Scared to death

[MyLadyMelody 0]

I have my first appt. with my doc next week, and I am absolutely scared to death. I am terrified about going under general anesthesia..I'm an asthmatic. I think the surgery is the right thing for me, but I can't get over this sick feeling I get when I think about actually going through with it. I'm scared something will go wrong, and my kids will be without a mom...scared that I'll look terrible after the weight loss, and need plastic surgery to fix me....anybody else have these fears before their surgery??

[TerriDoodle 6]

Uh...YEAH!! Like everybody HERE!!

Only you know what's right for you and I am not familiar with the complications asthma brings into the picture so I won't advise you one way or the other there. But I will tell you that we all went thru those fears. I just kept reading posts here and realized that all these people pushed thru their fears and came out the other side exclaiming about how much they love their bands! I just bit my lip and went through with it. Super glad I did!!

[artzygirl 0]

I am being banded in less that a month, and I just finished all of my per-op testing today. I am really scared. Everytime I go to a doctor's office I keep asking the doctors and staff about the lap-band. I'm scared of going under, and I'm also really scared of eating after the band is put in. I really fear throwing-up. I keep waking up in the middle of the night worring about it.

[HappyCamper 0]

It's normal to be scared. I had four other surgeries prior to this and I was still scared to death. I have also had asthma all my life and there was no problem with anesthesia. I was banded on 7/20/07 and this was by far the easiest recovery I've had.

Good Luck

[Lottie 0]

Were you able to reduce the meds for Asthma after your band?

Do you think losing the weight helped you breathe better after the band?

I am waiting to be band and hope that I can come off some of the asthma medications.

[AzGirl 0]

Hi there, I just went through all the fears you are mentioning. I had surgery on Thursday and even as I was in pre-op I felt sick just thinking about going under. I think most people feel this way, I was sick to my stomach the whole week before surgery. The night before surgery my husband and I came to this site and looked at all the before and after pictures and that is what I thought about each time my fears came to my mind.

[ShannonRT 1]

I work in healthcare, so it is very difficult to be a real patient. Luckily I had my surgery at the hospital where I work and know most of the people that took care of me. Are there complications? Of course. Nothing is completely foolproof. But driving your car everyday is much more dangerous!

If you have an experienced surgeon, I promise he has picked out the best team in the OR to work with. I actually hand-picked my nurse anesthetist and even knew all the folks in the OR room. Now, what I said to them over there, I have no idea. I don't even remember leaving my room and rolling down the hall to OR. They tell me now I was talking the whole way and even scooted over on the OR table and said Hi to Eugene! Don't remember any of that. Gotta love the Versed!

Complications with anesthesia are very rare. If you had an unknown allergy to one of the medications they give you, they would reverse it immediately. They have all the life-saving medications they would need right there at their fingertips.

For me...the actual surgery was a breeze. Incision pain and gas pain were minimal. The liquids only diet for 2 weeks was MUCH harder, IMO.

[HappyCamper 0]

Were you able to reduce the meds for Asthma after your band?

Do you think losing the weight helped you breathe better after the band?

I am waiting to be band and hope that I can come off some of the asthma medications.

I'm still on my asthma meds. It's only been a month since my surgery. I don't think I will be able to go off my meds since I've had asthma since I was a baby. Of course being so overweight made my asthma worse and I'm sure I'll be more comfortable as I lose the weight.

[MissKrystal 0]

I have asthma, and I was scared too. I think it because they take so many precautions and tell you over and over again what the complications are so, things start to creep into your head. As far as the asthma goes... they are going to have you take all of your inhalers the day of the surg and bring them in with you. I took Albuterol right before I went back for the surg and I had no problems. It helped me a little to remember all the people who go under gen anesth. and are fine. Also, you can take them as needed after your surg, and if you feel like you need or want a treatment afterwards, just let your nurses know. Good Luck, and you will be fine!

[Wendell Edwards 73]

I have my first appt. with my doc next week, and I am absolutely scared to death. I am terrified about going under general anesthesia..I'm an asthmatic. I think the surgery is the right thing for me, but I can't get over this sick feeling I get when I think about actually going through with it. I'm scared something will go wrong, and my kids will be without a mom...scared that I'll look terrible after the weight loss, and need plastic surgery to fix me....anybody else have these fears before their surgery??

It's unusual to find a Lap-Band patient who has not experienced the fears and anxiety that you are going through.

Nerves are NORMAL in a person who is facing major surgery.

Take comfort in the percentages. Lap-Band surgery is by far the safest bariatric surgery available, which is why I chose to have a Lap-Band.

[7thangel 0]

I posted a similar question right before my surgery on 08/16. The fear of the unknown......that is really what is bothering you. What if, what if, what if.... Try this: What if you DON'T have the surgery? Will you be able to lose all the weight you want on your own? Will you be able to maybe come off your asthma meds someday? Will you be able to ride a roller coaster with your kids as you are now? Will you be on diabetes meds in 10 years?

Look, I was super scared the day of surgery. Just tell your nurses and docs that you are. I actually cried all the way to the OR even after they had given me meds to calm me down, I was that nervous. But you know what, the next thing I knew I was in recovery with a morphine button at my fingertips...Ahhhh.... It's easy for me to say this because my surgery is done, but you will look back at this and realize you worried yourself more than you should. You definitely need to be informed and know this is the right decision for you, but statistics show you will do wonderfully! Congratulations and think positive!!

[HSH 0]

OMG! I was terrified of being put under, It was to a point where it concerned my doctor. You are not alone! I think that it is normal to be scared before any elective surgery. I almost walked out of there :-)

I think the key is to be more excited about the surgery than scared of it. Keep reminding yourself why you are doing this. I know I was teetering at the egde there :-)

With that being said, I think that medicine has come a long way, and although there are risks involved, they are miniscule. Make sure you talk to your anasthesiologist and express your fear/ concern. I am sure that he/ she will reassure you.

And guess what? It will be over before you know it!

[Cerrin 3]

I have never had any surgerys or even been in the hospital. I am worried about not knowing what is going on. I have already wrote a letter for my parents if something should go wrong. THAT is how worried I am. I havent even had my surgery date scheduled yet I dont know what is going to happen when it gets closer to the time.

[jenlovestoshop 0]

I certainly understand being scared. I was - to the point of being an emotional basketcase. I just had my surgery on Tues., 8/21 so the fears are still fresh in my mind. I cried when I left my house, when I walked into the hospital, as I prepared for surgery, and when my doctor talked to me that morning. My doctor told me that I didn't have to do the surgery, but I told him I was ready-just scared. The nurses were very sweet and reassuring. I don't remember even being taken to the OR, just waking up in recovery.

My family has a history of being sick from ansthesia so I discussed that and precautions were taken to make sure that I ddin't get sick after surgery. If you are worried about that, make sure and tell the doctor. I got a sea-sick patch behind my ear, as well as some other meds in the IV. It really helped-I did get sick, but only once. Otherwise, th4e nausea passed quickly.

When I woke up in recovery and realized that I made it thru the surgery, I was able to get excited about my band. My surgery was at 7:30 am and by 10:15, I was up walking to the restroom.

I prayed alot and I asked several of my friends to pray that I would have peace. God granted me that and he will give it to you if you ask him for it.

Peace to you,

Jen

[NanaRenan 0]

Melody, I'd be more concernd if you WEREN'T scared to go under anesthesia!! It's a knock on the door of your primal survival urges.

You'll be fine.