Scared and Anxious

I just need to get this off my chest. I'm only in week one of this journey; just getting through the first week of my lean & green diet. Am I the only one who gets scared/anxious about making this decision? Did anyone else always feel hungry ALL the time? Does the hunger go away once the surgery is over??? I'm so scared, I can't move my bowels and feel sick to my empty stomach. Please offer any/all advice.

YES it gets better!  I didn't do the lean and green, I was on the Medifast and once the first two days were over, I felt good.  I was not even hungry.  It is a tough decision to make, but I have to say I am very happy I made it.  My only regret is that I didn't do it a long time ago. 

I found that I was not physically hunger for well over a year.  My head kept making me think I wanted something to eat.  Make sure that you drink enough water, it really helps.

Talk with Anne about it, she will help you.  Ask her about the Constipation, she has some tricks to deal with it.

Good Luck

Jim

Thanks for the support Jim. I am going to the support group tonight in Queensbury, so if Anne is there, I'll check in with her. Today was a better day for me, I just think when I have too much time on my hands, I get anxious about it. I wanted to do the medifast, but they don't want me to do it until I see the nutritionist and Medifast nurse and that's not until November. So, lean and green for now.

 Hiya Susan!

WELCOME!  What you are going through is TOTALLY normal.  Scared, anxious, nervous is something MOST of us went through as a preop just before our surgeries!

Try to do a lot of positive readings.  Keep looking at all the BEFORE & AFTER pics here on OH's main page, and most importantly, surround yourself with positive people.  

Jim is right (long time no see Jim, welcome back!).  

Remember, "if you do what you've always done, then you'll have what you've always had."
You are about to make a HUGE difference in your life for the better.  Even those who have had complications say they wish they had done it sooner!  

I will not lie, at 5+ years post op, I do get hungry or should I say feel the need to eat a lot more than I did the first 3 years, but I am eating no way near what I was as a post op and more importantly, I am healthier, happier and living my second chance at life every single day!

Wishing you a FABULOUS journey!  We will always be here for you!

GOOD LUCK & HUGS!

Thanks Maryellen for your words and support. At least I now know my stress is NORMAL. I'm going to a support group tonight so I'm gonna bring it up and listen to all. I'll keep in touch and trust me, I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it.

 Susan - welcome to the wild and crazy journey of wright loss surgery. If you weren't anxious and a little scared we'd need to worry. It is perfectly normal to feel those things.

You said you are going to a support group (looks like it was Monday). Probably through Ellis? I am not a patient of theirs, I went to Albany Med. We have a weekly support group that you may want to come to. It is at the Albany Med South Clinical Campus at 25 Hackett Boulevard. It is on Thursday evenings, 5:30 to 7:30. Everyone is welcome, any hospital, all types of surgery. Pre and post-ops. 

If you have any questions, let me know. Feel free to PM me. 

Tonight I'm just pissed. I can't get past losing more than 5-8 lbs, Lose, gain, lose gain. Then to top it all off, I get a letter from the hospital stating I'm anemic, need iron, vit d, and vit c. WTF!! Im about ready to give it in.

 Dear Susan,

Again, what you are experiencing is TOTALLY normal.

 PLEASE understand why your doctor wants you to lose the weight presurgery, then it will help you to succeed with this goal and next step.

Your liver is the first organ that quickly loses weight, so they encourage pre surgery weight loss to allow your live to shrink a bit, this way when they are operating, it is less likely to get NICKED.  Also, if you begin losing weight before surgery and have the right proteins, etc. in your home, statistics show that you'll be more likely you will  continue the pattern and be successful on your assigned diet.

Here is a poem that I discovered right here on OH several years ago, I wish I knew the author to cite him or her......I hope it helps you!

ALWAYS REMEMBER .....ACCOUNTABILITY+SUPPORT=SUCCESS!!!!

HUGS

START OVER!
If you've started out in pursuit of your goal
And you've really tried with your heart and your soul,
but somehow things got out of control ---
START OVER.
When you've tried your best to do what you should
And you thought this time that you surely would,
But once again, you didn't do good ---
START OVER.
When you've worked so hard to follow a dieter's way
And you fought to win a victory each day
But one more time you went astray ---
START OVER.
When you've tried so hard to yourself to be true
And do the things that you know you should do
But once again you failed to come through ---
START OVER.
When the road to success seemed much too long
And each temptation was oh so strong
And once again you gave in to wrong ---
START OVER.
When you've told your friends what you planned to do
And trusted them to help you through
But soon discovered it's up to you ---
START OVER.
When you know you must be physically fit,
But your hope seems gone and you're stuck in a pit
That's not the time for you to quit ---
START OVER.
When the week seems long and successes few
And at weigh-in time you're feeling blue
Remember tomorrow is just for you ---
START OVER.
To start again means a victory's been won
And starting over again means a race well run
And starting over again proves it can be done
So don't just sit there ---
START OVER. 

I understand the why and all, I am actually a Registered Nurse. I think that when you are the professional, it just irks you more when your body doesn't agree with reason. I enjoyed the poem, and the support I get here, so thanks and keep it coming.

Keep your eye on the prize!