SCARED

Hi Everyone, I am having surgery on the 13th of September and scared to death. what is the most important thing i need to know and do before and after the surgery? How am i going to feel? How long did it take for you all to "get around"? after the surgery. ADVICE PLEASE

hi lex, my surgery is also on the 13th at 9:30am. I think for me the most important thing i have found is to STAY POSITIVE!think happy thoughts, smile, and keep talling yourself that everything is going to be just fine and you will be out of there and on the losing side in no time. I just keep on day dreaming about how nice it will be to actually see the scale go down instead of up, and to wear normal sized clothes, im looking forward to how i will be felling soon, like i said just try and stay positive and you will be just fine hun. GOOD LUCK!!!

Hey Lex, Laura is right, a postitive outlook does wonders!!! As for getting around, you'll be walking as soon as the anesthesia wears off, you'll do laps of the nurses station in the hospital every 2 hrs unless you're ambitious like I was and stayed up as long as possible. You're going to feel sore. You will need to stay positive. You'll feel odd as you start eating thinking you have never filled up after one spoon of food, you'll be amazed at the changes you're going through and if you're like me, you'll feel the weight coming off each day. You'll start thinking in terms of ¼ cup being a large meal and wondering how you're ever going to finish all of it (my personal favorite). If you want to know more, read my profile... well, towards the bottom at least, there's an account of my surgery day. I had great friends with me who kept things upbeat, if you have any fun friends, have them along, but remind them that post op laughing is going to hurt a bit... I know I'm having a hard time cuz I love to laugh! LOL. HUGS to you, email me if you want! I'm only a week out, but will help if I can! Rachel

walk & no gulping

It is ok to be a little scared but stay positive. I am only one week out today and I am doing great. I had the surgery on Friday and went home on Saturday because I was doing so well, and I did not have the morphine pump because I have sleep apnea. I am of course one of the few I am sure but I have had absolutely no complications or problems yet. There is a lot of pressure and some pain but nothing that you can not bare. If you would like to talk you may call me at 770-707-1874. Teena

Lex, I am having surgery on that date also. I went through a faze last week where I almost decided to cancel the surgery. But this week I feel much better. I know that I have done everything to prepare for this. I have read all the information that I could, I made up a will to provide for my children and husband, I have written each of them a letter incase something does go wrong. I guess I just felt more in control knowing that I have taken care of my family- and now I am going to put my life in my very capable doctor's hands. Am I still a little scared, but I have definantly calmed down. I hope you have friends to talk to and being on this site is a big help also. Christine

I haven't had surgery yet and like Christine, I almost cancelled it....i did have gallbladder surgery and the best thing you can do is walk as much as you possibly can...and good luck to ya! Peggy

I had the surgery 9/6/05 4 days ago! It's hard and still hurts somewhat, mostly gas! Walk.. walk and walk, as soon you can. I had my surgery at 5pm tues, by 5AM Wednesday I was up and walking the nurses were like WHAT? I had 2 C-Sections so I can tell you how important it is to just fight and get up, even though it hurts. Its gets easier each time gail