Pre-op anxiety and stuff...

Hi--I don't really know what caused me to come over to the December Date Board tonight but I am reading so many anxiety posts and so I wanted to post a message for all of you. It is perfectly normal to have all these feelings before surgery and the anxiety that goes along with it---Am I doing the right thing? What if...?, Am I just being selfish, Should I change my mind?, Will I regret this?, etc? Well, guess what?! I felt the same way almost a year ago! And guess what else? This is the BEST thing I ever did for myself! I had surgery January 13, 2004 and have not had one single complication! I have never thrown up, I rarely get dumping unless I over eat or eat sugar and I would do this again in a heart beat! This is the best tool ever! I was a size 22/24--269 pounds--5'5ish and I am now about a size 8/10 --some 6's and am 161 lbs. I have 24 pounds left to read my goal weight of 137. And it's only been 11 1/2 months! The night before my surgery, I wanted to change my mind. I was so scared! And I am so glad I didn't! I prayed so much and left it all in God's hands. One great word of advice that somebody shared with me before my surgery however was this: Ask your surgeon to put a pillow under your knees before he puts you under. Other wise you will be waking up with a terrible back ache for several days. And considering you NEED to be up walking every couple of hours---you won't want the extra pain of your back hurting! I was the only one not complaining about my back aching when I had my surgery! And I am so greatful that this advice was shared with me before my surgery! Make sure you do your breathing treatments A LOT---keep your lungs healthy---get up and walk even if you don't feel like it or it hurts too much! DO IT ANYWAY!! This initial pain only lasts a few days--but I felt so much better when I was up walking around hugging my pillow! Sitting was painful so I just walked and walked and walked! lol Please email me if you need to talk, have questions, anything! This is the greatest tool and you will be so much happier this time next year with your new thin bodies! Good luck to you all! God bless! Charlotte 269/161/137ish Jan 13, 2004

Charlotte, thank you so much for your post. I am having Lap-rny on Monday morning. I have not been nervous at all untill today. While I was eating my holiday meal I kept thinking..." I'll never get to eat this again...Or...Is this the last time I will get to do this with my family ". I know I will not cancel this surgery...I'm too desperate to use the tool to quite before I start. I just don't want to regret doing it. I also am trying to prepare myself for some depression that seems to go along with this surgery. I know It's important to grieve my (unhealthy)relationship with food...I just don't want to go through that. I'll stop rambling. I know this is the right decision...It's just starting to really stare me in the face and the doubts begin. Thank you Charlotte for the words of encouragement! Colleen

You are very welcome! And guess what? I am origially from Spokane. (Fairfield actually). Are you having surgery at Sacred Heart? Char

Yes, Sacred Heart with Dr. Bright. I am also a nurse there so at least I'm with family! Did you move recently? Merry Christmas! Colleen

thanks for your post!! i will ask for the pillow!! i lived in Lewiston, Id for 12 years moved back to florida only 2 1/2 years ago!! small world. i am having surgery in two days and anxious anxious anxious!!!!

Small world is right! I lived in Colton and Uniontown for a couple years when I was in 1st and 2nd grade ages ago! lol Good Luck with your surgery! You will be one of us "losers" before you know it!

Charlotte, Thank you for your words of encouragement. It is always so good to hear of the success stories. So many people have tried to discourage me from having the surgery because of the bad stories they hear. But I know that what I am doing is the right thing for me. I know that it will be successful. Putting it in Gods hands is the right thing to do. That is what I did. He is in control anyway, so why get myself all upset about something I can't control anyway. I am 2 days away. My husband and I are leaving tomorrow morning to El Paso and surgery is at 7:30am on Tuesday. Please pray for me as I am praying for everyone here. God is so good. Charlotte, you look great!! Congrats on your success. May God Bless you! Shannon