My surgery is 8/29/07 and Im really scared!

Hello all.... I am new to the site, and I am amazed at how many people have actually "been there done that" so to speak. I have been a roller coaster of emotions lately, and I don't know why. Am I happy that I am having this done? Yes, I think.  I wonder if I am making the right decision, and it has been so hard to stay on Dr. Baker's meal replacement shakes for so long...I hope it will be worth it in the end.  I'll be honest, it is very hard to smell dinner around here, but my husband and kids have to eat....right? Anyway, I don't know what to expect when I wake up Wednesday.  I am not good with pain, and I am really scared. I found this site, and I am hoping I can learn from everyone.  So, any advice or input is VERY welcome!

If you are like me, not only will the smell of food not bother you - the sight and taste of it won't tempt you either. I think someone could have forcibly shoved a piece of pizza in my mouth and I would have spit it out repulsed. I am an "immediate post-op", as in I just went through my surgery 6 days ago. I am not hungry.  I do not want food.  I have to focus all my energy on just getting enough water in which is hard enough (for me) by itself. When you begin having your meals in the hospital, by the time you eat that medicine cup full of vegetable/beef/chicken brothe, the physical part of you will probably be thinking "thank god that's over".  The emotional part of you will feel like, "WTF? That's ALL???  Even an infant eats more than that!"  (And they do.)   But if you are like me, you are doing this because you are unable to control your eating on your own for an extended period of time.  Going back to such restriction is good. A word of warning:  I have felt no restriction yet regarding food.  I have with water which is weird because most of what I eat now looks like tinted water.  But it's true.   I've just felt so crappy all week that I have stuck to the program for fear of making myself heal more slowly than I already am.   

Hello Stormi, There are several of us on this forum who have had surgeries in the past week or two, and I think most of us had Dr. Baker.  What kind of weightloss surgery are you having?  I had the open RNY (gastric bypass) on Aug 15.   I was on the pre-op shakes for 4 weeks, and at first I had food withdrawels but I ended up like the shakes and lost 30lbs on them !! Dr. Baker is a very good surgeon and person and you shouldn't worry in the least bit.  He will take very good care of you.  I'll be honest with you, being only 1 1/2 weeks out, I have a lot of the "what did I do" and "why did I do this" but I have been assured that this is normal and will soon pass.  So you don't worry, you are doing the right thing and just think how after surgery when you start losing weight, you'll be able to be more active with your children and I am sure your husband will enjoy the shrinking you as well.  *wink* You can also check out the other forums OH has also, I like to go to the main forum and the RNY forum a lot and if I have a question usually I find an answer on one of the forums. Good luck Evelyn

Hi Stormi, Welcome to our little corner of the world and congratulations on your upcoming surgery!!! I'm almost one year post op, down 102 lbs and below goal. Dr Gibbs was my surgeon and I had a lap RNY at St Vincent's. I wasn't required to do the liquid diet, so I can't imagine what it must be like for everyone to be eating and there you are drinking your shake. BUT.....you've come this far and you can make it the rest of the way.  I promise you, when you come home from the hospital it won't be a problem at all. Most of us have to force ourselves to eat for quite some time post-op, and personally, it just didn't bother me for the family to be eating since I was concentrating so hard to do what I was supposed to be doing with my food, I didn't care what they were doing! Honestly, I think everyone who goes through any kind of surgery has the feelings you do as far as not knowing what to expect, but you also have to add in the fear of not knowing what the rest of your life is going to be like for you with your "plumbing" changed around.  Myself, I sat a sobbed the night before surgery. I was by myself, DH at work, just me and the dogs. Sat and cried my self silly thinking " how could I have let myself get into the position where I needed surgical intervention to lose weight". Well, my dear, I did it and I'd do it again.  It is an amazing journey and believe me,  everyday IS an adventure. Please take care of yourself and know that we are all here for you to help you anyway we can. You've found a great source for support and information. Good luck

I am having the open RNY. I just don't know what scares me the most...the surgery itself, or the unknown...Thank you all for the wonderful replys, and I will keep in touch and let you know my progress.

Hey Stormi, All of your emotions are completely normal and the emotions you will have after surgery lasted for me about 2 months post-op and I am fine now which I am 5 1/2 months post-op now. I have lost 114 lbs in these months after and am really happy. And what Susan said you literally have to make yourself eat. I to this day am never hungry and don't have those hunger pains everyone said they will eventually come back but they haven't yet. I also had Dr.Gibbs and didn't have to do the replacement shake thing which has to suck and i don't even know Dr. Baker makes his patients do them but anyways not my rules because my doctor didn't make us do that just no food after 7pm the night before surgery. But at first you will think why did I do this and then after after awhile you will be so glad you did it. I hope this help all you have to do is ask if you have questions or want to chat my email is [email protected] .

I think you'll do great!   I was nervous before surgery too, but I still felt it was the right thing to do.

Hang in there and best wishes!

Amy

Hi Laura, it's Tiffany from work...funny running into you in here. I had mine the 27th of July and I go back to work in a week. I didn't do the liquid diet thing because my doctor doesn't require that. On the bright side, I have lost 42 lbs in 4 weeks. I have had problems with nausea and weakness (in fact I threw up 5 minutes ago) so I extended my time off work. I am severely anemic, though. I am still having problems getting all the protien, liquid, and vitamins in, but you should be a pro at all this with all that time on the liquid diet. This has been a nightmare, but I am sure it will all be worth it in the end.  As far as pain goes, it wasn't too bad...I just didn't like not being able to sleep on my stomach. At least we can go through all this together, I guess, lol. I'll send you my number if you wanna talk. Oh, and out of all the foods I cannot have...I would do ANYTHING to have a salad...I miss raw vegetables so badly.

Well, maybe soon you will be able to have that salad.  I hope you get to feeling better! I am trying to figure out what to pack for my stay tomorrow! Stop in and see me if you feel up to it! I'll be at Baptist