I'm freaking out - cancel surgery ?

I'm in semi-panic mode. For those of you who saw the "I hate my PCP" post, this is related to that.

I saw her yesterday for my pre op exam, and mentioned I had this lump in my throat / feeling in my upper chest that I had been seen the week before for but with a different doctor. That doctor figured it was reflux and told me to take Gaviscon and a 2nd dose or Prilosec. Well, neither helps. This started within a few days of me starting my protein shake/ high protein- low cal diet on 11/2. This feeling is yucky and exactly what I don't want to feel on an ongoing basis after surgery. It's my one fear to have any sort of digestive unsettledness/ discomfort from WLS, which is my primary reason for delaying moving forward with surgery all these years.

So, my PCP tells me yesterday it could take weeks for that feeling to go away. WEEKS? If it is some sort of reflux because of my change in diet to mainly protein, if this is how my body reacts to this type of diet, I don't want to have surgery. I feel like crap, this is annoying and uncomfortable.

So I don't know what to do. I really want this to go away NOW and am fearful of having surgery with this already going on.

Isn't there some sort of quick releif via a different RX or something for reflux? I don't feel like I can go back to her to press the issue because she's such a beatch. I feel stuck!

Hi Kristy,

I don't know of anyting that will help the reflux right away. I was on Rx for years, and it never worked 100%. However since my surgery, I no longer have reflux. So if its truly reflux it could be taken care of with surgery.

Best wishes to you! I know how tough it can be to have a date and then not be able to have it done. Been there done that. But know in the end things will work out for the best. Postponing for a little while doesn't mean that it won't happen.

Kristy-  Take some deep breaths I think you are really nervous for this surgery and maybe that is why you are also having issues with the reflux!!!!   I'm not sure of any recommendations to control the reflux but I'm wondering if you called the surgeons office and spoke with a nurse if they could recommend something. I know they usually give you something after surgery to help with this but can't remember what it was.

Just know Its very normal to have all these feelings and fears about the changes you are going to experience.  I did have some mild discomfort with digesting things but it wasn't bad at all compared to what I had imagined it would be and after a few weeks I felt normal.  It just takes time to get to know the way your new body will work and also finding different ways to comfort yourself without using food.  That was the hardest part for me.  I have never regretted the surgery the benefits to my life made all the mild discomforts so worth it.  IT will be a hard few months at first but try to relax YOU CAN get through all this and have a wonderful happy life.   Keep posting on the board and we will be here for you. 

Kristy.....

Relax Girl!! You will do great and in a year will look back and wonder why you worked yourself up so. A few weeks uncomfort is better than a lifetime of how we have felt for years isn't it? I'll kick ur butt if you cancel!!....OK JK but I would be so sad to let anyone stand in the way of such a great life changing experience ahead of you!! How is tomorrow looking?

(((Kristy!))
I have no words to offer, as those before me have written such excellent words!
Would a  BIG HUG and promise of prayers help??

I hope the doofus PCP does not scare you away from a life-changing event.  I too had extreme acid reflux--but that went way with surgery!

Yup--take a DEEP breath.  Do it again!   And be sure to exhale slooowwwly!

(((HUGS))
**SUE**

Just like the other my reflux is gone almost insantly since surgery. hang in there. My only regret was that I didn't do this sooner.

I've had a bit of reflux going on myself these days. I'm doing a liquid diet before my surgery and I do wonder if it's my protein shakes too.

Given your problems with your PCP, if you are really concerned, give the nurse at your surgeon's office a call. They should be able to tell you if you should delay it or not.

Don't give up! You've worked hard towards this! I think the other women have given you excellent advice on this.

Big hugs!!!!!

Anna

Thanks for all your replies.  I called the surgeons office and left a msg for the nurse to call me back.  I'm going to plea that they help me with this reflux crap and make sure they understand the exetent of my discomfort, and the spot I'm in with my PCP.
 
You guys are great!

I can't say anything new - just that I think the combination of being in "semi-panic mode", combined with the bad experience with your PCP, has you too worked up.  Yes, a supportive PCP would be helpful, but you will have several months of aftercare with your bariatric team, so you don't NEED your PCP right now.  Find someone new that you feel GOOD about. 

There is a very good chance that WLS will help, if not ELIMINATE, your issues with reflux.   WHAT A GIFT this surgery is to us, in SO MANY WAYS!  

PLEASE do yourself a ginormous favor, and TRY to relax.  ACCEPT that yes, there will probably be some discomfort for a while after surgery, but that the reward is SOOOO worth it!  And if you postpone or cancel, you are simply prolonging all the negative things that obesity has contributed to your life.  Go ahead with the surgery.  DECIDE that you will deal with the reflux or other discomforts in order to reap the long-term rewards!

And keep coming here for support and encouragement!  WE all want to see you reap the benefits of all the work you've put in to this already!

DON'T CANCEL YOUR SURGERY!

Every WLS patient goes through this last minute panic.  IT IS NORMAL!  We all have different ways of dealing with the panic.  Ignore the twit PCP.  Get her out of your mind.  She will have what is coming to her.  Don't cancel!

You are at a great place.  You see the anxiety and you look for support.  Great job!  That, in itself, should show you that you are on the right path.  And you know it.

Don't worry about the what ifs of WLS.  You may have yucky taste issues the first few weeks.  Heck,  mine lasted for a month and then came back again at 9 months.  There are many reasons for this.  Tic tacs and sugar free gum, my dear.   Quite frankly (and excuse my bluntness) - I would rather have a nasty taste in my mouth and feel better health wise than to not have the taste in my mouth and be miserable, risking my health because I am overweight. 

You have worked so hard to be where you are at.  And when I was a couple of days out, I thought I could just skip the surgery and continue losing weight with a liquid diet.  I am SO GLAD that I didn't listen to my fears. 

Ultimately it is your decision.  But I think it sounds like a case of cold feet and a pain in the butt, twit of a PCP.   You can do it!  Look how far you've come! 

Kelly