Hey,, Just discovered the GLBT board! Surgery on Monday!

Hey Fellow GLBT folks.. I just discovered this side of the board... I am scheduled for surgery on Monday 12/5. Im doing the "VG" procedure- that is basically 1/2 of the duodenal switch procedure. In essence- they reduce my stomach by 85%. I have noticed that not alot of folks have done this, most do either the Lap Band, DS or RNY. This has been a scary journey getting to this point- took just about 2 months and now its coming to the point of no return. YES! I am scared- but mostly confident in my decision. Not worried so much about the pain aspect or the hospital stay- Im just hoping I can deal with all the changes post op. Im worried that I am going to ask "what have I done to myself" This does seem to be a common thread. My partner of 20 years is somewhat supportive- but not really. I think he is worried about this for me as well as worried about what this means to his world in terms of eating. This will force him to take more of a stand on his own in terms of shopping, cooking. I have done all that for 20 years. Those days of shopping, cooking, eating are over now (as we knew it) I dont think he is going to like dealing with it. Im excited about the eventual outcome- but I have a long way to get there.. I guess its normal to be somewhat depressed??? Im worried about the 1st month which I dont think will be easy. Also,, I m sure alot of you can relate- some friends are supportive and others are not. (The ones that are not-for the most part are also obese) Family members for the most part are not supportive. I feel so much alone in my decision here. Well,, regardless- im on my way.. just a few days away... Sal

Good luck with your surgery!

Good Luck on your upcoming surgery, and welcome to the board! It's always great to see new people!

Good luck with the surgery and your life after. Just keep remembering... this is for you and your life. You need it, your going to do and cope with the life afterward. It sounds like you have made peace with your decision, everything else is someone elses problem. You work is to heal, feel better and be in a better place to cope with life! Huggers Sal, Derrick

Hi Sal; I just want to welcome you to this board. There are many supportive people here and they are very friendly and inspirational. I don't have a date for surgery yet, but I am currently in the process of starting my nutritional classes and completing Dr. visits. I am glad you found this board. It has been very helpful for me in my journey. Best wishes to you, and please come visit us again. Rosa

Sal, What you are feeling and experiencing are very natural and you will, at times after surgery say to yourself, "What the hell did I do?" but that will pass as you get more and more healthy. My partner was VERY scared of the proceedure. It helped a great deal for him to go to the initial meeting with the surgeon where all he had many of his questions answered. It also helped to have one of our best friends there in the waiting room during my surgery. Derrick is right, you need to do what is best for you. I think my partner really became comfortable with the whole idea when the surgeon told him at my weight I could die at anytime from the complications of being super morbidly obese. Somehow it made all of the surgery risks seem not so scary. As for shopping and cooking. I still do that and can honestly say I have no desire to over eat and really am not tempted to eat the wrong things. If fact I had no appetite for about 4 months. I cook much more healthy now. I love to cook and still do. My biggest problem was preparing way too much food and having to toss it. I have finally learned to adjust the amount of food I make. Welcome to the GLBT board and please have your partner keep us up to date on your progress. This is a very supportive bunch and they are full of great information. Chip

Hey Sal, Welcome, welcome, welcome!!! It is very unfortunate that friends and family can't see beyond their own paths, to look down the path that you have chosen. I'm glad you found your way here.... It was no accident. Here you will find good people; many who will give advice, and many more who will simply send you love, support, and encouragement. I hope that now that you've found us, you can begin to feel the warmth of family around you. I know that any time I've ever posted a concern or a success---this board just lit up with support, words of congratulations, and many people chiming in to say, "We're with you." That's what this messageboard is all about. So please, come here often. Talk about what's on your mind. Tal****il the words lose their power, and you can feel free to move past fear, disappointment, and the somtimes winding road that leads to WLS. Take care and come back soon! Jessica

My partner, Lyn, just had her surgery today. It's funny how people reacted when she told them. The ones you thought would be negative and oppinionated were totally supportive and the others that we thought would think it was great were not for it. I think through this journey I have taken with my partner is that most people are not educated about WLS and think of it as a drastic easy way out. Good luck and listen to your heart! You'll do great! Cyndi~Lyn's partner

Hi there Thank you all for your great words and encouragement. Im winding down here.. just 3 days out! Im not so much worried or concerned about the procedure itself- its the afterwords that Im hoping I can deal with effectively. Like everything ive come to adjust to in life.. eventually I got it! (sometimes im slow) so I assume that this wont be much different. Its a wierd-strange way of looking at things in terms of saying goodbye to food and my relationship with food as ive known it my whole life. From my earliest memories I can remember the abundance of it EVERYWHERE. I guess alot of that had to do with the "italian" influence at that time- but now as you all know food is everywhere and its relatively cheap. I guess I became a victim of my "drug of choice" food like so many folks have. I think the turning point for me has been when I finally cracked of the code of good ol mom's recipes. As my cooking got better, my resources increased and my desire for MORE of everything I can now look back and see how that was a "recipe" (pun intended) for disaster. In the last 2 months I have thought more about food, my weight and my relationship to food than I thought about it in the last 10 years. Ive done the homework,, educated myself about WLS and I know the risks and rewards. I dont know how to think of myself as thin, or thinner.. Ive spent the last 5 years as being known as "Aunt Sallie" the big ol "bear" to my "family" friends. A identity I myself fostered and promoted. (this is what makes the LBGT board awesome- you folks GET THAT!) 2 years ago, I lost my sister Barbara who was 51 and 500 lbs. (Lost my mother 10 months later) Both losses really hit me hard and I just wasn****ching or minding the store in terms of my intake. So.. now I find myself in that same situation as Barb and in some strange way- I feel like im carrying the torch for her- she was too scared to do WLS and look where that got her. By the way.. just how do I get my picture on this board! Again.. thanks for the kind words of support and encouragement.. I truly do ask for that and welcome it now. Sal