Pre Op asking- Whats the hardest part?

I am pre op. I read this board quite often for some reason, LOL. I think I am attached to seeing how you all are doing! Anyway I have a question- what has been the hardest part so far??? Is it- not being able to eat foods/depression??? Nausea?? Tiredness? the actual pain from surgery?? Regretting this?? Ive rescheduled my surgery already, and I am feeling more confident now about having it (even after reading the board LOL), but I am really curious to hear from you, b/c you are in the "thick" of it all. Kerry

Welcome! We're glad to have you along with us, I think you'll find we've formed a tight family on this board with lots of caring, compassion and support for each other. And a few good laughs, too. The hardest part for me is recognizing and changing my eating behaviour for the long term - the mental 'wants' arguing with the physical limitations. I have learned how much I picked at food, how I gulped my food and now chew slowly. I now put significant forethought into what I eat because its a precious few bites and if I get it wrong...there's no room for more or my body is not so pleased with my choices. So overall, the emotional side of eating, the 'protection' of being overweight and learning to live as a LOSER!! My surgery had some pain and was not without discomfort but nothing I could not handle; I feel like a stronger person for the experience. No regrets what so ever. Its also challenging when the weight loss slows down/stalls. Its natural to feel impatient and wonder if you're that one person who WLS will not work for. Then it starts to happen and the delight is amazing. Besides the losing, the best part is my new friends here on this site and the support we bring to each other. Also the elation that my new life is just starting to unroll and the excitement of what is ahead...... Good luck to you! ~Tiffany

Hi Kerry, You wondered what was the worst part- I think really the pre-op was hardest. The surgery caused discomfort but no pain. And you can acturally get up and walk , and want to!!! I had an intestinal bacterial infection, but aside from that it's gone very well. It is a challenge to get your protein and water in- some days I just don't want to eat!! How odd. Head hunger will come and go. Would I do this again? You bet. Remember we are all here supporting each other. You have started a great journey!!! cj

Welcome! I have only recently been coming to this January forum because my surgery was actually in late December, but I wanted to see what people in January were saying and found this very active forum! It is great! Anyway, I had a very smooth surgery and quick recovery. The hardest part for me has been recently finding that I still can't eat many solid foods. I have been almost every day for a couple of weeks. Then yesterday it dawned on me that it might not be the food itself but the fact that I have to slow WAY down when I eat. I was eating slowly but I guess not slow enough. You really have to give yourself a good half hour to 45 minutes to eat solid food. If you are in a hurry, you will feel sick and won't be able to keep down your food. I am still learning but am hopeful. The other part I find hard is exercise. I have bad arthritis in my right knee and if I walk a lot it hurts even more. I used to take anti-inflamatory meds for it but I can't take them post surgery because they are too hard on your stomach. The good news is that I am doing OK without medication most of the time. BUT walking for 30 minutes every day was my goal, and when I do, it hurts. I need to find an alternative type of exercise that will not impact my knee. I could swim, I suppose, but I have to find an indoor pool. So, this is an unresolved problem for me. Anyway, so far, I have done well with the surgery. I suggest you read some books about it. It was helpful for me to do that. A good book that I have found that presents both the pros and the cons of the surgery is "The Patient's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery" by April Hochstrasser, PhD. It's available on Amazon.com. Good luck on your journey

Hi Diana, I'm a newbie to this particular board too. Since I'm a revision patient (VBG to RNY) I tended to hang out at the Revision forum; but I like this one too because it's so active. I grew up in Benicia and just wanted to say howdy neighbor (even though I haven't lived there for almost 20 years). Good luck to you.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!! The hardest thing for me has been getting enough protein in. I get full quick so I have to make myself eat another meal or drink a shake. Water is another issue with me. WLS for dummies is a great book.. If you haven't heard already. I reccomend it to pre op's. Good luck Kay

The hardest physical aspect for me, is not drinking with my meals. I used to grab 2 cans of soda to wash my meals down. Or ask for at least 2 refills in a resturant. Now I set an egg timer when I'm done eating so I know when I can drink. Sometimes I forget, and it's very unpleasant. The foods goes right through me if I drink while eating, even if I'm eating soup! The hardest mental challenge is to control snacking, I'm a stay at home mom and all I want to do is munch all day. I can't do that or I'm not hungry at meal time, when it's essential that I get my protein in. Bridget

Hi Kerry! Welcome to the group!! Personally, I think the hardest part has been getting in my water/fluids.... I struggle with that so much.... I also agree with Tiffany that head hunger vs physical hunger is something to try and conquer as well. For me, I was not in too much pain post surgery (I felt much worse after having a fibroid removed) and I managed through the recovery pretty well. The nausea that I get from food sometimes surprises me but I have to get used to what will work for me now and what will not. I have learned to guage when I am going to be sick so that I can get find the restroom ASAP. So there are a few "negative" aspects to this, but let me tell you, the rewards so far outweigh the negative ten times over. I can walk for a while without having to stop from pain. I can move around so much more than I have in years. I am gaining control over food instead of food having control over me. I also have gained, in this short amount of time, more self esteem and confidence than I think I have had in a long LONG time. To me, honestly, this is the best thing I have ever done and I would absolutely do it again. Best wishes to you Kerry and I hope that this has helped! ~amber~ 311/274/140

I had my surgery lap RNY on 1/23, and for me, the hardest part is getting all my vitamins and supplements in every day. The calcium is particularly difficult for me, but every day I just keep trying, and most days I get them all in. I have lost 36 lbs, can definately see a difference in myself, and I am finally beginning to feel better. I actually will just get up and go up and down the stairs several times a day, when before surgery I came down in the a.m. and went up at bedtime. If I left anything up there, oh well. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Sylvia

The most challenging aspects for me have been (in no particular order): 1) Getting adequate fluids in...I feel I'm always dehydrated 2) The extreme exhaustion I feel. At 290 lbs, I was a dynamo and was never hampered by being tired. The fatigue I feel after the surgery has put a huge dent in my life as I'm a busy mom of 5, including 14 month old twins. I keep waiting for this "surge of energy" that post ops talk about. Where is it? Bring it on, I say!!! 3) The initial clear/full liquid stage after surgery. I was physically HUNGRY and not a happy camper. Things improved when I was able to eat (as in CHEW food!). 4) I have had residual pain resulting from the surgery because I have a seroma that doesn't seem to want to go away. I just thought I'd mention this because it has slowed me down a little. Bottom line: I don't like to be slowed down and I don't like anything getting in my way in any context. In the very beginning, I felt miserable and viewed this surgery as a big thorn in my side (or in the seroma.. )...but I'm making the attempt to change my attitude. The way I look at it, it has GOT to get better! Good luck, Chele