I need words of encouragement, date scheduled.... Scared

I've been looking for to this date (September 25, 2003) for a while now, and all of a sudden I have become frantic, scared and starting to question whether is the right thing to due or not. If someone has recently had the surgery please email... Whether Lap or Open.

Hi, I had surgery on Aug. 4th. I can tell you that I wondered what I had done to myself for the first couple of weeks. BUT, it is getting so much better. If this were not permenant, I would have binged then been so unhappy...Just like I always did with diets. I have lost weight. Around 20 # in three weeks. Nothing else will do that. Only you can decide about this surgery. I wish you the best. Katie

I had surgery on Aug. 11. To date, I am feeling better and better as each day progresses. I too was afraid before surgery, the "what ifs" can get to you - but I can tell you that my faith in God helped me and the love of my family and friends. I will pray for you that you have a surgery without complications and a good recovery. I truely believe that this surgery has saved my life in more ways than one.

I had open RYN on August 19 and yes I was scared to death. I had so many mixed emotions but I tried to focus on the outcome. I remember being wheeled back to surgery and thinking I can't do this I better tell Dr. Zahn, then I woke up in recovery. I have been off all pain medication since Monday and I am doing good. Still having trouble sitting in a chair for more then 20-30 minutes but other then that life is good. Everyone has second thoughts ... that is normal. You have to keep focused on how much your life will change for the better! Good Luck! Tina

Hi, I had surgery 1/30/01. I weighed 275lbs. I got down to 140lbs. I looked to thin. I wondered if I was going to stop losing the weight. But I did. I have leveled off. Actually I have gained about 30 lbs. I feel and look much better. I want to get back down to about 155. That seems to be a really good weight for me. I am going to try and get started on that soon. I only hope that loosing weight now will be much easier after surgery than it was before surgery. Listen about your fears, it is only natural. We all have had them. I was a single mother of two wonderful children and I was scared to death that I wouldn't wake up after the surgery. But I did and it has been the very very best thing I have ever done for myself. I just didn't want to continue on in live being overweight. I am 51 now and was 49 when I had the surgery. Most of the people that was having the surgery when I had it were all in the early 20's. I was one of the oldest and that scared me because your body just doesn't heal like it did when I was in my 20's. Most of the women bounced right back with a day or two. I felt really bad for the firts two weeks. I went back to work in two weeks. I had to my vacation time ran out. But I was one determined women. I was gona make this work for me! I did and you will to. Just stay positive. Think positive thoughts and pray all the time. Seek guidance from God as to what he wants for you. If you belive in God. I am a Christian so my trust was in my savior. "Jesus" Learn all you can about the surgery. Ask all questions you can think of. Do your homework and decide what is best for you. I will be praying for you. Stay strong and stay positive in all that you do.

Sept 25 holds a big new step in your life!!! And what it will provide is a better life! I am 10 years post-op. My life is so different than it used to be. I have little to no pain...I have true joy enjoying life with my family and friends! Obesity kills! It robs you of your life and leaves you with a mere exsistence! Knowing everything there is to know about your surgery should help you relax. A good patient is a well informed patient! Yes, there is some pain...but don't you suffer pain and limitations everyday?? You are probably looking to the surgery to not only increase your quality of life, but also, as I, to become more socially exceptable. This world can be a cruel and painful place when you do not fit the standards of a nation! One of my major gripes was always being told to push myself away from the table to lose weight...when in reality I was eating far less than most of the people that were telling me to starve myself!!! It is hard...no it's more like impossible to make a 1/2 cup of celery fill a football sized tummy! then add to that ...our systems are broken from all the blasted diets....it decides for itself to hold on to all that it can get! We are broken....most of us in spirit as well as body! This surgery lays the plans for us to learn new eating patterns....no hunger when that tummy is the size of an thumnail to half an egg. As you loose from sheer loss of volume alone, you study and learn about nutrtion and make a better eating plan for yourself. Then, you stick to it!!! The weight leaves, the mobilty arrives, muscle gets built and a new world opens up to you! Use it wisely!!! Life is awesome!!! Good luck and E Mail me if I can be of any help! [email protected] Mighty Hugs to carry you through! Susan

You have reached the right person. I waited 3 months and had my surgery a week ago. Today I drove to Sears to spend a gift card I had. If you spoke to me 10 days ago I was a basket case. I had my surgery scheduled for 8/15/03 the day the power went out. I cried 2 days before that only to get a call 5:00AM that my surgery was cancelled. I thought this was omin from G-d not to go through with it. I told my daughter I think about my funeral - who will come and who wont and why dont I just cancell this and try to lose weight on my own. Of course I didnt and had my surgery 3 days later. The first 2 days were rough but not terrible. I laid in bed most of the time. By the 5th day I am able to do laundry, walk steps, etc. It is totally normal to feel this way but you already made it this far and just do it. Time goes by quickly. Soon it will over. If you want to email me do so any time. It is a scarey proceedure but hopefully we will lose our weight and be able to shop like everyone else and do all the activities we can't do now cuz of our weight!!!

Hi Dzondria, I had surgery on the 29th of August and came home on the 31st. The day after surgery, I was thinking "What have I done?" But I'm feeling much better and it's only been 3 days. I had open rny (woods-sapala micropouch). I couldn't get any sleep at first. I had the nurse to give me something and I was feeling just fine. It's totally normal for you to be feeling this way. I will tell you to just be encouraged and believe that it will all be over soon. Just make sure that this is what you really want to do because this is a total lifestyle change. I'm sure you'll do just fine. If you have any questions just email me. Nikki

I don't know how much you weigh, your BMI, or hopw much your life has been soured or limited by morbid obesity, but I had surgery 8/18 and I am very glad. It is quite difficult immediately after any surgery, and the very slow return to eating real food is a drag. But the weight melts and each day you are a little stronger and closer to the life you always wanted. Trust in your surgeon and the hospital staff and trust in yourself that you have thought long and hard about this decision. Going forward is the only way to have a new life for those of us who are morbidly obese and have been for a long time. Trust in the possibilityof change. My thoughts will be with you.

Dzondria, I am 53 years old and weighed 343 pounds before having gastric banding surgery three weeks ago. I did a lot of research, prayed a lot, and things fell into place, and I truly believe it was God working in mysterious ways! I was never afraid, absolutely trusted my doctor, and had lots of people pulling for me. I chose the banding rather than the RNY because it's a lot less dangerous, and at my age and weight I thought it was best for me. I will be thinking about you. Sharon