When you're deciding whether to have surgery to lose weight ... also called bariatric surgery ...
it may help to hear what other people thought about as they made their decision.
[Woman] "We don't have any family photos in our home. I know that's not fair to my kids ...
but I don't want any pictures of me when I look like this.
I've done every kind of diet ... worn myself out on the treadmill ...
taken prescription drugs ... But every time I lose a little weight, I gain it back, plus some more.
My doctor says surgery could be a good choice for me because I've got heart disease.
That could cut my life short if I don't make a change. I want to see my kids grow up ...
and I want my family to see me feel good about myself.
To me, surgery is worth the risks."
[Man] "Five years ago, I was so big, I had to sleep in my recliner because I couldn't breathe when I lay down flat. My knees hurt all the time ...
and I had diabetes that was hard to control. Then I had gastric bypass surgery.
I lost a huge amount of weight the first year. I can sleep in my bed now ...
and I don't even have to take diabetes medicine anymore."
"I'm not gonna tell you it's been easy. I got an infection and had to go back in the hospital. It was hard to get used to eating such tiny meals ...
and if I eat the wrong things, I still get really sick and have bad diarrhea.
I don't like the flabby skin on my belly and arms. But before, I felt like I was dying.
Now I feel alive. I wouldn't trade that for anything."
[Second Woman] "I've been too heavy since I was 14, and my weight just keeps going up.
I've got high blood pressure now, and that scares me ...
but the surgery scares me more. I want to lose weight so I can be healthy ...
and because I'd like to have kids someday. I'm seeing a dietitian who's teaching me how to eat right, and I got my roommate to start walking with me.
I might have surgery someday, but I'm going to try everything else first."
Like the people you've just heard from, you have your own feelings about the pros and cons of surgery. It's important to share those feelings with your care provider, so that the two of you can talk them over ...
combine them with the medical facts ... and choose the best treatment for you.
