Scheduled for surgery april 2nd
Hi , I am scheduled for surgery on the 2nd of april. My doctor is Dr. Trace Curry. All the people in his office have been very nice and I look forward to a new life but I have other feelings too. I feel nervous about possible complications with surgery and after . I am afraid that I will not be able to keep on the diet after 36 years of obesity and having food as the center of my life. I feel disappointed that I had to resort to surgery to lose weight. I look forward to eliviating pain associated with obesity, and looking and feeling better about myself. I start the pre-op liquid diet on the 19th, any suggestions or secrets would be greatly appreciated. I see there are not many men on this board, I would like to hear how they handled the surgery and the results that they have had.
Hello John, I had Lap RNY on Jan 18th, I also had many of the same thoughts and doubts prior to surgery, I am now 7 weeks post op and am down 76 lbs (starting weight 451)....Although I have a long way to go I am so thankful that I made this decision, its kinda weird but I do not miss food....I feel this is going to give me a second chance at life for myself and my family.....I am from PA and was just looking at posts from different states..........good luck.....If you want someone to ask questions etc feel free to contact me......Hubert.....610-844-6580
Hi John
I had open RNY on May 31 2007 and I am down 130lbs and I have to tell you I am struggling big time with the food, sugar does'nt seem to affect me the last few weeks have been really bad for me I feel like I've done all this for nothing. But John i'm 130lbs lighter and I feel so so much better. Just keep your chin up I hope I didnt discourage you in anyway I was just trying to give you my experience but as far as the surgery all and all it was'nt to bad of a surgery to got through. John just remeber to walk as much as your body will allow you after surgery. Walking will help drop the weight even faster. If you need anything or have any questions let me know please. Good luck and may god bless you along your journey.
Jim
I know how you feel. My surgery was 3/7...I am 4 days post op. I am afraid that I will be the only person who does this and is not successful because of my food addiction!!! I know how you feel about being disappointed that you had to resort to surgery and I didn't tell anyone except a few close friends that I was having the surgery. I was afraid they would think it too, or that they would think this was "the easy way out". My own mother would say, "why can't you just push yourself away from the table". I didn't tell her either.
I would spend this time before your surgery shopping for appropriate food, a new blender, etc. I also bought cookbooks to look through and met with someone who had the surgery 2 years ago that looks wonderful. I keep looking forward to playing with my granddaughter on the floor, buying new clothes, fitting into airplane seats, theater seats, being healthy, etc. I have a running list of things like this that I call my "why I am doing this" list. It became almost like a mantra the morning of surgery that I repeated over and over.
Good luck to you and hope this helps.
HI John,
Congratulations on getting a surgery date. John, honestly, I think everyone gets worried about possible complications with this surgery. Up to the second I was wheeled into the surgery room I questioned if what I was doing was the right decision and should I give it "just one more shot at doing it on my own". I know that I made the right decision. Without question (even as I sit here and eat my disgusting pureed mac & cheese, ugh!!!) 
I think its so normal to feel that you have let your self down when you opt to have the surgery. You really haven't. You have recognized you need help. Here is what I have really come to appreciate. No one knows what its like to be YOU and how the weight controls YOUR life. Others may be obese as well but we all have different ways of dealing with it and some are content with their weight (or so they say but really don't feel that way). I don't know if you are a religous person or not but God never intended us to be this size. Never!!! We really started to see obesity once we no longer had to "work" for our food. We can go to fast food resteraunts and even some resteraunts offer lunch in under 30 minutes. Our portions are out of control!!! We no longer HAVE to raise and care for our food (meaning farm animals), culitivate our food, hunt for our food or even rashion our food for the upcoming winter months. Our life styles allow us to sit in front of a computer, TV, Game counsel or what ever and have food relativly accessable to us 24/7. That's just how it is today. We live in a culture that believes we are entitled to every thing we want right now and when we want it. Look where it has gotten so many of us.
The surgery is NOT the easy way out John. If anyone ever says that to you.... lift your shirt up and show them your scar, tell them how you had to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before and after and how you have to puree your food like a baby and how you will have some skin that won't retract and how you aren't going to be able to enjoy your best friend (food) the way you used to and how it affects even the med's you can take. Its not the easy way out its really not. Its a tool. I explained it to my kids as "its like a vaccum cleaner. I still have to plug it in, turn it on and pu**** I still have to move the furniture, pick up the big pieces and such. It only helps clean the carpet. I still have to do most of the work. I can't plug in the vaccum and it just majically clean the carpet (although I secretly hope someday it will LOL) The surgery is the same way. I still have to work at it and diet and excersize, it just makes it easier".
EVERYONE, I don't care who you are, what your age or where you are from, EVERYONE has their vises, EVERYONE. Some smoke, some drink, some do drugs, some B***H constantly and then there are those of us who eat. The only problem for us is, we can't live with out our vise. So we have to restrict the amount that we are allowed to have. Its not a weak person who makes the decision to allow someone to put them under anestic and cut into their inards and rearrange them. But we do what we have to do to save our lives and John that is exactly what you are doing. You are trying to save your life and add quality to it.
I for one am very proud that you recongize you can't do this on your own and need a drastic intervention. I am in the same boat as you (although I am a girl) I didn't tell anyone but a half dozen people. There are people in my immediate family that still don't know. IM not saying it the right approach for everybody but for me it was. Now that Im 2 weeks post op and I have visibly lost weight people say "why didn't you tell me" or "why didn't you say anything?". Quite honestly, I tell them "I just didn't feel it was any of your business what avenue of weight loss I chose. Im 35 and I didn't need anyones permission." I know that sounds incredibly mean but I only told those people who I knew without a doubt or exception would support me in MY decision. Obesity is a disease and how you choose to cure that disease is entirely up to you. You are the captain of your own vessel (S.S. John)
I hope I have in some small way helped a little. Please don't be discouraged. Being obese has it own set of problems and like I said I am 2 weeks post op and I feel so alive already, I can't image what it is going to be like in a few months. I have so much energy and my clothes are already showing the change. Oh John, its so worth it. Just wait and see.
Best wishes to you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 
Kym
I think its so normal to feel that you have let your self down when you opt to have the surgery. You really haven't. You have recognized you need help. Here is what I have really come to appreciate. No one knows what its like to be YOU and how the weight controls YOUR life. Others may be obese as well but we all have different ways of dealing with it and some are content with their weight (or so they say but really don't feel that way). I don't know if you are a religous person or not but God never intended us to be this size. Never!!! We really started to see obesity once we no longer had to "work" for our food. We can go to fast food resteraunts and even some resteraunts offer lunch in under 30 minutes. Our portions are out of control!!! We no longer HAVE to raise and care for our food (meaning farm animals), culitivate our food, hunt for our food or even rashion our food for the upcoming winter months. Our life styles allow us to sit in front of a computer, TV, Game counsel or what ever and have food relativly accessable to us 24/7. That's just how it is today. We live in a culture that believes we are entitled to every thing we want right now and when we want it. Look where it has gotten so many of us.
The surgery is NOT the easy way out John. If anyone ever says that to you.... lift your shirt up and show them your scar, tell them how you had to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before and after and how you have to puree your food like a baby and how you will have some skin that won't retract and how you aren't going to be able to enjoy your best friend (food) the way you used to and how it affects even the med's you can take. Its not the easy way out its really not. Its a tool. I explained it to my kids as "its like a vaccum cleaner. I still have to plug it in, turn it on and pu**** I still have to move the furniture, pick up the big pieces and such. It only helps clean the carpet. I still have to do most of the work. I can't plug in the vaccum and it just majically clean the carpet (although I secretly hope someday it will LOL) The surgery is the same way. I still have to work at it and diet and excersize, it just makes it easier".
EVERYONE, I don't care who you are, what your age or where you are from, EVERYONE has their vises, EVERYONE. Some smoke, some drink, some do drugs, some B***H constantly and then there are those of us who eat. The only problem for us is, we can't live with out our vise. So we have to restrict the amount that we are allowed to have. Its not a weak person who makes the decision to allow someone to put them under anestic and cut into their inards and rearrange them. But we do what we have to do to save our lives and John that is exactly what you are doing. You are trying to save your life and add quality to it.
I for one am very proud that you recongize you can't do this on your own and need a drastic intervention. I am in the same boat as you (although I am a girl) I didn't tell anyone but a half dozen people. There are people in my immediate family that still don't know. IM not saying it the right approach for everybody but for me it was. Now that Im 2 weeks post op and I have visibly lost weight people say "why didn't you tell me" or "why didn't you say anything?". Quite honestly, I tell them "I just didn't feel it was any of your business what avenue of weight loss I chose. Im 35 and I didn't need anyones permission." I know that sounds incredibly mean but I only told those people who I knew without a doubt or exception would support me in MY decision. Obesity is a disease and how you choose to cure that disease is entirely up to you. You are the captain of your own vessel (S.S. John)
I hope I have in some small way helped a little. Please don't be discouraged. Being obese has it own set of problems and like I said I am 2 weeks post op and I feel so alive already, I can't image what it is going to be like in a few months. I have so much energy and my clothes are already showing the change. Oh John, its so worth it. Just wait and see.
Best wishes to you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Kym 
Kym,
God, you are such an inspiration!!!!! I'm having the lap band surgery, when I don't know, but I'm getting closer every day.
Anyway, you are so wonderful to say those things, things only someone in our position would know, the feelings of guilt, etc.
I just wanted to tell you that you are WONDERFUL!!! :-D
Jackie
Thank you Jackie,
Awe, that was very sweet. I really appreciate it. I just really only stated the truth as I see it. I hope that my words will only help to encourage those who need it. After all that is what this site is for. To be there for each other and support one another when we need it. I know I have benefited from others that are post op and imparted their wisdom thru their experiences and have comforted me when I needed it.
Thanks for the compliment Jackie!!! 
Kym
Kym (deactivated member)
on 3/13/07 4:08 pm - Chillicothe, OH
on 3/13/07 4:08 pm - Chillicothe, OH
I am going to have surgery eventually, just don't know when. I'm scared to death, like you all. I'm terribly addicted to food. How will I react knowing that I can't go thru Taco Bell for a few double decker supremes or eat a piece of my famous cheesecake whenever i want? I'm very afraid. But I know I have got to do this if I expect to live. I 'm only 28. I want to have children. I want to marry my fiance in a typical fairy tale wedding. I want to be healthy. And darn it i want to fit in a seat anywhere I choose. Things I can't do at 450 lbs.
John, I wish you the best of luck. Your surgery date is on my birthdate. I will be thinking of you. Please let us know how you are.
Hi Kym:
I just read your response to John, and all the other post you have made. You make me feel better just reading what you have to say. I am having Rouen-y next Tues. I am scared and definitely excited. Lately I have been feeling like this might be the last time I see my husband or family or kids. Everyone told me those feelings are normal but reading your post, gives me courage to continue on. Best of luck with your weight loss I am right behind you I hope.
Dayna
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