Question:
Did anyone have second thoughts prior to surgery?
In search of words of wisdom. As my surgery approaches I am starting to feel like what am I about to do to my body? Do I really need to do this. What are the long term effects that I may face after. Does anyone know anyone that is 5 - 8+ years out?c — Athinnermom (posted on December 6, 2009)
December 6, 2009
Hi - I have not had surgery yet and I have second thoughts every other day,
but then when I go to the appt at the clinic I talk to people who have had
the surgery and realized that I made the right decision. I met with the
surgeon last week. when I was in the waiting room reading all the
complications that any surgery could have, I started to have doubts once
again. The surgeon put me completely at ease. All I have to do now is
remember what my Cardio Dr.told me. If I continue to go the way I'm going
I will die before my time. If I have the surgery, my life will be longer.
The benefits of the surgery far outweight the risks. ....Nina O.
— Nina O.
December 6, 2009
I am only one year out, but I have to tell you that everyone has second
thought right before surgery. That is human nature. I was so very scared
that I made a video will right before surgery, with my son running the
camera waiting in pre-op, shivering from the cold and the fear. But I am
here to tell you it was the BEST thing I have every done for myself!
— cydthekid50
December 6, 2009
I know I sure did! The week or so prior to my surgery I wondered most
everyday if I was doing the right thing, but trust me when I say for me I
did! From the afternoon after my surgery until today (9 months later) I
think this was the best thing I've done. My weight has gone from 290 to 190
and I feel great. I no longer have sleep apneia, am only on one blood
pressure med, and my insulin use has gone from 230 u/day to 23 u/day. I
feel better than I have in at least 20 years.
But yes, second guessing yourself is totally normal.
— rkurquhart
December 6, 2009
Hi Paulette, I was going thru the normal "what ifs" (I worried
about complications ). When I read someones blog on OH she had the same
worries I did and she wrote them down on a post. It was so helpful for me
to read that someone else had the same fears as I did. I did the same
thing and it was very therapeutic for me. I didn't have second thoughts
about the surgery itself only the complications as I have kids and my
husband travels constantly and would even know where to begin. I was so
calm going in as I knew it was the right thing to do for me. My mother had
RNY about 15 years ago and she will be 74 this month and is at 138 pounds
and does wonderfully. My surgeon made us write down 10 goals at my pre op
appointment and I love going back to that list and marking off all the
things I wrote down. To help insure I got thru surgery without
complications I started excerising and walking as much as I could I swear
it helped my recovery. I went back to work in a week! Good luck to you,
— ToniLee
December 6, 2009
Yep, that about sums up how I felt before surgery, too. I was actually in
tears as they wheeled me into the operating room. I was so scared that I
was making a mistake. Its normal to feel that way...its a life changing
decision, and not one to be made lightly. I am now 16 months out, and
would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I've lost 118 pounds so far,
and I feel better than I have in decades!
— Ursie77
December 6, 2009
Second third and fourth thoughts. I love the results but it has not been
easy. Somedays I just cry. I am so glad I did it. Only 18 months out
problems include strictures( easy to fix) ulcers, vitanim deficenies. It is
a new way of life, but I think it is wonderful.
— trible
December 7, 2009
I guess I'm different. For 6 years, I wrestled with this. You have to
look at "what's the worst that can happen?" (I think, for many
of us, death might not be the worst!) Then you have to decide which of the
4 risk categories it falls into. Is it a risk you can afford to take? A
risk you cannot afford to take? A risk you can afford NOT to take? Or a
risk that you cannot afford not to take? For me it became the latter.
When that happened, I never looked back.
— jtoothman
December 7, 2009
I didn't have second thought prior to surgery, however, when I got to my
room after surgery I almost panicked. For about thirty minutes I thought
"I have mutilated my body!" but after the thirty minutes I
settled down and have NEVER been sorry. And that was four and half years
ago. I am still at goal and feel great.
— VeeVonne
December 7, 2009
I was in such incredible pain from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Facet
Arthritis and Sciatica affecting both buttocks and going down my left leg -
and I could barely walk 50 feet without having to stop and sit down from
the pain and the breathlessness - and I was to the point that I had to use
a walker to get from the bedroom to the bathroom at night or I might not
make it - and my PCP had given me the forms to get a handicapped placard
for my car.... and I was fairly certain that all this pain was secondary to
my 307 pounds, so once I made the decision to have the surgery, it was to
get out from under the pain. I knew that I couldn't continue to live like
that - the quality of life was so low that I was in tears all the time - so
the decision was a huge weight off my chest and off my mind. I am a pagan,
so I placed myself in the arms of the Goddess, and I never looked back nor
ever had a worried thought. I was ecstatic as I was being prepped for
surgery, not a fear in the world, and I came out of anesthesia with a huge
smile on my face. I did so well in the hospital that although they did the
surgery on Monday afternoon, they let me go home on Wednesday morning. I
was out shopping that day, because I needed to get different kinds of
dressings for some of the incisions....the only rough spot I had was at
about 5 weeks, when I developed a stricture, and had to have it dilated.
But even then, I told the gastroenterologist that I suffered from anxiety
syndrome, and that even lightly sedated, if I felt that the tube they were
passing down my throat was obstructing my breathing, I WOULD fight it, so I
wanted to be put out, and they had no problem with that. The whole
procedure took about 10 minutes, and I was only in the day surgery suite
for about an hour. They took my vitals a few times, gave me some graham
crackers and juice to eat and drink, and sent me on home. I am now 9
months out, and 6 pounds from my surgeon's goal (but 16 pounds from my own
goal). I bought a pair of size 12 Lee Riders jeans yesterday, and was so
amazed that I almost cried. Would I do it again??? You bet. In a
NANOSECOND!! You'll be just fine. And I can nearly guarantee you won't
regret it!
— Erica Alikchihoo
December 7, 2009
I had been considering weight loss surgery for about 5 years, but finally
decided to actually proceed when I developed high blood pressure. I had
tried every diet and exercise program on the planet, all with only
short-term success. I decided if I didn't make the lifestyle changes with
weight loss surgery, a heart attack or diabetes was going to do it for me.
I decided to make the lifestyle changes on my terms instead of having a
disease do it for me.
The only time I had second thoughts was the weekend before surgery. I've
had surgery and anesthesia before, so I knew what to expect there, but the
changes suddenly seemed daunting. I read a lot of posts on the forum by
people who'd been there before me, and reminded myself that the changes
were going to be a lot easier than any changes I'd have to make for myself
and my family after developing heart disease
— JaeOnasi
December 7, 2009
i was fine and excited right up til the day before.we had an hour drive to
hospital and i cried all the way there.even in the pre opt room.they gave
me something for my nerves.i knew i wanted to do it for me but was scared
if my family had to do with out me.i made it through it with flying
colors.it is very naturally to feel the way you are feeling.best wishes to
you.
— carolyn1970
December 8, 2009
My husband did have second thoughts. We wish we would have taken them
seriously. Everyone we had talked to including the doctors said that this
RNY was a basic cure-all. Well, let me tell you that he has more problems
now, then he has ever had. Very serious problems. You can read my blogs
for more info. Please get information on the worst that can happen with
this surgery as well as the pro's.
Dawn
— help_my_hubby
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