Question:
Sugery is 3 days away and I am stressing big time.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to get over this panic I am feeling? The more I think about the surgery the more stressed I get. I know it is for the best..My life is going to be so much better after the surgery, but the getting there is hard for me. I have to take time out to breathe every so often and as Monday approaches the harder it gets. Any suggestions to get me through till Monday??    — Missy W. (posted on March 28, 2003)

March 28, 2003
Hang in there, I am one week out today and made it. I just kept really busy right till it was time to go to the hospital. My friend stayed with me in the room till they took me to surgery, which I do not remember any of even leaving my room the next thing I was in recovery. Not to much pain I came home yesterday and have not had a pain pill. I am not going to lie and say it is a walk in the park but it is easier then I thought, I think I am doing pretty good in 1 week. Just try and relax you can get through it. My thoughts and prayers are with you. PS I am 58 so not a youngen but made it. Diana
   — Diana B.

March 28, 2003
I think it's time you start looking thru the before and after pictures. Also, it sounds like you still need to come to terms with what you are doing...one thing that really helped me was that I took a LONG time to write down my fears (including the ultimate fear)...and then looked at my life as I was then..unhappy, unmotivated, not living even close to my potential, not doing anything real fun like roller coasters or even the movie theater...and I realized that I couldn't live like that much longer, and if something really bad did happen during my surgery, I knew my husband would be able to care for the family...but if I DID make it through surgery, I was finally going to live. Come to terms, accept what could happen, but be prepared for the life you will soon be living. "Forget riding a roller coaster, my life IS a rollercoaster now!" April, OPEN RNY 12/26/02, 405/338/180
   — thekatinthehat

March 28, 2003
a girl wrote this to me when i got my surgery date, it is the truth... TO DREAM ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DREAM, THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE HUMAN MIND. TO DO ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO, THAT IS THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN WILL. TO TRUST YOURSELF, TO TEST YOUR LIMITS, THAT IS THE COURAGE TO SUCCEED. -BERNARD EVANS this is your chance in life to make your biggest dream come true!! trust yourself and the decision that you made and do it!! this is the beginning of your new life!!!
   — JENNIFER P.