Question:
nite before.. Day of ...Jitters

Well Its been a long year of jumping hoops and going and doing what was needed to get to the point I am at now. I have my surgery July 5th..I am not a first timer when it comes to having surgery... so I need some advice here... I think about the day I will leave to go to hospital..and have my Lap RNY.. and I already have BIG Butterflies.... what can I do to help feel more at ease with this... This surgery is elective for me,,, other surgeries I have had ( 3 c sections) and It seemed after 9 months of being preggy I was READY!!! lol I just know I will be a nervous wreck... I HAVE to have this surgery to save my life... But I still cant seem to settle myself in a thought mode to feel better! anyone.... anything that helped you get threw till you were knocked out in the Operating Room?????    — Chastity W. (posted on June 3, 2002)

June 3, 2002
Hi Chas - feel free to read my profile - I was exactly in the same spot you are in approximately 1-month prior to surgery and I was able to find some peace with things prior to my surgery date. It is the emotional roller coaster of life, I believe ~ if it's not one worry, it's another but hang in there. If you believe in a Higher Source - use it. Hang on to it for dear life and see if you can turn over the fears to It. I'm eight weeks out tomorrow from my surgery and I'm already feeling a lot better with my weight loss. I'm sleeping 100% better than I have in years - I'm not quite sure why that is but I am. I've got more energy, I feel like getting up & off the couch - I actually sweated yesterday !! :) Ahhh - the little things of life. I'm an email away if you want to visit, I'll try & help you through it, if I can. Bright Blessings !!
   — Lisa J.

June 3, 2002
Chas, I am scheduled for surgery pon June 17th. I feel a lot like you do. What has helped me the most is having a friend (Karen- thanks!!) whom I can question/talk to/commiserate with AND visiting this site almost daily. I always look at the Q&A site because it gives me info. This helps me calm my nerves. However, we're all different. Knowing all I can about the surgery and after helps me feel like I have some control over the unknown. Perhaps this helps. Good Luck with your surgery!! Hope all goes well!! Loretta
   — Loretta E.

June 3, 2002
you mentioned you had to do this,, i take that for health reasons you need it.. me too, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, 7 months ago i weighed in at 425#'s the most i ever weighed, my doctor said i was a heart attack waiting to happen,, but we all know what can happen to us,,so i had my r.n.y. open on november the 2nd, 2001,, 7 months from yesterday,, early on i doubted what i had done, now i've lost 170#'s, at 100 pounds my sleep apnea and high blood pressure vanished,, and now it's fun to shop for clothes,, everyone heeps tons of praise, but i did that for me, my wife and 2 boys, both getting married this year,, i am here to see all of the great things in life,, not trapped in my body,, not being ashamed to go to social gatherings,, it's a whole new life you're in for,, like the last poster,, give it time,, and you will love your new life,,and great things will follow,, god bless and pray like i did, god answered my prayers and i thank him for it daily..
   — bruce M.

June 4, 2002
Chas, I was reading a Bible study last night that said, "Fear is when you feel something is too big for God to handle." We know that God can handle anything. Turn your worry and anxieties over to the Lord and he will comfort you. I will be praying that you receive the assurance and comfort that you need.
   — Debra P.

June 4, 2002
Hi Chas..Congratulations on your upcoming surgery first off...I was a wreck while waiting on my surgery. I had a date of 8/15/01 first, went thru all the prep the night before, the nervousness, everything, all the pre-op prep at the hospital, only to find out I had a slight fever so they rescheduled for two weeks later. On 8/28/01, I went back, and was totally calm, no stopping it this time, and had my family with me until it was time to go to the operating room. This is when the fear of the unknown really started in on me - when I was alone. I started crying (I had never had surgery or been in the hospital before) and all I could think of was this story from the bible that my uncle had told me earlier in the week...Jesus and the disciples started out in a boat to cross the red sea and half way across a terrible storm came up, frightening the disciples..They told Jesus they were frightened, so he made the storm go away, and told them on the other side of the storm that they shouldn't be afraid, because he was with them, so put yourself in his hands and he will take care of you....So right before they gave me the good shot before they put me out, the last thing I said was "walk with me" my little prayer, and I calmed down (the shot probably helped alot too). There is no way around being nervous, or afraid, and it's natural to fear the unknown. Just remember, it's a new being to a new life for you. And for me, it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Good luck to you, Take care.
   — lily1968