Question:
Hate to admit it but I am scared to death(no pun intended)

Last November my family doctor told me I needed to lose the weight and that I needed this type of surgury done to help save my life. I was scared like I have never been scared before. I have gone thru all the B/S with the insurance I had where I work(am no longer imployed there because they thought I was pulling an insurance scam) but now I am on a state funded insurance and the proceedure has been approved and everything looks good to go with in the next few months. Had seen the pschy doctor and the nurtionist and they say I am ready. I feel ready. I want the operation. I cant wait till I get it done. But I am still scared to hell and back. I want it...I need it to live....i dont want to live the way I am and die. But I am still scared. I am afraid that things will go wrong cause of something the hospital does wrong....or one the assitains does something wrong...or I do something wrong. I dont know anymore. it semas that everyone that has had the type of operation lives no where near me and all I have is family and my religous group to be my support group. BUt are they enought? Can they deal with the stress that I will be going thru? Do they know what to do if something goes wrong? So many questions and I dont know where to go anymore. I believe that I will be the first to have the operation done up here on the mountain and who do I turn to when I need the help? I know that I have you guys but you all know that at times you need that human touch from someone who has been there and knows what you are going thru. I just dont know anymore guys. I want it but I am scare too. Do I have the right to be scared or am I just making a mountain out of mole hill? Thanks for being here for me.    — Robert W. (posted on September 26, 2002)

September 25, 2002
Robert- I think it is HUMAN nature to worry about these things. You mentioned in your post a religious group, so let bring this thought up to you. I'm Christian and in my belief system God is in control. So when these thoughts came up for me I processed them through that belief. "What I if die on the operating table, then it was in God's plan. If it was in God's plan for me to die that day and I didn't have the operation then I would have died another way that day." It brings me freedom knowing He is control and nothing will happen to until it is His time. I hope this helps. Lap RNY 4mos -80lbs
   — Cheryl S.

September 25, 2002
I have to agree with Cheryl. Put your faith in God. If your going to die from anything with weight, wouldn't it be better to know you were trying to save your life by having the surgery instead of letting it go on until you have a heart attack or something? It's human nature to be scared. THis is a HUGE change for the rest of your life. I was very fortunate. Once I made my decision, I never looked back. Sure some days I have struggles with things, but I have never regretted it for a second. Good luck wtih your decision. Life begins again after surgery. Open RNY 5-2-02 -83 pounds...
   — candymom64

September 26, 2002
I felt the same way you do before my surgery. I even made out a will and wrote good bye letters to my husband and kids. I cannot tell you how many times I just about chickened out! I am now four months post op, down 90 pounds and feeling like a kid again. My only regret now is that I thought about it for a year before I did it. Read my profile.
   — Linda A.