To All April Pre-Ops!!

I wish you luck, health, joy and excitement for the path you're all about to take. March 7th marked ONE YEAR for me and it has been the most exciting time of my life! I know you're all feeling a bit jittery right about now. It's completely normal. I suggest two things: First, go to the "before and after" pics section and look at them and think "this will be me, soon!" Do not, Do NOT, DO NOT read profiles right now! Occasionally, you will hit a land mine (a profile of a procedure that didn't go well) that'll scare the holy poo out of you. JUST LOOK AT THE PICS. Second, time to do some visualization: Close your eyes, a couple times a day, and picture yourself, 12 months from now: How you feel, how you look, the fun of buying clothes OFF THE NORMAL RACK, how other people are complimenting you, the shock of recognition by people you haven't seen in awhile. Feel the feelings, smell the smells, all of it. Take your time. Bask in it. Enjoy it. Then, just for a minute, visualize yourself, one year from now, if you DON'T have the surgery done. If you're like me, you'll almost SKIP into the OR!!! Peace; God Bless! And Good Luck! Greg (342/191/185)

Greg; Thanks for the helpfull hints and good wishes. Congratulations on your Great Success. It really helps to know that other s have done this and it works, I really feel that this is the beginning of my new life, the one I will enjoy, a bunch more. thanks

thanks Greg, I'm only days away from my day and Im getting more and more nervous everyday. But Im getting really excited too. Michele

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom! It means a lot to me that someone who is a year or more post op remembers how it felt just prior to surgery and takes the time to offer suggestions to those of us who will shortly take that big step. Congratulations to you on your success - I'm looking forward to the next year! Bonnie

thank's Greg... you r sooooo right just look at the pic ..lol.. i'm done aSKIPING .lol.. god bless all of us .

Greg, Such good advice! Thank you I needed to see that today...my surgery is in less than a week! Your words and thoughts really hit the right spot with me today sidney

Thanks, Greg. My surgery is less than two weeks away and I am finding myself to be extremely emotional. I actually sat at my desk today and cried for a short time. My boss had ticked me off and I had an extremely overblown reaction. Luckily, I was able to just keep on working and I don't think anyone caught on that I was so upset. It passed but if I had given in to it I think I would have cried and cried. Your suggestions were great, but too late. Last night I read several profiles. Some surgery experiences were horrifying on one hand, but every one of them ended with the fact that they would make the same choice again today even though so many things went wrong for them. My sister had the surgery last Novermber and spent the next 4 days in the ICU due to a collapsed lung and an anaphalactic reaction to morphine. Then one of her wounds became infected and she had home nurses for a month. Compared to some of the on line stories hers is mild. However, the statistics that I have found indicate that her issues occur in less than 1% of Lap RnY patients. So here I ago, here we all go, into our new lives. Thanks for paving the road in front of us. Dotsie

Greg thank you for the encouraging words they are a blessing....... congrats on your success and thank you for stopping by to send us your wishes..... hugs. lisa

Thank you Greg - you look awesome. I am not jittery at all, just excited to get it done and be done with this skim milk diet. Thanks again - Cheryl

Greg thank you for your inspirational message. My date is April 17 and I am so excited. I pray that God will protect and keep us all in the name of Jesus. I pray for the next 17 days to go by swiftly. I pray that nothing hinders my surgery. God Bless everybody!!!