I need your prayers, encouragement and support please!

Ok as most of you know, I am scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, March 28. I was scheduled for February 20 but cancelled it due to not really knowing if I was making the right choice. I was going to have it done open and in Kane, PA. 8 hours away. I went 2 weeks ago and met the surgeon in Marion, Va and he is going to be doing it Laproscopic. He said he thought I would do excellant. Food has such a hold on me for some reason, I am thinking I will never really be able to eat again. I am not a big eater so don't know why this is all going through my mind. How long was it before you were able to feel normal? Do you worry about things happening down the road due to having this surgery? Why am I so scared? My nerves are on edge so please pray for me and help me get through this. Thank you all so much ladies, this means alot to me. Love and Hugs, Tammy

I feel near normal now. I determined what that would be by judging my abdominal discomfort level after a short jog, and also when getting jostled in my truck. I am very close to normal now--I jogged a short distance the other day! The jitters are normal, too. About 3-4 weeks prior to surgery I even mentioned to a co-woker that I was having second thoughts. They went away quickly, though. I recovered MUCH more quickly after this surgery than after either of the 2 C-sections I had. What worked the best for me re: jitters was determining I was going to have the surgery for my HEALTH. I am 55 and had only the very beginnings of co-morbidities. What slapped me in the face was when my 21 year old daughter said she wanted to get married and have children before too long (she has NO prospects), so that her children could get to know me before I DIED!! That did it! After that I let the worries and concerns wash over me, knowing I was doing the right thing for my health--it wouldn't be for my looks. Acknowledge each worry and bid it good-bye. Yes, I am 67 pounds lighter already, but I already look 10 years older because of the sudden onset of deflated wrinkles . I will wear them proudly like medals. We were all big eaters or grazers, or eaters of high calorie foods, couch potatoes. You do have to give up your old, bad habits. I found myself wanting to graze the past day or two because of stress regarding my daughter. I now have very SMALL grazings in the form of 5-6 meals per day, and of foods I CAN eat, like dried beef snacks (Jack Links Prime Cuts, yogurt, sf popsicles, no sugar added fudgesicles, cheese). I do not even bring real sweets into the house. Since I started my pre-surgery diet, my SON has lost 15 pounds and I am not cooking but maybe once a week (he is 24). I even have everyone here eating no added sugar Klondike bars, instead of the full fat and sugar ones. Worries after surgery? I refuse to entertain them. At my age I can worry about any of a variety of ailments but I will NOT! I am focused on health, whether relating to my surgery or not. I expect the best and will get it. Because I teach psychology I know that research shows that those with a positive, cheerful outlook have better surgical outcomes than those who are pessimistic. Also, your tastes may change somewhat. Before surgery I ate little beef. I was quite the chicken and fish eater. Now I eat very little other than beef. For some reason fish and chicken have made made me nauseated. Even my favorite tuna salad did me in. poultry tastes very gamey to me now. For it not to taste gamey I have over-cooked it to the point it is too dry to go down. So, I am not eating it for the time being. For me, and from my observations of others--you have to give up your old habits and attitudes about food. If you haven't done this already, or think you will not be able to, do not have the surgery. My doctor wants a good pre-surgical loss. he can then see how deetermined we are to give up the old ways, in addition to shrinking the liver. (Just my observations and experience, not medical advice!). I have rambled on and on. Prayers are going your way, Good luck and Godspeed-- Lois

Tammy, All your fears are the fears of so many of us before the surgery. It is totally and utterly normal to have those fears. Believe me, you will be able to eat again. I cannot promise you that you'll be able to eat everything you are now though. Some folks have difficulties with certain foods while others don't. For me, I seem to do well with everything though I have not tried sugar and have no interest in it. Eat is different after this surgery. The feeling of "enough is enough" aka full is different. It is very strange to feel full after a small amount of food but on the other hand it is cool considering how much I used to be able to put away. At 10 months post-op, I can eat a whole boneless chicken breast and a few green beans. It is satisfying. Food tastes good to me. I have been very lucky. I have only thrown up twice in 10 months. Both times I ate too fast or had a piece of food go down that wasn't chewed enough. You live and learn. Hubby Rich has more experience with this - self-inflicted, of course. LOL. Yes, I do worry a bit about the long term effects of this surgery but that is why I read alot and absorb alot of information. I make sure that I take my vitamins each and every day and that I get my protein in. I make sure that I get my lab work done on a regular basis and in fact... I get copies of all my labs and put them in a chart. I want to see if there is a trend. For example, my protein level was 7.5 at my consult and then up to 8.1 after my pre-op low carb high protein diet. At 3 months post-op it was 7.4. And 6 months it was 7.2. While those numbers are all in the normal range...it certainly looked like my protein levels were headed downward so I upped my protein intake (added a shake each day). Now at 10 months post-op, my protein is 7.5 which is what is was pre-op. I'm happy. I want to feel in control of things, ya know? You are in my thoughts. Take care! Kathy

Tammy I went through the presurgery scare too! I think almost everyone goes through it. I felt normal around 4 months out...but i was having gallbladder issues too...really hon...the further out you get the better it gets...be patient with your body..and listen to your body. Good luck to you and i will be seeing you at the hospital on wednesday!! hugs JudyB

Tammy, I am so happy for you. It sounds like you have really been at turmoil about what to do. I think that being nervous is something we all go throught. I am almost 3months out and sometimes I still do not feel like I am "normal." I am not real sure what the word "normal" really means. I know from first hand experience that the your surgeon and his staff are great people. Both of them having gone through what you are about to go through I think helps. I do worry if something will happen down the road, and the causes be from my surgery. However, I know deep inside me that I have made the right choice for myself at this point in my life. None of us can for see what may possibly happen in the future. If something were to happen, it is something I would have to deal with at that time. I will have you in my thoughts and prayers, I am sure that everything will work out fine for you. Melissa

Thank you all for responding and your encouragement. I know that we are all in this together. I will be fine because I have the Lord on my side. It's like with anything else, if you want it bad enough you have to work at it to get it! Please pray for me as I go in for my surgery on Tuesday. God bless you all. Love and Hugs, Tammy Chisom

Hi Tammy Tomorrows the big day, eh?? I just wanted to wish you luck and let you know that the feelings you are going through are completely normal. To be honest with you I felt as though the first 3 months were the hardest, getting used to a new way of life and to shut up the voices in my head. They still talk to me once in a while, but not like the beginning. I wanted everything I couldnt have, knowing full well I couldnt eat it even if I tried. But knowing what I went through, I would do this again in a heartbeat! I lost some food choices forever (Which I didnt need anyways!!) but gained a whole new life. I am taking my kids to Kings Dominion for opening day this Saturday. I got season tickets last year for the first time in my life, and was amazed that I could FIT. I am so much more busy these days, and loving life. If you need anything or would like to talk things out, please let me know. I am here for you Dianna

Hi Dianna Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. Your profile was one of the ones that really made me think about the new life that you are living. I was very encouraged by it and thank you for taking the time to keep up your journaling. I probably will need someone to talk to and to help encourage me through the months that will be the hardest. Thank you for offering your ear for me to talk to, I sure appreciate it more than you will know. I will see you on the losing side after tomorrow. Please send up prayers for me as I start my new journey. Have a blessed week! Love and Hugs, Tammy Chisom