18 days til surgery with major anxiety

Only 18 days before my LBL and I am so anxious. I feel like I should be mire excited and yet I'm so scared and anxious it's hard to be happy. Paid my entire bill out of pocket on Friday so there's no turning back now! Cleared by my PCP and my cardiologist. Recently found an issue with my aortic valve....something I was born with that there's nothing I can do about. Dr says I should be fine with surgery but im scared. I've had a number of surgeries including gastric bypass but none have been 5-6 hours. My friend keeps telling me I won't know it's been that long! Afraid to get on the scales these days...feel out of control with my eating and that's how I'm handling the anxiety! Any words of wisdom? Thanks for all your support. Kacey

What you are doing is going to be an INCREDIBLE moment in your life.  Everything is going to change and you will start a whole new life!! HOW EXCITING IS THAT?! Instead of stressing yourself out and making your valves to pitter patter try to see it a different way and change up your mentality.  Yes it's a HUGE decision but you are about to embark on an incredible journey that very few people have the guts to do... you've already put in the hard work by losing the weight FINALLY this is the part where you just sit back and let your body do the work.  DEEP BREATHS.  Maybe try a little yoga, pilates, or swimming before surgery just to get in some extra physical activity and to get your mind off of the anxiety.

 

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Great advice from Hammy_Girl about changing your perspective. I will have to remember this the next time I go under the knife. You know, I scheduled my surgery only one week in advance so that I did not have time to chicken out!

Maybe try meditation, deep breathing...  and remember that we all feel this way before surgery -- or at least most of us do.

Good luck!

You will be fine.  Both my plastic surgeries lasted 6 1/2 hours each and I came out great.  One thing about plastic surgery is that you do not want your surgeon to rush through.  Let him take his time and create a masterpiece on your body.  You will thank him later for the incredible job he did on you.  The excitement will come, just breathe!!

Thanks to all of you for your support. Feeling good today! And thinking about the great advice you have given. Did a lot of reading this weekend about pre op nutrition etc. Did your dr have you eating a specific way a few weeks prior to surgery? Or taking vitamin c and A? Mine didn't say anything but it looks like there are a number of ways that support optimal healing and recovery. Thoughts? Thanks!