i’m thinking about not getting my surgery done.

[kenny]

hello! my name is kenny i’m 18 years old and i’m around the corner of getting my surgery and i’m struggling with the idea of the whole process. I’ve always wanted to be skinny ever since i first found out i was over weight when i was in the doctors office. And i’ve got the chance to get this surgery done and when i first start to get ready for it, i was so excited not knowing it would happen so fast. and now that im here all i can think about is “do i really want to do this? is this the right thing to do? what if things go wrong?” my surgery is the 24 of this morning so less then a week from now, and i know im going to do it but i’m overthinks about what’s going to happen and how dramatic this decision will be. please someone help me!

 

[dianeseattle]

Welcome, Kenny.

Only you can make this decision. If anyone else gave an opinion and then you had the surgery, you might never "own" it and believe it was the right thing.

Everyone has mixed feelings but in the 20 years since I had my surgery, I've never regretted it, and as a member of this group, I've almost never heard anyone else express a real regret.

It doesn't matter now, since you're so close to your surgery. All you can do is cancel it. But whatever you're feeling, know your emotions are driven by fear. That doesn't mean they are wrong or right. But they are strong and driving your decision.

As a 75-year-old woman whose life was saved by having this surgery, I would urge you to recognize that this is fear, and it's normal to feel fearful. But you're 18 years old and believe it or not, you lack the ability to comprehend the entire scope of this decision.

Is it possible you can postpone or delay? I think it's a valid course of action.

But on a personal level, I had gone from 115 pounds to 265 in 5 years or so. Not only could I not fit into any of my clothes, but I could barely play with my son. I might as well have been in a wheelchair, I was so limited by my weight disability. After RYGB surgery, I lost more than 100 pounds, started hiking, learned to swim and joined the YMCA, started dating and making new friends and joining support groups. All those little things combined to change my view of the world and gave me courage to take chances I'd been afraid of before.

I would do it again.... and again.... and again. It's the best health decision I ever made.

 

[JustMe]

How are you doing, Kenny?