Question:
I was wondering if anyone had any last minute advice?

I am seeing my surgeon this Wed. I was wondering if anyone has any last minute advice for me. I just hope I don't do or say anything stupid. I am scared to death this is this rest of my life. I feel like my life liesd in the hands of this surgeon. please pray for me.    — Angie H. (posted on April 15, 2002)

April 15, 2002
Hi...Good luck with your appointment Wed. I would suggest to you you be honest about how you feel both with yourself and with your surgeon. Having been obese my whole life it was leading into this surgery that I finally admitted to myself that my obesity had begun affecting my life. I honestly admitted this both to surgeon and to insurers. I knew that if I didn't do something drastic and quickly, I most likely would not be walking in 6 months and would probably not be alive within 5 yrs. So sincerity of your intent to succeed is important. But the most important thing to believe is that yes your future is in the surgeons hands but once he hands you this tool, the rest of your life and what you do with it including succeeding at this loss is in yours. Believe in yourself and you'll do just great!
   — AJC750

April 15, 2002
Hi Angie! Me too, my surgeon appointment is this wednesday at 10am, and I'm a little nervous. I think I'm more worried about the scale and the chance that for some reason I can't have this surgery. Keep reminding yourself that he does this all the time and he has many obese patients -- many of them who are worse off then you are, I'm sure! Good luck!
   — Lisa C.

April 16, 2002
I would recommend that you ask all the questions you want to such as will I be transected? How much will you by pass? As well as How do you close the incision ( if it is open) ...do you use internal stitches and glue, or staples? Sometimes we fail to get all our answers and then later after recovery, wonder about the details of OUR surgery. Some never know exactly if they are transected or how much is bypassed. Good luck and try to enjoy the journey. Trust in God and your surgeon and you will be fine. I told my surgeon before surgery that I was praying for God to guide his hands and he appreciated that. I had two surgeries (open rny and then repair of staple line and transection in one year). One more thing I would do now is make sure of the pain control that was used was what I wanted (in my case patient controlled pump with morphine). Don't worry about saying any thing stupid to the doctor. It is his job to answer your questions. I always jotted down my questions on paper as we tend to forget when sitting in the office. God bless you!
   — Marilyn C.