Weighing my options (see what i did there)

[unbesleevable]

Hey everyone!

I'm Erin, i'm 29 and I live in South Jersey. I am just starting my journey in researching if the sleeve is right for me and i'm happy to have found this community. I have a lot of mixed feelings about looking into getting the sleeve, as i'm sure anyone would. For my age and height, I have an extremely high BMI (about 50) and overall I feel how big I am, I don't like how my clothes feel, how big I look in pictures and how my weight restricts me from doing things that I love (traveling, hiking, running, etc). However, aside from some aches and pains from being big, I don't have any immediate health problems that others have. My blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and the entire rest of my blood tests came back perfect. Part of me still thinks I can lose weight on my own, and part of me thinks that if I was going to then I would have by now and that i'm just too much at risk for dropping dead with a BMI of 50.

One other thing. If anyone else has any experience with this I would SO appreciate some feedback. About a year and a half ago I had a pulmonary embolism from using the Nuvaring. I know that pulmonary embolisms are a big potential complication from surgery. Has anyone out there had the gastric sleeve that had a previous PE? If so, what steps did they take to make sure it didn't happen during surgery?

[mtngrl]

You can be healthy and overweight. I am one of those people. I have not been overweight all my life and ran into troubles when I got really sick and sedentary.

Read all you can here. There are sleevers of all ages. Have you checked to see if your insurance will cover the sleeve?

[Ann2]

A BMI of 50 and you don't have no immediate health problems or comorbidities, huh?

Just wait.

[jaimaroo]

Hi there!
I understand how you are feeling. I have been there so many times. In the past I would debate it back and forth and then decide it was too extreme for me, and I could do it on my own. As I got older my reasons for wanting it started to shift. Before I wanted it so I could be "pretty", so I could shop in fancy stores for clothes, so I could date whom ever I wanted. These were all the wrong reasons and I am glad that I didn't have the procedure back then. So what changed? I want to LIVE. I want to run, jump, travel, do activities where my weight doesn't matter, I want a family....and I want to be there for them for a long time. This was a major shift for me, and I finally know it is the right time. My surgery is in June. I am 38 and I am starting to feel the effects of being overweight. I was like you....I was "healthy". It catches up to you and then dumps on you all at once. While above I said I am happy I waited, I DO regret not doing it earlier so I could be living a healthy life already.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck and know this community is there for support.

[unbesleevable]

I feel so incredibly lucky that so far every single blood test under the sun has come back normal for me, it even surprises me sadly. I know that I HAVE to lose weight, its just a matter of how. Right now since I just started with my consultations and even considering the sleeve I am very new to all of this and its hard for me at this point not to consider it an extreme option. Plus, my previous pulmonary embolism puts me at a high risk during surgery which scares the hell out of me. I had to fight for my life during that time, and it wasnt that long ago. I appreciate your point of view because you are right that with a BMI of 50 I am heading for more problems. I just have to figure all of this out right now which is why im here.

[MaggieMay2015]

Welcome! Keep coming here and learn from others experiences, it has really helped me

[mtngrl]

My bmi is 34 but I am having the sleeve done on June 8th. I want to get the weight off before I have issues.

[unbesleevable]

Thank you Jaimaroo! I would definitely say that i'm past wanting the sleeve to be pretty or skinny or date whoever. Maybe I would have felt that way 10 years ago but right now i'm more of the position that I want to enjoy my life more and be active, go hiking, go on vacations, go on roller coasters, not feel so big and look back on pictures with happiness and not disgust. I'm 5'3 and 280 lbs so my life is certainly impacted by my weight. Nothing fits me, seats are too tight, I cant go on rides, I get out of breath easily and I cant do things like go out dancing or do a lot of things without being self conscious. So I think I might already be in a good psychological mindset for the sleeve. Its just the fear of surgery and my blood clot risk that freak me out so much.

[tnkrrbl]

Welcome to our world - if I could have I would have....

There are lots of groups out there and on Facebook.

Ask Lots of questions, get your answers, then do what is best for you and your health

Good Luck