Pre-op and obsessed?

[NagathaChristie 95]

I still do not have my surgery date. I think about my surgery constantly. I read forums, I watch videos, read blogs. Is anyone as obsessed as I am? Is this normal?

[MeepMeep 96]

Sounds like you are excited about your decision. Reading and research will help when any doubts creep in or when you have a hard day.

Good luck!

[JanJan19 205]

I think I was like this too. I'm not sure I was obsessed, but I was real into watching YouTube videos & Googling things. I wanted to watch every person on YouTube's journey, and then I'd go through their videos to see what their month one was like, etc.

My surgery was May 23 - so... 6 weeks ago?? I think the "obsession" with looking at people's journeys & checking in here constantly dropped off 3-4 weeks post op. I'm almost "bored" with it now, if that makes any sense? I feel much more confident in what Im doing & much less concerned with checking here to get opinions.

[Teachergal82 42]

I’m the same way. I have been obsessed since I started thinking about it last year.

[gabybab 696]

Yes, my greatest information about the surgery has come from the real life stories here. I'm so grateful that if I have questions there is wealth of knowledge and support here.

[Carolina Rose 30]

I’m on month 4 of 6 of my insurance required visits. No surgery date set yet but hoping for late September or October. Not a day goes by that I don’t do at least one of the following... research online, watch YouTube Bariatric videos or browse here and several Facebook groups. I’m pretty anxious now. I originally started the process 4 years ago but only went as far as the first visit. I felt surgery was too drastic at the time and I thought I could lose the weight on my own. After many ups and downs (biggest loss of 50 pounds) and gaining it all back my pcp referred me to a weight management center. I feel comfortable with the staff/doctor. I hope the remaining months go by fast. I’ve never ever wanted summer to be over with. Lol.

[Bianca S. 195]

Haha yes!! All through my process of getting approved till This day too after getting approved honestly. I binge watched my 600 lb life, Family by the ton and YouTube

[New&Improved 1,780]

Been watching 600lb life for years but it makes sense I'm the same I've spent 100s of hours on this site and others reading and learning as I'm waiting.. IT makes sense once people have the surgery they may drop off the site a little too be fully involved in their own mission, they may feel good doing it on their own but I'm sure they know if the need arises they can get good advice from the veterans!

Personally I read to gauge how others are doing and to get inspiration from others that are going well.!!

[FluffyChix 17,415]

Yep. I'm definitely still obsessed and focused on my last goal #3. It's been this way since 1 year before surgery when I decided to choose health over dying. IMHO, it's the obsessively focused folks who make the most broad-spectrum lifestyle changes. But only time will tell if that will change our longterm outcomes over everyone else who isn't as focused and who chooses an "everything in moderation" lifestyle.

Good luck to you and post often!!

[KCgirl061 1,532]

Its totally normal. From Dec 2017 to my surgery date Aug 18 I was reading forums, support groups, medical studies almost daily. But it is such a good thing that you are, you'll be so well prepared. You'll see the stalls, know about the diet and food options, understand where people are coming from when they talk about regret. Knowledge is power my friend!

[mousecat88 2,281]

The obsession never goes away. LOL. At least it still hasn't for me... 8 months later.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Or me either at 10 months, and thought I was perfectly ready, cool, calm, ready to start living the Bariatric life. And I read all the "pie in the sky" pamphlets I could get my chubby little paws on. Nobody mentioned my Evil new Friend. Stoma-stenosis and his sidekick jejunal ulceration. And I did not realize it takes it seems to take forever to heal. I have been on Carafate every 6 hours since October 12, 2018. I used to joke at autopsy the medical examiner would find my spine consisted of Halls cough drops, well now it has changed to oval white caplets of Carafate. And I am happy- proud of losing 125 since surgery , but Me Oh My, what I have gone through to get there! And when I try to talk to someone about my qualms, all they see is the thinner, more shapely body like a so-called Normal woman and they tune me out. I fear I will turn into a thinner corpse, easy on the pallbearer but actrifle harsh for me. And I am still on pureed, protein shakes, Soups, broths and approved no calorie liquids. Know anyone else on basically a pre- surgery liver shrinking diet for almost a year? Except on it I got a 300 calorie Lean Cuisine every evening . Now I don't even have that! And when I try to advance my diet, Precious Pouch slaps some sense into me by vomiing EVERYTHING up.
Why.can't I get a little honesty? If I am going to be a Gastrointestinal Cripple the rest of my fool life, OWN UP TO IT, I promise I will be less angry than I am now being ignored by the Clinic for 4 months. I reached out once, was told I was delusional, there was nothing wrong with me, this after not being able to keep anything down for 16 hours, and was advised to seek mental health help in my County. Relatively certain we have no one here. Local ER dreads seeing me, not sure how to treat anything beyond basics. They say "What can we do for you? We know little if anything about recovering RNY patients." Well my Bariatric surgeon is in Columbus, 50 miles away , Tomkitten and I don't drive, local transportation group wants 2 weeks prior notice so they will transport for scheduled appointments, but anything emergent, Forget about it!
So I chug along, venting on here, praying still there is a Good Resolution to all this. Less than 25 pounds to Goal, now my PCP who I thought was in my corner is getting some sort of Cold Feet. Told me last week he only expected me to lose 70% of my excess weight, I have lost 68.3% and have 2 months before it's a full year. Some people you just can't please & he was the one 2 years ago dancing around ,singing. " Obesity gonna Kill You!" now I'm too thin? Oh come on, you were one of my Weight Loss Godfathers, and now you're backing Down? When I need some on to talk to about this, not even YOU WILL HELP? I feel rather abandoned by all, so I keep trying my best, and wistfully praying it is enough.

[FluffyChix 17,415]

^^^^OP please note this is an unusual situation...part of the 1% of 1% that experience this kind of complication!

[Krestel 330]

Or it could be like me where my pouch hasnt had ANY problems whatsoever to the point that im wondering if the surgeon made it big (he didnt). In fact, I had my first post-op checkup (6 weeks out) and asked all sorts of questions like, "is it normal to be so normal?" She kinda laughed at that. The only "mistake" I was making was taking double the amount of bariatric Vitamins that I needed. The surgeon isnt as caught up as the dieticians on which Vitamin cocktails are available now and I was taking both sets of vitamins. Oops.

But yeah, I was (edit: still am) obsessed pre and post op and love watching 600 lb life too. Even if dont weigh anywhere near as much, it helped me see the challenges in a VERY obvious way in order to reflect on my own mindset. Being obsessed is really the only way to start. I even started trying to eat a bit in a bariatric way before the surgery (but with more volume of food) in order to see if I could do it.

Preparation is key and it is never too early to test things out.

Edited July 8, 2019 by Krestel

[Zemi 72]

yes, a few months out still and i’m doing the research and watching things and doing what i can to be as ready as possible. it’s a major life change and i want to have the best chance of success possible! also a massive positive investment in myself which is different, so doing all i can to make this investment count and pay off 😀