Hi Debs,
Just thought I would share my experience of Weight Loss Surgery so please bare with me as this is likely to be a long post!!!
I too went to the doctors about surgery and as I was fed up with being fat and sick of failing at diets! Plus we have been trying to conceive for 4 years and I have polysystic ovaries. The doctor assured me that I would get the funding as I ticked all the boxes. I was declined after a 4 month wait. Then my infertility specialist referred me for a band, I was declined again after waiting 3 months for a decision. By now, a year had past and I had put on another 2 stone. I was suffering from depression and my back was killing me from the weight of my breasts. I had yeast infections under my breasts and stomach folds and my shoulders would bleed from my bra straps. I was in and out of the doctors all the time. I was referred again by my GP. My infertility specialist and a councellor backed the referral. I was declined.
Two months ago, I received a letter saying that I had to attend a weight management clinic for 6 months and then they would put my case forward again f I failed to lose weight with the clinic. I went along to the clinic and I felt like ***** afterwards. I was so embarrassed at the state I had got myself into. My frame of mind was that I wasn't even going to try so I would get bigger, they would have to give me the surgery. From initial doctors appointment asking for a referral until today it has been 27 months.
Basically, I gave myself a good talking to and decided that I needed to stop blaming the NHS for me being overweight and not helping me get thin. I needed to do it myself. If I want children and a wedding and to be happy with me then I was the one who could change that.
I thought about being slim in the future and going to a party. If I am food optimising, I can have a flexi day and enjoy the food and drink and cake and cocktails!!!! If I have a gastic bypass, I cant enjoy the food or drink or cake or cocktails. I would enjoy dumping and vomiting instead. I like my food and I dont want a and or bypass to stopping me from doing so. I need to teach myself about enjoying in moderation. Fill up on free foods (imagine that as your saline band fill) and make choices for the treats.
Sorry if I have rambled on. I just wanted to share my experiences.