Should I do this?

[kinipela24 80]

What am I worried about?

1. The pain right after surgery. I have heard some people say that they had little to no pain (including my mom’s friend who is in her late 60’s). I have people say it feels like an incredible amount of pressure but manageable. Some say that they were in an incredible amount of pain right after surgery for 1-2 days, etc,
2. The pain post op (in general). Again, I have heard people experience minimal to no pain, once in awhile, and some say they are almost always in pain. Am I going to be throwing up , constipated, and/or sick to my stomach for the rest of my life? Is this common? I also heard some people have difficulty swallowing and it being painful going down. IS heartburn common?
3. Complications. I am concerned about potential leaks, blood clots, bleeding etc
4. Feeling regretful. I don’t want to wake up and panic. I know someone who had a panic attack when she woke up from surgery.
5. Does your sleeve feel “weird” in your body initially?
6. Long Term Maintenance (I have the commitment) but have their been any studies?
7. food and Nutrition-I hope it wont be too painful for me to eat and be able to get the nutrients that I need.

On a positive note, I have a great surgeon in mind. He has a less than 1% complication rate and he is highly regarded as one of the best and also a trauma surgeon etc. I have a good support system. I have healthcare even though I am getting my procedure in Mexico. I know that this is ultimately my decision but I am indecisive in general! I really want to get this procedure this summer and I know that I need to send in my money ASAP in order to secure the date that I want. I have been having a difficult time sleeping over this. I just really need support and guidance. I am 5’5 and 309 lbs. I’m superobese and something needs to be done but I just feel like I am taking a lot of risks and that may be worth it in the end and necessary but I’m scared.

[Amanda203 0]

Hi there! I had my first appointment on Thursday and I'm wondering all the same things you are!

My insurance only requires 3 months of pre-op care so I could have the surgery as early as June. I was 100% for it when I left the office Thursday but last night I was hit with crippling fear. Mainly your fears 3,4&7.

My husband is supportive and enthusiastic I'm just nervous I guess. I've never had a surgery before and I feel like I'm electing to have surgery and open my self up to future complications. (Ignoring that being obese for the rest of my life has its own set of complications!)

5'5" 294lbs

good luck!

[LeaninLanc 83]

I won't present myself as a veteran here, this is only my 5th full day post-op. What I can tell you is that when I decided to seek out surgery at age 57 I did it because I decided "fearfulness" would no longer control my choices. I was fearful of all that you mentioned. I can tell you with 100% certainty that for the past five days I've awoken, and for the first time in decades, I have the hopefulness that I will regain my health and live a longer life. No more will I awake every day with a sense of dread that I'm in a downward spiral of over eating. I know I'm in the "honeymoon stage" of relief but I would not trade the minor inconveniences of pain to return to the fearful me. Go for it!

[Em_JW 36]

I'm almost 3 months post op. To be honest, every day once per day I regret having had surgery. You know when that is? When I wish I could fit in more food! I have anxiety and depression (since a very young age) and I thought I could do this in my own. WRONG. I'm happy with my decision 90% of the time. It's a complete lifestyle change but my body is thanking me for it!

The pain post-op is controlled well with pain meds. I had pain but only for about 2 weeks. After I could finally sleep on my tummy I was happy. The air that they pump in you during surgery is probably the toughest to handle (for me) but GasX chewables were a life saver!!!!!
Your diet will change and food will look different/taste different to you. I started craving healthier foods around month 2. I'll leave my weight lost stats at the bottom.
The only advice I can give is that everyone has a different experience so make sure this is really what you want and that you are 100% committed. It isn't going to be easy but for me it was so worth it. Get ready to end your current relationship with food and start a new one. Let's face it, my old relationship with food was literally killing me so I'm grateful.

PS. I met my best friend on this app. She had her surgery 2 weeks after me and we have been keeping each other motivated since pre-op diet. I recommend reaching out to someone who will be getting surgery around the same time and who is SERIOUS.

Hope this helps :-)

Age: 27
Height: 5'2
HW: 299
Pre-op: 268
CW: 225
GW: 140



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http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/391807-Need-support%21-/page__view__findpost__p__4414746


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[triplethreat 257]

I am 7 months post. I had a very easy recovery; after surgery I had pain in my arms and hands because of the anesthesia, but my abdomen was minimally painful.

Once I began my eating plan I had no complications. I weigh my food. I follow my surgeon's plan. In order to go through with wls I had to be able to commit to everything the plan required which meant replacing bad habits with good ones.

My bloodwork shows no signs of deficiencies and I do take a Multivitamin and Iron.

My husband and kids are all athletic. I have three teens who play sports- swimming for all three and among them they play basketball, soccer, track, cross country, and tennis. I have had excellent support from them all as well as my elementary aged kiddo.

My advice is to evaluate your psychological toughness first and foremost. Your body will respond to the surgery but making it a success has to come from your willingness to change for life.

[Lizardlady 90]

8 hours ago, kinipela24 said:

What am I worried about?

1. The pain right after surgery. I have heard some people say that they had little to no pain (including my mom’s friend who is in her late 60’s). I have people say it feels like an incredible amount of pressure but manageable. Some say that they were in an incredible amount of pain right after surgery for 1-2 days, etc,
2. The pain post op (in general). Again, I have heard people experience minimal to no pain, once in awhile, and some say they are almost always in pain. Am I going to be throwing up , constipated, and/or sick to my stomach for the rest of my life? Is this common? I also heard some people have difficulty swallowing and it being painful going down. IS heartburn common?
3. Complications. I am concerned about potential leaks, blood clots, bleeding etc
4. Feeling regretful. I don’t want to wake up and panic. I know someone who had a panic attack when she woke up from surgery.
5. Does your sleeve feel “weird” in your body initially?
6. Long Term Maintenance (I have the commitment) but have their been any studies?
7. food and Nutrition-I hope it wont be too painful for me to eat and be able to get the nutrients that I need.

On a positive note, I have a great surgeon in mind. He has a less than 1% complication rate and he is highly regarded as one of the best and also a trauma surgeon etc. I have a good support system. I have healthcare even though I am getting my procedure in Mexico. I know that this is ultimately my decision but I am indecisive in general! I really want to get this procedure this summer and I know that I need to send in my money ASAP in order to secure the date that I want. I have been having a difficult time sleeping over this. I just really need support and guidance. I am 5’5 and 309 lbs. I’m superobese and something needs to be done but I just feel like I am taking a lot of risks and that may be worth it in the end and necessary but I’m scared.

I had my surgery almost 9 months ago. I can only tell you my own personal experience but everyone seems to have a unique experience so I'm not sure if it will help you or not but here it goes:

1. I've had several surgeries done in the past. Back surgeries for ruptured disc and also to widen my spinal canal as well as a C section. This was by far the easiest as far as pain goes. I even had some issues with the dry heaves and vomiting the same night of surgery and it wasn't nearly as bad as what I thought it was going to be. I thought if I vomited I might rip something open or at least be extremely painful and that just wasn't the case. Sure it wasn't the most pleasant experience but it's not nearly as bad as one might think.

2. Again the pain wasn't anywhere near being as bad as the other surgeries. Actually, I didn't even take any of the prescribed pain meds once I got home except later in the week and that was only because I had a pretty bad Migraine so I more or less took it for the headache pain. The pain from the surgery itself was there but more of a tenderness and stiffness. The only sharp pains I had was if I turned or tried to move suddenly. Once relaxed, the pain is pretty bearable. As far as the other things you listed goes: Yes, I did throw up some things for the first few months and honestly, even now sometimes something just doesn't sit well but it's usually when I eat something that I really should not have eaten and early on it may have been from just trying to eat too much. Certain things just turn my stomach but not very often now. I can pretty much eat anything I want (if the mood strikes me or there is a special occasion) and if it doesn't sit well then it just doesn't. I should mention, it's hard to explain but for me, it is a much different experience than your normal "sickly" vomit. It's not nearly as big of a deal and I throw up and feel fine after. Constipation was another issue I had and it was unexpected as I had NEVER had issues like that before. However, it was more than likely from the Vitamins I was taking (too much iron) combined with Protein Shakes and Peanut Butter powder as well as lots of cheese (it was about the only thing I really wanted to eat). it was only really bad up to about month 5. I can still have some minor issues with it now but nothing some Milk of Magnesia or an Enema can't fix. No issues swallowing. As a matter of fact, I asked my surgeon about that since it was a concern for me since I had issues with my swallowing sometimes pre-sleeve. I no longer have issues at all which is a bonus I suppose. Gerd is a common issue, yes. Especially if you had issues with acid stomach before surgery. My surgeon gave me a prescription for it which I did take for the first few months. Now I can usually pop a tums if I need one and be good to go.

3. Follow your surgeon's instructions to a T to minimize your risks. Also, there is never any harm in asking your surgeon about his history with potential issues. Ask how many times he has done the procedure and how many issues he's had. I did and it certainly made me feel better! Make sure you have a great surgeon! I was also extremely nervous about the risks of surgery but mine was mostly worries about waking up after anesthesia. Honestly, I shouldn't have worried so much.

4. That seems to be a pretty common question on here. I can say with all honesty, the only real regret I had was when I was having major constipation issues and I worried it would last forever (which it didn't). Here are a few other posts that I had replied to that had a similar question. Maybe reading all of the replies on these will put you more at ease (or not?):

5. When you eat it might feel funny. I remember feeling my food move through when I swallowed which was pretty weird. Almost like I could put my finger on the exact spot my food was as it went down and it would make funny noises (sometimes still does). Other than that, it feels pretty normal. You don't feel like you are missing a piece of yourself if that's what you mean lol.

6. Can't really answer this honestly since I'm not THAT far out yet but so far so good.

7. It's tough at first but your surgeon's team probably expects that. Stay hydrated and treat every day as a new one. Don't dwell if you don't make your goal for the day. You won't want to eat much at first but if you're anything like me, just give it some time.

I know this was a lot to read, but I wanted to cover all the questions as much as possible and hopefully it helped you some in your decision. Having the surgery done is a very personal decision that nobody else can make for you or tell you what you "should" do. For me, I don't have any regrets. I'm down 123 lbs from my heaviest weight and I would not have been able to do it without this surgery. Other than a few very minor issues here and there I feel back to my normal self only much healthier and happier, a lot less pain (from being overwight) and I'm able to do things I never thought I'd be able to do again. The trade off was more than worth it for me. I would wish the same for anyone else!

[1poundatatime 174]

5 hours ago, Amanda203 said:

My husband is supportive and enthusiastic I'm just nervous I guess. I've never had a surgery before and I feel like I'm electing to have surgery and open my self up to future complications. (Ignoring that being obese for the rest of my life has its own set of complications!)

I'm having surgery in 5 days and this sums up how I feel. But, honestly one of the main reason I want to do this now is that I am healthy, why wait until I have a bunch of obesity caused problems and am a higher risk patient? I have had to take a hard look at where the current path I'm on will inevitably take me and I've decided that isn't what I want for my life.

I think it's normal and good to be nervous and take this seriously. It's a big decision and I think a laissez faire attitude about it would actually be a warning sign that you might not have fully thought things through.

[kinipela24 80]

8 hours ago, Amanda203 said:

Hi there! I had my first appointment on Thursday and I'm wondering all the same things you are!

My insurance only requires 3 months of pre-op care so I could have the surgery as early as June. I was 100% for it when I left the office Thursday but last night I was hit with crippling fear. Mainly your fears 3,4&7.

My husband is supportive and enthusiastic I'm just nervous I guess. I've never had a surgery before and I feel like I'm electing to have surgery and open my self up to future complications. (Ignoring that being obese for the rest of my life has its own set of complications!)

5'5" 294lbs

good luck!

Thanks. I totally feel you and I am also planning on having my surgery in June. It is a big decision but I am reay to change my life. This forum has helpe a lot. You have my support as a fellow pre op!

Jennifer

[kinipela24 80]

5 hours ago, Em_JW said:

I'm almost 3 months post op. To be honest, every day once per day I regret having had surgery. You know when that is? When I wish I could fit in more food! I have anxiety and depression (since a very young age) and I thought I could do this in my own. WRONG. I'm happy with my decision 90% of the time. It's a complete lifestyle change but my body is thanking me for it!

The pain post-op is controlled well with pain meds. I had pain but only for about 2 weeks. After I could finally sleep on my tummy I was happy. The air that they pump in you during surgery is probably the toughest to handle (for me) but GasX chewables were a life saver!!!!!
Your diet will change and food will look different/taste different to you. I started craving healthier foods around month 2. I'll leave my weight lost stats at the bottom.
The only advice I can give is that everyone has a different experience so make sure this is really what you want and that you are 100% committed. It isn't going to be easy but for me it was so worth it. Get ready to end your current relationship with food and start a new one. Let's face it, my old relationship with food was literally killing me so I'm grateful.

PS. I met my best friend on this app. She had her surgery 2 weeks after me and we have been keeping each other motivated since pre-op diet. I recommend reaching out to someone who will be getting surgery around the same time and who is SERIOUS.

Hope this helps :-)

Age: 27
Height: 5'2
HW: 299
Pre-op: 268
CW: 225
GW: 140



Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/391807-Need-support%21-/page__view__findpost__p__4414746


Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you so much for your reply! I too suffer from depression and anxiety and that has concerned me. What do you mean when you sai you thought you could do this alone? Do you see a therapist are you on any medication for your depression. I recently saw my psychiatrist and he was positive about me getting the surgery. He told me that he has known me for a long time and trusts that I will do my research and be successul. He also said that I could keep all the same medications just in pill form. However, my psychologist isn't 100 percent for it at all. She told me she oesn't think I can hanle it right now but maybe she will feel differently in a few months. She is worried about my mental health. Everyone in my life has an opinion! We have to decide what is best for us. A good support system is definitely key.

[kinipela24 80]

7 hours ago, LeaninLanc said:

I won't present myself as a veteran here, this is only my 5th full day post-op. What I can tell you is that when I decided to seek out surgery at age 57 I did it because I decided "fearfulness" would no longer control my choices. I was fearful of all that you mentioned. I can tell you with 100% certainty that for the past five days I've awoken, and for the first time in decades, I have the hopefulness that I will regain my health and live a longer life. No more will I awake every day with a sense of dread that I'm in a downward spiral of over eating. I know I'm in the "honeymoon stage" of relief but I would not trade the minor inconveniences of pain to return to the fearful me. Go for it!

Thank you! This was very comforting an inspiring! Congratulations!

[Emellyy 8]

I'm 28 I have 2 boys 8&6 my date is finally set for June 6th so stoked I put it off and changed my mind but this time I'm serious 5'3 260lb my kids are excited for to go to the park with them longer than a few minutes it's like getting a second chance on life... Clothes fitting just the right way heels without crazy pains which is something I'm looking forward too I'm just ready to feel comfortable in my own skin! Everyone will have there opinions at the end of the day it's you living with your feelings if you're not happy you do what is best for you! You got this girly

[kinipela24 80]

Thanks You got this too girl! I have decided to do it. Almost doesn't seem real that I am saying that. I am planning on doing it the second week of June if I can get that date. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes.