Should I wait until AFTER Christmas??

I've been researching wls for a very long time and have FINALLY made the decision to go for it!! I'm very happy with my decision, but now that I have a surgical date of 29 November, I'm getting nervous and cared that I will have a VERY difficult time getting through the Christmas holiday being less than one month post-op. Thoughts?

Debbie, If you are an active person before the surgery, I'd say go for it! I was back to work 2 weeks after my surgery and was back in the gym walking briskly (but not tooooo briskly) after 3. It's all in your personal motivation. I'll tell you this much, when you hit 100lbs down, the fact that this Christmas wasn't your best ever won't even come to mind anymore. But, that's my opinion. Chris Walker

Thanks Chris. I'm planning on walking around my neighborhood as soon as my DR. will let me. So hopefully, that will speed up the recovery process. My main concern is having to deal with all the food. I've always "fallen off the wagon" with every weight loss program I've previously tried around Christmas, and even though I know in my head that I won't be able to "fall off the wagon" this time, I guess I'm just a little scared.

Hi Debbie, I can tell you my surgery was Nov 4, '03 and I host Thanksgiving every year and that year as well. I felt great and was down some pounds too! Even still on pureed didn't make a difference! You will be a little tired, but I promise you feel better and better each and every day. Ultimately, you have to be comfortable with your decision but I think it's a great time because food and the obsessions won't be an issue. Best wishes and much success. /Lisa

This is great to hear Lisa! I'm generally the cook around the holidays and my main concern was that I would have a hard time staying away from the food. I hear everyone say that after the surgery you don't have the same food cravings and I guess I don't completely understand how that could be, so maybe it would be a good time for me to have the surgery. I just have to believe that it will work the same for me as it has for everyone else that I've heard from. Thanks for your advice! It makes me feel like I AM doing the right thing by having it now.

I went thru the same dilemna recently---some people saying wait others saying if you are ready- don't delay. While I don't have a surgery date yet---its projected to be mid to later December. I plan to take the first date offered. Of course I am single with no kids and if need be I will miss part of the family gatherings. I am not usually the cook at the gatherings but my other half will still go and bring some sort of food item---even if purchased already prepared. I hope I feel well enopugh to go to the gatherings but my time there will be limited and I will be low-profile. I am perfectly fine with not going also if I am feeling really bad or the smell or presence of food makes me sick. I may end up with more visitors to my house that ususual this year. That's not a bad deal (except I'd have to clean the house pre-op!?!) You will probably still be on full liquid diet around Christmas. If I was keeping my WLS a private matter, then I would definitely postpone it until after the holidays. I can't imagine it would be possible to keep it a secret with so many Christmas get togethers.

I haven't said anything to my extended family about my surgery since I want this to be MY decision and not influenced by anyone else's preconceived notions about wls. But my husband and daughters are both VERY supportive of my decision, so if I didn't feel up to hosting Christmas dinner, they would understand. In fact, my husband has already suggested that I should consider letting my brother or sister have the dinner this year. I guess even though I know and understand about the sugery and recovery period, I really want this to be successful and I don't want ANYTHING to get in the way, holiday or not! Thanks for your insight and good luck with getting your date!

Hi Debbie, For me, the first 2 weeks were the hardest with cravings, being tired, head hunger, etc, but not long after that, the cravings went away, energy came back and just an awesome feeling of well-being. Every doctor is different also, and yours may even have you on soft foods by Christmas and you pretty much should have all your energy back by then. Best of luck on your decision!! Billie

Thanks, Billie. I've had alot of people share your same experiences, so I guess I need to just sit back and trust that I will follow suit. I 'm just a little nervous about being one of the ones that this doesn't work for. I just need to start believing in myself and thinking more positively. What helped you get through those first two weeks?

Debbie, Everything your feeling and questioning is absolutely normal. I don't think one person goes through this that doesn't wonder if they will be the one that the surgery works for. Even after losing almost 130 lbs in 7 months I still wonder if it's going to continue to work for me. The doctor does surgery on your stomach not on your head and it's up to you to change the way you think regarding food and to change how you deal with stress because you didn't gain weight by having great coping mechanisms to deal with those stressors. Women by nature are emotional eaters and because we tend to be primary caregivers we put our needs behind those of others. Not after this surgery if we want it to work for us and have the best advantages. You may lose relationships because in order to ensure success, you will change your attitude about many things in your life and some of the people in your life may not understand why you do or feel that way. There maybe others in your life that actually undermind what you try to do instead of supporting what your trying to do. Once the surgery is complete you can no longer turn to food to comfort or you will not be successful. In the beginning it's easy the hunger is gone, you can only take in very small portions but for most that doesn't last forever and life catches up. The most important thing to do is to make good concious choices of what your putting into your body and form really great habits during the honeymoon period that will help you get through the hard times and there will be hard times. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, well now will be your fight for a healthy future. For as many doubts as I have, I would have this surgery over again in a second. It was the best gift I could've ever given myself. That doesn't mean that doubts aren't there, but in 7 months I've been able to do things I haven't done since my early twenties. I always had a life but now I am living my life. If you have other questions don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your journey and have faith in yourself that you will make the right decision in the end. Denise