Question:
Here I am having second thoughts.....

5 days until my surgery and I'm having some serious thoughts. Please someone reassure me. I am worrying about long term complications - like liver failure from malabsorbtion, I want my gallbladder out now - but they don't think it is bad enough, I don't know what I am going to eat when I get home or if I'll even eat because I don't know what to buy, How long am I going to be in pain, How bad a depression am I going to go through - but mainly, I'm wondering if I am actually shortening my life from what it would be. Sure the quality will be better but will I live long enough to get married, have another child, see the one I have grow up. I don't want to bring anyone else down, I want everyone else to lift me up:)    — K T. (posted on August 21, 2001)

August 21, 2001
All of us go through this: excited and scared to death at the same time. I had an RNY open on 1/8/01, I have lost 80 lbs., I never had any pain. Having to get out of bed the same day of surgery was hard, but not painful. I get sick only when I don't follow the dr's. guidelines. I would have this surgery over in a heart beat. Cheer up ... it will be well worth it!!!
   — Betty Todd

August 21, 2001
Hiya sweetie. EVERYTHING you are feeling is....and hear me LOUD and CLEAR.......NORMAL!!!.....lol. I am 5 months post-op and have lost 110lbs. I have gone from 385 to 275. I feel great and I too had second thoughts. My biggest one was about my 2 daughters. One is 11 the other is 3. I thought to myself at least I am here for them now. I may be fat and cant do much with them but I am HERE. I was worried if i did the surgery I may not make it and and then they would not have me at all. I felt i was being selfish to a large degree by risking my children growing up without a Mommy. I went ahead and did the surgery and I am doing great. My kids and family see me happier and feeling better about myself. I keep teasing my 11 year old that mom's gonna raid her closet soon...she just laughs. This is a scary decision for sure and all aspects need to be looked at. There are no guarantees of course but if you follow you directions from your doctor the biggest is hurdle will handled. As for food...I bought beef and chicken broth and doctored it up with herbs and salt and pepper and would sip it like soup. I also did well with yogurt, cottage cheese, cream soups like cream of mushroom or cream of broccolli. I am now on a tomatoe soup kick and love it when I add some garlic, pepper, oregano and parmesan cheese on top...YUM. I still at 5 months post-op feel better after eating soups and soft foods than other stuff but we are all different. Immitation crab meat id also really good because you can actually chew it and it has protein. My favorite is egg drop soup from the chinese restaurant. One quart of it will last 4 or 5 meals for us and its loaded with protein...its easy on the tummy too. For sweet stuff, I buy sugar free fudgicle popcicles and other sugar free treats like that. The depression for me has been mild. I get frustrated sometimes NOT being able to grab a big mac and stuff my face. But then i look in the mirror and decide the big mac isnt worth it anyways....LOL. The pain, depending on your tolerance level, is tolerable(for me it was). Sleeping is a good trick for the first week or 2 at home but you will figure out ways. I have a huge body pillow and that helps ALOT. Please remember...the long term complications for the surgery are less than the ones for being obese. I was just waiting like a ticking time bomb to hear diabetes from my doctor...or heart problems...or any number of other illnesses like high blood pressure. BY having this surgery you have decided to NOT give up on yourself and taking the opportunity to love yourself again. Life will be different but the way i feel in only 5 months post-op...i would do it again in split second.... Good luck with whatever rout you choose and know you are not alone. :)
   — Tracy L.

August 21, 2001
This is for Tracy. I tried to email you but it bounced. What is Egg Drop Soup? What does it taste like? How expensive and most of all, how much protein does it have? I'm basically not doing protein so I need something that is high in it as the drinks are awful. Thanks.
   — Danmark