Nervous

Ok, so my surgery is this coming Wednesday. Yes I am so nervous. Do everyone have second thoughts

 Second thoughts about my surgeon, yes. About the surgery? No.
Anxiety/ nerves are very natural. And realistic. Yes, this is major surgery. But obesity is a major problem too. Good luck!

 Well...you are certainly not alone....that is for sure mine is the following week and uneasy to say the least....my pal told me it would be abnormal to not be a little nervous....

I didnt have second thoughts until i got to the hospital and the surgery before mine took longer than expected so I had a few hours to get anxious but the sedative took care of that. I also had a small amount of buyers remorse because I couldnt eat very much with out getting gas but that only lasted about 4 weeks

Absolutely I had second thoughts - and third, and fourth... and so on! As a matter of fact, if they'd been 10 minutes slower prepping me, I might have backed out!

However, things have been wonderful for me since my surgery. Other than operator error (eating too fast, eating things that were on the list but the pouch didn't care for, getting an intestinal virus), I have had no problems, and healing was easy and minimal pain.

I wish you all my luck!

paranoidmother21 - Hi!
I just read your stats and I have a question.  I too am 5'5" and my goal is 120.  My family says I would be too small at that weight (HA!!  To have THAT be my problem!!!  :) - has anyone told you that you are too small now that you are that size?  Congrats for getting there!!  I have been 140 in the past and just felt it was fine but not where I was 100% comfortable.  Just curious!!

Btw - my surgery is 6/7/11 and I only have regrets that I ever let myself get to the point of needing medical intervention.  I have not regretted my decision once.  In fact, I only wish I did it sooner!!  :)

My family started saying I was too small at 140-ish.

I pretty much consistently lost about 1/2 pound per day for 6 months.  That's incredibly FAST when you think about it, so at about 140 I was very gaunt.  I also stopped losing weight for 3 months, and things eased up and what body fat I still had began to do some redistributing and everyone calmed down. 

Then I dropped another 10 pounds in a month, and even I freaked out.  My nut had me up my fat content slightly, and I stabilized there.  The remaining 10 pounds lost was skin removal - no fat, as my body fat content at that point was 20, which is the athletic range for a woman my age.  However, my body is continuing to redistribute the fat that's left, and people are no longer so scared for me.

That's probably one of the biggest things to reassure your family about: as you lose weight initially, it's the fastest you will ever lose weight and your body responds by trying to keep all the fat stored around your major organs.  Therefore, you get a gaunt face and neck and arms and upper chest, and EVERYONE SEES THAT.  They get scared for you because at times, it really isn't pretty.

Eventually, your body hits a point where it stabilizes, and realizes that you will continue to nouri**** and it lets go of more of the fat stores from around your organs to flesh out the rest of you, and then things are pretty good.

Of course, DH still claims I'm too bony and should put 20 pounds back on, but I'm not going there!

Now, as far a setting a goal weight, have you considered using body fat content instead?  After we've been obese for a while, our bones gain density (and therefore weight) to support our bulk, and then our muscles also need to increase to move everything around.  As a result, our BMI is all skewed in much the same way as a body builder once we begin to lose weight.

If you're fortunate enough to have healthy bones, consider using body fat rather than a scale number or BMI.  At this point, at my weight, I'm at least 10 pounds heavier than a couple friends with the same measurements who wear the same size with the same fit.  It's the bones, even though I have a small frame, they are solid, and that makes a big difference.

I do understand about the regret in letting yourself get to this point - I tell friends to use me as the bad example, and not get to where I was!

My surgery is in 10 days. I am nervous but not doubting my choice. I am keeping busy with gathering my tools, measuring spoons, cups etc. I have my PATS on 6/6. I think it will sink in even more afterwards. Your feelings are normal. What a gift you have chosen to give to yourself! Keep us informed on your progress. Kahwren

Absolutely it is normal to have second thoughts. Actually, my biggest questions came before I scheduled my surgery. I even actually asked my surgeon about how elderly people with WLS do--and whether I would live to an old age if I had surgery. He kind of ****ed his head to the side as if to say, "and do you think you'll live to a ripe old age if you are obese?"

Once the surgery was scheduled I looked forward with relief to finally having had the nerve to do something about my obesity. I did have some nervous moments in the days just before surgery. Would I do it again? Yes, indeed!

Best wishes with your surgery and recovery.

Kate

 My surgery is scheduled for Friday morning.  I had second thoughts and thirds and fourths up until my date was scheduled (Drs office called me on 5/31 with a date of 6/10!!!).  Once I had a a date,  its like all of those second thoughts oddly disappeared.  Sure, I have been super nervous and anxious this week, and I start my liquid diet tomorrow.  I almost feel as if it is a relief to be finally getting to this point.   Its all happened so fast that I haven't had time to freak yet.

All will be well,  just keep in mind the reasons you are having the surgery.  Make a list of the things you are looking forward to doing and NSV's that you hope to have.  This should help.

I know if I didn't go through the surgery I would just continue on this long neverending path of obesity.  Here's to OUR health!  Good luck.  I look forward to reading your post op posts!