Scared and anxious, anyone else?!?

Sue, My date is Monday the 3rd of July and I weigh 3 lbs. (331) more than you so I know how you feel about the body image thing. I too had all of those thoughts today as I am on my pre-surgery cleansing diet and didn't really miss food until tonight. I kept thinking is this really what I want? Will I be able to enjoy food afterwards? Will I survive all of it? Then I realized the only way I will survive to enjoy my life and be healthy is to have this amazing surgery. I WANT to be healthly and active again. I truly feel like a beached whale who is suffocating under my own weight. So having those thoughts made me rather Zen like and I can hardly wait. I just hope I can get everything done I need to before tomorrow night. I have been trying to get my photo set but am having problems with MY pictures, my hubby took TOO many this past week. Will post them when I can figure out what is wrong. Think about all of the wonderful new/old things you are going to be able to do; for the first time and AGAIN. It will be worth it and we will come out STRONGER and HEALTHIER! Good luck to you! Cindy

Hi Sue Good luck and good thoughts for your upcoming surgery this week. Everything will go just fine. My surgery is a week and a half a way, July 13 and it's in Brazil. So far, I'm pretty calm. Maybe that will change this coming Friday when I board the plane for the long trip. Luckly, I don't have a pre-op diet and/or cleansing to deal with. The only thing I have to do, medical wise, before surgery is the Endoscopy (done in the doctor's office) which I believe is scheduled for the 10th, after I meet with the surgeon. My two best friends, who are coming with me, will be taking my measurements & picture the night before surgery. I'm so ready to lose this protective shell. Ready to start living and enjoying everything life has to offer. I just keep telling myself, next year I will be able to wear shorts out in public, go on the fair rides, walk faster, no breathing problems, not to mention, CUTE CLOTHES...the list goes on and on and on. When you look into the future and see the possibilities, then YES, YOU CAN DO IT. I don't know if the RNY boards have: What did you eat today, post . If they do, go and read them, it will really helps you see life as a post-op. Over at the DS board, we have been doing that for over a month. It has been so helpful to me to see what post-ops are eating and the quantities. It made me realize I didn't have to go out and get special food to eat...what I have already is just fine. Protein (80-100 grams a day),fat, green veggies, yellow veggies and good carbs, in that order. That is a way of life I can live with....bring on the steak, hamburger,pork, bacon, mayo, salads, green beans, etc.....yummy!!! The first two weeks after surgery, I will only be able to have soft foods and by the time I get back home, I can start adding in my favorites. Obviously, not in the quantity I'm use too, those days are LONG gone. Wishing you the best for your new life! Nancy Dr. Marchesini in Curitiba, Brazil

Hi Nancy, Wow, you have a long way to travel! That's great you have two friends to support you. Thanks for the ideas and positive message. I guess keeping your eye on the target (or the prize) is a good way to approach the surgery. I'm much calmer these days and looking forward to learning all about my new pouch. I cleaned out the cupboards, got the childcare details worked out and am starting to pack a bag. Good luck with your journey - both of them - globally and WLS wise. Don't forget to check back in and let us know how it all went. Take care, Sue

Nancy, how are you doing on being able to sit still? I work through Friday and I am having a HECK of a time! Only 2 1/2 more days, can I do it??? See you in Brazil on Sunday! Jezia

Well, I am a July baby as well.......my surgery date is set for July 28th in Chicago,IL. Let me first tell you that I am just as nervous and anxious as the next person. Everyone thinks that being a man you should be strong and stern about it but that is NOT the case with me. I am 38 yrs old and have never had any kind of surgery in my life. I have about 12 different medical problems and I know that this surgery will help eliminate almost all of them, if not all of them. But I will admit that I am scared out of my mind as it gets closer. 26 days left. And as my mother told me last week on the phone, turn it all over to God and he will see you through it all. I hope that everything goes well for you and you have a successful recovery. This time next month, we will all be proceeding with our new lives and thinking back and wondering, what were we ever scared of? Good luck to you and your family. Toby

Sue- I think at some point we all go through those thoughts. I go from those to excitement. I have had so many distractions the past few weeks that now that I realize my date is fast approaching I'm starting to get a bit nervous. My family is coming into town the week before, so I'm hoping that it will keep my mind off of it and I'll remain calm and more excited than scared/nervous. Best to you.... Christina S

Hi. I'm scheduled for the 6th too. I totally understand. I go from one extreme to the next. Being excited to being nervous, frightened, etc. I try to remind myself about how I made this decision & trying to "let go & let God". My dr. took photos but I havent' taken any of my own. I dread taking the pictures but I know I need them. Good luck & take care! I'm praying for us all.

Sue, I'm in the same boat--weight-wise and head-wise. I don't even know exactly what I weigh...that's how much I've ignored it. When I had my "official" pre-op weigh-in done at the hospital for my nutrition class, I turned away from the scale and told the nurse--whatever you do, don't tell me the number. Two weeks ago I was high 320s, and I've been enjoying these last few weeks a little too much I imagine NOT to have gained weight. I'll have to know the number eventually, I guess, but I'm not taking pictures until at least 1 month out. What really sent me into the freaky zone, though, was when I did my clothes inventory. I'm digging through drawers, pulling out this and that and thinking, "Oh, so that's where that went. Hmm..." In one drawer I pull out this slinky white peignoir set. I look at and think, "what in the world?" Then it hits me. I bought this for my wedding night through a catalog at the last minute and it didn't fit, so embarrassingly I threw it in this drawer--6 YEARS AGO. My DH then walks in, sees the set I'm holding up, and whistles, "Hey, now that's different." I look him right in the eye and say, "Baby, you have no idea how different things are going to get around here." I think that statement is about as accurate as I can describe my entire experience to date. To bring that point home, my surgeon prescribes an antidepressant for his patients when they go home. I think I'm DEFINITELY going to need something to even out these moods, if the pre-op mind trip is indicative of the rest of this journey. Hang in there, everybody. We're all in this together!