Question:
I hope I'm not alone!

My surgery date is coming very quickly! I'm very nervous and once in a while I find I even have second thoughts. Is this normal? I've been very committed to becoming the healthier, thinner person, but find myself having butterflies! Any good ideas to stay positive?? Thanks as always for your input!!    — LaRayne H. (posted on February 28, 2002)

February 28, 2002
I am right there with you. My surgery date is 3/6. I am scared to death too. The only thing I can say is try not to think too much of that day. Just think about the future and the weight loss and how good you are going to look and feel. Hope all goes well with you. My prayers are with you. Best wishes. Donna
   — DONNA T.

February 28, 2002
If you werent a bit jiddery I would think something was wrong!~ Hang in there it will b over b4 ya know it....I hear so often that most say the ONLY regret was NOT doing it SOONER! Good Luck kiddo!~
   — Sassy M.

February 28, 2002
donna absolutely has the right idea! think only positive thoughts. fantasize even. imagine... the new clothes u will have to buy. the roller coaster u have been wanting to ride. not needing seat belt extenders in ur car or airplane seat. sliding gracefully into a booth at a restaurant. the people who exclaim...omg! i didnt recognize u! u look great! & ur answer to them is...thanks, i FEEL great. these thoughts & others like them will reduce ur anxiety & help u to look forward to ur new life. while still in the hospital, these thoughts will get u thru the pain & discomfort of the surgery, too. good luck to u.
   — sheryl titone

February 28, 2002
I was so scared that I cried all the way to the OR. That was 332 pounds ago. :) This surgery was the best thing that I ever did for me. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I spent hours and hours looking at before and after pics. That kept me excited about what was going to come for me. Please e-mail me if I can help in any way. Your Weight Loss Pal.
   — DeeDubbs

March 1, 2002
Donna, I too was so worried I considered canceling the whole thing. I completely lost it one night and ended up posting a cry for help at 1:41 in the morning. I was afraid that if something happened to me that I wouldn't be there for my kids and husband anymore, my biggest fear was not waking up from the surgery. I recieved many, MANY, e-mails giving me support and most of them read like this, "You aren't really there for your children now, with the weight on, you will most certainly be able to be there for them with it off, so what have you got to lose, except a lot of weight.", "You could die driving your car, or crossing the street, or by having a crazed axe murderer enter your hose at night and murdering you in your sleep (that was my favorite, hehe), but chances are you won't die in any of those ways and so, chances are you won't die during this surgery". The things people said to me really helped get me through my panic attack. Now I just keep thinking about what it will be like to go shopping with my 16 year old daughter, in a regular store for my clothes, play on the floor with my two year old son, sit in a booth at a restaurant, and meet new people without wondering if they have that look on their face because I am fat, or just because I have something big, green and ugly on my face. Think of all the things you'd like to do when you lose weight and it will get you through the hard times. Oh yeah, ask for something to relax you right away when you get to pre-op, they will understand and give you something.
   — Tonna N.

March 1, 2002
You are not alone!!! I have been on this site for alomost 2 years now. this question has been posted many many many times!!!I myself was scared of leaving my kids motherless/ and my hubby too. But someone posted to me,"you have a greater chance of dieing from being MO, than on the operating table. That statement really got to me. Also i looked at the before/ after pics. too for inspirtaton. I also have a great faith in God, and know when it's my time, it will be my time. I told my family if I died, I died doing something i really really wanted. I was only in the hosp. for 2 days, came through w/ flying colors. I am 9 weeks post-op and feel great. You will be fine!!!
   — Cindee A.