encouragement needed

[kaylekat 13]

One week from now (Jan 28th) is my surgery and I'm totally freaking out! I've been patiently waiting for almost a year for this and now that it's here I can't stop myself from second guessing everything. I've come to realize, with major help from this awful 2 week liver shrinking liquid diet, that my addiction to food is real and the thought of ending my relationship with its comfort is absolutely terrifying. I feel like I'm trying to convince some part of myself that I don't need the surgery and that I can do it without this tool. Has anyone gone through this, or am I just over thinking and analyzing this way too much?

Edited January 22, 2015 by kaylekat

[Laydee_G 78]

@@kaylekat

I totally get where you're coming from: a long time ago I realised my relationship to food was like living with an abusive partner. I knew it was bad for me but I just didn't seem able to get away from it.

But just as some people in abusive relationships need drastic intervention to get away, I needed the sleeve surgery to divorce myself from my addiction. Even after surgery once I was more lucid I started to obsess about having a full English Breakfast (sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes and toast) when I could barely swallow my meds!

The addiction is real and it goes very deep because the reasons why I started comfort eating as a child were due to deeply troubling circumstances. So before my surgery I started therapy so I could be ready both emotionally and mentally. I do not regret having either the surgery or the counselling: I needed both.

I'm not going to lie: it's a long road and 8 weeks post-op the journey is going to be life-long even when I reach my target weight. Every now and again my food addiction tries to gain access by making me put extra food on my plate - but the sleeve takes care of it because I am so limited in how much I can eat!

Thank Goodness!

So go through the door, Kaylekat: your life is about to be given back to you in ways that you may only ever have dreamed of!

Best of luck on your journey xx

Edited January 22, 2015 by Laydee_G

[mae7365 372]

I'm 10 weeks post op and the nice thing about the sleeve is the fact that you will eventually be able to "sample" all those foods that you love so much now. Everything you eat is limited by the surgery (like a sugar cookie for me is so sweet it makes me throw up), but I've had a bite of pizza, been to Moes etc. But one child's portion now last for two meals.

This is a journey that we are on. The sleeve just aids in making the weight loss easier. You can do this!

[mrclarkswife 0]

Kaleykat I am right there with you. I am scheduled for surgery Feb 4 and started the liquid diet yesterday. It was such a stressful day that all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with a big bag of chips and some dip. I realized then that what I am doing is right. Not only will it help me feel better ( I have MS ) but will help my quality of life. I woke up excited to be on this journey knowing in the long run it will be up there with one of the best decisions of my life.

Hang in there girl...few more days!!! You can do it ÷)

[chubbsey1 126]

I blew my surgery off 2yrs ago because of nerves and naysayers! My surgery is on Feb. 17 th and I must admit i am scared Sh^tless! but I know I have to suck it up and move foward because my health depends on it. Hang in there and Good Luck!

[CheleLynn45 615]

I felt that way 5 years ago when I first looked into it. I left halfway thru the seminar and thought to myself I don't need this I can this. At that point I had no co morbidities and could still move and exercise. What I didn't understand until this past year is the relationship I had with food.

When this surgery was recommended to me by my general surgeon I still had huge doubts about doing it. Even when I started looking into it more. When I found out I had to do a 6 month supervised diet I was actually happy for the delay. It let me get my head wrapped around all the changes that were going to take place and deal with they WHY I ate the way I did. Most of it was pure laziness and the other part was comfort. I knew if I didn't have my head in the game I would not succeed with this and would struggle. And that I did not want.

The reasons that I turned to food for comfort I began working on, really working on. I decided that being healthy was more important to me. Now that I had waited I had developed some co morbidities and one was the possible loss of my eye sight.

I am 12 1/2 weeks post op and doing great. Is it tough at times, you betcha, do I want to go the gym like I should, nope but I do, am I grateful for this gift I have been given, YEP! Now I just wish I had done it sooner. But I think if I had I would not have been as successful as I feel I am now.

I am sure you are over analyzing things, we all have done that. But just know that if you can get thru the first two months, following your docs orders, doing what you are suppose to you will succeed, you will lose weight and it will get easier.

Make sure you reach out when you need support, I hope you have a good support team behind you at home, I know this has helped me immensely!! Good Luck and you got this!!

[amyecpa 33]

One week from now (Jan 28th) is my surgery and I'm totally freaking out! I've been patiently waiting for almost a year for this and now that it's here I can't stop myself from second guessing everything. I've come to realize, with major help from this awful 2 week liver shrinking liquid diet, that my addiction to food is real and the thought of ending my relationship with its comfort is absolutely terrifying. I feel like I'm trying to convince some part of myself that I don't need the surgery and that I can do it without this tool. Has anyone gone through this, or am I just over thinking and analyzing this way too much?

I am right there with you. My date is also the 28th. There's something about this last week! I keep looking in the mirror and telling myself "you look fine. You don't need this." But I know I do. I have a BMI of just under 35 and need to lose about 70#s. Sometimes I think this whole process/decision would be so much easier if I was more overweight. So many doubts creeping in right here at the last minute. I know this post isn't very encouraging, but I just wanted u to know that you're not alone - Amye

[samuelsmom 670]

You are wise to really consider this surgery as it is a major change. However, you have waited a year for this which tells me that this is something you want to do. Don't let last minute nerves discourage you. If you have seriously thought this through, then don't second guess yourself.

I was ready to back out until they got the IV in and then 15 minutes later was wheeled into surgery. I remember being ready to walk out and then the 3rd nurse got the IV in and I thought, "Oh, crap, I guess I'm going through with it."

Today, I am very happy that I did. I am down 60 pounds and very excited. The last time I weighed under 240 lbs was when my son was a baby and he is 22 now! It feels so good to be successful.

Best of luck to you!

[Edavidson 84]

You will be just fine, yes food is a crutch that all of us on this website has used. But, you can beat this thing if you feel like this is the only way. It took me a year and a half to make up my mind to have this surgery. You should look at some before and after pictures and talk to those who have gone through this before and find a way to get the

courage to get this done. I had a hard time but I am 61 years old and was in bad health. We are all here to support you. All you have to do is call on us and we are there for you. I know that two weeks was the worse but after about six weeks you are going to feel like a new person

[kaylekat 13]

Thank you everyone for the support! I feel so much better, still anxious but I think that's stemming from the idea of the actual surgery and the pain. I know that my relationship with food is unhealthy and is the reason why I'm overweight, unhappy, and in this rut. I told my husband that I feel like I'm going through a break up lol (a much needed one)

@@amyecpa I've been doing the same thing! One thing that helps is looking at all the pics I've taken in the past week, they help take the blinders off and make me see what's really going on with my body. We just need to stay strong and know that this is for the best especially when we feel at our worst. Idk about you but I find some comfort knowing that we have the same surgery date

[hmv1978 6]

My date is January 28th too! Hang in there. I'm super excited!

[greatestnameever 49]

I'm Jan 26 and also pretty nervous, but the way I see it, it's now or in a few years when stuff has gotten worse. This is a super hard decision, of course, but it's going to be OK.

[Penny C 16]

Mi e is 26th and I have been agonizing too. But I have decided to be afraid and then do it anyway!

[rocklandcountry 35]

I was afraid too but as i tell ppl you can't tell anyone what to do but I can and do tell that i wish i did the surgery earlier on in life