People's Responses to the Very Idea of WLS

[BarbaraG]

Hi,

I'm hanging round these forums as I am contemplating WLS, but not yet decided to go for it. I am having a good go with healthier eating/exercise/xenical - one last ditch attempt, if you like - and meanwhile, researching WLS. So anyhow, I have mentioned the possibility of having WLS to 5 people so far, here are their responses:

OH (just obese): If that's what you want to do.... but why don't you have another go with those pills first?

Health Care Assistant (Slightly overweight - checking my BP): Do you know what I'd advise? Come to Slimming World with me - I've lost 3 1/2 stone, and we've got someone who's lost 12 stone

Friend (fairly slim): That would be a really big step - how can I support you?

Sister (very obese, but not morbidly): Why don't you go for the free consultation (with WLS Group) to find out more? You wouldn't be committing yourself

GP Nurse Practitioner (skinny, prescribing the Xenical): It's a really radical change to your body, and changes the way you eat for ever.... did you know we can give Xenical long-term for maintenance?


It feels at the moment as though more people are trying to put me off surgery than supporting the idea - despite my history of repeated weight loss attempts, with varying degrees of short-term success, invariably followed by regain. I guess it's early days. When I asked my husband why he wasn't keen, he said that it was risky.... well, all surgery has risks, but statistically I am more likely to die in the next 10 years if I don't have the surgery than if I do. When my GP first suggested a gastric band to me about 8 years ago I was horrified..... but I suppose I have had time to take in the reality of what my weight is doing to me, and I have moved on emotionally. I struggle to cut my toenails and put my socks on - and I'm 48. What will I be like at 78 - if I get that far?

Anyhow.... for the time being I am avoiding fatty/sugary foods, watching portion sizes, taking orange poo pills and going to the gym.... I have lost 10lb since New Year's Day. This is a good, but small, step towards losing the 10 stone which would leave me still a few pounds into "overweight" territory.

Thanks for listening,
Barbara

 

[ashlie1985]

My first doctor wouldn't refer me as he said he didnt believe in it! He is a mam who is meant to be impartial - go figure 1 new doctor later and I got referred and have my surgery Wednesday !
I know in my heart this is the right thing for me and eventually if this is the road you choose you will feel that too. No Mater what anyone says. Good luck In your decision x

 

[Delicious-Jax]

Oh Barbara, I know that feeling of indecision and fear. I was adamant that I could do it myself, after a whole life time of being over-weight and now the heaviest I have ever been. Then I was offered the chance to be referred to an Obesity surgeon and I refused, almost offended !
Then after a lot of soul searching, I changed my mind and 3 months later asked to be referred and now I am waiting for all the appointments to fall into place and pray that I will have surgery this year.
Go with your instinct, Barbara, is my advice...do what is right for you. x

 

[genevive57]

hi barbara,
just read your posting.
i've been there and got the t shirt darlin. like you i had tried every diet, every pill even special teas and potions and guess what? even after losing some weight i always gained it back - and more!!
i've bitten the bullet and after a long journey i am at the point of having a gastric sleeve op on 08th march.
i, like you can't get my socks on etc., and my health is failing and for me, my health and the possibility that i might not see my beautiful grandaughter grow up, this was the final decider for me.
it sounds like you have a close and supportive sister [my one and only sister died suddenly last year so i know first hand what it's like not to have your sister around to support you - treasure her] and friend who are willing to go on this journey with you so my advice is for for it.
this is a really friendly and supportive site and i'm sure you will get lots of responses to your post.
good luck whatever you decide.
jan xx

 

[Tray3004]

Good luck on ur journey Hun x

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

 

[tracyt84]

same as me hunny i thought i can do this on my own oh how wrong was i,i think deep in yourself u KNOW what you really want to do.i demanded my doctor to refer me they cant refuse too only the pct can,turns out was the right thing for me,good luck with whatever you decide xx

 

[helekisapa]

I decided to have wls because I was fed up not being able to walk just to the end of my road before my back hurt plus I couldn't enjoy my holiday back in 2008 when we went to Cornwall due to all the walking needed.I had tried the slimming pills from the dr but couldn't get on with them. I also have pcos and hope that having had the surgery it will help.I have gone from 21st 10lbs to 18st 12.6lbs since 9th Dec

 

[Minoots]

My doctor referred me to the Weight Clinic and told me about all the alternatives. I attended for a year.. lost 3st 3 lbs and now have my funding for the bypass. In the meantime I have changed doctors (because of moving) and the new Dr would not support me 1 inch of the way. Thank goodness it was all in place by the time I changed doctors...
It just goes to show, this has to be a decision that you take yourself. I just say to you, dont wait until you are 62 like me.. all I can think of is the quality of life that I have missed out on,. But there is still a lot of life left in this dog so roll on my operation date.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[BarbaraG]

Thanks for all the encouragement peeps. I keep on making up my mind and unmaking it again.... and also worrying about, if I do it, how long would I need to have off work, because I don't have the kind of job where other people can just step in and cover instead, so it feels like I would be a bit selfish to take 2/4/6 weeks off for something I don't absolutely have to have done.

I've just had a talk with my best friend, and she will support me whatever I decide (although I detect she is hoping I don't go for it). She said well done for losing 10lb, and I said if I lose 10 stone I will still be overweight - that shocked her!

At the moment I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince, myself or somebody else..... and I've got an unfilled prescription for Xenical in my handbag. But I am dreaming of my recovery after my gastric sleeve (which is what I am most drawn to, although I would try to listen to the advice of the team whoever I see, if I get to it), and getting to my 50th birthday (Jan 2014) at a normal or near-normal BMI.... able to put my socks on without pain or strain, not sweating like a pig whenever the temperature strays above 20 degrees, able to sit in seats in public places without worrying about the arms, or the size of the seat, not afraid to sit next to people on the tram because I will be invading their space....

I hate being fat

Barbara

 

[Mrs Quiggle]

My advice to you is go and get referred NOW, while your BMI is over 50. Once it's gone below they wont touch you unless you have a list of co-morbidities as long as your arm. Once you've been referred then you can lose as much as you want, in fact you will be actively encouraged to do so. Once you're in the system and start getting your appointments then you can decide what you want to do. You'll get plenty of info and advice about what is right for you from the specialists and also from here if you want it. But get referred now, before you lose another ounce.

Good luck with whatever you decide. My only regret is that I didn't do it 10 years ago.

Kate x

 

[Minoots]

Kate has given good advice. get referred now and you will still have a good period of time (1 year) of weight management and this would be an ideal time to decide what you want to do. I lost over 3 stone on weight management.... but if you loose weight and your BMI drops ir becomes more difficult to get referred.

Good luck..

 

[phatmomma]

Thanks for all the encouragement peeps. I keep on making up my mind and unmaking it again.... and also worrying about, if I do it, how long would I need to have off work, because I don't have the kind of job where other people can just step in and cover instead, so it feels like I would be a bit selfish to take 2/4/6 weeks off for something I don't absolutely have to have done.

I've just had a talk with my best friend, and she will support me whatever I decide (although I detect she is hoping I don't go for it). She said well done for losing 10lb, and I said if I lose 10 stone I will still be overweight - that shocked her!

At the moment I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince, myself or somebody else..... and I've got an unfilled prescription for Xenical in my handbag. But I am dreaming of my recovery after my gastric sleeve (which is what I am most drawn to, although I would try to listen to the advice of the team whoever I see, if I get to it), and getting to my 50th birthday (Jan 2014) at a normal or near-normal BMI.... able to put my socks on without pain or strain, not sweating like a pig whenever the temperature strays above 20 degrees, able to sit in seats in public places without worrying about the arms, or the size of the seat, not afraid to sit next to people on the tram because I will be invading their space....

I hate being fat

Barbara

Whoa, hold your horses! Having time off for something you don't really need to have done? Cobblers!!! If you are anything like me your weight is slowly killing you from the inside out. You can't walk that far without it feeling like a marathon. Your tired, you can't paint your own toe nails for goodness sake. There is no way this operation is about cosmetic reasons. It's a way to keep us out of an early grave.... It will save your life! It will enhance your life.

Pre op and weighing almost 21 stone a 6 hour shift at work starting at 8.30 am (on my bottom for most of it) was knackering. Now i do a 6 hour shift on my feet and don't start till 16.30 and am ready to go party when i finish given half a chance. I paint my toe nails, i can walk for miles and i've not had a day's illness since surgery. No more diabetes medication either. Not to mention the joys of feeling good and looking good...

Don't ever think your op is not important because it is. I agree that you should get the referral and start jumping through the hoops now. Because no disrespect but you aren't the first to say they will do it the conventional way, i said that for 22 years, in the end not many can do it... At least you have the option and less of a wait when/if you decide xx

 

[BarbaraG]

Whoa, hold your horses! Having time off for something you don't really need to have done? Cobblers!!! If you are anything like me your weight is slowly killing you from the inside out. You can't walk that far without it feeling like a marathon. Your tired, you can't paint your own toe nails for goodness sake. There is no way this operation is about cosmetic reasons. It's a way to keep us out of an early grave.... It will save your life! It will enhance your life.

I do see your point, and my motivation *is* about being able to reach my toenails, do the 8 miles around Carsington Water (instead of walk 50 minutes, then say I'm tired, and trail all the way back behind my OH), control my diabetes better, have more energy, all of that.

But at the same time, it's an elective procedure, not an emergency. I'm not about to die tomorrow if I don't have it (although I might die in 10 years time) - so I have some discretion about when I have it, if I do. I would want to have it at a time which minimises disruption to others.

I'm kind of assuming here that I'm going private....... apart from the issue of my PCT's threshold BMI for funding (45 - mine currently 46.something), they also insist on trying conservative WM measures for 12-18 months before a funding application wil even be considered. Sorry, but I'm not prepared to wait that long, *if* I get to the point where *I* know this is the only way. At that point, I will want to crack on with it.

I am doing myself a little pep talk about how, once I've recovered from the surgery and I'm back at work, then a little way down the line they will get three times as much work out of me because I'll be so much fitter. I'm working on persuading myself that (if I have it), I will take all the time I need as sick leave, and not go with my first instinct of booking the op at the beginning of 2 weeks' annual leave, with the possibility of a week or two sick afterwards if I don't feel fit.

Anyway... still theoretical at the moment.

Barbara

 

[FuturePerfect]

Hi Barbara
Good luck in making the decision that is right for you and your circumstances. PM me when you have more posts if you feel like chatting. I'm sometimes in Notts for work.

 

[angiemason]

Hi Barbara i was the same about sitting on bus etc and not being able to tie shoes cross my legs and walk past people in the same doorway i always waited till they went first i wish i'd had my op years ago but i will never regret it now i'm only 10 weeks post but have so much more energy and confidence and know in a few more months the people i would sit next to will never even know i used to be scared to be near them because i was ashamed they wouldn't fit xx take care and good luck

 

[Sharonimo]

My advice to you is go and get referred NOW, while your BMI is over 50. Once it's gone below they wont touch you unless you have a list of co-morbidities as long as your arm. Once you've been referred then you can lose as much as you want, in fact you will be actively encouraged to do so.

Barbara,

I have to say I am behind Kate's advice above. During the 8 months I have been a member of this forum I have seen two people who were in the queue for WLS post threads saying:

** I've cancelled my op.

Both of them had been waiting for so long in the NHS system (12 - 18 months) that they had managed to lose a "significant" amount of weight (over 6 stone each as I recall) and had now decided that they would rather carry on that route rather than go for the drastic surgery.

That is *always* an option, once you are in the NHS system.

If you take advice off "other" people (non WLS peeps) you will always get quite a lot of negatives, or indifference (even sometimes negative from medical professionals) ..... very few people other than those who have actually had to seriously consider WLS have done any research on it, or know many true facts about it.

(I think my own GP's knowledge is limited -- unlike my surgeon -- and my family's knowledge is hopeless.)

Many of us here have already ploughed our way thru stacks of research articles before coming to a decision (if you search for previous threads started by me you will come across some of that research -- many many months back in amongst my first few posts.).

 

[NOMOREyoyo]

Barbara,

I have to say I am behind Kate's advice above. During the 8 months I have been a member of this forum I have seen two people who were in the queue for WLS post threads saying:

** I've cancelled my op.

Both of them had been waiting for so long in the NHS system (12 - 18 months) that they had managed to lose a "significant" amount of weight (over 6 stone each as I recall) and had now decided that they would rather carry on that route rather than go for the drastic surgery.

That is *always* an option, once you are in the NHS system.

If you take advice off "other" people (non WLS peeps) you will always get quite a lot of negatives, or indifference (even sometimes negative from medical professionals) ..... very few people other than those who have actually had to seriously consider WLS have done any research on it, or know many true facts about it.

(I think my own GP's knowledge is limited -- unlike my surgeon -- and my family's knowledge is hopeless.)

Many of us here have already ploughed our way thru stacks of research articles before coming to a decision (if you search for previous threads started by me you will come across some of that research -- many many months back in amongst my first few posts.).

Sharon
Your posts are fantastic! I find them really really informative, positive and well researched. Thank you xxxx