Question for the new "pre" ops

I read a lot of posts on other forums, have had many support group meetings and such, I have a question that only you as a pre op can answer...

Tell me what are your expectations after surgery? 2 weeks, 1 months, 3 months, etc.....


Thanks in advance

this is an excellent post darlene ! get them thinking!!!
thx!

From the questions that I see all the time over and over I am just wondering if maybe they expect too much too soon, most doctors don't help when they are doing their sales pitch......WLS has become a business now and not so much just for health......that's my opinion........MINE.......so if anyone wants to flame me...go ahead.....

Darlene....I am posting what my expectations are for after my up coming RNY on Nov. 19th.  Of course my answer may beddifferent than those much younger than myself. I am 65 soon to be 66 and my health is the # 1.factor I am looking forward to.  I am looking forward to losing this excess weight so that I may again be able to go out walking without huffing and puffing and having my ankles, knees and legs hurting so much I have to stop or hang onto something.  I am looking forward to perhaps not having to take several prescribed medications for high blood pressure and arthritis and other problems.  I know this is not a miracle plan and only a tool that I can use to help me control eating and after losing a reasonable amount of weight be able to exercise again.
I was always a slow loser at any weight loss plan that I tried so am not looking to have this weight drop off overnight either.  I didn't put it ON overnight so am not delusional that it's going to come OFF overnight.  My Bariatric surgeon didn't paint me a rosy picture or promises or try to PUSH this surgery on me. 
I told him up front what my expectations and hopes were and that was my health first and foremost and of course if I could look good again, that would be great!!  I know that I will probably have  some hanging skin on my stomach but I can always find some kind of girdle to take care of that. I am medium tall and carry most of the excess weight in the middle area.  I know it is going to be alot of work but at least I will have a tool to help me along.
I will still be the same person underneath but a happier and healthier person.  I have a feeling that most people seeking WLS are like me and want to feel good again and enjoy life again without all the excess baggage to carry around.  Darlene, how did YOU feel and what were your expectations when you had your surgery.  Thanks for asking this question.  I answered as sincerely as I could.

Hugs,


Sandy

I think your long term expectations are good, I was looking for more like after 3 weeks, do you expect to be eating regular foods, do you expect to have lots of energy etc, those things, what do you expect to be like at 3 months? 6 months etc???

Darlene.....I guess I am planning on following my surgeons/staff suggestions that are written in the notebook binder they gave me and go from there.  I am  hoping to have more energy  after a few months and eating regular foods in about 3-4 months.   If these things happen sooner, the better but I guess I am going to take it a step at a time. The surgeon doing my WLS is very supportive and helpful and truly interested on how his patients do after the surgery. I do agree with you though that there are alot of surgeons jumping on the band wagon and doing these surgeries mainly to line their pockets and after reading some other posts on other forums I wonder what information some of these people have been given as they have no clue what they should or should not be eating or doing.  I am very lucky to have been given all the information for before and after and if I shoud have any questions I can call the staff and find out.  They have treated me as an individual and not just another number.  Perhaps that comes from the area where I live and everyone cares about one another here in ND.
My best wishes for anyone else about to have this surgery or anyone contemplating having it in the future.

Sandy

Hhhmmmm, I've only had one meeting with my doctor so far, still waiting for some of my tests results to get back, so I haven't thought that far.  But...........after talking  to the pshcyologist, and taking some of the tests and "thinking" I realize that I will be changing certain aspects of my life.  For me when I am bored or lonely I eat.  This will have to change. So, 2 weeks after I have surgery, I will be learning how to deal with life without putting something in my mouth.  One month, two months, three months..............I expect to have made some mistakes, lost some weight and be on my way to leading a healthier life! 

I expect it will not be easy.  I will probably wish I hadn't had the surgery done at certain times.  I will probably still not like the way my body looks, but I will be healthier.

So..........Darlene, how close to reality am I?  What am I not thinking about?  Interesting comment about WLS becoming a business.  Do you feel people are having the surgery who don't need it?  Do you think that the doctors are not giving enough care/advice to their patients..........just collecting the money and going on to the next?.......just curious.

Looking forward to others answers as well as yours and Margos......

Thanks for helping all of us in this, for me, scary undertaking!!

V

Hi Darlene,
I am certainly not going to flame you for helping. I've learned alot from your posts.
My surgery scheduled 12/10.
My expectations....I want to live not just exist. I know I can follow the eating plan cuz I've done it for the last 7mos.
I want to get off some of my meds...I'm concerned my high bp will cause a stroke cuz I had a TIA over 20yrs ago and I know the likelyhood of having a stroke is high.
I am borderline diabetic.
I want to have energy again and be able to enjoy physical activity again.
Each and every pound lost is a victory and adds time for me to live. I've lost 35# pre-op and I KNOW I can do this.
I want to see my son get married this next yr. I want to see my grandchildren grow up.
I want to and need to continue working for about 15-20 more yrs.
I would love to be able to stop the antidepressants but if I cannot that's ok too just so I can enjoy life again. I've been held back from enjoying life because I could not stick to a "diet" long enough to be really successful thus the obesity was a barrier physically and mentally. I have felt like a failure because I could not lose the pounds. With this tool, it will be enough to help me stay on track.
I work in healthcare and right now I feel I am a poor representative of what is healthy. I am just starting to find out who I am and I want to enjoy being me.
I am a very determined person and with the right "tools" I know I can be a success.
10# per month would be ok with me. If it's faster that would just be a plus.
When I'm not losing #'s I'll measure for inches lost.
Thanks for posting this.
Alice

Hi,
In 3 months I hope to get some energy back that I have lost. I hope to be off of my medication for HP, & HC. I hope to see a good reduction in weight. And hopefully by then I will certainly know how to get all my water in and how to eat much slower.I just want to be me again, Active, Happy and much lighter.

Gail

Hello Darlene,
I am planning on having the lapband in Jan. or Feb. I know I will loose weight slowly. I am prepared for that. I believe I will loose my weight if I follow my doctor's  orders. I suspect I will be on the liqiud diet for at least ten days--then full for another ten days---a nd then mushie foods for about a week before I try real food. I am going to fight the depression that sometimes comes with WLS. I am ready for the slumps in loosing weight. It will be a slow steady process. I hope to learn patience throughout the journey and learn to accept the new me---a slimmer me and a healthier me. I am looking forward to renewed energy so I can get out and enjoy life again.

Nancy