Surgery Date at Last!
Hello everyone. I have a surgery date of March 8, 2004. My feelings are so conflicted. I have been hearing and reading a lot lately about failed surgeries, where people simply don't lose the weight they expected to. I don't want to go through this if it's not going to happen! Any thoughts? I could sure use an angel and some support as I feel I am going through this all in my head, if that makes sense. No man is an island? Baloney. Try WLS! Thanks. Maureen
I have horns sometimes so I am not so sure about the angel part. I have recently read the memorial pages on this site as I want to be completly prepared for anything that could happen. In most cases from what I saw, it was past problems that came forward with the surgery that caused most of the deaths I saw. Some had prior heart issues, clotting issues and other things like that. That makes me feel even more comfortable for all the pretesting my doctor does before surgery. To try to make sure EVERYTHING is ok prior to surgery and to try to not have any surprises.
As far as people not loosing the weight, we all have different bodies and chemistries. That is why the nutritionist is there. I have been told if we follow the rules, we will loose the weight. That is what I am hoping for. To follow the rules and loose the weight. Remember eat carbs last.
It is a major decision for all of us. And the right one when all other avenues have failed. I think we all have thoughts about..have we made the right decision. I have had it but not lately. My surgery is March 16 and I am on pins and needles. Nervous? Not yet but I know I will be just prior to surgery. It has been proven that I am a basket case just prior.
Hope this helps. keep your chin up..others have had the same thoughts and we are all ok.
Welcome, Maureen!
There are some risks to any type of surgery. But as to the success, that is largely up to you. This is NOT a push button solution. As my dr said, he can treat the medical problems, but not the emotional problems or relationship problems that may drive our eating. We must use this "new start" to evaluate those for ourselves and use this tool that we are given. If we do not work at learning and using the tool, it will not do anything for us by itself.
That said, the most important prep we can make for this is to take personal inventory of our problem areas and get our heads straight about wanting to do what it takes for our new life. I have determined to monitor my protein and water intake. (That will be different--trying to make sure I get enough rather than trying to limit). I have also decided that since our tastes change I will use this opportunity to make a serious effort to try to like more vegetables (never has been my strong suit), rather than just passing on them out of habit.
If this is going to be, it is up to me...
Hope this helps. You are not alone. Failure to lose and maintain the loss is my biggest fear too!
Joy (3/1)
Hi Maureen,
Welcome to the marchers !!! 
When I went for my psych eval, I admitted to the psychologist that my biggest fear about my decision was that this would be yet one more failure. I know in my heart that if I follow the doctor's directions and believe in myself that I can't help but be a loser .. in the BEST sense of the word.
This is a major decision for any of us to make. My journey to surgery has been relatively quick, I went for an initial consultation with one surgeon on January 15 and saw the surgeon who is doing my surgery on January 29th. But, it took me 2 1/2 years to make that first appointment. In that time I spent a lot of time rationalizing and thinking I could do this on my own. I know now that WLS is not THE answer but is the tool I need to take my life back. I can do this.
Anyway, keep coming back here, this board is a constant source of support and comfort and laughs ... no matter what it is you need, you can count on someone here to come through for you.
Hugs,
Mo ( . doing the happy Mo dance 
)
When I went for my psych eval, I admitted to the psychologist that my biggest fear about my decision was that this would be yet one more failure. I know in my heart that if I follow the doctor's directions and believe in myself that I can't help but be a loser .. in the BEST sense of the word.
This is a major decision for any of us to make. My journey to surgery has been relatively quick, I went for an initial consultation with one surgeon on January 15 and saw the surgeon who is doing my surgery on January 29th. But, it took me 2 1/2 years to make that first appointment. In that time I spent a lot of time rationalizing and thinking I could do this on my own. I know now that WLS is not THE answer but is the tool I need to take my life back. I can do this.
Anyway, keep coming back here, this board is a constant source of support and comfort and laughs ... no matter what it is you need, you can count on someone here to come through for you.
Hugs,
Mo ( . doing the happy Mo dance ) 
Maureen -
I have spent a fair amount of time reading all the profiles available here. I've read successes as well as struggles and I'll tell you what I have come up with in my own mind....these are all generalizations and can't fit everyone, so keep that in mind.
In the successes I generally see:
1) A positive outlook and attitude
2) Adherence to the methods of eating outlined for us
3) Avoidance of sugar/starch, high calorie/carb liquids and fast food
4) Attentiveness to protein and water intake
5) Exercise - even if just a little (what, you thought it would be
another A? 
)
6) Not snacking
What I have seen in those who haven't lost much:
1) Depression
2) Anxiety over plateaus that turn into pity parties where junk food
is eaten. I see this as an emotional eating pattern relegated
to "giving up"
3) Consumption of junk foods, chips, snacks, real milkshakes, candy
candy and candy.
4) A return to old ways whi*****ludes the above, but is distinct in
that they have failed to realize that this is a tool, not a miracle.
Possibly this is most significant - at least for me.
5) Drinking alcohol. (granted saw this only with one person, but they
were seriously stalled and had very meager loss for 6 months out)
6) Forcing food down and expanding the stomach. Some people have
major emotional issues with food. I remember doing this when I
was a kid. I would eat until I hurt. I would be an emotional wreck
with a huge lump in my throat and I would be stuffing food in even
though it hurt to go down. When a person reacts like this, the
source of that response needs to be addressed before the surgery
(IMHO) because the cycle won't be broken by just surgery.
So these are some of the things that I've notice. I can't put a blanket on all people and say all people who don't lose much have cheated or had any of these factors in swing, but those are the majority I've seen. Hopefully that helps somewhat.
Dina
)
6) Not snacking
What I have seen in those who haven't lost much:
1) Depression
2) Anxiety over plateaus that turn into pity parties where junk food
is eaten. I see this as an emotional eating pattern relegated
to "giving up"
3) Consumption of junk foods, chips, snacks, real milkshakes, candy
candy and candy.
4) A return to old ways whi*****ludes the above, but is distinct in
that they have failed to realize that this is a tool, not a miracle.
Possibly this is most significant - at least for me.
5) Drinking alcohol. (granted saw this only with one person, but they
were seriously stalled and had very meager loss for 6 months out)
6) Forcing food down and expanding the stomach. Some people have
major emotional issues with food. I remember doing this when I
was a kid. I would eat until I hurt. I would be an emotional wreck
with a huge lump in my throat and I would be stuffing food in even
though it hurt to go down. When a person reacts like this, the
source of that response needs to be addressed before the surgery
(IMHO) because the cycle won't be broken by just surgery.
So these are some of the things that I've notice. I can't put a blanket on all people and say all people who don't lose much have cheated or had any of these factors in swing, but those are the majority I've seen. Hopefully that helps somewhat.
Dina Most Active
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