I am glad I had my sleeve surgery on 6/11/12 and don't regret anything except I waited till I was 48 to have it done. I am very happy with the results. I have lost 99 pounds post op and lost 47 pre op for a total lost of 146 pounds. I went from 270 to 124. I am at my personal goal weight of 130 or under and working on maintaining for the last 3 months now. I go up down a pound or two daily but haven't went over 130 so I am not freaking out. I work out 2-3 times a week or more at the gym. I love my sleeve!

I am just a few days shy of being 10 months post of RNY (9/25/12).

I love the results so far. I feel wonderful -- 99% of the time if we are being honest -- I do battle constipation since surgery. I am wearing clothes that I look good in and I enjoy shopping now! People constantly tell me how wonderful I look (who wouldn't like that?) I have more energy. I go to my yoga class weekly and get myself in positions that I would have never dreamed of even trying a year ago - on the floor too which a year ago would have been a challenge unto itself!! I walk faster and farther than ever before plus I don't sweat like I used to and I don't get out of breath. I can easily go up and down stairs now too.

I have lost 137 pounds since I started my journey in May 2012 weighing in at 347 pounds. I am creeping closer to my goal weight - slow but sure wins the race right? My initial goal is to get under 200 pounds. As of this morning weighing in at 210 I only have 11 pounds to go to hit that goal! Then I want to get to 170 which will put my BMI under 30 and then we will see where I go from there.

Although I had a rough road in the beginning with complications from my surgery I would 100% do it all again, without hesitation, best decision I have every made, wish I had done it 10 years ago!!

What made me finally look into surgery? In July 2011 I had a small umbilical hernia that was repaired without issue. 6 months later I had another hernia in the same area but larger this time. The original surgeon had retired after my initial surgery and I saw his partner who informed me because of my weight that the hernias would keep reoccurring and that I really needed to look into surgery. My orthopedic doctor also gave me the same advice due to arthritis in my knees. So I went to a seminar and decided this is what I needed to make myself healthier and feel better.

I had my surgery 3 1/2 years ago. I LOVE my results. They are better than I ever imagined. I would absolutely do it over again. Heck, I'd do it every year if I had to. I used to say my only regret is that I didn't have the surgery sooner...but after thinking about it, I have come to accept that I had the surgery when I was finally ready to give up any food or drink necessary to become healthy. I had to hit bottom. Only then did I have the resolve to do this thing the right way.

I am so thankful the surgery was available for me. I am thankful to be able to walk, run, and dance!! A few minutes ago my husband picked me up and put me on the counter to kiss me good morning!! My kids are proud of me. I don't hate myself anymore.

I wish I could go back and re-assure the pre-surgery me....oh, wait!! That's why I still come here!!

When I was afraid I couldn't do this thing, that I didn't have what it took to use the tool the rest of my life...when Diet Coke and pizza seemed more important than being able to more freely through the world...I came here and learned from those who were on the other side. I learned this thing would really work if I chose to do the deal. I am so glad I found this place and followed the advice of the "old timers" who were living healthy lives.

I didn't listen to the people who whined or those who gave advice on how to eat the same kind of crap that made me fat...I ignored the people who said everything is okay "in moderation." Poison is poison. Consuming smaller doses of it only slows the process of dying.

Lovin' my healthy life!!

JJ

I am close to getting all the pre-surgery requirements done and am getting nervous. I am second guessing my decision. Is this normal?

I am scared of the complications and not looking healthy. I am 35 and weigh 290. This is the biggest I have ever been. My normal "big" was around 240 but over the last couple of years I get kept gaining. Even when I am small I still weigh alot. The smallest I ever have been is 160. To stay at that weight I had to exercise every day and eat right. I feel like I have been on a diet since I was 19-20.

I have already started eating more protein and taking vitamins. I drink alot of water. I love water and I am not sure I like the fact that I won't be able to drink alot. I believe water has alot to do with healthy skin. Plus- I live in Phoenix where it gets 110+ and am worried about the dehydration thing.

At the beginning of the process I was 100% sure I wanted to do this. I feel confused about it now.

Oh I wanted to add that besides my weight, I am healthy.

I'm 6 weeks out as of tomorrow. So far I have no regets! I was a little bummed the weight wasn't falling off after surgery (don't know why I was expecting so much) but when I think about it I have lost 56 lbs since I started this journey the end of Feb 2013. To break that down a little further 56 lbs averages out to 3.5 lbs per week.

So I have to quit complaining and just work towards my ultimate goal of 150 lbs. That's 97 pounds to go. I'm much healthier since surgery and I'm not taking nearly the amount of meds dealing with my diabetes which is awesome!
=)

Roxanne, I was a "healthy" fat person, too...until my late 30s and early 40s when I developed pitting edema, sleep apnea, and GERD. Right before I decided to have surgery, I was starting to have blood pressure . Diabetes would have soon followed.

They call it morbid obesity for a reason. I would have killed me.

JJ

@imjj4short...

lol... now that you mention some of the things you might have gotten. My family has been saying I snore now and wake up tired even when I think I slept good. Which I haven't ever. I know that is one of the signs of sleep apnea. My blood pressure has been high a couple of times but not enough to be put on meds. Diabetes does run in my family on both sides. All of my aunts are big, so I do see what your getting at.

I guess I am just really nervous about the complications you see people have.

I had an RNY in Dec of 2012. I would do it again in a heart beat. I am thrilled with the results and am not done losing yet!
I can do things I haven't been able to do in years. And at 110 pound lighter, MY BIKE RUNS FASTER!

I love my results and yes I would do it all over again if I had to.

It's been one hell of a ride and I've enjoyed most of it. The scatter brained, hormonal drama queen that occasionally showed her ugly face was a bit of a challenge, but I put her in her place.

How about you? Any regrets?
Shelley

Thank you guys all for your honest answers. Shelley*lol* the only reget I have is not looking into it sooner. I honestly didn't have no complications at all when I had the sleeve done 09/05/2012, in fact I called my Dr and asked her did she really do it because I felt great. I started this journey at 393. Even though I am tall and solid and didnt look that big, deep down I knew the weight was going to kill me. Now 10 months later I am 100lbs lighter and feel it in each step I take. I am still a baby in this whole process and can't wait to see what the next 10 months brings for me. I started this journey wearing a size 26/28, now I can get into a size 16/18 that in itself is amazing. I am still a big girl technically and of course can't see the 100lb weight loss but everyone else sees it and comments on it and that makes me feel great.

I'm only 2 weeks out (as of yesterday) from my RNY. I've always been a big girl. I always said I would never have surgery. If I couldn't do it on my own, it wasn't meant to be done. Looking back, I kick myself for thinking that. I think there for a while I still felt such a stigma attached to having wls that I didn't want to be a part of this community. I'm glad I changed my mind. Aside from the weight, I had not other health concerns...but they run in the family and I decided to nip it in the bud before it was too late for me.

The only problem(s) I've faced are getting sick and tire f protein shakes (but who hasn't, haha) and a "minor topical allergic reaction to the dermabond" that was used to close my incisions. All in all, everything has gone almost too well! I'm glad I made this decision to better my health and change my life.

Chocolate, I had RNY 4 weeks ago. Like you, I have had no complications. It is weird to me that I can eat 3 oz of meat per meal. Should I be able to? And my doc asked me Monday if we had me "too tight". When I told him what I am eating, he asked and you can eat that much at one time? I can! But should I be able to? I don't know, but it is a LOT less than I used to eat at once! Loving the weight loss to date and have NO regrets!

I am 13 days out from surgery and the weight loss is kicking in hard...I seem to be losing 1-2 pounds a day. Including the two weeks of Opti-Fast prior to surgery, I'm down 38 pounds so far. I'm starting solid foods tomorrow...cottage cheese, eggs, peanut butter, plain yogurt...none too soon...I have never in my life looked so forward to cottage cheese! My only regret so far is that I didn't do this sooner! I went back to work yesterday, and am feeling great. I get a little tired at the end of the day...guess that's why my doc agreed that I go back yo work 5 hours/day the rest of this week and next. Thanks so much for having a place to connect with others who have gone or are on the same journey.

My surgery (RNY) is the 24th. so just around the corner!

Why?
I thought I'd NEVER EVER have WLS! Like EVER! Not because I thought poorly of it, or thought it was the easy way out... in fact, just the opposite. I knew it was a tool, not a fix :) And I knew it meant changing my life and addressing my food habit, etc.

I always figured, heck if I have to do all that, then when I am ready, I'll just do all that without surgery and I'll have this thing. Well, 4 years ago, when I decided it was time to get my act together (I had just turned 49, so poop was getting real! LOL!) it didn't work! I waited too long you see...

I spent 4 years eating right, exercising, tracking, going to docs and NUTS... Endocrinologists, etc. Got on thyroid meds, and was told NOW you'll lose weight! Nada! Docs said I was doing all I could.... I was keeping diabetes at bay, got my cholesterol under control, cut my BP meds in half... but the #'s would not come off.

Then last fall.... my health went south. My thyroid was all out of wack... and I gained like 50 ish pounds in 3 months (Never want to do that! Was not pretty physically or emotionally!) and I lost the fight with diabetes. mobility was leaving on a fast train as well....

That was it! Doc said I'd done all I could... now it was time for WLS. And here I am, headed to surgery next Wednesday! With the help of a most awesome doc and nut, I have now lost 25 lbs, and counting as I am on preop diet!

My heaviest weight was around 350 like 7ish years ago. I got down to 260 and stayed there till last fall when my health went belly up. At my consult, I weighted in at 322... Today, 296.4. My goal is 185 (I am relative tall, so I am thinking that will keep me curvy but not too big! :) :)