Question:
Was anyone else this FREAKED?
Two days ago I found out that i was sceduled for surgery on June 28th. I didn't even know that I was approved until then. It only took 3 weeks for the whole process, So it seems that this is just moving REALLY FAST!!!! My question, Is it normal to be this freaked out? I have been so scared, nervous, excited. I am terrified to leave my children motherless! — candi M. (posted on June 15, 2002)
June 15, 2002
While most people would probably call me crazy for suggesting this....Maybe
you should ask your surgeon for a later surgery date. If you feel that your
surgery is coming up to soon and you don't have enough time to prepare, it
couldn't hurt to ask for a later date! Good luck!
— fropunka
June 15, 2002
I just realized that I didn't answer your question AT ALL...heehee but
anyway, my surgery date is for August 7th, and I am starting to feel a bit
nervous myself. I think it is TOTALLY normal for us to feel this way. We
are undergoing a HUGE life change. Whenever I feel nervous I come to this
site and look at the before and after pictures and say "That is going
to be me soon! YAY!" :o)
— fropunka
June 15, 2002
Hi, Candy -- I understand completely. My approval came through so quickly
and my date was within 3 weeks that I felt like I was a giant snowball,
careening down a mountain. Take deep breaths, slowly, and make a list of
all the reasons you sought this solution in the first place. Keep the list
because you will use it many times for support -- At least I did! However,
what helped me the MOST, besides prayer, was what my regular doctor said to
me when I was venting about whether or not I should go ahead, "after
all, wasn't I just going to mutilate my body just to lose weight?!"
He didn't say anything for a moment and then slowly, "CJ, what in the
world do you think you've BEEN DOING FOR YEARS TO YOUR BODY BUT MUTILATING
IT WITH OVEREATING??" I just sat there, stunned, but he was
absolutely right. I needed to look clearly at the reasons I was even
considering an operation (the list) but I also needed to acknowledge the
terrible damage my excess weight was and had been doing to my poor body for
years. That was mid-September 2001. As of THursday (I only weigh once a
week and always on Thursdays for some reason), I have gone from 314 pounds
to 188 pounds. From a size 26/28 to a size 14. I'm 5'9" and
large-boned so people are actually telling me I'm too thin (HAH!) now. I
feel great, sleep well, eat to live rather than live to eat, and take
better care of myself than I EVER did. My goal weight is 163, but only
because that was my weight before I began gaining. If I didn't lose another
pound, I'd be fine with that , too. The first four months after surgery, I
often regretted my decision. I missed food as comfort and buffer from the
world. After four months, however, my system improved so that I could eat
normally -- carefully, but normally -- and my energy returned more and
more. I have two flights of stairs which I have to do at least five times
a day each way. I used to joke and say I was the Stair Speed Monitor
because anyone stuck behind me had to go so slowly. (I "joked"
because I was mortified at holding everyone up and it was better than
crying in front of people.) Anyway, I RUN up those stairs now. And do not
even breathe heavily!! It still shocks me, but in such a wonderful PRAISE
THE LORD way!
Sorry to go on so long, but your question truly touched my heart and jogged
my memory. HOpe I've helped. God bless you, dear Candy! CJ
— cjtich
June 15, 2002
Rosie: you are not crazy. Some folks do better if they take their time
and wait until they are ready. Except for oldies like me, this is not a
race. Fay Bayuk
— faybay
June 15, 2002
my surgery was exactly one month after i first met the doctor. i had about
3 weeks to get myself ready. i was very determined after i made my final
decision that i was very calm about the whole thing. i had a breast
reduction 5 years ago and i was a total lunatic the night before
especially. my kids were young, the baby was only 1, and i thought for sure
i was going to die. with this surgery, i just knew that it was the right
thing to do. good luck to you. open rny 5-2-02 -33 pounds
— candymom64
June 15, 2002
Take a deep breath, calm down and GO FOR IT!!!!! I had my surgery 6 months
ago and it's the best thing that ever happened to me. It's VERY scary and
that won't change if you wait longer. Your life is going to change in a
major way - but in a great way. I've lost 105 pounds so far and I feel
great. Think of it this way - if you don't have this surgery and lose the
weight, you may be leaving your children motherless anyway. At least with
WLS you have a fighting chance!
— Susan C.
June 15, 2002
candi, I don't know whether or not it is "normal" to feel so
anxious and scared, but I felt that way too. I was also angry. I found out
during pre op testing that my gallbladder was bad and needed to come out. I
was also running out of medication options for my reflux and was facing
surgery for that. So, in the holding area, I cried my eyes out, angry that
fate played such a mean hand. I could go through with the RNY, get the
gallbladder removed simultaneously, and have a greater than 90% chance of
stopping the reflux, plus I'd lose weight to boot. My other option was to
chicken out and still face at least two surgeries in the future, one that
might make me no longer a candidate for RNY. Here I am 18 days out and
feeling foolish because the procedure, pain, eating, and recovery haven't
even come close to matching the anxiety I had pre op. I admitted to my
surgeon that I feel silly for carrying on so. One thing I would change? I'd
ask for something to take to help me relax in the few weeks before surgery.
I didn't ask, but should have. Good luck to you!!
— NicoleG
June 15, 2002
Hi Candi! I felt the same way. It took about 7 months for me to get
approval and when my date finally arrived, I was so nervous. It was fine
when I was just talking about it, but when I actually went in for the
surgery and all of the talking was done, it was a different story. I had
never had any kind of surgery before in my life. The biggest thing that I
kept in mind, though, was that I was more afraid of NOT having the surgery
and leaving my children motherless because of being so obese. Besides my
own personal health, my children were a huge factor in my decision to have
the surgery. I want to be able to keep up with them as they grow. Believe
me, you WILL be fine! I wish you the best of luck!!
— Dona R.
June 16, 2002
Hi there! I just wanted to say that my date is 4 weeks away and I am
getting VERY nervous. I am 40 have never been in the hospital for anything(
I have no children)So,this will be my first time.......I do have a kind of
calm resolution that I KNOW I must have this surgery to survive.When you
are in pain all the time and have a list of co-morbities it helps with your
resolve
— Kelly P.
April 14, 2003
Candi - We can freak together! My surgry is scheduled fo June 17th and I'm
so excited, nervous and hyper I can't stand myself. Congratulations to
you!! You've got a date!!! I am really happy for you.
— Kim W.
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