My upcoming Surgery July 5th

My surgery is next week and I thought I would be estatic, but I am feeling a little down, I am not sure why. My emotions are up one minute and down the next. I need support and encouragement from you all. Last night I watched "I Lost It" off TVO about a lady who had WLS and looked and felt so good, but I started crying. I was so happy for her, but I cried. Please put me in your prayers, my surgery is July 5th, My Independence Day - I can't wait. It will be a long weekend.... Thanks for being here for me.

Pam - I really understand how you feel. I am so excited one minute and the next thinking what am I doing. Today I was sitting at a red light and all I could think of iwas in two weeks I will have something inside me - forever (I'm lapband). Then I went into Kohl's and saw an outfit that I would love to wear and got excited. Go figure! I keep reading the posts and they are so encouraging. But we need to realize that this will play big time with our emotions. I just know that I want to be healther, sit on the floor and be able to get up, be able to walk with my husband and not feel like I will surely die. I cann't do that on my own - I have tried. I need help and I have to realize this is the chance I have been waiting for. You have been through so much to get where you are - you have to have to be this far into the process. Don't let the nerves get to you - cry if you need to (I have) but know that the Lord is guiding and will always be with you. Be ready to have the journey of your life beginning on the 5th and on the 11th I will see you on the losing side! - Vicki PS - I think Mt Washington is a beautiful place!

Thank you for your support and good luck with your surgery.

I dont even have a surgery date yet, but sometimes I have those same feelings. But, my emotions are really messed up right now anyway because me and my boyfriend broke up. Today at work, they had a cook out and I thought how bad its going to be when I can't eat this stuff, then I ended up eating so much (as usual) that I thought, I can't wait until I can't eat all this!! I know how you feel, but just think how great it's going to be this time next year. I sometimes go and look at some of the before and after pictures too. By the way, where are you getting your surgery done at? Thanks, Michelle

I'm sorry about you & your boyfriend. Hang in there, it will get better. My surgery will be at Norton Suburban. I too can't wait until I can't eat much. I am tired of food controlling my life. Thanks for your support.

Hi, Thanks. I saw your profile after I wrote the reply. Dr. Geller is my surgeon too. I know his office is way understaffed, but I have really been getting the runaround. My insurance has told me 3 times that they just need to schedule my surgery, it is approved, but they keep telling me they have to wait for a letter. Then they keep telling me to call the insurance company again. I don't know what to do at this point. Did you have trouble like that? Thanks

Michelle, I had my ins co fax the approval letter to Cheryl at Dr. Geller's office. My claim was in the appeals dept so I had a specific contact person that was really good and helped me alot. Once Cheryl got the letter, she scheduled the surgery that day for 2 weeks later, but I already had the cardio & pulmonary clearances because my ins wouldn't approve without them. I had been very upset that I didn't get the help I needed from Dr. Geller's office for the appeals process. I basically had to fight it on my own. I thought about changing doctors, but then I heard some great things about Dr. Geller and decided not to. Good luck, don't give up, keep hounding the insurance company. Have them fax the letter to you too. Keep in touch.

Ahhh Pam, I am sorry you and the others are going through this, but it's not uncommon. I had RNY on June 18th 2003, my highest weight was 307..I was sick, I had problems breathing, diabetes..I hated the way I looked and felt. I thought some of the same things, what am I going to do when I can't eat with my family? Will I ever be able to eat out with my friends? Then someone said something that I never forgot...life isn't about the food. When do we eat? family reunions, holidays..etc etc. we have built our life around that. I want to reassure you that I do not sit around and worry about what I can or cannot eat before an event, this weekend I am going to a pig roast..I am not thinking about all the incredible food that will be there, that's exactly what I thought about before surgery...This time I am so excited about seeing friends I grew up with...playing ********* running around with the kids and yes...I have to admit hearing someone who hasn't seen me in a few years say..WOW YOU LOOK GREAT!!!...I will make myself a plate of good healty food..eat what I can then walk around visiting others..instead of hiding out, actually before surgery I didn't go to these functions at all!!! This pig roast is on a 100 acre farm owned by a friend I grew up with...his wife had this surgery too, we didn't know it until we both saw each other, a year after our weight loss surgery..we were so excited to see each other thin! after dark my husband and I get in a row boat and row to the middle of the lake, sit and watch the fireworks..there is NO WAY I would have gotten in a little row boat prior to surgery.....I may even ride one of their horses while there..just because I can!! you see the difference is this, I don't go to the functions these days for the food...I go because I can now fit into a pair of shorts instead of my big shirts and polyester pants..I go because I can get up and play a game with other people and try not to feel self conscious although there is part of my brain that still feels like a big person..so I want to hide..but I make myself get up and do it.. Always saying later I am glad I did, I had so much fun! for almost 20 years I fought agoraphobia and rarely left my home...It takes all I have inside me to do certain things like walk around a mall...fly in a plane or go most places alone...Please believe me when I say that your life will be so much better after this surgery..your focus won't be on whether or not you can drink that soda or eat that piece of cake..but instead it will be on going into a store and buying something off the rack..getting a new hairdo to go with the new look...planning parties instead of avoiding them,.. My life has changed so much I can assure you I did not miss that piece of cake at my daughters wedding shower today..I sat back laughing and having fun with her friends. I could carry out gifts to my car without gasping for breath, and I actually wore a sun dress rather than that big shirt and pants. Having one of the young men say to me" I would have never guessed you were old enough to have a daughter 26 yrs. old" I could have kissed him..LOL....LIfe is good..think of the positive, not the negative. How much will you lose before Christmas? how will you feel next summer at goal? how bout that vacation you are looking forward to? so come on and smile... email me if you need to Brenda [email protected]

Great advice and wisdom from one who has been there. You are so right and I want to thank you so much for your encouragement. I keep visioning myself in the future doing all the things you talked about, that I also have been holding myself back from doing.