Question:
My surgery date is in 9 weeks--what do I do with all of the TIME

Hello all. Just wondered if I could get some advice from the experts in this forum. I am 9 weeks pre-op and I am so impatient and excited that I don't know what to do with myself - To make matters worse seems like the days are lasting longer (grin) Since I got my surgery date, I can't seem to stay out of obesityhelp.com---I mean, I can't find anything newer to read--I am obsessed. I can't concentrate on anything else and I know that I should be doing more productive things. Any advise out there on waiting?    — Kim W. (posted on April 13, 2003)

April 13, 2003
I only had 3 weeks to wait and it was during the holidays so it wasn't too bad. I did, however, feel like you do where I just wanted to read about surgery over and over again. I did try to walk some every day and take vitamins and lead a healthy lifestyle in preparation for surgery. I didn't do "last supper" syndrome but instead concentrated on eating healthier and lost six lbs prior to surgery. Around the house I rearranged the cupboards so that I would have a cabinet for just my food to keep apart from the family's food. I put my protein samples, vitamin and supplements in there as well as soups, applesauce, splenda, sugar free pudding mixes, crystal lite and all low fat and sugar free foods. I still keep my stuff in there. I also cleaned out my closets and drawers. I had clothes from 3X to 6 petite over the years and organized them in size order and got rid of things I simply won't wear again. Until I tore the closet apart, I had no idea what was sitting in there. It has helped a lot over the past few weeks as I try to figure out what I fit into and what I don't. I bought some rubbermaid containers and put my workout clothes in one, shorts in another etc. I also went to workout sites and printed out routines I could do and started to make a workout journal. Finally, I started to use fitday.com and find that it is a very useful tool for after surgery. Congrats on your date and hang in there!
   — susanje

April 13, 2003
Why don't you volunteer to be someones Angel, that way you meet a new friend, and they can help you as much as you can help them. If you would like to be an angel, and spend your next 9 weeks, emailing and meeting a new friend, email me at [email protected].
   — cindy

April 13, 2003
I only had about 5 weeks before surgery and now I'm down to 3 days!! I thought for sure the time would drag on, but its gone by very quickly! We just had a huge cookout yesterday, invited everyone we knew. It was so much fun. I've passed the past few weeks cooking meals for my husband and kids so I don't have to worry about them living on hotdogs and mac and cheese for weeks, lol. I"ve cleaned my whole house, I've done a lot of yardwork, little things that I won't be able to do for a while. I bet it doesn't drag on like you think. Have a great 9 weeks and don't be to nervous yet. Honestly, only in the past 3 days have I been nervous.
   — Jessica C.

April 13, 2003
I so know how you feel!!! I posted something similiar myself before my surgery which was 12/31. I thought of nothing else and I lived on this site, of course I still read this site a few times a day now. I don't really have any advice for you except that I think the closer it got the quicker the time went. It was so great to have it done and over with. Good luck!
   — sandy L.

April 13, 2003
Hey Kim or anyone else out there in Obesityhelp land~~ How do I pass the time when I have to wait 2 years for my surgery date?? 9 weeks is a drop in the bucket, definately not a long time in wls time. Clean your closets, cupboards, basement, garage, do spring yard work, go visit all of your friends and family, geez 9 weeks will go by in the blink of an eye. I've done all of this stuff 10 times while I wait. Americans are extremely fortunate with wait times for surgery. Please count your blessings. Good luck on your fast approaching surgery date :)
   — mary ann T.

April 13, 2003
Well, the waiting didn't bother me. I started the journey with research in May 2002. I then called my insurance company to find out what surgeons accepted my insurance. And then it was a summer full of doctor's appointments. My surgeon's office did everything as far as submitting the paperwork to my insurance company. I never had to "bug" them even though they were extremely busy. The waiting NEVER bothered me. Then I found out in October that I was having my surgery 11/11/02...I had less than a month to prepare. By prepare I don't mean physically prepare but I had college full-time so I was dealing with mid-terms and papers and I had to do the pre-admission testing and visits with the nutritionist (3) & physical therapist (2) & my PCP. Then a week before surgery I got a bad cold! Oh boy! Talk about stress! I thought I did not have enough time. lol But I went into surgery knowing I did all that I could and I was relaxed and relieved and sure I had done the right thing. So I think with the 9 weeks you have you should keep coming here and reading as much info as possible. I think you should keep a journal of all that you want to do when you lose the weight. I wish I had better "tracked" my pre-op and post-op as many do on this site. Reading people's profiles is where I learned so much. If I could go back and do one thing different it would be that. I do regret not journaling my progress. I wish you the best of luck! :o)
   — Tracy A.

April 13, 2003
WELL I AM DEFINITELY FEELING YOUR ANXIETY I WILL HAVE SURGERY IN LESS THAN 4 WEEKS MY SURGERY DATE IS MAY 7,2003 AND I AM WORKING SO THAT TAKES UP A LOT OF MY TIME ,BUT THE NEXT WEEK I WILL BE DOING MAJORITY OF MY PRE OP THINGS@ THE HOSPITAL AND BUYING STUFF TO PREPARE ME FOR MY BIG DAY AS WELL AS READING THE WONDERFUL INFO AND AS WELL ENJOYING THE GREAT SUPPORT , BELEIVE ME THIS IS NOT THE EASIEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE THE ANXIETY IS KILLING ME LIKEWISE. I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW NERVOUS I AM AND THE WAITING IS NOT HELPING . REMEMBER WE HAVE EACHOTHERS SUPPORT YOU WILL BE FINE , I WILL HAVE YOU IN MY PRAYERS ..TAKE CARE AND HAPPY LOSING...AUDREY
   — A M.

April 14, 2003
Hi there! I feel your pain -- my surgery is not until August! Here are some things I am doing to pass the time. Make a recipe book with low fat, sugar free, and or protein recipes. Stock up on new tupperware that's just mine -- small tupperware so my meal doesn't look like a spec of dust in a giant container! Get together some scrapbooking supplies to scrapbook my weight loss journey. Organize your closet from largest to smallest sizes so you know what you have to wear now and what you can fit into later when you lose some weight. Spring cleaning! You won't feel like doing it for a few weeks after your surgery, so go through those closets and drawers now! Keep a list of all the things you want to do at 20 lbs lost, 50 lbs lost, 100 lbs lost, etc. Start walking now -- it will help you when you need to do it every day post-op. Keep a journal. And I also like to keep up on the question board and message board in hopes I can help someone who is going through something I've already been through or I can help someone with encouragement, etc. Take this time to get yourself really organized so you won't have to worry about it for a while post-op. Good luck!
   — beeda