Anxiety and getting sleeved

[ShelleyHolt 5]

I'm pre-op and worried about how the emotional changes will affect my anxiety. I'm diagnosed as having "severe" anxiety and just worried that every little,(or big for that matter),weird feeling or symptom I may feel might throw me into a panic attack. I'm nervous by nature and so I'm a little scared about the "whirlwind of emotions" I read about on here. Are any of you diagnosed w/anxiety that have already been sleeved willing to share some insight on what I may possibly expect? I take medication for my anxiety but I know how I worry and going through such drastic changes will most likely result in a panic attack due to me thinking something's wrong w/my sleeve or any other number of things if I'm clueless as to what's "normal" to feel and expect. Any info you're willing to share to help put my mind @ ease will be greatly appreciated.

[katt1584 46]

I know exactly how you feel. Ive been living with severe OCD since I was a child and as an adult my obsessions are often about my health and fear of dying. I am getting sleeved in less than 24 hours and although im very nervous the doctors and this forum are a great support. I figured I could get answers for any little pain I had. Its scary but there will be someome to answer your questions day or night

[ShelleyHolt 5]

The fears of dying and failing health are also my 2 greatest fears. I've seen the behavioral specialist twice and although some of what she says is helpful,she hasn't been sleeved and therefore can't truly know what we'll experience emotionally after our surgery.

I'm so excited to have mine despite my fears though! I wish you the best 2m and a safe,speedy recovery! Keep me posted on your journey!

[SoCal Sleeve 78]

I am feeling your pain. I am 13 days from having the surgery and I am really struggling with anxiety. I have been telling my friends all the possible negatives and they are telling me to stop reading. I am pretty sure I will make it through the process but I will definitely need some positive encouragement to get there. Good luck and stay strong (mentally).

[ShelleyHolt 5]

I know! I've been reading about all these different things that can go wrong and it just amps up the anxiety! On the other hand,I want to be as educated as I can be before I have my surgery,on the good and the bad. The more informed I am,the better I think I'll feel when/if I experience something bc I can just remind myself about all the posts I've read about similar experiences and what helped them get through it.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait until day 1 of my brand new life,a brand new me!! Keep me updated on your journey!

[cejiogu 182]

But if you don't change you can die from the complications from being over weight. I know I was questioning the surgery up until they were putting the mask over my face on the OR table. That was may 1 2013. 130 lbs lost since jan 2 nd. You will all be glad for the change. You will feel up and down with the change but I eat anything I want just in real small amounts. Hang in there! I was 310 now 179.

[ShelleyHolt 5]

But if you don't change you can die from the complications from being over weight. I know I was questioning the surgery up until they were putting the mask over my face on the OR table. That was may 1 2013. 130 lbs lost since jan 2 nd. You will all be glad for the change. You will feel up and down with the change but I eat anything I want just in real small amounts. Hang in there! I was 310 now 179.

That's awesome! A very big congrats to you on your weight loss!! I'm so looking forward to being healthy!

My health issues are my main reasons for choosing to have the sleeve,but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't doing it to look good too. I'm tired of looking @ myself in the mirror and crying. I've struggled w/weight problems since I was a kid. I've tried every diet and diet aide you can imagine,even binging and purging. I'm so happy and excited that I'll have this tool to help me achieve good health and self-esteem. I'm anxious but ready and willing to do what it takes! My family needs me around and my weight has caused serious health issues and I refuse to cheat my kids out of having their mom around to watch them grow up and start families of their own! :-)

Good luck w/your surgery!!

[rensterness 375]

The fears of dying and failing health are also my 2 greatest fears. I've seen the behavioral specialist twice and although some of what she says is helpful,she hasn't been sleeved and therefore can't truly know what we'll experience emotionally after our surgery. I'm so excited to have mine despite my fears though! I wish you the best 2m and a safe,speedy recovery! Keep me posted on your journey!

Shell~

I was sleeved four months ago and prior to my sleeve for many years and still do I have severe anxiety and I take Xanex 2mg three times a days. My anxiety is severe. My WORST fear is dying as well as cancer, which in many cases obviously leads to death. Prior to surgery I was very, very, very anxious and my anxiety was up there. After surgery, while still in hospital I kind of laughed at myself at worrying the way I did. Compared to my worries and anxiety it was cake. I put myself through anxiety hell for no reason, truly.

Following surgery the emotional changes have been differcult but nothing as I expected. Once I hit month two I was pretty much good. I've noticed following the surgery I face changes, but they honestly don't seem to be emotional changes as I expected, and I don't find them overwhelming as I definitly expected. Yes, challenges such as am I eating the right thing, did I drink enough Water, do I go to dinner with friends, if I eat this and sneak it in with it hurt me, did I take the meds exactly as prescribed, am I doing this right, am I doing that right, and so on. I am rambling on so I will stop, hopefully this helped a little. I have attached a before and after pic. I take a pic every week and put it in my scrapbook to motivate myself and show myself I can do it! I can! I can! I am down over 95 pounds since date of surgery four months ago. Please keep is posted.

[ShelleyHolt 5]

Shell~

I was sleeved four months ago and prior to my sleeve for many years and still do I have severe anxiety and I take Xanex 2mg three times a days. My anxiety is severe. My WORST fear is dying as well as cancer, which in many cases obviously leads to death. Prior to surgery I was very, very, very anxious and my anxiety was up there. After surgery, while still in hospital I kind of laughed at myself at worrying the way I did. Compared to my worries and anxiety it was cake. I put myself through anxiety hell for no reason, truly.

Following surgery the emotional changes have been differcult but nothing as I expected. Once I hit month two I was pretty much good. I've noticed following the surgery I face changes, but they honestly don't seem to be emotional changes as I expected, and I don't find them overwhelming as I definitly expected. Yes, challenges such as am I eating the right thing, did I drink enough Water, do I go to dinner with friends, if I eat this and sneak it in with it hurt me, did I take the meds exactly as prescribed, am I doing this right, am I doing that right, and so on. I am rambling on so I will stop, hopefully this helped a little. I have attached a before and after pic. I take a pic every week and put it in my scrapbook to motivate myself and show myself I can do it! I can! I can! I am down over 95 pounds since date of surgery four months ago. Please keep is posted.

First let me start by saying YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!! Truly fantastic! Congratulations on your success! 95lbs in 4 months is wonderful,beyond wonderful! I hope it's like that w/me!! Your words and pic are such an inspiration to me and I really appreciate you sharing your experience of anxiety w/me. It honestly does help hearing from someone who's anxiety is as bad as mine. I'm expecting emotional changes after surgery and trying to inform my family as much as possible regarding everything I've read in the forums about it. I know I'm strong enough and determined enough to pull through whatever I have to so I can be healthy again. Thank you so much for your encouragement and I will definitely keep you all updated! :-)

[rensterness 375]

Shelley~

How are you feeling? How are things? How's your anxiety level doing pre-op? Just checking in with you to see how your doing!?! :-)

[ShelleyHolt 5]

Shelley~

How are you feeling? How are things? How's your anxiety level doing pre-op? Just checking in with you to see how your doing!?! :-)

Thank you so much for asking! My anxiety has certainly reared it's ugly face a few times but for the most part, I've been doing really well. I have only a couple more months of my supervised diet until I'll be given a date! That in itself is scary and exciting at the same time! I've been trying my hardest to mentally prepare myself as well as my family for the changes about to take place, but I suppose there's only so much "preparing" you can do. It's really helpful when I read of other's experiences on here and certain situations they've dealt with for me to better understand what's "normal" and when to seek medical attention. I worry about everything on an abnormal level, lol, but regardless, I'm ready for this and optimistically look forward to having my surgery! :-)

[rensterness 375]

Shelley~

So glad to hear your managing your anxiety and stress levels and working on mentally preparing yourself, family and friends. I am just about five months out now and truly realize how much I let my anxiety get the best of me, and take over me prior to surgery. Now that I look back I smirk at myself and say "really Kyle? All that fuss and look at yourself now and how strong you are", then I flip the mirror off. Lol. Shelley, there's no such thing as over preparing yourself, so stay strong and continue to do what your doing and when it's said and done with you may actually say to yourself there is such thing as over preparing yourself and look back and do the same thing I do. I myself have even had a minor complication with my surgery and it's still nothing like I thought it would be. Just for making this decision to have surgery it makes you am amazing, strong person and it will make you such a happier person and your life will be rainbows and butterflies after I can't wait to hear when your date is a really look forward to your surgery and success updates!

[ShelleyHolt 5]

Shelley~

So glad to hear your managing your anxiety and stress levels and working on mentally preparing yourself, family and friends. I am just about five months out now and truly realize how much I let my anxiety get the best of me, and take over me prior to surgery. Now that I look back I smirk at myself and say "really Kyle? All that fuss and look at yourself now and how strong you are", then I flip the mirror off. Lol. Shelley, there's no such thing as over preparing yourself, so stay strong and continue to do what your doing and when it's said and done with you may actually say to yourself there is such thing as over preparing yourself and look back and do the same thing I do. I myself have even had a minor complication with my surgery and it's still nothing like I thought it would be. Just for making this decision to have surgery it makes you am amazing, strong person and it will make you such a happier person and your life will be rainbows and butterflies after I can't wait to hear when your date is a really look forward to your surgery and success updates!

Thank you so much Kyle! You are such a supportive and wonderful person and I really appreciate your kind words and positive thoughts! I most definitely will keep you updated on my journey to a new and improved, healthier me!!

[girliegirl 49]

I know! I've been reading about all these different things that can go wrong and it just amps up the anxiety! On the other hand,I want to be as educated as I can be before I have my surgery,on the good and the bad. The more informed I am,the better I think I'll feel when/if I experience something bc I can just remind myself about all the posts I've read about similar experiences and what helped them get through it.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait until day 1 of my brand new life,a brand new me!! Keep me updated on your journey!

shelley-

you sound so much like myself. I am not taking meds for anxiety but maybe i should, lol. I cant stop obsessing about this surgery . i have been researching this for 2 years now and Im just making myself so tired and so worried. i think part of my issue stems from the fact that I had a lapband 5 years ago and I had problems with it and I needed it to be removed. I think im mostly worried about the sleeve leaking because I have had the previous surgeries and that put me at a higher risk for leaks!!!

[ShelleyHolt 5]

shelley-

you sound so much like myself. I am not taking meds for anxiety but maybe i should, lol. I cant stop obsessing about this surgery . i have been researching this for 2 years now and Im just making myself so tired and so worried. i think part of my issue stems from the fact that I had a lapband 5 years ago and I had problems with it and I needed it to be removed. I think im mostly worried about the sleeve leaking because I have had the previous surgeries and that put me at a higher risk for leaks!!!

I'm so sorry to hear of your past troubles with the lapband! It's truly scary to have something go wrong with what you believed was going to improve your health and life. I too fear leaking with the sleeve! Like, I'm worried that I may write off symptoms of a leak as "normal pains" and it actually be a leak, you know? I worry way too much! Lol, the E.R may eventually know me on a 1st name basis bc I'll probably be in there for every little pain I have, or every little "weird" feeling having them check and make sure that everything is good!