Gastric Bypass / Weight Loss Surgery Disclaimer

I just want everyone to know who reads this: Weight loss surgery of any sort is very dangerous. It is NOT for cosmetic purposes. My very trusted family physician had been talking to me about it for two years. My history (besided morbid obesity)started with sleep apnea. Solution: lose weight. Then it was diabetes. Solution: control with diet. Then I had a DVT(Deep Vein Thrombosis)--a sizable blood clot in my left leg. That was the point where my family doctor who had been urging me to consider, finally said: you've proven you can't lose weight by yourself. You REALLY need to go to the seminar. They hold it once a month.

At the seminar, they explained to me that the complications I'd been having were directly related to my obesity. They got out the chart. The chart said that on average, at my Body Mass Index, I have/was/would be shaving 20 years off my life. My grandparents did good to make 80 with their angioplasties and triple bypasses. My mom died much younger. Father too. It was up to me, and when they finally showed me how much my life was threatened, I resolved to do the best thing I could do. There is no way I am going to be the cause of my children growing up without a father.

Now, the second issue. Why didn't I just diet and exercise. I'll have to exercise soon anyway. Well, the truth is that I have fantastic will power in some areas...but not concerning food. I have always been able to stop when I wanted with alcohol. Food is my addiction that I could not shake. I tried many diets, exercise programs. I never joined a gym...it was always beyond my financial reach...

Regardless, I feel that by having this surgery, I feel it was the best, most necessary, and logical thing that I have done as a father. It is very hard right now not being able to see my children every day like I have for the past ten months. The pain is bad sometimes, but nothing like that. Soon I will be able to drive again, start work again, get back in the swing again, and be a better me. Sometimes my judgement gets clouded with emotion. Sometimes I make bad decisions. But when I focus on those two children of mine that I love far beyond anything I have ever felt for any other being or thing...I can always count on making a good choice. And this time, I have.