Is too much information not good?

[LifesAJourney]

I have been waiting for my bypass surgery date and the more I read online all over about pros and cons of surgery and peoples personal stories I am getting more and more scared. Has anyone else felt that way. I know everyones experiences are different and everyones personal journey is different but the more time I have to wait and the more I read the more petrified I become. I would love to read more awesome experiences being out there to read but really just seeing alot of scary ones lately on different sites. What to do what to do .....

 

[tealovingsleever]

It's a problem. My own experience and the only advice I can give is that yes it's scary and yes something might go wrong but the risks are tiny. If you know you've picked the right surgery for you and if you know you could never lose the weight on your own you will find the bravery to go through with it xx

 

[slaz]

Good morning Lifesajourney, You have to remember that bad news will always beat good news to the headlines. On sites like this you have the iceberg effect, for every post good or bad there will be many more happy people who have gone through WLS and feel no need to post here or on other sites, the vast majority of them will be or will be on their way to a lighter life. Obviously we all have to take a balanced view before going ahead and as we all know there are risks with surgery and if we don't follow the rules there is a real risk that surgery will not help in the longer term, BUT, the alternative is not losing weight or more likely putting on more weight and that cannot be a healthy or sensible alternative. I remember being told by another fat person many years ago when I had lost several stones that my diet wasn't healthy. I answered " so you think being this fat is?" Good luck with your decision.

 

[penelope1008]

Sometimes yes sometimes no, it's good to know what to expect good & bad. Harder not to worry if you will join the small group that get the bad experience.
I had my surgery back in July 2011 my pre & post op losses now total 8st 2lb I've gone from 121.5kg to 70.4kg I've been stick around this since 1yr post op & I'm a few weeks shy of 2yrs post op now. I'm a mere 7lbs off my top end ideal weight & healthy bmi whether I can shed this or am stuck here due to the effects of excess skin I don't know. It's more a case of accepting my new self & that possibility that may allow me to she'd that last bit by not worrying anymore so relaxing & it goes or not as the case may be. Plastics play on my mind do I deserve it, can I afford it or get it on the NHS as was my surgery, am I brave enough? So I plan to contact my team & get advice from them so I know the final weight they feel I should aim for. Last year at my 1yr post op check they were very pleased with my 93% excess weight loss & weren't worried if I didn't lose anymore. It is possibly me obsessing about hitting that self imposed target that is my problem to deal with. So that's the plan for now.
Dress sizes have come down from sizes 22/20 to a size 10. Occasionally a size 12 depending on the cut or make so in many many ways I have a lot to celebrate & be proud of rather than my hang up of a possibly elusive target.
I had few problems post op those I did have were temporary intolerances & learning to chew & eat slowly. I was back on solids by 4 was post op so all things are possible. Hope that helps reassure you. Feel free to pop over to diaries & see mine, warts & all.

 

[wannabeyummi]

I have been waiting for my bypass surgery date and the more I read online all over about pros and cons of surgery and peoples personal stories I am getting more and more scared. Has anyone else felt that way. I know everyones experiences are different and everyones personal journey is different but the more time I have to wait and the more I read the more petrified I become. I would love to read more awesome experiences being out there to read but really just seeing alot of scary ones lately on different sites. What to do what to do .....

Hi ladies
I'm finding this very true aswell at the moment. I saw my surgeon on Monday and because I have a hernia he suggested a bypass (I wanted a sleeve). Medically he said this is the best operation for me. One minute I think yes I can do this & then I read something and think what am I doing this is huge!
Having said that I know surgery is the way as I have mobility issues and I have tried shifting this weight but its gone no where
If I don't have op I will only get bigger. I have 2 daughters one aged 12 & the other 2, I want to enjoy them & be a good mum.
Thanks for listening x

 

[lyzzyanne]

I think you would be daft not to worry, we all have thought long and hard about it. Right up until the op I was questioning why I was doing it and if it would kill me. I think thats absolutely normal. BUT if you are sensible and weigh up the pros and cons and get yourself in the best possible position things should be fine.

I had a problem free operation no pain at all. I have had great weight loss and can now eat virtually anything in much much smaller quantities!!

Its the best thing I have done for myself and worth all the initial worry.

Good luck

 

[pinkprincess77]

Welcome to the emotional rollercoaster ride of wls. I had my op on monday 3rd june. I had been questioning if i was really doing the right thing the whole way through.The 2 weeks before surgery felt very surreal. I went through the phase of think everything will be absolutely fine then the what if I die.

2 days before I went in I wrote letter to my loved ones just incase the worst did happen this was extremely upsetting but it was something I felt I had to do. I didnt sleep the niggt before my surgery so extremely exhasted and emotional.

I arrived at the hospital at 6.30am and didnt go down while 3pm which was absolutely torture. Everytime a different member of staff came to me I cried because I was so scared. The staff were great and explained that yes to me its a very big deal but they've done the same operation many times and they would look after me. I will be honest there was moment just before I went down that I thought I was doing the wrong thing I may be obese but alive and was very close to saying I'd changed my mind.

I was even crying as they put me to sleep. The first thing i said when I came round was am I ok lol. I'm in alot of pain but I feel very positive now that I am on the beginning of the brand new me.

As for the information yes some of the things you can read may worry you more but it is best to know the best and the worst of wls. X

 

[widdershins]

I have been waiting for my bypass surgery date and the more I read online all over about pros and cons of surgery and peoples personal stories I am getting more and more scared. Has anyone else felt that way. I know everyones experiences are different and everyones personal journey is different but the more time I have to wait and the more I read the more petrified I become. I would love to read more awesome experiences being out there to read but really just seeing alot of scary ones lately on different sites. What to do what to do .....

No, from my point of view, its perfectly normal to feel this way - and its a personal thing too.

We all react in different ways, and sometimes, reading lots of stuff gives us sensory overload! However, it DOES pay to know what you're getting yourself into.

Remember, sensationalism sells newspapers, it wouldnt make good reading/sales for a run of the mill story, would it?
We seem to like gore and guts, and, theres an element of our society who like to think us fatties will get what we deserve for either being a strain on the NHS or being fat in the first place.

Take it with a pinch of salt, but DO make an informed choice.

 

[moomoo1]

its normal to be scared , iv got a band thats not woring and has been giving me probs had it 4 yrs im waiting to convert to bypass and cant wait from having previous bariatric surgery and even with the problems iv had i dont regret it for a single second it is life changing and all major life changes include trepidation but the positives far far far outway any negatives

 

[SleeveGirl]

I have been waiting for my bypass surgery date and the more I read online all over about pros and cons of surgery and peoples personal stories I am getting more and more scared. Has anyone else felt that way. I know everyones experiences are different and everyones personal journey is different but the more time I have to wait and the more I read the more petrified I become. I would love to read more awesome experiences being out there to read but really just seeing alot of scary ones lately on different sites. What to do what to do .....

It is totally natural to feel scared. I do agree with you, I felt too much info was not very good. My husband, mum and step dad all work in hospitals specifically in the theatre department - so I have heard a lot. HOWEVER, although I am only 2 weeks post op, I wouldn't change my decision at all - and I know if I didn't have the surgery I would of just got bigger and bigger.

There are lots of positive stories on this site as well, that's what kept me going xxx

 

[Mr Doo]

I think out of 100 surgeries the survival rate is 99.9% successful
that & the benefits of surgery, convinced me i'm doing the right thing.
Your decision alone & only you can make it no matter what you read/hear, good/bad !
you wouldnt be human if you didnt have concerns !, ask ask & ask & still if in doubt ask some more
good luck

 

[Sashie1977]

As someone who has had all 3 surgeries, I would still do it all over again! I dread to think where I would be now if I hadn't done it.
It's perfectly normal to be scared. I was scared for each and every one of my ops, but I came through them and I am the lightest I have been in 10 years! Make sure you ask loads of questions to your team and tell them of any concerns you have.
You will be fine, just keep positive and think of all the fabulous things you will be able to do once the weight begins to drop off. xx

 

[LifesAJourney]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond to my post. I truly appreciate everyone's thoughts and feedback and it gives me some relief to have read what you have shared. You all are really wonderful people and I am thankful for this forum. xx

 

[Lincs Lass]

I have to be honest - maybe it was buying my head in the sand but once I'd decided to have the op I didn't read bad experiences. Before I'd made my decision I read absolutely everything but knew I had to have the op or I'd be dead by the time my son made Uni.

I have been VERY lucky with my surgery. I went in lunchtime on the Friday and was home Saturday evening. The weight has come off at a nice rate (despite my occasional moans at stalling) and I can nearly shop in 'normal' clothes. I got up off a bean bag the other day by pushing up through my legs rather than crawling to the nearest wall and climbing up that (helping at youth club tonight so will do it loads and loads more just because I can!!).

 

[FatBoySlimin]

I'm still pre op but like you sometimes question my decision to go for a bypass.
I think it's healthy to research and question your decision, its a natural human instinct.
Also like many have said you always hear the bad experiences and very rarely the good. It's like shops and tradesmen, people are quick to judge and tell the bad experiences but very few will praise them.
This is where this forum is great, I've found a lot of people here are fantastic at telling there storied so that there is a balanced opinion.
Good luck wit your journey.

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

 

[fjsinc]

I inundated myself with information pre op. I went through the 5 stages of grief before I even got on the operating table, going through a period of emotional turmoil in the process. I was so prepared for everything that could go wrong, how my life could be impaired post op.
Literally non of the things I was so afraid of happened (so far).
Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing - its an amazing journey. For me I needed to feel prepared, and go into it with my eyes wide open.