sitting in the background...very nervous

 I have been reading the board for some time.  I have been thinking about surgery for some time now.  I have friends who have been very successful.  

Then there are others I met on here that kinda scare me with their experience.  So I am afraid I will have buyers remorse after surgery.  I wonder if I will even be able to handle sipping water.  I wonder if I will be able to eat again!  

I hear that the first three months are miserable.  

I have never had problems with surgery, but who knows this time.  I bounce back quickly.  I wonder if it will be the same this time around!

My plan is to move very slow.  Introduce foods slowly.   Follow dr. orders...puree for five weeks...etc.  

I am excited and skeptical at the same time...What a mess I am!  LOL

Anyone care to comment that would be great.  I have seen so many great motivating posts on here!

 Trust what's in your heart and trust your surgeon and your process.  We're all different.  Some have complications, some have buyer's remorse and many more of us are delighted from the get go.

I love my sleeve and I'm one that had no complications and an easy recovery.  i wouldn't trade a moment of this journey towards a healthier life.  I know that I have extended my life with WLS.

Make a list of the pro's and con's and I bet the pro's will far outweigh the con's.  Choose to fantasize yourself as one that has an easy time post-op.  Find the positive in all of your thoughts and be excited at your possibilities!

I've had a great experience, though it's critical to recognize that there absolutely can be complications.  You seem to recognize that.

My first 5 weeks were weeks of lots of weakness.  The body needed to heal.  But it did, and after 5 weeks I started to get my energy back. This coincided with my ability to reach my protein, water and vit targets.  

I'm just now 3 mos out, and this entire month has been absolutely wonderful.  Not miserable at all.  Much of the last month was pretty good, too. Not perfect, but certainly not miserable.  My misery (if I would even categorize it that way) was only in the first month, if that helps at all.  

Hope your surgery is a success and that your recovery is easy!

What you are feeling is TOTALLY normal!  I felt all the same things but I KNEW surgery was my LAST and ONLY intervention to a healthy lifestyle!

I am exactly 3 months out too (just like PUNCHY NERD) and I only had about 2 "miserable" weeks....mainly due to nausea, fatigue, and a little constipation/diarhea.  Day by Day I felt better and by 6 weeks I was released to eat pretty much ALL foods and I felt like a million bucks!

PS...the bad part (the first few weeks) is just like childbirth,  it sux but I've already forgotten it and would do the surgery again in a heartbeat!!!

You are gonna do great!!!

This is one of those times when you need to realistically evaluate yourself and determine if you think you can handle the lifestyle change required for your surgery choice. Research all the WLS options that are presented in a way that is free of bias. Don't let a surgeon try to use scare tactics to keep your business. Draw up a pros & cons list. Only you know what you are willing to do. We can encourage and share our experiences but you have to know yourself.

--gina
 

The fear of the unknown is the worst! I had a lot of those same feelings.

Everyone's experience is a little different. I think the negative ones stick with us more.
I have been blessed, and have had a great recovery. I am 2 months out and would do it again in a heart beat.

Love the idea of pros and cons list.

Maria

The fear is always worse than it really is, we all heal at a different rate, you cant base it on how everyone else feels.
Someone also told me that the ones who have had a bad experience tend to post more often. They are disgruntled and will say nothing worked but have probably never held theirselves accountable for how it happened. I know how I got fat and I am taking steps to improve my health.
Remember though everyone is different, listen to the ones with good experiences first, then talk to the ones with bad and weigh your options.

Stacey

Everyone is different, but I was definitely not miserable for 3 months. I felt almost back to normal at 3 days. A little tired for awhile, but no pain, was able to drink and eat, etc. Looking back, I would do this again in a heartbeat, no second thoughts. I feel better than I have my whole life. I follow the rules with food, work out, and am smaller than I was in 8th grade when I was a cheerleader, in dance and gymnastics, had a paper route, etc. We are all here for support too!

I think that most of us had some fears when starting our journey.  Educate yourself.  Learn about all surgery options.  Go to a support group meeting, go to WLS seminars, talk to doctors & patients.  Only you can make the decision.  Good luck!  Feel free to stick around - this board has some amazing people on here.  Cindy

I'm not quite 3 weeks out and 61 but I am certainly not miserable.  The first week wasn't easy but each day got better.  I'm still tired but doing all of my normal stuff.  And when you look at one week out of the rest of your life, it was a simple choice for me.  It does require a life time change in how you are eating.  You do need to be prepared for the fact that you don't get over surgery and go back to normal.  There is a new normal that changes ever day. 
My major suggestion is to find a surgeon group that really believes in education.  When I went into surgery, I had every question answered, from diet, to surgery, to what happened in the hospital, etc.  The NUTs meet with us every week or 2 to go over what we need to be doing and answer questions.  I think my gorup is one of the more ridged but they have a high success rate and low complication rate and that is what I wanted.