Long Time lurker!

Hi to everyone! I am a long time lurker who is finally coming out of the shadows! I have been on this website faithfully for two years. Hoping to gain the courage to have WLS. The good news is...I am having surgery on Monday!!! OH MY!! I have been freaking out and thought to myself you need to turn to those folks that helped you make this decision. I think I need cheerleaders! I am excited, overwhelmed and terrified. Actually, I'm just a mess! I welcome any advice!

Karen

Howdy Neighbor and Welcome!

You are making the best decision you could possibly make by improving your health.  It takes a brave person to undergo WLS.  You'll be so glad you did this for yourself.

Hi Amy! Thanks for responding! I am really excited to see Monday roll around and then away! I have been trying to stay busy, but find it hard to concentrate throughout the day. I have my pre-op appointments tomorrow in Little Rock so that should make the day fly by!  Karen

Karen, Welcome and congrats!!!  What kind of surgery are you having?? Who is doing it and what time?  We are all here for you.  We dont have all the answers, but dont tell anyone!!! We will help you any way we can, so just ask us any questions, and let us know what we can do. Hugs, Rhonda  

Hi Rhonda! Thanks for the warm welcome! I am having the lap RNY so no huge incision (hopefully). Dr. Gibbs is my surgeon and I am scheduled for 7:30 Monday morning. Hubby and I will be staying with my folks in Cabot Sunday night since I have to be there by 5:30. Did I say I am not a morning person!  Did you have the lap RNY? I am curious as to how soon I can return to work. I guess the Dr. will answer that question tomorrow during my pre-op appts. Take care! Karen

Hello there!  What type of surgery are you having?  I hear that Dr. Gibbs is a very good surgeon.  Dr. Baker did my surgery on Aug 15.  He is a very good surgeon too.  I had the gastric bypass. 

Hi right back! I am having the lap RNY ( hopefully no big incision). Dr. Gibbs in my doctor and I go tomorrow for all of my pre-op appointments. Perhaps then it will all sink in that this is really going to happen.  I have been following your posts. Are you feeling better? Did you have the lap or open?  Take care, Karen

I had the open, which was my preference.  I did not want it done laporascopically.  I actually wanted to be able to look at my incision in the future as a reminder of what I went through being overweight so that I wouldn't be the person again.  Kind of like a battle scar.  I made that decision before my surgeon told me I had to have it open, because he wantd to take my gallbladder (which he ended up not doing). I have not had any problems with gas pains or anything since my surgery and have wondered if it was because mine was open. 

Hi Karen We're kinda sorta neighbors...I live in Monticello, just a hop skip and a jump away.  Dr. Gibbs did my gastric bypass in January of this year...you are in great hands.  You won't be disappointed.  I had zero complications, zero bruising, and zero pain,  just sore for a while...hopefully it will turn out the same for you.  Congrats    for coming out of the shadows!  You'll find a lot of support and proven advice here...and there is no "wrong" question, ask away...we can be brutally (and embarrassingly) honest sometimes. My best advice for you right now is to keep busy until Monday, then take a deep breath and give it to God...whether you're a Godly person or not, He'll see you through it.

Hi Denise! Thanks for the warm welcome! I am very familiar with Monticello.....everyone has to go to Wal-Mart!  I hope that my experience mimics your in no pain and no complications! I somewhat a wimp when it comes to pain. I am doing my best to keep busy and try not to think about Monday...yeah right. That is all that I can think about ! I have my pre-op appointments with Dr. Gibbs tomorrow and I'm actually looking forward to it. I know that sounds weird! I think it might actually sink in that this is real. I actually turned this over to God way before I made a decision to have the surgery. My prayer was the approval process be relatively easy and I be approved the first try if it was his will. I had an answer from my insurance company within two weeks! I am curious did you have the lap or open RNY? I am curious as to when I can return to work. Take care, Karen