Second thoughts

 So my surgery is scheduled for Wed, but I am having some hard core second thoughts.
Do I really want to do this. Do I want to undergo such an operation and change my life foever like that. Yes I would like to be thin and healthy, but I am healthy now I have no co morbs and I am just don't know if I should be taking thsi risk. 
My children have already had to bury one parent, why am I taking this chance?

I am so confused.

We all get those feelings! It's normal.

I would NEVER turn back the clock and be where I was 2 yrs ago. It's truly is THE best thing I did for my health!

Don't get me wrong, I have had a couple bumps in the road, but like anything else, it's a learning experience and you will find that some things that work for others, may not work for you. We all find our "own way" of how things work.

You are almost there You can do it :D:D

*HUGS*

 That's normal.   We call it the 2 week freak as you get very close to your surgery.    Know that the effects of morbid obesity are far worse than the complications of any wls.   Your chances of heart disease, diabetes and cancers go up exponentially when you are morbidly obese.   It's not called morbidly obese for nothing!

Dawn

Those thoughts are completely normal. This is a permanent change that is life altering. Only you can decide whether or not this is the right decision. Here are the questions I asked myself:

* Can I live with the permanent lifestyle and diet changes? (Yes - because if I wanted to be healthy I'd have to make permanent changes anyway. Even without the surgery I'd need to commit to a completely different lifestyle than I was already living.)

* How will not having the surgery affect my health? (Even though I am relatively healthy now, being morbidly obese puts me at greater risk for developing those co-morbidities later. I don't want that to be my future.)

* Should I be taking this "risk"? (For me, the risks associated with NOT having the surgery certainly outweighed the risk of surgery. I had a much higher liklihood of dying from heart disease, cancer, stroke, or other obesity related illnesses than I ever did from having the surgery. Thus, the risk for me was in NOT having the surgery!)

* Can I lose weight without the surgery? (No, I've proven that to myself time and time again.)

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As for your children burying another parent.... I can see how this is such a sobering thought. Statistically speaking, the percentage of healthy, obese people dying from this surgery is miniscule. Is it the surgery itself that you are afraid of or life after surgery? How will having the surgery benefit your children? 

I am obviously "pro-surgery" but that is what was right for me. Only you can decide what is right for you. Feel free to decide against it if it is something you don't feel certain about. My only advice would be to decide with your brain and not with your "cold feet". I hope you can come to a decision that brings you peace.


Thea

Those thoughts are so normal, the surgery (any surgery) is scary, but the permenence of it is what I would worry about. I love eating out and being "full" But that is how I got to where I am right now.

Like the other posters said, it is your decision. In the end I had to trust all my research and am determinded to follow the rules.

Hang in there, it's not too late to back out even as you get on the table.

Reconsider, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made. ~Ambrose Bierce

I would say,"trust your gut". If it were me, I know that a while after my surgery date had passed I'd be regretting my decision to cancel (and that would suck!). There'd be a lot of "what ifs" in my life.

But I haven't gotten to where you are now so I don't know the feelings... Over the last 15 months or so of waiting I've had a lot of moments where I say to myself "Remember this when you are feeling unsure of your decision" (when it's a workout to tie my shoes or shave my legs, when my feet are pounding from the stress I put on them, when I feel bad because I just saw myself in a mirror). I don't have other comorbitities either but I know I can't do this on my own and I want a better life.

In any case, I wish you luck in making whatever decision is best for you.. and I wish you peace with that decision! Please keep us posted.

 Thank you! 
I am glad to hear this is normal. It makes me feel not so crazy. I know this is the right choice, I am just terrified.
I think writing the letters to my kids brought it home. I know in my head that everything is going to be ok. I think just having to deal with the in case had my head spinning.
I WILL do this. I WILL rock this.

Thank you again, I don't know what I would do without you guys!

 
Writing a letter to my daughter in the event that I died due to surgery was absolutely the toughest part of the whole process. 

I know exactly how you feel.

I wouldn't want to suggest either way, the decision is yours to make. 

 that was the part that threw me over the edge.

I just had surgery April 18th and I would do it again in a SECOND!!
I have 2 older teenage sons and I was having second thoughts the closer I got to surgery date. I had to ask myself, "do I cancel the operation and risk dying of Heart disease, stroke etc or do I get this surgery and learn to live a HEALTHY life".
RNY one and I love it.

Good luck and know that OH is always here!!

Brenda M