7 Days until Surgery and I am scared.....overwhelmed

  Everyone,

As the days go by I am getting more and more scared. I had surgery before (Breat Reduction) with Liposuction and for some reason I am super scared for this surgery. I was fine up until last night. I am having surgery August 10th. Today is day 8 on Optifast and the hunger has not been an issue anymore thank god. That was brutal. Somehow I feel like I am not prepared enough knowing what to eat and when. I know they will give me a guidline to follow. I guess I am just worried for nothing. Just worried about eating the wrong things and not drinking when I should be. Please someone reassure me that everything will be ok lol. My parents keep telling me everyday and all day long.

I even doubted myself many times to have the surgery in the past few days. Maybe my mind is just driving me crazy lol. Hoping a trip to my cottage this weekend will help me relax and not worry.

 Thanks everyone for reading my post

Betty Jo

Hi Betty Jo,

You're having what's known as the "2 week freak" - just a week late. lol
It's so totally normal to feel scared and even unprepared, despite doing a ton of research prior to your surgery.  Your surgeon will definitely give you a food guide to follow.  Your most important job immediately post-op is to stay hydrated and get in what you can from the list he'll give you.  I'm sure his team will be there for you for any questions or concerns you'll have.... AND... you have all of us here ready to help you as well.

Take some deep breaths, maybe make a list of pros and cons of having the surgery, and make a positive plan for yourself once you're post-op (i.e. set up an eating schedule that you can fill in, manage any pain with the meds they give you and don't let the pain get ahead of you, rest whenever you can, walk to get rid of any gas and to get yourself moving, etc.). 

We're all here for you, cheering you on!

Karen xo

This is normal. Absolutely, positively normal.

So normal in fact, that there's a name for it.

It's called the "two week freak" because basically as you get into that 2 weeks towards surgery, emotions can start to overwhelm you.  Most people on here I know experience it in some form whether it was a day before surgery or 40 days before surgery!!

Just tell yourself that you are going to be positive, you are going to come here for help when you need it, you have lots of support around you and that this is going to be a new and exciting life for you and sure you'll have bumps in the road now and again (like this one!) but you are going to be awesome! Every day on here you hear all the great stories of what surgery does to change your life!

BTW, gastric bypass was the first surgery of any kind that I've ever had. First time being in a "hospital" over night.  I made it and so will you :) 

Take care,
Dawn

Well the good news is that your normal and the better news is you have the support you need.  You have us, your surgeon and dietitian.  It's ok to be worried, it is natural but feel confident that you have a good support group behind you.  You are going to be great and believe me, you are going to feel even better.

ditto on what the others said,
you can do this.
It's perfectly normal.
My god before you know it, you'll be rejoycing at all the new clothes you are going to wear and all the new stores you can visit that you couldn't go into before.

All the WOW moments you'll be sharing with us.

Big hug, you'll be fine.

congrats on the optifast to date.

You will be just fine. Just Breath. Go away and allow yourself to relax and to forget about the surgery for a few days. I will call you when you get back. You will just fine.

I had the 2 week freak and didn't even know it!! LOL  I keep thinking of my gp's advice and that was the risk of the surgery is far less than the risk of carrying the extra weight. I'm having my surgery on Monday in Guelph and I already have from the dietician the schedule of what I can eat and when. I'm sure you will get that from the surgeon when you leave the hospital. Also I bought a book called  The weight loss surgery cookbook for Dummies, you know those yellow dummy books? I ordered it thru Amazon and it arrived in 2 days. It has so much info on the right foods and very creative recipes, I'm really glad I got it and the best part is that it pretty much matches what I already got from the dietician.
So while I did go through that rough period it is now 4 days before surgery and I can't wait. Keep looking at the before and after pictures and think of the clothes you can buy!!!
Take good care,
 

You will be fine! If there is fear, pain or doubt, I often use the mantra "This won't last forever!" Really, it won't. Sometimes when we are concerned, our minds run away with it. Your medical team will take excellent care of you and keeping tabs here will definitely help!

BTW....there are SO many things to look forward to after WLS. Major improvement in overall health, fitting into "normal" sized clothing, increase in self-esteem, bending over to tie up your shoes without holding your breath 'cause you can't breathe, running up the stairs at home, rolling over in bed instead of lift and heave, reduced snoring, buckling up that darned seatbelt easier....OMG, I could go on and on.

Maybe you can make a list like that and start to envision the future you and the things you will be able to do! I just might carry on with my own list...and post it so I can be thankful about making the right decision. BTW, I also went down a full shoe size!!

Good luck! We're rootin' for ya!
Barb

Enjoy your time at the cottage...sit back, relax and picture what life at the cottage will look like next summer!!!

All the unknowns and things you can't quite picture (or dare to imagine) floating around in your head !  Boy, do I relate to all of your fear Betty Jo.
I think we are just being cautious ... and the fact that we are looking at this from every which way just means we can problem solve anything that comes our way,right? ... likely alot less will come our way than we can imagine to I might add lol
The anticipation for anything worthwhile always seems to be the hardest part !

I had my first (AND only I hope)  TWO WEEK FREAK  last week, and that was 3 weeks out ... perhaps I am "advanced" lol ... or neurotic lol  whichever - I survived and got myself sorted out and resigned to following the plan and enjoying all the awesome things that wait on the other side of surgery ! 

I am really good at "dealing" with stuff (most of us are after battling our weight and all the crap related to for so long), though looking forward to so many positives feels very .... risky, and really exciting in a brand new way.   I guess it is faith - to believe in something we can't see, a future full of new healthy and fulfillment -
I hope for that for you - lots of faith and hope and a sure feeling that even though it is scary it is going to be just right ! 

AWay we go - lots to look forward to - I'm going to go make a list of all the things I haven't dared to look forward to about post surgery!  Thanks for sharing your feelings - you are not alone in them, I am glad to have read your post and gathered all the great advice shared !

Bec