Are these normal Feelings?

My surgery date is just over two weeks away, and I am Scared to death, and am not sure I am making the best decision. I have so many concerns, I wonder if these feelings are normal. I have no co-morbs, and besides not being able to do as much as I could if I was thin, and having some aches and pains, I am perfectly healthy. I am so afraid I am going to jeopardize my good health. Am I messing with God's work? I have a successful career. THey are very supportive right now. I have been reading profiles, and have stumbled across alot of people that have had stictures or bowel problems a year or so post op. I am concerned that I will need more and more surgeries, and my employer will lose their patience. Yes.. I know they have to let me because of the FMLA, but.. I want to keep advancing my career. I hope this does not hold me back. I am afraid I am going to fail. I have been trying to watch what I eat, and drink more water the past couple of weeks. I do no think I have been very successful in controlling myself. I hit some twinkies and hostess donuts at the gas station, and have not had near enough water. If I am not disciplined now, how will I be after surgery? I also keep promising I will walk more after work. I have not done that either. My work schedule is long, and I am out of the house about 12 or more hours per day. How will I fit in good eating habits and excercise? I am afraid that something will happen, and I will not recover quickly. I am afraid of leaks, or nicks, or bowel issues. Anyone else have these fears? Will they go away after surgery?

Hi, You are not alone in your fears....I hope to have my surgery in Dec and I to have fears. Thank you for posting these questions hopefuly one of the great post-op members on here will reply. Martha

Maureen Thank you so much for posting this. With my surgery less than 2 weeks away, I am having the same feelings as you, and the same questions keep running through my mind. I think that this might be normal but I can't wait to see all of the reply's to your post. Thanks again, Lorrie

Hey Lorrie OT..but did you have your nutritionist review yet? Mine is at 3 today. I cannot access my email from work, but let me know what to expect in a post. Thanks

MAUREEN: I DID HAVE MY NUTRITIONAL REVIEW BACK IN JULY. GINNY IS SO SWEET, SHE WILL HAVE SOME HAND OUTS FOR YOU AND THEN SHE WILL TELL YOU THE AMOUNT OF PROTEIN THAT YOU NEED AFTER SURGERY. SHE WILL GO OVER THE FOODS THAT YOU WILL NEED, AND SOME SUPPLIES THAT SHE WANTS US TO HAVE (EX: CHILD'S SIPPY CUP - TO BRING TO THE HOSPITAL) SHE WILL GO OVER THE PROTEIN DRINKS, WHAT TO EAT, AND IN THE HAND OUT IS HAS SOME RECIPES. OUR REVIEW WAS ONLY ABOUT 30 MINUTES. GOOD LUCK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU NEXT WEEK. THANKS SO BEING SUCH A SWEET & WONDERFUL . LORRIE

Thanks Lorrie Will see you next Thursday

Hello: I have not had my surgery or a scheduled date. I feel that my insurance will not approve this and I know it will not accept this coverage next year. My thoughts now, after I have gone through all my tests is try to purchase a treadmill, and try to get this weight off by myself. I have talked to several post-op patients from 1yr to 6 months and they are all doing fine but my fears are like yours. I have not decided completely yet, but definitly going to purchase that gift for me at X-mas time. I hope I succeed this way instead of being limited with the surgery. Good Luck with your decision and the journey for a sucessful weight loss, whether with surgery or without. take care Mary

Part of the reason this surgery works - is because of the restrictions it puts on how MUCH you intake. I would honestly be more worried for you if you weren't questioning things. It's perfectly normal. You have to give yourself the time it will take to heal. You have to follow your doctors orders and take the time it's going to require to re-learn how to eat. It's not an "over night" change. I'm 5 months PO and still have to think about How and WHAT I eat. Remember this is NOT brain surgery - it's stomach surgery. You have to be willing to make the changes....and for you figure out how you will work healthy eating into your busy schedule. These worries you have aren't any thing most of the rest of us wondered before we went into surgery. I actually went to my church and talked with my preists about having the surgery. They were VERY supportive of the wonderful change I was making for myself. They told me that what I was doing wasn't against God's will.....because He wants us to take care of ourselves. My preist also knew I was scared to die on the table and he told me that regardless of where I'm at I'm going to pass away some day -and if it was my time - then that's what it is...my time. (Needless to say it wasn't my time....PRAISE GOD). It may help you to talk to your religious leader. They may be able to answer some of the questions you have. I went into surgery extremely healthy for a "Super morbily obese" person. Other than a few "bouts" with gettting sick....I'm healtiher now than I was before surgery. I feel wonderful....I know I look better.....I don't regret a moment of it. Was I scared.....VERY. But it's normal. The "unknown" is very intimidating. You can research all you want on this board and many other sites.....but you still won't know how it is for "YOU" unless you do it yourself. Take care and God bless. If you need anything - please let me know!!! Dee Dee

Dee Dee Thanks so much for the information. I was hoping I was normal I was glad to hear the prespective of another healthy obese person Thanks,.... I have to keep telling myself I can do it.... and remember the reasons I want to

Maureen, Thanks for posting these concerns. I am at the same place as you are with all these questions. I haven't gotten insurance approval yet but hope I have it soon and get my surgery scheduled for December. I hope some of the Ga Post-ops will help answer some of our concerns. Thanks again for posting. -Deana