scare stiff

I have my 2nd egd this wednesday and hopefully surgery on the 4th of October. I am reading so much information here and there that I am not sure what to expect after surgery. I feel that I don't know enough of the proper foods to be eating the first month and then the next. I know I will be on vitamins for the rest of my life, but am kinda scared if I don't take the right ones. Half of me says to forget about and die early and the other tells me to get the surgery and deal with the results good or bad. I am in perfect health except for a little joint pain, but scared from all the horror stories out there. Any body with longer time out doing great. please let me know how you are doing. Thanks in advance, you ladies and gents are some awesome friends. So some of you at the nutrient class on Tuesday night. Love, Cynthia

Cynthia, I would be glad to take you to Trader Joe's or Shop Rite to show you how to read the labels. Email is [email protected]. There are lots of things you'll be able to eat. Have you tried & found any protein drinks yet that you like? That's the hardest thing finding 1 you like. If you read some of our profiles you will see some of what to expect after surgery. Some have left details and others little bits of helping hints. Post if you have any questions. We'll try to answer to the best of our ability. Good Luck. Elissa

Elissa - you are awesome!

It is really natural to be nervous. You are at a point in your life where you have come to a crossroad and are making a decision to turn a corner that you cannot turn back from. I can only tell you from my own experience that I have no regrets and I find that I can eat almost anything in moderation. I can't eat ice cream or whole milk but that is about it. I can have most of my favorite things including a bite of brownie if I want - but I can't eat half the pan. I can eat a cheese steak, but not the whole thing. I can eat Mcdonalds - but not 2 big sandwhiches, fries and a milkshake... To boot I have lost 130 lbs in 1 year, I am expecting a baby girl in just 2 weeks and I don't hate myself anymore. I feel like there is a future and I no longer want to just give up and be better off dead. Elissa is terrific & a great role model (I'm not so much) - take her up on her offer to help show you the ropes of how eating will be. Everyone is different but I have met very few people who follow the program that have any regrets - and most people that even stray from the program, myself included, don't have many or any regrets. Best of luck to you on your journey.

Actually Kathy you are a true inspiration to all of us. You have done so well, and you have had to do the work of two while most of us are just getting by taking care of ourselves. Hope the next two weeks go by quickly. If you have the baby on Oct. 2-3 I expect a bike messenger to deliver the news to me. Your bud...Rob

Hi Cynthia! I fully understand your fear! Let it keep you sharp but don't let it make you nuts! I'm pre-op with a date of 10/26/04. Considering that we're only adding an average of 3 years to our lives by losing weight (according to the NIH), I've debated about remaining "pleasantly plump." Will I really care at age 73 that I didn't live to be 76. I doubt it. I've also had to weigh my fears of death or serious complications with the surgery against the fact that I have no co-morbidities other than being obese. Add to that tthe fact that some people who didn't have high blood pressure before the surgery suddenly developed it after the surgery (and had to go on meds) and my fear factor goes through the roof! I also had the blessing of knowing a woman who had a GBP and was dead from complications due to malnutrition less than one year later. You don't have to look hard to find folks here in the DE area who have had all kinds of scary complications. There are even people who have managed to regain their weight and are back to doing Atkins and the South Beach diet to try to lose weight - again. The bottom line is that this is a very personal procedure. Only you can decide if this is what you want and you're willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. I was counting on the dumping syndrome to keep me away from sweets. Then I go to a support group meeting only to find out that some people don't have a problem with dumping and the doctors don't know why. Look back at everything you've done so far to try to lose weight in your life. Have you tried everything you thought was reasonable? Did you lose weight only to regain it later? Are you ready to look different and feel different? Are you ready for a new you? After speaking with a friend of mine at great length about my fears, she asked me a simple question that I'll pass along. Are you having the surgery so you'll look better or are you having it because the weight is killing you slowly and you're fighting for your life? Lots of stuff to think about. If you are spiritual, please stay in prayer. It helps.

Cynthia - I'm not sure how much advise I can give you (as our best Angel - Elissa has given good stuff here!), but I can and will offer you support. I think I am a decent role model (at only 3 weeks out). I believe in positive thinking and have done that. I have been ready to go back to work for the last week and of course, the dr's office won't allow it until next week (this is fine and I understand - I'm just getting bored and I feel wonderful!). To date, I have lost just over 24 lbs in 19 days, I walk at least 1 mile every day, my joints aren't aching like they were, my blood pressure is down and I'm not taking ANY meds ( I was on 3 the day before surgery!). Keep your chin up, don't think about the negative (remember ANY surgery has risks and chances of complications), know that we have the BEST doctors around and they know their stuff! The EDG is nothing! I had to have 2 of them and I didn't have 'drugs' either time. If you need a hand to hold or a shoulder to lean on, please contact me - [email protected]. Best wishes and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! Valerie