CALLING ALL PRE-OPS !!

nice to see ya ! My surgery is this Monday, 8/15. Normally, I am positive, funny, focused and believe attitude and preparation are just as important as anything else. It has taken me 15+mos of planning to get me here, and nothing is going to deter me. Even If I wanted to change my mind, I cannot, because I have set all the wheels in motion. YES. ME. I did that. I have CHOSEN this course, I set the course and set the sails, with my surgeon and God as my navigators. I do need my friendly crew for support, and I thank each and everyone on this board- for being open and candid- you inspire me and everyone else who just reads and does not post. SO I am CALLING ALL PRE-OPS!! to come and post and Chat. If you need an angel, there are many who would help you. Please do not allow any fears to overshadow your progress, as mine almost did. Come and join everyone here, introduce yourself and begin posting here- or even the main message board. I know you will be surprised with the outcome. I am (-5 days) but WHO is counting? Oh and if you see any postings from Ivanna SexyButt, that is me too. LOL I just enjoy changing it up every now & then. Below is something I updated in my profile, but would like to share it with everyone, because I think it reminded ME, why I CHOOSE to do this surgery, because LIFE REALLY IS, ABOUT CHOICES. Let me know your thoughts. A Life Well Lived Ready or not, some day my Life will end. There will be no more sunrises, days, hours or minutes. No more cell phones or calls and mail to be returned. Every thing I will have collected, be it treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. MY wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what I owned or what I was owed. My grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear. So,will my hopes, ambitions, plans, and To Do List: All will expire with me. The wins and losses that once seemed so important to me, will fade away. It won't matter where I was born or what side of the tracks have I lived. It won't matter if I rented, or owned a house or lived on a boat. It won't matter whether I was clever, beautiful or brilliant. My gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant. SO WHAT WILL MATTER? What will be the measure of my days,weeks and years passed? How will my life be valued? What will matter is not what I bought, but what I have chosen to build. Not what I received, but what I shared and given you. What will matter is not the level of my success, but my significance. What will matter is not what I learned, but what I have taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate from my example. What will matter is not my competence, but my integrity and character; my true grit. What will matter is not how many people I have known,rich or poor, But how many will feel a lasting loss when I am gone. What will matter are not my faded memories, But the memories of those who knew and have loved me. What will matter is how long I will be remembered, by whom and for all the multi reasons that exist, like a brilliant rainbow. Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of cir****tance. It is one made of choice; one of my own choosing. And in so doing, I dance and write my name with Destiny. I Choose to live a life that matters. Hugs to all Donna

Donna, Well said and very thought provoking! I too CHOOSE to be upbeat and positive. I believe in the power of positive thinking and energy. We will all get through this and be so much better for it. Lynne 7 days and counting!

Donna, Thanks for your post. My surgery is also Monday, August 15. I am so happy that I have this site. Even if I don't post all the time, I'm on here daily checking other people's posts & profiles. The support is wonderful. Good luck with your surgery. Remember, the other side of fear is Faith... Don't let fear consume your faith. Good luck with your surgery. I'm so excited to begin this new journey. Keep us posted on your recovery. God Bless Tammy

Hello! My surgery is the 16th, just counting down the days! I stay positive everyday that all will be fine. I believe God will guide my surgeon's hands to do very well. Good luck to all...see you on the losing side!!!!

8/10/05 Hi Donna; thanks for the post . I to am having my surgury mon/15 .I m very excited and very nervous at the same time but i am so ready for a new start at what life has to offer. Good luck and m a y god bless. Perley

My fears have taken over- BIG TIME. I am soooo nervous that I will die- every time I look at my kids, all I can think about is if this will be the last time that I see them.... Is this normal? Best of luck to all of you....

Hey! Do NOT give into negative thoughts, because your imagination will run away with you and consume you. Only nourish your soul with positive thoughts and feelings. If you believe in God, pray sincerely and be persistant. Attend services and talk with your priest afterwards, have him bless you , your vehicle whatever you hold close and pray and be thankful to God, for giving you those lovely kids. I was doing fine until I read of a recent death. It blew my mind and I began to be physically consumed and then began praying in all honest and earnestness of my heart. I've been very thankful and I know God heard my prayers. They called me with my surgery approval the day before my birthday.That was no accident. For the last several weeks I have asked my priest to bless me. I can only tell you what my priest told me- put yourself in God's hands and let him show how much he loves you. Lay all your fears at his feet and purge them from your heart. I must have cried for an hour after last Sunday's services, but I did purge my fears with tears, and got it out of my system. You need to let them go. Yesterday when I did obtain final clearance, I wanted to reach up and kiss the sky - that about how high I was. I can only tell you how I feel and what I have done- and I have peace of mind now- and you should as well. Tomorrow is my final fulll meal and I may possibly be at a barbeque all day. I plan on eating a lot!! LOL Let me know how else I can help you, if you need it. Hugs & blessings DONNA

Awesome Donna!!! :thumbsu: Very well said! You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs and keep us posted! ~*~ Jill - 19 days and counting...

I am also having my Lap RNY on the 15th. I am very positive about all of it. I am 63 years old and I am going to have a life if it kills me. This is my choice and I will make it work. I work 40 hours a week, every week, and I need to be able to say, " hey, there is a life after work". Now, there is not. I am too tired to do anything, except check this website every day to see how everyone is doing. God Bless all of us for finally making the right decision. Peggy Dolen

Hi,My name is Michelle, I Live in upstate new york. I am having my surgery August 18th at 1pm. I am mildly nervous about but not bad. I have had back surgery and my gall bladder out so i kinda of know what to expect. I started my weight loss journey back in march by conacting my surgeon of choice. I have my first appointment with April 29th. He told me I needed to lose 44 pounds before surgery, becasue I weighed 389 pounds and I am only 5"4'. so I had a BMI of like 68. Well I did what he wanted me to and on my August 1st apointment they scheduled me. I had lost 36 of the 44 at that point. I was put on a liquid diet and had my last weigh in and appointment on the 9. I offically ahve lost 40 pounds and my new weight is 349. Know what you mean about looking at your kid and thinking.. But i think so many ppl have focused on the very few that havent made it through that you kinda of think of that first. You will be fine as will I. Good luck to all August babies..I say babies becasue it will be all of our "new birthday"