Am i losing my mind?

[mittiga 47]

For all you people that have been sleeved...has anyone severely freaked out before their surgery? Mine is Monday and let me tell you and be honest I am scared shitless! I know I need to do it being 375 lbs and truly I want to, but I keep having these feelings that I will regret the lifestyle change. Has anyone had these similar feelings?

[cindymg 629]

For all you people that have been sleeved...has anyone severely freaked out before their surgery? Mine is Monday and let me tell you and be honest I am scared shitless! I know I need to do it being 375 lbs and truly I want to' date=' but I keep having these feelings that I will regret the lifestyle change. Has anyone had these similar feelings?[/quote']

I actually think my sister was more scared than I was before the surgery. If I died, she was going to have to be the responsible one! I didn't die -- she's off the hook!

If you are worried about not coming home from the hospital, remember that statistically you are much more likely to die in an auto accident in the way to the hospital than as a result of sleeve surgery. Complications from this surgery are actually very, very, very small.

If you are worried that your life is going to change, let me be the first to tell you -- YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE! WooHoo! Will sleeve surgery improve your life, your chance of living much longer? Absolutely! Will it be an adjustment? Sure! Will you be able to go out with buddies and have wings and beer. Yes, maybe not right away, but someday. Will you be able to eat and drink copious amounts? No. But will you find other things to do instead of eating constantly. A resounding yes!

Hang in there. You can do this. And, it's going to be amazing!

Edited October 17, 2013 by cindymg

[mittiga 47]

Im not worried about the hospital part but I guess it's the lifestyle change that is really getting to me, mainly because I don't know what to expect! As simple as going out with buddies for beer and wings sounds, I really love doing that! Happy you mentioned that one day down the road I will be able to do that

[Lillydawn 10]

My surgery is scheduled for Monday too and I thought I would be getting more nervous as it got closer, but actually feeling more sure about it than ever thanks to reading all the great stories here and advice from great people like cindymg. Thank you!

[GoldyGirl 186]

yep, I almost backed out....I think it is normal to be afraid. Deep Breaths, and take it one day at a time, follow the rules, I have NOT been hungry and almost 10 months out, and below goal. I had Tried EVERYTHING for about 28yrs and could Never Lose and Keep it off....Best of Luck!

[cindymg 629]

Im not worried about the hospital part but I guess it's the lifestyle change that is really getting to me' date=' mainly because I don't know what to expect! As simple as going out with buddies for beer and wings sounds, I really love doing that! Happy you mentioned that one day down the road I will be able to do that[/quote']

Somehow I knew you were a wings and beer guy!

I am not young (yeah I know, I look young, but I'm not), so I know it has to be tough for you younger folks to make a life change like this. I applaud you for that. I wasted so many years not enjoying myself when I went out because of the way I looked or felt. You don't have to wait until you have diabetes or heart disease. You can change the path you are on now and have much more life to live!

My worry was that I wouldn't be able to go out with friends and eat chips and salsa, and drink my favorite beer. But sometime after surgery I found that while I could still do that -- I no longer wanted to eat/drink like that. And I found myself enjoying my friends a lot more when I wasn't obsessed with chip and salsa, or the bread basket, or whatever. And I find myself going out a lot more than I did before.

That's why I tell everyone that their journey is going to be amazing! It truly is!

[RCN 25]

Im not worried about the hospital part but I guess it's the lifestyle change that is really getting to me' date=' mainly because I don't know what to expect! As simple as going out with buddies for beer and wings sounds, I really love doing that! Happy you mentioned that one day down the road I will be able to do that[/quote']

I'm 5 days post op and I got emotional seeing a BBQ commercial today.... I guess I'm going through the emotional phase. This is life changing. So far I'm not hungry at all physically but I'm having head hunger. I'm still only on liquids, so I know once I start incorporating solids into my diet things will be different. But what I'm trying to say & to answer your question, it is very life changing.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

Im not worried about the hospital part but I guess it's the lifestyle change that is really getting to me, mainly because I don't know what to expect! As simple as going out with buddies for beer and wings sounds, I really love doing that! Happy you mentioned that one day down the road I will be able to do that

The only thing I had problems with was when I made Spaghetti and meatballs for my husband about maybe 3 months ago...I ate one bite of the meatball and 2 noodles..I watched as he plowed down a huge pile of it and wanted to cry...That is the last time I made it and probably won't make it ever again...I realized that that was my most precious comfort food and could not stand to not be able to eat it like before..

Don't get me wrong...I am very glad I can't and I make sure that because I can only eat a little I get the best food in me that I can find...I explore the possibilities constantly and have come to enjoy completely different foods then I used to....

You may find that after surgery that beer tastes awful...who are we kidding right...lol. I can't eat beef or pork or my personal favorite Chinese food.....Not missing any of it...

When you go out with your friends in the future you can have your beer and wings...Go for the company not the food..It must become secondary to your life not the main thought....

Love your honesty....Forward go!!!!!

[mittiga 47]

Somehow I knew you were a wings and beer guy! I am not young (yeah I know' date=' I look young, but I'm not), so I know it has to be tough for you younger folks to make a life change like this. I applaud you for that. I wasted so many years not enjoying myself when I went out because of the way I looked or felt. You don't have to wait until you have diabetes or heart disease. You can change the path you are on now and have much more life to live! My worry was that I wouldn't be able to go out with friends and eat chips and salsa, and drink my favorite beer. But sometime after surgery I found that while I could still do that -- I no longer wanted to eat/drink like that. And I found myself enjoying my friends a lot more when I wasn't obsessed with chip and salsa, or the bread basket, or whatever. And I find myself going out a lot more than I did before. That's why I tell everyone that their journey is going to be amazing! It truly is![/quote']

You do look young I'll give you that! I'm glad you are continuing to enjoy your social life, those are the things I need to hear right know lol But I think you're right, at 26 years old this is a tough decision and you are also right that there are many times I'm out with friends/wife feeling extremely uncomfortable with my body and that I need to change otherwise these are wasted years!

[mittiga 47]

And RJ I do enjoy that dish of meatballs and pasta....I just had my last bowl on Monday and made peace with it! No regrets there tho, that's partially why I'm 375! Sometimes I wonder if I wasn't born Italian if I would have ended up differently

[MichiganChic 3,262]

My advice is make sure you are ready before you make the change. I have never really regretted my decision, but it's a big and permanent life style change, and you have to be prepared for that. There is nothing wrong with delaying. I'm not going to try to explain the value of having surgery - you already know that. Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that I can't eat more than I do, but I know some people don't feel that way. To me, a bad outcome would be to have the surgery, eat around your sleeve, and not lose the weight anyway. Best of luck, no matter what you decide.

[buplee 556]

And RJ I do enjoy that dish of meatballs and Pasta....I just had my last bowl on Monday and made peace with it! No regrets there tho' date=' that's partially why I'm 375! Sometimes I wonder if I wasn't born Italian if I would have ended up differently [/quote']

Having the surgery definitely comes with a permanent lifestyle change. I come from a Southern family where big portions of food and fried everything is the norm, so being Italian is not a curse. This is your opportunity to change your life from an at risk to healthy lifestyle. Not everyone in your family will understand or be supportive, but you need to do this for you. Work with a good therapist and a nutritionist so you don't sabotage yourself like so many do after being sleeved. Stay on the course and don't cheat and then try to rationalize it as a monetary lapse of judgement. I was sleeved in February and have lost 98lbs and have 36-40lbs more but no regrets. I worked out my issues with food with a therapist and my wife and I have modified our "foodie" lifestyle prior to surgery. I have a very supportive immediate family which is a wonderful and the posters on this forum as well. Good luck to you and keep us informed of your successes.

[gamergirl 4,610]

My husband and I both like to cook and feed others. We still enjoy cooking. We still enjoy good tasting food--all three ounces of if! We still enjoy having friends over. I eat out with clients all the time. I just eat smaller quantities. No one notices, no one cares, and I keep getting thinner. What's not to like?

You are correct, it IS a huge lifestyle change but it's a bigger mental change than a physical one in some respects. The only real physical change is that you will eat less. Mentally however, you have to let go of food as fun, food as comfort, etc.

For me, I'm a control freak so being in control of my food intake, rather than feeling I had no control over it is so liberating, I'd do the surgery all over again. But you kinda have to be there mentally.

The other thing I'd say to you, is once the surgery is done, it's done. Tell yourself now that after the surgery, you will embrace all the changes and be positive, that's the choice you will make. Go into it feeling positive, in control, and determined to be happy with all that comes your way, and you might surprise yourself.

Good luck!

[mittiga 47]

Thank you everyone I really appreciate the support

[Gitter Dunn 39]

I was sleeved 6 mo. ago. I have lost about 110 lbs since 1/1/13. I was a big guy like you and had post op concerns about losing a lifestyle. Well, you do....your fat lifestyle .

I still go out and eat whatever I want,just less of it. It's really not that big a deal now. I don't drink beer or anything with carbination but i'll enjoy a cocktail. You will just know when that full feeling is coming and you stop. The only thing you won't stop is enjoying your new svelt you. I just ran a 5K and back in January I could barely make it up a flight of stairs. I went from 3X to now XL. Just get thru the first couple months of the adjustment with your smaller stomach then it's nothing but blue skies ahead. Good Luck! It will be all good my man.