Oh My! What did I get myself into?

This week I visited  with my surgeon and today the exercise physiologist and nutritionist.     I got the diet I need to follow and saw a couple of powerpoint presentations.

I am feeling very overwhelmed by all the changes before the surgery and all the testing I will need to have done.

I found myself floundering between "have the surgery" and "wow..if you have the surgery, you won't ever be able to have.... sodas, gum, etc"....   "you need the surgery, don't be a fool".. etc.

YIKES!

I do want the surgery. i do want to feel alive and vibrant and wonderful again.   

Did any of you feel overwhelmed when you first found out the extent of the lifestyle changes?

Linda

It is surreal and yes, overwhelming at times.  It helped me to take a step back and break things down.  Make a list of the changes you know you will be facing.  Take time to really think how you feel about each one of them.

I wouldn't be surprised if, when you took stock of things, you end up feeling that you are gaining so much more than you'd be giving up.  It's a loss - and yes, there is a mourning period.  The life you had before will be forever changed after surgery.

If you can embrace those changes - you will find so many rewards.  Hey, even consider finding a counselor to talk over your feelings.  Airing how you feel out loud can be cathartic.  

Good luck on your journey.

Sandie

Thanks, Sandie

That's good advice and I took a giant step back from my anxiety and am sorting it all out now.  Halloween is my birthday and I had last night my last piece of that kind of cake I will have in a long long time, and it doesn't bother me a bit.

I'm a facts and figures type of woman, so I began sorting out what  lifestyle changes I need to make and how they will contribute to me being healthier and happier.      I found in doing this I realized that I will love being healthy and feeling better about myself far better than I have ever enjoyed a stick of gum, a diet pepsi, a scoop of ice cream, etc.

Thanks again for your response!
Linda

Hi Linda:

Yes, it's overwhelming. Yes, at times, before I made the commitment to go through with it, I wondered about it. I always said I liked food too much to have WLS. But you what? I still like my food ... I just have it in smaller quantities. And what's this about gum? I never heard that one ... although I don't like gum. As for pop ... well, yes, you have to give that up at first, or drink it flat, but eventually, my nutritionist said if it doesn't bother you, after six months you can try having a little bit. And you know what, I have some now and then, and I don't miss it all that much. I like my water. I know some programs tell you that you can never have pop ever, ever again. They have their reasons.

I will tell you everything I did was the best thing I ever did in my life. I wish I could have had this surgery years ago. It has made such a big change in my life. Yes, I have to take this mountain of vitamins, but I don't have to take blood pressure pills, nor do I have to worry about my family's scourge, diabetes, or high cholesterol. And when you lose the weight, you will want to exercise (I really do, but can't because of my bad knees).

When I was making my decision, my pain doc told me if you don't do something about your weight (I was nearly 350 pounds at the time), you will end up in a wheelchair. Now, I may still end up in a wheelchair because of my knees or back, but at least I know I tried to do something about it. I chose life, not the wheelchair.

What do you choose?

I choose a long, healthy, happy life!

You are all so wonderful here in posting answers to my questions.   I'm feeling much calmer today as I have started breaking it all down and figuring how it will all work together to form a new life. 

Thanks, Linda

Linda, maybe I'm crazy(dont ask Darlene) but I was so ready that when my surgeon ask me when I wanted my surgery. I told him last week.....I was so so ready to be healthy. Beth

smiling..  I actually feel the same way!   it's the preparation, keeping track of it all, and the major lifestyle changes all at once that had me a bit overwhelmed.

I'm on track now.  Thanks for your post!

Next month I will be 1 year post- op. I have had a few ups and downs, a month after RNY surgery, I became dehydrated and had ulcers, ended up in the hospital for a week. I really thought I had made a big mistake- went home right before Christmas feeling awful. well, my son and daughter were great. My husband actually gained weight during that time. I guess he was eating for the both of us! 6 months later, I had a spinal fusion, and believe you me, it was much, much harder that the RNY! But I overcame it and have lost around 125 lbs. I weigh what I weighed in high school, my husband can't keep his hands off me:) At the time, I thought it was a huge mistake, but looking back, it was the best thing I could have done. I wasn't able to lose weight any other way, since I had so much trouble with my back. I can eat about what I want, just not much sugar, which is fine with me. I bake things now with splenda instead. I am so glad I found this over 50 board. I'm 51, by the way, and by the grace of God, will live a lot longer now. Oh, I chew gum, too, doesn't bother me at all, I tried to drink soda, but it tastes awful now, and I was drinking a lot of it before. Your taste buds do change. I went from a size 24 to a size 12. Good luck with your surgery. It may take a while, but you will be so happy you did it.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me.

They told me I can't have the gum, or carbonated soda as it will upset the pouch by getting too much air in my pouch.   The result could be vomitiing and I dont want that.

I'm shooting for a February surgery and I believe I will be on track long before then. 

I only chew gum after I've eaten.I have heard it starts your digestive juices flowing, but if your pouch is full, it doesn't do that.  It actually helps my digestion. I don't drink pop, as it doesn't taste right anymore. That was my biggest hurdle. My husband drinks it all the time, at first it irritated me that I couldn't drink it, but since it tastes so bad, I drink water, sugar-free carnation instant breakfast drink, hot and cold tea, juice.  I have only vomited one time since sugery, that is when I tried to take a bunch of vitamins with the instant breakfast. I learned from that quickly. I did have the foamies a lot, at first, but hardly ever anymore. I take 2 acid-reducers a day before eating breakfast and supper, and tums a few times a day. It really does become easier, and now I like I said before, I am so glad I had the surgery. 130 lbs. is so much easier to be than 253!!!