pre surgery anxiety

150bound · December 9, 2007

I am having my surgery on Dec 14 I know that obviously I have a food addiction. I am now on my 1000 calorie/day diet and I keep finding my self thinking about my favorite foods. I am anxious to get my journey underway. I am a single mother of 5. I keep saying do I have the right to have an elective surgery knowing I could possibly be leaving them all alone. Then I say to myself my bmi is over 50 it's not really an elective surgery. I have so many thoughts going through my head and I don't think I have ever been this "hungry" in my life. Most of my friends are thin and I have kept this surgery from some of my family just because I didn't want to hear about how I should diet and exercise. (which I have done before, I do lose weight but when the pounds return they bring friends) I know I probably seem like a nervous wreck I know it's going to be alright I guess I just needed get it all out. I hope these emotions are all normal:help:

sewenup1 · December 9, 2007

I am having my surgery on Dec 14 I know that obviously I have a food addiction. I am now on my 1000 calorie/day diet and I keep finding my self thinking about my favorite foods. I am anxious to get my journey underway. I am a single mother of 5. I keep saying do I have the right to have an elective surgery knowing I could possibly be leaving them all alone. Then I say to myself my bmi is over 50 it's not really an elective surgery. I have so many thoughts going through my head and I don't think I have ever been this "hungry" in my life. Most of my friends are thin and I have kept this surgery from some of my family just because I didn't want to hear about how I should diet and exercise. (which I have done before, I do lose weight but when the pounds return they bring friends) I know I probably seem like a nervous wreck I know it's going to be alright I guess I just needed get it all out. I hope these emotions are all normal:help:

Boy are you normal!!!!! I went through all these right up to the time they took me into surgery. This is a major life decision but you have reached the decision that this is what you need. Just remember why you made that decision. It certainly isn't selfish. Yo-yo dieting is very bad for the heart and you have more chance of dying from a heart attack than from this surgery. I started with a BMI of 61 and can't weigh myself on my bathroom scales as they do not go that high!!

If you weren't scared or having second thoughts at this stage I would worry about you!!

If it is any help my blog address is below - go there and you will see that I have been through the same feelings and that you are not alone.

If you continue to feel scared, please send me a message and we can have a 'chat' off the BB.

Danna:bounce:

Newblew · December 9, 2007

150bound - I was right there with you. I thought I was going to get a prize for the most morbid bandster. Two nights before I left for Mexico, I was up ALL night playing through every possible bad scenario - leaving my kids alone, having my big old fat body shipped home...it was not a good night.

All I can tell you is that I just kept going - I think that something in me knew that it was the right thing to do. My surgery was a breeze!!! I was banded on Friday and am off pain meds. I decorated the tree today and did some shopping. I might have pushed myself a little too much with the shopping, but I'm just a little tired.

I think that all of these feelings are normal and unless you pick up the phone to cancel your surgery, then you are still comfortable that it is a good decision for you.

I am really glad the surgery is over, because the anxiety was fierce, but I'm so happy that I did it!

Good luck! Feel free to PM me!

Newblew

kris102003 · December 9, 2007

I suffer from anxitey/panic disorder regulary. So the thought of having this elective surgery was so scary for me. I could not sleep the days leading up to the surgery and it was all I thought about. But the one thing that really got me through was the fact that I knew that one way or another my weight was going to kill me. So I decided to take the steps I needed to make this life change. If worst came to worst and for some reason I died as a result of the surgery I knew that atleast I would die trying to make a difference in my life. Good news is I survived the surgery and I know I did the right thing. The anxitey is normal and there is nothing anyone can say that is going to make it any less stressful but just know in your heart this is the right decision for you and your life. Good luck!

secretstolen · December 9, 2007

Hey there! My surgery is on Thursday, December 13th. Don't worry; like everyone else said, you're totally normal to feel like that.

I haven't started having the "what if I don't make it" thoughts yet, but I have been wracking my brain to make sure I remember to do silly little things before hand. I'm paranoid that I'll forget to do something like shave my legs the morning of the surgery (and it'll gross out the surgical staff), or that I'll be late to pre-registration that morning and they'll cancel it.

The fact that you're a mom, too, is definitely a factor. I don't have any kids, but I can't imagine not having those thoughts if I did.

Good luck with yours! I can't wait to hear how it goes for you.

HeavyHeartland · December 9, 2007

I haven't read anything abnormal in this thread yet. Before I left for the hospital I explained to everyone including my family that this was a minor surgery and no big deal. Then I made out my will and hid it so that it could be found when my wife got home, in case I didn't make it.

I don't think any of us would be here if we weren't at the end of our ropes. We've all tried dieting. We've all tried a million things. Choosing surgery is not an easy decision. I've only been banded a week and I find myself thinking, "gosh, did I try everything possible?" It doesn't matter now. I have chosen banding, and I am embracing it as the starting point to my new health, my new lifestyle, and my new life.

You are not going to die from lapband surgery -- in fact, you're going to live. When you get scared, think about how great it's going to feel next summer when you are chasing those five kids around the park instead of sitting on the park bench, watching them play. You are not only giving yourself a gift but you are giving the gift of having a parent for many more years to those kids. You are doing the right thing.

150bound · December 10, 2007

It was really nice to have some reassuring words when so much is going through my mind. I am excited to think about next summer at the park, or sitting where I want to and not wondering if the chairs will hold me. I am truly looking forward to the benefits and I know that I do owe it to my children to try and be alive and healthy thank all of you so much