Dealing with Pre Op Anxiety

I've had anxiety like you wouldn't believe...but today I did just what I needed to do to take care of it today. First, I got up early, had a protien shake, grabbed a bottle of water and went out the the estate sales and garage sales...wow there were lots of them this week-end! After that, I came home and my husband and I planted two clematis plants, two Chinese Poppies and weeded out a bed together. We decided then to go to our daughters house to see how their garden was doing, but as we pulled up, they were pulling out. When we asked what they were doing, they said, "going to play tennis." About that time our other daughter and her husband and two boys came riding up on their bikes. They decided to go get their tennis rackets and we all went over there. In the beginning, I sat in the van by myself and watched, but then I got a chair and went and set at the edge of the tennis courts. I sat there and remembered back in my Jr. Hi and High school days of playing tennis for fun. So, I grabbed a racket, and went to where my grandkids were playing and hit some balls back and forth. Not without a little trauma (I guess I thought I was 120 lbs again also). My body momentum got to going quicker than my body could stay balanced and I fell. No injuries, just hurt my pride. However, playing tennis tonight reminded me why I am going to have this surgery. I love my family, and spending quality time with them. I can do the things they do, but my weight holds me back. Tonight I am going to go to bed and dream about being thin and fit and playing tennis with the grandkids! What a great way to eliminate the anxiety I woke up with this morning! We had a great time! Gesch (Gayla)

Gayla, wanna come here and do some gardening? I kill everything I touch. Just think. Next time you all grab those rackets your gonna whip those munchkins' butts on the court. My daughter can't wait until I've lost a bit. She's 10 and scared to death to ride a bike. She broke her wrist a few years ago and she's scared. My husband bought bikes for him and me last year but, even with a wider seat, that thing is so uncomfortable for me. He's never been on his. His surgery will be in a few months if I do well. I told her once mom gets some pounds off we're going to get her on a bike and she and I are gonna be all over the place. There are soooooooooooooooooo many great reasons for our surgeries. I think that's why I'm so calm. This is the BEST thing I could ever do for me....and for my family. Hang in there Gayla.....this is our week!!!!! * Cyndi * 6 Days and Counting!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear about all the pre-op anxiety, but it is very normal. I was a nervous wreck the days leading up to and the day of surgery. It was really strange on the day of surgery. I had to be at the hospital at 5:00 a.m. so I got up got ready and had an upset stomach (in my family stress causes instant diarrhea). It took approximately 45 minutes to get to the hospital. Once there I started to settle down and actually was quite at peace with myself. I had to wait for about two hours in pre-op holding before my surgery, but they gave me a shot of something to help me relax and I actually slept right up until the doctor and anesthesiologist came to see me. They wheeled me into the operating room and I slid onto the operating table and that is the last thing I remember. When I woke up I asked my mom when I was going to be having my surgery lol. It really is not as bad as we make it out to be in our minds. I had surgery on Monday and I am already down 17 lbs.....I cannot believe it, this is the lowest my weight has been for a couple of years. It is soooo exciting to see the transformation already beginning. Basically I guess what I am trying to say is try to relax and allow yourself a little bit of anxiety because as my doctor said if I there was no anxiety pre-op he would be very worried about that person. Just think, next time you get to play tennis you will have lost some weight and will be more able to enjoy it doing all the other things with your family and grandkids. Hugs, Michele

Hello. I think the fear of the unknown is the worst. I had lapband on Friday and I wokred myself up into a crazy mess. I even composed an email that would have been sent later to my kids - I was a nutjob! My sister had gastric bypass a few years ago, as did my mom. And we all did fine. We arrived at 6:30 a.m. and they took me back around 8:45. On the way back they slipped some medicine in my IV to make me relax, I remember the nurses telling me it was time to relax into dreamland. I had a bit of a hard time waking up, I would have preferred a bit more sleep - but they were being dligent and made me get up and move around. Hang in there.