Questions for pre-ops

Thanks for asking.

1. Losing wt will hopefully reduce the pain I am in all the time. I have back, hip, and knee problems. Then I will be able to move around more and do more with my DH. That's what I want.

2. Will I be a success or a failure??? I know the work has to be done by me and I am just not sure I am up for the long run fight. I have always done well in the short run, I can lose the weight. I have trouble keeping it off. I hope the band will help with that.

Almost 9 days till surgery. Crystal

1.  I just want to get on with my life.  Even though I'm 50 yrs old, I'm not ready to sit down and die.  My weight prohibits me from enjoying so many things.  I also want to finish college and be a nurse...first I have to fit in the desks!

2.  My fear is that I'm not going to lose weight.  I have lost hundreds of pounds only to regain them.  Another fear is socialization.  It seems I always socialize at a table. 

1) What are you most excited about in terms of this surgery? (Something more specific than "to lose weight")

oh boy...discovering my ankles. I'm going to be buying my first ever pair of knee high leather boots because I won't have farm girl calves any longer. Then I'm going to get some really sexy lingery and rediscover with my husband all those things that were lost about 100 lbs ago.
 In addition to those trivial things, I am really excited to have some control over my life. For a very long time I've not been the driver of my own body. I'm taking back the wheel and we're going on a wild ride. I fear it's going to be harder than I think but I WILL SUCCEED!


2) What fear or question is strongest for you right now in terms of the surgery?
I have some fairly large fears about slippage and revision surgery. I am a cash pay patient and I fear having to pay additional expenses beyong the usual maintenence.
 
I also fear that there will be some family drama that is unearthed as the weight comes off. I'm definitely going to get set up with a counselor to help deal with the mental fallout of the weight loss. Having to truly look in the mirror is going to be tough for someone who has never owned a mirror in her home other than in the bathroom. LOL!

I'm most excited to look on the outside like the person I feel like on the inside.  In my own comfort zone I don't feel as fat as I really am.  Outside of my comfort zone I imagine everyone looking at me as the "fat" mom.  I really try to stay in the shadows in those cir****tances.  I know that losing the weight will give me more confidence in situations at work and having 2 kids in school......well, there's just a lot of functions I'd be happier going to as a smaller person.

Right now I don't have any fears.  I've looked forward to this for so long and am so excited to get it going on!

P.S.  Elena, you look amazing!  Good job!

 Awesome idea Elena!!  these posts were great!  I saw myself in many of them -and even 3.5 weeks after surgery I am still worried about my being the one that fails with this thing.  I think that takes a long time to get over!!

Tina

 Most excited -- of course it is to lose weight successfully and KEEP it off!  But you want something more than that.  I think it will be exciting to watch the changes in my body and as I get more active be able to chase and catch (if I want) my very active DS.  I can't wait to have better self esteem too!

Fear -- that it won't work.  But I see so many success stories here and know that it is a tool and I have to do my part as well which is why I'm realy trying to install the exercise habit in myself now.

1) I am most excited about having a tool to help me lose weight. It sounds like a generic answer, but its true. I've tried on my own so many times and I've had so much failure. I'm also excited about starting to feel better in my body. I've joined a new gym and I can't wait to start working out and it not being as painful due to my body not responding well to all of the extra weight I've put on. I'm also excited to get back on rollerskates! I'm thinking of doing roller derby again!

2) My surgery is tomorrow. Today is the first time I woke up and actually felt scared and anxious. I'm nervous that I won't succeed, or something horrible will happen because of my surgery. It also stinks listening to the horror stories on this message board of people who's lapbands have gone wrong! Its scary!

1. Excited to finally have "help" to keep my weight loss from returning.  It took a long time to get here (mentally and physically) and am ready for the ride.  I want to stop feeling like a 70 y/o woman at age 46!!  I want to feel good enough about myself to be physical with my DH again.  I am excited that I know other than being my usual silly self, and even though they would never say so, I won't be an embarassment to my kids any more. (I could go on for a while, so I will stop here!)
2. Other than the actual surgery...I am sick of being afraid, period!!  Afraid to sit in a chair, be squished in an airplane seat, to speak or sing in public, afraid of what people think of me, and mostly...afraid that I am losing a dear friend (food)...but I have lost friends before (death and other cir****tances) and have SURVIVED!!! 

Kudos, Elena.  I enjoyed reading these responses so much.  Several were really touching, and I identified with something in each of them.  You did the pre-ops a service by encouraging them to dig into themselves and identify very important and real feelings.  It's very healthy to put the tangle of emotions, hopes and fears into words that we can look at and cope with.

Michele

I am excited to feel like a 29 year old (in so many ways) rather than somebody much older. I am excited that it will be 'safe' for me to have babies (the main reason for doing this). Also excited that maybe I will have more energy to be able to enjoy those kids. Short term: we are going on a cruise in Feb and I know I won't be where I want to be yet, but at least I know I won't be where I am now.

And not getting completely winded when the elevator breaks down and I have to hoof it up to the 6th floor - which happened today - REALLY REALLY embarassing getting to my desk looking like I was going to pass out  not to mention how badly my knees are going to hurt tonight

My fears are: not getting approved, facing the pre-op liquid diet, not being successful, band complications, excess skin (remember the 29 year old part?) I really could go on and on.

But I am confidant in my decission and *assume* that the complications/non-success is the minority and I keep telling my self that things will be fine...definitely better than they are now.