Mkmb2006

Thanks. Surgery was 2 days ago (thurs). So happy to be home! Blended diet starts tomorrow! Can't wait for some cottage cheese (ha, seriously)! I didn't walk until day 2 in the hospital, but I did at least stand up day 1. Wow, that was rough. I envy the folks who said they didn't have any pain! At least I'm in my own bed without all the tubes, so I feel 100% better than yesterday! How long until we feel better?

Buff, call your doc, but you might want to try some Colace stool softener. We're all o constipated!

Good luck Ellen! I had surg yesterday and am feeling pretty good today!! One day at a time. You'll be great!

I just got my surgery date for 12/19. I feel I'm ready - I'm so done with the exhaustion, joint pain, no energy, etc., and I want to lead a healthy, active life - but now that it's real, I'm getting scared. I told my doc that I'm mostly just afraid of the medical things (I.e., surgery going well), and I know it's a massive lifestyle change, but i feel pretty good about it and have great support. So I'starting to stay positive, but am starting to freak a little. I've heard it's common to have those "why did I do this" thoughts during the first month after....but do you have any regrets now? I need some encouragement (which is really difficult for me to request!)... Hoping you can help, and would love to hear your stories over overcoming fears and regret. Thanks in advance!

Thanks, all! Surgery is tomorrow at 7:30 am! I'm nervous, but channeling Larry the Cable Guy: "Let's get 'er done!" woot woot!

So, my surgery is this coming Thursday, and I'm on my pre-op diet. I'm sticking to it, but I'm feeling really deprived. I'm craving a pizza, BBQ, etc. Do those cravings and feelings of deprivation go away? I know this is a big head trip, but when I am allowed only 2 oz of food, am I still going to want the junk? I know all the reasoning behind that's what gotten me here, but can a leopard change her spots? Help!

That's harassment. Go talk to HR! What a jerk!

Mine is Thursday too! Sticking with the pre-op diet all the way (even though part of me wants to inhale a whole pizza)!

Thanks, Judy (Judy, right?). I am practicing cooking and going out with friends and sticking to my pre-op. I think part of why I'm having the surgery is the mandatory restrictions...that if I do eat something unhealthy, there will be some undesirable results. I guess I have to remember too that I am making this choice to have surgery...it's a choice. At some point, enough is enough!

Thanks! I think the mental journey is the hardest. Let's face it, we all know what foods re and aren't healthy. It's that balance of want vs need, and retraining the old ways. If you have any suggested reading, let me know! I do intend to do post-op therapy...one thing at a time though,right? Thursday can't come soon enough!

Thanks to both of you. I guess I'm not concerned about being hungry; I'm concerned about cravings and wanting those old foods. How many times have we eaten 4 slices of pizza when we were full after one or two? It's the difference between "want" (mental) and "need" (physical). How has your mental state changed? I hope I too get to where junk food turns my stomach. My nurse said that cravings do go away and tastes change, so I'm hoping that's true!

Okay, I can't speak for childbirth since I haven't had kids, but I would hope arthroscopic is easier! Lol!! I feel the same way about nerves if course, but am looking to get it over with and get onto losing! My surgery is Thursday. I too am questioning, but when I think back to some of the great things people on here have said, I know this is the right choice. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don't want aching joints, tight clothes, high blood pressure and heart disease. I want more energy. I want to be physically and mentally strong. Ok, I also want a pizza, but I hope those cravings pass after surgery... You'll be great!!

Good luck tomorrow! I'm nervous too... Mine is on Thursday!!

Oh right! Someone else mentioned gas-x strips since we shouldn't be taking pills yet! Thanks for that reminder!!

Bobby, I know you had your surgery already, and hope you're doing well. Mine's next week...I feel a lot of the same - that I did this to myself and now I have to rearrange my insides, change my God-given body, to lose weight. My weight has been the one thing in my life that I haven't been able to conquer. I sometimes feel it's a cop out or the easy way out, but there's definitely nothing easy about this - for me or my family. My fears, emotions, excitement, etc are all over the place. I kind of look at it like, I've been fat since I was six, and I haven't been able to live a healthy life. I have a wonderful husband, and I'd like to live a long, healthy life. That said, that's a daunting thought since I've never been healthy, and I'm scared I won't know how to deal with a thin, healthy body. My body image will be shot, and I know I'll have a hard time with a "fat head." that's what therapy will be for...dealing with such an enormous change. You'll be great, and you're already past the biggest hurdle of surgery. Congrats on taking control of your body when, for so many years, it has controlled you (and me)!

Hey, don't forget, if you feel something is really wrong, call your doctor. My surgery is next week, and I'm dreading the gas pain, but try to walk as much as you can....they say that's what dissipates the gas. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time... "this too shall pass" (haha, gas joke)

You're so right on...all of my life, weight has been an issue. I'm done, and I want to realize my true potential where my spirit and body are strong and healthy! Still scared, of course... and I'm afraid of "mourning" my old ways and foods, but I look at it this way: I gave up a lot of life for food, and now I'm ready to give up a lot of food for more life!

Thanks a bunch! I hope I don't lose my youthful glow when my face isn't so chubby!

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful, encouraging and honest replies. I think I'm just mostly scared about surgery. I have a friend at work who is four months out, has lost 70 pounds, but is just now getting energy back. This forum has helped manage expectations a lot - everyone is different, but it's been great to hear the challenges too so that I know I'm not alone if something is tough. Thanks all for your support! One-week pre-op diet starts tomorrow, along with ultrasound and pre-testing.

That's how I feel - the whole body change thing! I feel somewhat confident about the food adjustments, but also certainly scared of post-surgery regrets, changing what God gave me, physiology, etc. It doesn't seem natural (I guess it isn't!), but I also don't want to drop dead, and I'm tired of being tired and watching life pass me by! You always seem to give such great, logical advice, by the way.

Hopefully everything went well!

I'm with you - my date is December 19! Would love a partner in crime! I'm nervous, excited, scared, hopeful... I feel bad it cancels our Christmas vacation, but if I waited til January, it would cancel pretty much all vacation time for 2014, so I guess the sooner the better. All of a sudden, though, it has become a reality. I'm hoping my new reality will be a much healthier and happy one! (still scared though, mostly about the surgery going well).

So how did it go? Did you have your surgery? I had the same experience - went to doc last Friday (12/6) and they gave me a date of 12/19! I was expecting sometime in January - get thru the holidays, vacation, job interview in California (I'm in New England)... But now I guess I can take advantage of using up my 2013 vacation time, but I feel bad it kills our Christmas vacation. We have a big family wedding on 2/1, so I guess the earlier the surgery, the better I'll feel going to that (God willing). My pre-op diet seems reasonable - two Slim Fasts (breakfast and lunch) and a Lean Cuisine for dinner with two string cheeses for Snacks. I start this Wednesday. Overall, I'm a little scared, excited, anxious, worried, optimistic, doubtful, etc. emotions all over the map makes me feel like a baby. I feel like saying to myself, "just suck it up - it's been a long time coming, and you'll be much healthier and happier after!"

I just got my surgery date for 12/19. I'm a little conflicted because it wipes out Christmas and our vacation, but if I waited longer, it would wipe out all my vacation time for 2014 instead of taking advantage of 2013 vacation time and company shutdown at year end. But I feel bad that it cancels our vacation, and we'll be alone for Christmas. We have a big family wedding on Feb 1, so I also wanted to be strong enough to go to that, especially since my parents are flying up for it. My alternate date was 12/30, but that would mean spending New Years eve in the hospital, and I'd be more worried about those "what did I just do?" thoughts taking me into the new year. Bleh, I'm lying awake thinking about it! Oh, and pre-op diet starts Wednesday: slim fast for breakfast and lunch (any suggestions for good ones?), a Lean Cuisine for dinner, and string cheese for 2 snacks. Seems doable (although monotonous, but I can certainly deal).

Thanks so much!