Hi pktoquchi,
I'm 6 months post op and feel really great!!!!! I have lost 71% of my weight and feel like I did 20 years ago. It's a slow go right after surgery but I would DO IT AGAIN TODAY!!!!! Don't let all of the negative stuff get you down. In 6 months you will feel like I do. Good luck and God Bless.

It is impossible to promise you will have N O complications or issues post surgery. BUT....I felt a lot of that same turmoil prior to surgery, and that's why I put it off til I was 52 yrs. old, kids grown and so on. Finally, I had to admit to myself that I could NOT do the simple weight loss on my own, or I'd have done it a dozen times over to avoid the surgery.

It was my surgeon who explained that at SOME point for the obese patient, we will have little success, most times. Yes, if there is a sudden change in attitude /lifestyle, with hours of working out daily, successfully cutting calories on our own and cutting out white stuff...sure. But who among us can be so consistent? Fact is post surgery, i am more so...because I see results. I think that's true for most.

Is there a risk? Sure...to everything in life. Again, per my doctor, there are risks to staying at the current weight. Death will come sooner, health complications you may have will worsen, some you don't have will develop. No gamble about it...being overweight results in wearing us out sooner.

I applaud those who can do it on their own, no surgery necessary. But even they struggle to keep it off, and a high percentage regain what they lose. I was one of them.

In the end, you do have to be ready to make lifestyle changes, and be ready to change up what , when and how much you eat. You will need to add walking or some fitness in, to sustain what progress you make. But the surgery, for those of us who are happy we had it, was the tool (only) to make our efforts show results.

Good luck in your decision process. It will be a life long control battle no matter which choice that you make.

PS... I am 22 months posts op, down 140# and very happy I finally decided to do this. Any complications? For me, I don't absorb iron well, so I take 2 capsules of a prescription iron, two times a day...took a year to get my energy levels to where I wasn't anemic, and oh so tired. But all is good now. Being patient with learning the new way you work will be your best gift to yourself.

okay.. lets ask all those people with complications if they would still go through with it.

I had infection/rash and two strictures and for each complication there were good drugs...that helped me through it.

Would I do it over again -- heck yes!! I am 1 week away from 3 months out and I started at your weight and am now 225......

also, if you have gotten to the point that you are scheduled already then you have already obviously tried most diets and you and we all know that yes diets can work but you will almost always gain back the weight, plus more.....

talk to the poeple who went through this a year or more ago and their lives are much less complicated then us newbies because we are still trying to figure it all out...

only you know what is right for you and in reality complications are pretty low... I was just an unlucky one......

good luck wiht your decision.

Hi !! I am 24 hours from surgery....We will be having surgery together !! If that helps you feel better ???? You and I will be going through this "Literally" every step of the surgery and recovery : ) I told you earlier to PULL UP YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES and BE STRONG !!
No need for negative thoughts....This is a positive thing and you will be in good hands !!! You can do this and together we will be there for each other : ) Happy thoughts and Breath .....
Good luck, Crystal39

My surgery is next week so I am in that final countdown like you are. I certainly can't make the decision for you but I think that everyone has those second thoughts at the last minute. However, from all of my research and browsing through forums, I have found that the VAST majority of people would do this operation again in a heartbeat. Even with complications.

You CAN do this. You say ONLY 80 pounds - it's not ONLY 80 pounds- that's a LOT of weight to take off on your own - you need the tool that surgery provides. Think about all the things you will be able to do when you lose weight. It sounds to me like it is worth it.

Go for it! I'm right behind you!

On the drive to the hospital the night before surgery I was freaking out just like you. (I'm usually very calm so this was odd) I was afraid I'd never be able to go out to dinner with my fianc and friends. Never be able to do things with my friends and all that. But now I realize that was just my fear of change trying to take over. I too was only at a bmi of about 40 and was feeling I could loose the rest of the weight myself. I know I probably could have lost some of the weight but I've always lost and then regained so I went through with the surgery. Now I'm about a month and a half out. Down 35 pounds post op 70 all together. I have had no complications. I don't crave breads and carbs all the time. I've never dumped, although I havnt really tried sugar at all. My pouch handles pretty much anything I've put into it. Again carbs don't taste the same but that's fine it makes me not crave it. I've been able to eat any meat. I can go out to dinner and I order a steak or soup and just eat a little. I don't have any depression issues. Dont let others complications scare you. Everyones procedure is unique. Good luck!

Look how far you've come to get to this point! If you've read posts by those who have had problems, you've also read the posts from those who are doing well. And how many success stories are out there that are so busy in their new lives that they don't post on this board anymore?

Please don't cancel! I'm sure it's terrifying -- your life will never be the same after the surgery............IT WILL BE BETTER!

You will be in my prayers tomorrow.

I was depressed BEFORE surgery.
It's been all smiles since.
The only complication I have is there aren't enough days in the week to do all the things I couldn't do prior to surgery.
Good luck!

What you are feeling is very normal and something many have gone through. I had a few complications but it was such a small price to pay for the fantastic new life I gained. Good luck to you.

I think the key to success with GBS is COMMITMENT! YOu have to be committed to making permanent lifestyle changes: eating healthy, following your plan, drinking lots of water, and becoming active. Embracing that lifestyle is essential. The other commitment is that you commit to facing your emotional issues that make you go to food for comfort rather than nourishment.

If you have that commitment in your heart, don't worry about your current emotions. HOWEVER, if you are still uncertain, I think you should work on your head/heart and get the commitment before you go under the knife. That's just my opinion...

That said, I am very happy that I had the surgery. It was a wise decision for me.

Best wishes...

Thanks everybody, feeling strong, 12 hours away. Let's DO THIS. I am ready to change my life for sure! Thank you all so much!

Thanks everybody, feeling strong, 12 hours away. Let's DO THIS. I am ready to change my life for sure! Thank you all so much!

Thanks everybody, feeling strong, 12 hours away. Let's DO THIS. I am ready to change my life for sure! Thank you all so much!

Good to hear that you are feeling better about things!!

I am sure a lucky one that has had no complications and am almost 17 months out. Down 125lbs. Fitting in clothes I have never been able to my entire life. Able to do things that a fat chick could never do. For me, it was so worth it.

Wanted to wish you luck!!!

Chris