seminar

I go to the seminar wednesday (1-3-07) and I am scared, which sounds silly doesn't it. scared of the change, the new me, what will I look like, what will I feel like, will I change, my personality, my attitudes? I don't know, and it is scary. How long is the hopsital stay when you have the surgery? What foods do they tell you not to eat anymore? What is the psych evaluation like? I was told they want to know if you can handle the change, how do they know, how do I know? I had my gall bladder out a few years ago, how does this compare, with pain, discomfort, recovery? I know your on liquids for the first 2 weeks, what do you eat after that? Was anyone else scared of who they might be after losing weight?

Honestly I was terrified. I was scared about how things would go with the surgery itself since I have a 6yr old son. Plus it is such a new life change that people can explain but when it's you it's different. I will be 3 months out on the 8th and with the wonderful support from ym Dr. and his staff as well as my wonderful support group I have done great. It's a very scary thing to go thru but once it's done I know I was like um ok why was I scared again aside fromt he post opp pain? I will admit tho I had wierd spells of crying lol. I know sounds kinda sappy but my body has been going thru so many changes its crazy. My hospital stay was only a few days, but everyone is different as well as what your Dr. decides. Your diet depends on your Dr. as well. You should meet up with a dietitian pre op as well as the psych. Don't be scared tho it may sound awful but I eat well just alot healthier. I do miss some foods like McDonalds fries lol or pasta. I miss bread the most. My psych eval wan't bad at all, don't be worried. You were told right I was asked that as well. I will have to say the pain was intense for almost a week or so then there was the gas pains. Everyone is different tho some people I have talked to said they barely hurt at all. I am a wuss when it comes to pain tho lol. Make sure you walk afterwards when they tell you to and if you have one use your rocking chair it also helps with the gas pains. My diet started out liquid for 2 weeks then went to pureed then to soft then to regular. Your diet depends on what your Dr. says of course. I will tell you that you will get tried of the liquid diet it feels like it will never end at all. Things get better I promise a purreed egg sounds gross now but will taste like a million bucks once you are able to eat it. I have gone from a large 24 pant size to a 16 now and I have become a happier person. Not just because I am looking better but because I am feeling better as well. I love getting the wow you look awesome comments from people that haven't seen me in a while. As well as finding that I can't fit into any of my clothes I have now because they are all too big. I was told by a wonderful person as well as my Dr. tht if I wan't scared they would be worried about me. It's normal to be scared. Good luck.

Donna, 1st I want to congradulated you on making the first big step. There are many changes that go along with the weight loss and honestly you never know exactly how you are going to react. I also had my surgery on Oct. 4, 2006 along with Michelle and she sums it up pretty well. You will feel better and look better. I would do it again and I have had 3 strictures, the roller coaster of feelings and sometimes just being plain exhausted. My DH says the only thing that has changed is that I don't like sitting at home I like to get out and do something although occasionally sitting around is ok. I try different things now, I am down 54 lbs and in a place I have not been in over 22 years. I was in the hospital for 3 days. I stayed on liquids for a week then to soft bland foods, it gets old but you can do it. The psych eval was really nothing and they do want to know if you can handle change and if you can adjust. I had my gallbladder out also so that is a plus in our favor something we don't have to go through. I am still a little frightened about one day getting up and looking into the mirror and seeing someone I don't know. Right now I still see the woman I was 3 months ago even though I hear all the time how great I look. But yet I am anxious about it also. I have decided to start the New Year with a New Attitude! I will overcome and become the person I have always wanted to be. Good Luck on your Journey and if you need anything this is a great place to be. Take care. BTW- where is your seminar at?

Thank you to both of you, you make me feel better about it. The seminar is at Norton's Health Care Pavilion in Louisville. I don't know what anyone else weighed before surgery, I am right at 400 pounds now, which really is 35 pounds less then my max weight, i just can't seem to keep it all off. I am worried about just how much I can lose, and what will I look like afterward. I do not want to be model thin, nor do I even want to wear a bathing suit. My dh loves me and thinks I am sexy and desirable, will he think so after weight loss. I know I am big, but I do not think I am so big I will look really sick from the skin. On the other hand, as I told him, I look awful now naked (am I allowed to say soemthing like that? sorry if not). He doesn't think so. So maybe, no matter what I look like, he is still going to love me, and think I am sexy. I think it's all in the mind, you know, that love is blind thing, lol.

I am also useing Nortons I went to the seminar Nov1st I now have my first appointment to talk about nutrition jan 22 I am so excited. I was told my another that I will also talk to the psych that day and see movies of the different types od surgery. I am going to do what the Dr. says is the best type for me. good luck and hang in there it will be worth it

Donna I answered your other post as well. I just wanted to chime in on this one too. Ditto to everything that has been said by these gorgeous women. I had a different surgery than they did and I was only in the hospital over night. I didn't have much pain from surgery...I had lung pain from not breathing deeply after surgery. Other than that, it was very easy. I was back to work a week later. You are allowed to say naked.... We all get that way sometimes. ;) Sometimes, these bad bad people say far worse. Just kidding... I never ever ever say bad things because I am an angel.