Just Curious...

Yesterday, with my gallbladder ultra-sound and presurgical  testing completed, I tied the final loose ends before my surgery on Monday.  I've lost 21 lbs., and I think I'm as ready as I can be.

I was wondering about two things:

1.  How did you deal with "pre-op jitters?"

2.  Did you do (or eat!) anything special to mark the "end of life as you knew it?"

I don't have any words of wisdom for the pre-op jitters, I never had them. It did cross my mind to wonder if I was making a wise decision, but it was just a fleeting thought and it was gone just as fast as it had come. I'm sure when the day comes the jitters will go away and you will just be anxious and happy to get it over with.

As for the "end of life as you knew it" meal, I didn't fall into this trap either. I honestly thought about it, but when the time came, I had changed my eating habits so much that I really didn't desire anything enough to make a "last go" of it. My last meal before my surgery ended up being a bowl of soup and a small salad. I had to take behaviour modification classes in my program and I found that they went a long way in helping me reshape my thinking on food and my dependency on it. (I lost 56lbs pre-op, and have only lost 32lbs post-op-go figure)

You'll do great!

I had no pre-op jitters at all.   I had been through so many tests and appointments that when the time came, I was ready and at peace with my decision.  As for the last "big" meal, through a charity auction a friend of mine had won a multi-course dinner and wine pairing for four, so we had a nice evening out with good friends, good wine, and good food.  It was the perfect amount of everything.   So I encourage you to do something special with people that matter, and it doesn't have to have anything to do with volume or calories.  Just make it special.

I dealt with pre-op jitters by keeping myself as busy and distracted as possible.  Although I was at peace with my decision, I was super nervous about having surgery since I'd never even been in the hospital before, let alone had any type of surgery.  I kept my scheduled as jam packed as I could before surgery, and my house was nigh on spotless when I left for the hospital... 

In terms of doing something special, I ate many last suppers - things that I knew I would not choose to eat again for a long time after surgery, or perhaps ever.  I visited my favorite restaurants, baked my favorite goodies, etc....

Good luck wrapping up your loose ends, and let us know how you're doing!

Kellie

1) I became a total ***** I think Mark was ready for me to have surgery and get it over with just so I would go back to "normal". I was nervous and was wondering if I could handle the post-op life-style and if there was one more diet I could have done before taking this last step. I finally told myself there was nothing else I could do and I had to live the life-style if I wanted to live.2) My friends that had supported the decision from day one and I went to Uno's. Nothing to celebrate WLS than going and eating some deep dish pizza. LOL I have pics in my profile of the friends that went with. Oh and the hubby went to even tho he didn't want me to have it

I didn't have pre-op jitters..I was so ready to get on with it that I was pretty chill.

I did have a f ew "last meals", but even so I still lost 12 pounds pre-op and my surgeon was thrilled.

My very last meal was capellini pomodoro at Olive garden. All my last meal choices I made sure were within reason. Nothing super crazy. I say do it within reason. Most everyone that I've talked to does. Face it, we love food.

1.  How did you deal with "pre-op jitters?"

I think I must be the only person who has had WLS that didn't have any "pre-op jitters."

2.  Did you do (or eat!) anything special to mark the "end of life as you knew it?"

Janet had her WLS 2 months before mine and she's the cook in the family, so I had my "Last Supper" with her.  We went to Romano's Macaroni Grill and had fried calamari, salad, lobster ravioli, some kind of chocolate thingie for dessert, and about 8 glasses of Coca~Cola.  Yum.

1. my situation was a little different than most. my surgery was postponed because of hurricane ike. i'm a news junkie, so i stayed up long hours -- sleeping between 2 - 4 hours a night in the days before surgery -- to watch/listen to the hurricane coverage. i was so sleepy when i got to the hospital, when they told me in pre-op that my doctor was running about an hour behind, i asked them to turn off the light overhead and i fell asleep. they must have given me the anesthesia while i was out because i remember nothing until they woke me up and told me to breathe. if you can arrange a natural disaster to distract you, it may not be fun for everyone else, but it sure takes away from dwelling on the surgery. the sucky thing is that since i was anticipating surgery, i didn't have *any* food at home during those days except the protein i'd purchased ahead of time, and all the stores were closed.

2. i told my closest friends and family members to decide on a "final supper" and we did those two weeks before surgery. i was a little afraid of doing it the week of surgery. my doc didn't require all liquids or anything, but that's what i ended up doing (see above).

you're going to make it through with flying colors, bay-bay.

Joanne congratulations on the 21 lbs that's great!

I did not have pre-op jitters, I was pretty calm, I did do a lot of cross stitching the day before to keep my mind occupied. I was the calmest I have ever been before any operation I have had. I think that is because I was so prepared and knew what to take expect.

As far as my last meal, I had my real last meal a couple weeks before at Bravo. The night before I started my 2 day liquid diet I wanted to go out to dinner. Greg and I and a couple of friends went to out favorite Mexican restaurant. I did not want to blow it to bad so I ate maybe 6 or 7 chips with salsa or cheese dip then I got the beef fajitas, I did not eat the rice or the shells. I did eat some of the beans. I was going to eat some of everything but when they brought it to the table I was thinking OK you have done so well the last 2 weeks why blow it now. I was glad I had gone out and really happy I did not blow it too bad.

Jeff

OK 3 days before surgery I was a wreck !!! I got over it when people here said it was normal.....but I must say..it was not doubting that the surgery was right for me....It was my fear of change and failure that was making my jittery....By the day of surgery I was excited !!!!