long term effects, but I found some stuff in my research that scares me a lot as well. Specifically the nutrition deficiency that could lead to neuropathy. I have seen a couple cases of gastric sleeve patients with nerve damage due to nutritional deficiencies. I am sure this is probably rare, but one lady was saying she was even taking her vitamins and still ended up having nerve damage that put her in a wheel chair??
It won't let me post the links because I haven't made 15 posts yet, but just google "neuropathy gastric sleeve" Some scary stuff. Check out the link called "Peripheral Neuropathy - POST-Operation Gastric Sleeve Surgery", "WLS and neuropathy" and "Gastric Sleeve, Roux-en-Y and Nerve Damage | WLS Support"
Can this be controlled with the vitamins you take? I noticed some people said they where taking vitamins and this still happened! I couldn't even imagine not being able to walk.
BUT everyone that I have seen on here and other forums and YouTube said that they have not regretted having surgery and it has changed their life for the better in so many ways! I know the weight will kill me in the end, so I guess the trade off makes sense.. some possible complications versus definite long term complications due to morbid obesity. I am not on any medications nor have I ever been. I have only been to the hospital a handful of times and have only had one surgery. So I am not really comfortable with all of this.
Anyway, just nervous, I am trying to get myself scheduled for mid November so that I can get the needed downtime for some recovery before going back to work. I have been steadily loosing weight from 347 down to 325 and trying to create better eating habits before surgery, but again some mental problems there. Tell me I am worrying for nothing, tell me stop worrying and go have your stomach removed kid! Just tell me something.
Thanks for letting me vent!
Ryan.
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