Today is my Birthday

today is my 35th birthday and I'm scared that it will be my last. What if I die having surgery and I don't even make it to my 36th b-day. I decided to tell my brother at my party saturday and he said that he would rather have a chunky sister then a dead sister. So since he said that to me I have been thinking about ,what if this is my last b-day. I know I am making the right decision it is just scary when your own brother points it out to you that you might die. other than that had a pretty normal day. my freind took me and my daughter out to lunch at the olive garden. That was really good. I had the portabello ravioli. So I didn't eat much else the rest of the day. Sheila

Hi Sheila,

What you are going trhough is very normal.  I can remember getting cold feet last year before my surgery as well while reading the memorials on OH.  Try to think of all the positives for the 99% of the people who have successful WLS.  A year ago, I NEVER thought I'd be wearing a size 6!  I can cross my legs now with ease, I am sleeping through the nights now as well.  I don't know your medical history, but think of how much healthier and more energetic you'll feel after WLS.  Keep yourself surrounded with positive people only.  There is way too much ignorance about WLS. Good luck, Maryellen:) :wave:

Hi sweetie!  Happy Birthday!  Definitely normal feelings.  I wrote my son a long letter the night before my surgery.  I still haven't tossed it out.  I, too, was afraid something might go wrong during surgery.  Guess it's time to toss the letter!  You'll do just fine! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEILA!!!!

I'm sure everyone has had the same feeelings you are having. I think you should look at the more positive side....you will be healthier,you will feel and look better, you will live longer having the surgery opposed to not having it. Dr Caruana's has never had anyone die on the table. I asked him, and for someone to pass after is at 0.04%. Those are pretty good odds I think. LOL
I think what I am trying to say is any one of us could be dead tomorrow from a car accident or some other crazy thing. If I should pass from WLS at least I know I tried to get healthier. I know my time here would be lengthened with the surgery. I would not last many years at the weight I am at. Plus I am a miserable ****** like this....who wants to live like that? I sure don't!

Debi

for me it was a no brainer...... the first thing the doctor told me was that he could lose me on the table.... and i thought to myself besides my medical conditions that i rehamtoid arthritus hep c sleep apnea and so on ...... i had more mental problems and was so depressed that  i was 38 and couldnt walk up a flight of stairs or put my arms down to my side i f elt  if i dont have the surgery hes going to lose me anyway my mental state was way worse then my phys iical conditions......... upon approval i immediatly got into the mode that YES!!!! im getting a DO OVER.....i went from no longer wanting to leave the house and walking with my head down to becoming the full of life confident person i was meant to be...... i am able to play with my kids and doing things i would never dream of while being overweight.......i have quality of life now and can do things i wouldnt even dream of before surgery........ so i really never had any second thoughts because it was a win win situathion.......because  i went into the surgery with a positive attitude and reached my goal within 9 months and have been maintaining for 3 yrs now keep sharing your thoo ughts with us and try to get into positive mode.... because if you do what the docs tell you to do before and after it will be infailable to you .............. another bit of advice i can give you is keep negative e nergy as far away from you as possible..... aka jealous people ingnorant people..... and people that just have no clue and just talk without any knowlege of what they are talking about!!! best of luck to you and remember as well as pre op support POST OP support is very very important after surgery..... i cant stress that enough.........like i  said best of luck to in whatever you decide and remember this board is always here for you!!!!!! good luck and god bless Stacy

Hi, First happy birthday!  When I told my mother in law that I was having the surgery she was very scared and angry.  She told me that I had no right to put my life in jeopardy when my children and husband need me.  She gave me the "you could die" speech and tried to talk me out of it for months before I had the surgery.  I am 9 weeks out now and the other day she told me that she was sorry about giving me a hard time because she can now see the difference in my health and overall wellbeing.  She is one of my biggest supporters now.  Your brother is more than likely just scared.  Educate him.  You will be fine. The worry you are feeling is absolutely normal.  Good luck! Janet

Happy Birthday!!      I also think most people go through this before their surgery.  Most people fear the unknown.  I know for me, there was only one choice and that was to do the surgery.  I wanted to enjoy a better quality of life!!  I had the same reaction from my brother.  He kept saying but it's elective surgery.  I simply told him, not for me, it's a necessity!!

Good Luck!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!!  If i had a dollar for evertime somesaid that to a pre-op I'd be rich.  Peolpe say that kind of stuff because of fear, jeaslousy or because of lack of knowlege about gastric bypass.   You gotta be real with yourself do you want to take the risk of dieing/suffering from a co-morbity, or do you want to do everything in your power to get your health back on track?  Do you want to sit on the sidelines or do you want to get in the game?  It almost makes me angry when people try to sabatoge someones effort towards a healtheir life

Sheila, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUN!    I hope you have an awesome one! I know the fear you have are normal, trust me, I went through them ALL. What helped me was writting them down, writing the Pros and Cons of having and not having the surgery! It really shows you what you really already know! I know for me it was a matter of extending my life with the surgery, I would have died from the weight anyways! I hope that helps some!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! MANY, MANY, MANY MORE!!!!!  Banish the negative thoughts - though they are very normal. Heck, I even get them when I'm leaving on a vacation. The way I looked at it, and perhaps it wasn't the healthiest way, was to just tell myself that all the pieces fell into place for a reason. It was meant to be. The approval, the testing, the Dr. visits...all of it just fell into place.  IF I was to die on the table there was not a hell of a lot that I could do. It would have been my time.If not then, there will surely be another time for me to leave this earth.  I was so at peace thinking of it that way.  I AM JUST FINE AND YOU WILL BE TOO.  Sooooooooooo chin up and start remembering exactly why you are having this surgery in the first place. Take Care~~ Diane