Tips? Tranquilizers?

I'm not sure there is anything I can do but I was wondering how you all got through the weeks before surgery. I am absolutely dying with excitement/anxiety! Not really anxious about the surgery itself although that might change as I get closer but I am so anxious about the wait. I can't concentrate on anything, I'm trying to prepare for Christmas and I'm a mess! UGH! I've never been good at waiting.

Any suggestions??

Thanks for listening!

crabbyKel

There is no easy answer to this. Later this will not seem like it was very long at all. But right now, I understand how agonizingly slow the days go by. I think you are doing the right thing in trying to stay busy. Have you started getting ready for the changes in foods, exercise, etc.? I started to make the changes that I could before the surgery. That way the transition was not as big. I had already given up carbonation and started an exercise program. Everyone is different and these ideas may not work for you.  But perhaps some other aspects would.

Hang in there. Your big day will be here before you know it!

Debbie

Thanks Debbie, I have been trying to make little changes since August. I think I've only had a handful of cokes and I've given up my beloved addiction to sweet tea! I've tried to replace it with Crystal light but boy do I want that sweet tea.  The next thing I need to conquer is the 9pm snack. I'm trying to pick healthy things because I think it is boredom. Never thought I'd analyze my eating so much but thats what got me where I am! I'll thank everyone for the support now because you guys (gals) are the best!

crabbyKelly

I'm right there with ya! I hate waiting!  I was originally scheduled for Oct. 20th. Then the surgeon called me the night before surgery to say it had to be postponed due to my kidney levels in my latest blood test. I was sooooooooooooo upset. I was so amped and ready to go.  Now I'm rescheduled for this Thursday. I'll be on pins and needles until they put me to sleep! LOL I just hope I don't get any unexpected trouble this time around.

Me too Lisa! Hope you can get in without any sneak attacks. I'll be praying for you! I'm so worried about weight gain right now. I'm sure that with all the anxiety I'm going to have to be VERY aware of what I'm putting in my mouth.

Best wishes for you!

Oh yeah....I've got suggestions!!  I spent hours on this site, in addition to signing up for the free SparkPeople Website. It is addicting....it's a HUGE website, and you earn "points" for everything you do on the website.  The "points" earn you "trophies" and the ability to "buy" virtual gifts for your friends".  It has a place to log your daily food intake (and if a food is not there, you can add it by entering the nutritional information on the container - or, you can import it from another member if you trust the numbers), and you can make up your own "food groupings" (like I have my standard breakfast ingredients all put together under one button, and all I do is click it and it automatically logs about 6 or 7 ingredients).  You have your very own "favorites" list so you can find the things you use quickly, and when you log the food, you can have it track any of a number of nutrients (for instance, I track calories, carbs, fat, protein, cholesteral, sodium, fiber, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, folate, iron, etc.).  You can enter your own recipies, and as long as you have the number served by the recipe, it will come up and give you a nutritional "label" just like you see on products at the store.  You can have a recipe box of your own, you can share recipies, or import recipies from other people.  There is a place to record not only your standard weight and measurments, but you can add anything ELSE you want to measure.  There is a place to track your exercise, broken down into cardio, and other (as in weight training) exercises (and you can ADD anything that's not on there).  There is a place that you can record your own personal goals and track them, and there is a "planner" where you can put appointments that will pop up in your regular email and remind you, and also where you can do a daily journal-type of thing (what you're feeling or doing - and that can also be something you track and earn points for), and you can have your own home-page similar to OH, where you can write about your weight loss journey, and what your goals are, and you can blog about anything you want, and record what your daily status is (how you're feeling or good or bad things that have happened, just anything you want), and like here you can join interest groups - for instance, I belong to the "living with osteo-arthritis" group, and the "ethnic food lovers" group, and the "dealing with depression" group, and the "Over 50 with over 100 pounds to lose" group. They have groups for your home-town, and they have "challenges" and they have exercises of the day. They also have a complete list of core exercises, upper body exercises, and lower body exercises, and videos of how to do them (including using weight machines, free weights, balance balls and resistance bands). They have health articles, and blog posts, and weight-loss-oriented trivia questions.... and like I said, you earn points for everything you do on the site...including just logging in.  I tell you, between these two sites, and my email, I was constantly on the computer. BUT... a good thing to do would be to get into some kind of exercise routine right now, since you'll have to be doing it after surgery anyway. My surgeon expected us to walk at least an hour daily - we could break it up into 6 10 minute walks, but walking was not optional. I signed up for the gym, and learned to do the stationary bike, and the treadmill, and the rowing machine, and the elliptical, and then I added swimming. It helps get your lungs in shape for the surgery, as well. The better shape you're in, the better you're going to do, and the faster you'll be up and around afterwards.

Another thing.... go to support groups.  Find one in your area, and GO.  You'll learn so much!  And you'll make friends who KNOW what you're going through like no one else can.  If there are no support groups, read.... I like "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach.  She also has her own website.... BariatricEating.com.  Yes, she sells products, but there are also forums for you to get involved in, and if you ever decide to purchase anything from her, may I recommend VERY HIGHLY the Inspire Peanut Butter Cookie protein powder.  OMG is it GOOD!  And if you need to, find a pen-pal.  I'll volunteer.... I think you're a pretty neat person and I wouldn't mind being your pen pal!

One last thing.  I can't emphasize it enough.  JOURNAL.  Write down your thoughts, fears, euphoria, anxieties, questions, feelings.  You will find it invaluable later on.  If you have a video recorder, record your feelings.  I know it feels silly, but set the recorder up on a tripod and sit in front of it, and talk to it.  Tell the camera what you would write in your journal.  In fact, if you feel too silly to do that, just READ what you wrote in your journal.  Your family, and children (if you have any) will find it a wonderful gift you can give them later in life.

Congratulations on having a date, and don't drive yourself crazy.... just keep your eyes on the prize!

Hugs,
Erica

Oh I am with ya-3 days to go!!! I can't focus on Christmas either, I dont have the energy to put up a tree-Im so stinking distracted w/my upcoming surgery date. I go to bed at night at 7 or 8 cuz I want the days to hurry up and go by, plus Im nervous!!! I just want to be past surgery! I keep looking at before and after pics and pretend shopping for clothes on line.