Little overwhelmed

I am on here everyday peeking around don't post has I am patiently waiting to start this journey.. I haven't told anyone that I am thinking about having wls for the fear of negative feed back.. A friend back in the summer ask if I thought about wls. I ran into her on Sunday told her I am the process for having the surgery. to my surprise she told me not to do it because her friend had the surgery had complications.. I didn't think nothing about it just went on with my day.. Well when I got home Monday night from work there was an envelope sitting on the table from Humber river with orientation date.. Its really hitting me that I am part of this process now it's becoming so real starting to freak out specially after what my friend has told me!! Anyone else feel overwhelmed nervous and wonder if they are making the right decision?? 

I think anybody that says at some point or another they didn't get a little freaked out or nervous is fibbing. I think it's natural, I mean you are making a big life changing decision and it's not one to be made lightly. You are agreeing to have major abdominal surgery. You have to sit down and weigh the risks vs the benefits and I think I can speak for most of us who have made the decision by saying the benefits usually outweigh the risks. I think you should go to your orientation session listen to what they have to say and go from there. They will tell you at the orientation session you have to the right to opt out at anytime during this process. My opinion for what it is worth is go forward with this and remember it is your choice at anytime you can say I have changed my mind even if it is when your sitting on the stretch waiting to go into the OR, you have the power and the right to change your mind. Take a Deep Breath and Good-Luck :-)

Hi, Well first of all just wanted to say welcome. 

I have been one of those people that don't have a lot of support other than my husband and a couple others. I just want to say that |I have absolutely no regrets except for the one that most of us have and that is that I didn't do it  10 years ago. Be cautious of your "plus size" friends because I too experienced those comments like "you are not that big", "so & so gained all their weight back", and "most people gain all their weight back" just to name a few. I think it comes from the fear of loosing a friend and even jealousy.

You have to make this decision for you and you are going to have to be knowledgeable on this surgery inside and out so that you can be prepared when others say something in the future. It is your decision to have this or not but you have an orientation date so don't miss it. This could be an amazing life changing opportunity for you as it has been for me and many others. We all have been nervous and that is normal. You just need to weigh out all the pros and cons and trust me there are many pros. 

I wish you all the best regardless of what path you choose and if you need to talk or vent there are many on this forum that will be there for you.

Take care, Tara

Welcome!  Like many of the others have said, the nerves are normal!  I don't doubt that most of us all have that one friend or family member who never fails to bring up the negative stories.. some "friend" or "I heard of this guy who.. " story that may have some element of truth, but are often over exaggerated.  For every one of those stories - there's hundreds and hundreds of "no regrets" and "best thing I ever did" stories.   I'm barely into the process and am probably more nervous about the actual surgery than anything else.  But then I read through the successful posts on here, talk to friends & family who have had wls surgery, and remember the ultimate goal of health & wellness - and know it's all worth it.  Just think, a year from now - how good everything will be.  I think we owe it to ourselves to go into surgery with our eyes wide open, well educated, aware and with realistic goals.  Welcome to the journey!!

hi Ready....newbie here as well   ref Jan 29th orientation feb 26th    only 2 peeps know-one being my husband.  i agree with what everyone else has said.  been considering WLS for 2 years.  should have done it many years ago....that's the only decision question.  cant change the past, only the future.  this my "thing"...I own it....nobody else.  support is amazing but in the end I am the one in control ad that is all that matters.  Keep reading the posts....and write a few words yourself...I will be looking for you.  ;)

Wow that was fast, my referral was received November 6 orientation date is March 23. 

Thank you everyone for the words of encouragement I just needed to vent thanks for listening and the comments helps a lot to know that others went or going through the something.. 

And this is the forum to do it.  The people to get the most input from are ones on here who have had or who are going to have this surgery. No matter what surgery you may be having someone always knows someone.  Have there been people who have had complications, of course, are there people who have been successful, of course.  I agree with previous posters.  Gather your own information and make your own decision based on that info.  The process is very informative and very supportive for sure and as someone already said if you change your mind at any time that's your choice to decision to make at any time.  I had my surgery over 4 years ago and in all honesty I can say I have never had a regret and would I do it again, hell yes.  Good luck as you go forward and be sure to continue on this forum with any concerns or to gather any input.