Hi from Norwich - Dr. Aranow patient too

I should be having surgery in Mid-Sept. and I am getting afraid too. I am starting to fear the emotional impact, the feelings that I will be having because I will not be able to have the foods that comfort me. I am afraid of the withdrawal of anesthesia. I guess if I said to you I have no fear whatsoever then there would really be something wrong with me! Guess this is normal. I keep wondering what life will be like without this tremendous excess of fat. Looking forward to hearing from all of you. Thank you!

Nadine~ You are very right, if you weren't nervous at all and have no concerns, that would not be normal. For me this surgery has totally changed my life. I feel and look 20 years younger (or so I'm told). Life as a postop is so busy for me know, because I participate in my life, not jus****ch it go by. I couldn't play with my kids before, I never had enough energy. I'm going on 2 years postop and there are days that I stilll want my comfort foods and some days I even endulge in them, but those days are far and few between. When I do "endulge" it's no way I use to. If I want cookies, I might eat 2 cookies or a handful of chips, not a bag of them. But for me, watching that scale go down, for the first time in almost a decade, was the motivation I needed to continue to eat right. Hope this helps. MUAH!!

Hi Nadine, Congrats on your decision to have WLS and also on your choice of Surgeons. I think Dr. Aranow is the greatest! I haven't had surgery yet, but am supposed to get my surgery date this week. I am anxiously awaiting that phone call from Lois. I live in Canterbury but work at the Mohegan Sun in Norwich. It is great to see a "neighbor" here. I wish you lots of luck and success on your new life. Kristi

Hi there. I'm a post-op patient of Dr. A's. He's just great! It's so very normal to be scared and worried at this point. As long as you are comfortable that you have tried everything else and tht this is the best option for you, then you can rest a little easier. It's scary going into the unknown. But, you have a support group here, as well as the Middlesex Aranow group, will help you along the way and answer any of your questions and concerns. Just ask! I find fear of the unknown to be much worse than anything else. Good luck to you! P.S. You may want to think about seeing a therapist to deal with the upcoming issues of change. It IS hard when you don't have your old friend food to rely on, AND you don't have the fat lady to hide inside. I know that you will have/have had a psych eval, and it may lead nowhere except to approval. However, you could consider going on your own. Just a thought!

Hi Nadine, we're in the same boat! I'm also a patient of Dr Aranow's, and I'm shooting for surgery early September. I attend the support meetings and they really help with keeping my mind at ease. I made a crutial mistake (reading the WLS memorials) which made me think twice about surgery. Fortunately, there are so few compared to all the successes I've read, and I know in my heart this is the right thing for me. Fear of the unknown is normal, and it's what makes us human. Hope to see you at a meeting...I'll be there! -Deb

Hi Nadine. I am 8 weeks post op and had surgery by Dr. Aranow. He has to be the best in the State of CT. I have never meet such a caring surgeon *****ally knows what he is doing. He is there for you. I was having problems and was told to come into the office immediately. He had been at the hospital for an emergency. He walked into a packed waiting room and motioned me to follow him. I was feeling quite sick and knowing that he took me in right away really made me feel better. He talks to you like a human and takes the time to listen and explain everything. There is no such thing as time for him. Tuesday I went for one of my followups. I had a G tube in that was removed 3 weeks ago but is still quite raw and painful. He took a look at it and asked if I was getting my protein in. I didn't answer him because I am having a hard time getting the protein in. He then put his fingers through my hair and when my hair shedded into his hand he knew I was definitely not getting in all of the protein. Of course I got yelled at but he was gentle in his approach. He knows how difficult it is. You'll be fine. They medicate you the first couple of days that you won't even remember them. I don't remember much about the day of surgery or the next day and a half. I do remember them making me walk the night of surgery. After only 8 weeks life feels good. I've lost 64 lbs and I am clothes shopping in the back of my closet. Wearing things I haven't warn in 2 years. I have more energy. My knees don't hurt anymore. It's a tough surgery but Dr. Aranow, his office staff and the hospital staff are there for you. Are you going to Middlesex Hospital? They respect Dr. A as god and do everything he wants done for you but in a kind and gentle manner just like him. You will make it through the surgery and shortly afterwards you will start to feel very good about yourself. I wish you luck. Jo-Ann

Hi Nadine. I am a 7 mo post-op patient of Dr Aranow and I will tell you some of the things which I tell everyone else..... First of all, this is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Excepting nothing. NOTHING!!! I have lost 109 lbs in 7 months. Not exceptional, but I would have never lost that much any other way for sure. Between my wife and myself, we have lost over 270 lbs. And life is certainly different. This past weekend was the clothes trip since almost nothing fits any more. And believe me, the sizes are things which I would have never thought in a million years that I would wear. It isa a dream come true. Second of all, if they told me that everything would go back to the way they were before surgery without being operated on again, I WOULD RUN TO THE HOSPITAL and block the OR door to be sure that I was the next person back on the table. My rebirth has been wonderful and i would not change another thing. It is normal to be afraid. You are very used to being the way you are now, and no matter how you feel, life will be different. But please remember, it will be LIFE!!! Nothing you can ever imagine will ever prepare you for the changes. And i promise you, LIFE IS GOOD!!! Look into your wildest imagination, and in there somewhere are glimces of what life after surgery is like. You will be able to stand, kneel, run, walk, almost anything. No matter how much I have tried, the only way I can fly is commercial airliner. My arms get too tired otherwise. But give me a little more time and maybe, just maybe...... Come see us at the support group meetings on Mondays and just look for me. I'll answer any questions you might have. Peter