Welcome! I was dead set against the surgery for one of the reasons you listed at first. I really didn't like the idea of messing with what God made. However, after talking to alot of people who have had weight loss surgery and realizing all the health benefits to come out of this I decided to move forward and have the surgery. I'm currently in a three month program required by insurance to prepare me for what to do and what to expect. I continue to research and find out everything I can about this life change. If I have a question about something I google it and go to many sights reading the information all this has helped to settle my nerves. One of the things you should read is the posting entitled "What Newbies need to Know". Good Luck to you and you can always come here and post questions to the group.

Welcome and congratulations on making the choice to change your life and lifestyle! I will be 7 years out in August and this has been one of the best choices in my life so far. I've had no complications and haven't regretted it for a second. I've had to adjust supplements along the way, but I don't consider that a complication. Research, research, and research some more. Ask all the questions you want. You can't be too prepared. If you haven't already started counseling to work on your personal issues and issues around food and why you eat, please get started now! The personal journey is 95% or more of the journey and never ends. Read Geneen Roth's books, especially Women, Food, and God. Man or woman, what she talks about fits. I don't think taking supplements is that big of a deal. I use a liquid multi, chews and sublinguals because I don't want to take lots of capsules. I do take a B complex in capusule form. Haven't found a B complex in liquid, chew, or sublingual form yet. The important part about supplements is to monitor your numbers so that supplements can be adjusted as needed. There are lists of Bariatric tests for the doctor to run. I get my blood tests regularly. The loose skin can be removed if you make that choice. Or you can make the choice to live with the loose skin. I've been cut on enough that I've chosen to live with the loose skin. I just wear clothes that don't emphasize it. Like Binky58 said, check out the what newbies post. Just scroll down. Again, congratulations!

Welcome and congratulations on your upcoming surgery!

It's totally normal to be nervous and have lots of questions. In the months before my surgery, I found DS and read every entry from the previous 2 years! Here, I found answers to questions I hadn't even thought to ask, yet! It also gave me a window into what life was really like after GBS. I'm 7 1/2 years out and still take supplements every day, but I'd much rather take supplements than carry around an extra 175 lbs like I did pre-surgery. Yes, loose skin sucks - but, again, so did weighing more than my refrigerator! Unlike the extra weight, the extra skin didn't stop me from being able to cross my legs, move easily through a room, walk through a mall without pain, ride a horse, ride a roller-coaster, etc, etc, etc. I never thought I'd be able to get the extra skin removed, but I was fortunate enough to have an incredibly talented plastic surgeon remove my extra skin through 4 staged surgeries (tummy tuck & breast lift, posterior lift, brachioplasty, and interior thighplasty). And, I was able to enjoy my new body while I made payments on it! (lol) (I finally finished paying for them this year). For me, the GBS and plastic surgeries have all been totally worth it!

I agree with Lcat (as usual), the head-work is the most important thing can we do for ourselves because the surgery is only a tool - we have to be willing to/know how to use that tool effectively. I look forward to cheering you on during your journey!

JJ