Is it just like being on a forced diet for the rest of my life? 

Will I lose hair in the front of my head and look ridiculous?

Will I be in pain and not have safe pain meds to take especially as I age? 

Will I have more wrinkles and look older when I lose weight?

What if I fail or don't get dumping and eat too much?

What if the op goes wrong and I die or have really bad complications? 

How will I ever fit in socially again and eat out in a restaurant? 

What if I can't afford all the vitamin supplements in the future? 

What if I am weak or get dumping at work and it affects my job? 

12 days till surgery and I am glad I can vent here. No-one knows I am having this surgery except my husband and one friend.  Did anyone have any of these fears pre-op? How did it turn out? 

Thanks. 

No, WLS is a tool to use along with a voluntarily, committed lifestyle change.  Seeing it as a forced diet probably won't work out well.

Your hair should thin at 3 months post-op but not completely fall out.  Ridiculous is a matter of opinion but I've never seen it.

Pain meds vary for different surgery types.  Yes, pain med limitations can become an issue. 

I look much older with my 200+ weight loss.  I see it as a tradeoff for getting a chance for a better, longer life.

If you eat too much, you can gain most if not all the weight back. Revision WLS is an option.

WLS is like taking a giant leap of faith. Complications and death rates related to MO are higher than WLS death rates.

I find social events and eating out in restaurants positive.  I feel better about myself and society, as a whole, views me better, too.

Vitamins supplements cost less than buying junk foods, fast foods, etc. There are lower-cost vitamin varieties if you shop around.

Eating the proper food choices, the proper amount, drinking water, and taking supplements should help prevent weakness on the job.

Dumping usually means making a poor food choice--in other words, it's preventable to happen at work.

Pre-op fears are expected.  Education, research, organization,  and preparation lessens fears. 

There is a high turnout/success rate if you follow the plan.

You are welcome, 12 days til the first day of the rest of your life!

I had so many similar fears but none of them came to fruition.

1.  It is not like a forced diet because when you diet, you have a great desire to eat what you are not supposed to eat but I don't have that strong pull.

2.  I have thin hair already and had a huge fear of losing my hair. I have lost some but it's in an all-over pattern and friends say it is not super noticable.

3.  As to the pain meds, there are no guarantees that anyone will find pain relief but carrying less weight will certainly help.

4.  I am 56 and was worried about looking older but people say I look younger because I am thinner. I definately have a wrinkly body but clothes cover a multitude of sagging skin.

5.  I don't know if I dump but statistics say I probably don't. However, you will be surprised at how your cravings and desires for certain foods change.  You may have some slip ups, but your victories will be overwhelming.

6. Death from surgery is super rare. Death from obesity related diseases are not.

7.  I eat out and restaurants and don't feel like a misfit. I order to accomodate my pouch and take the rest home. No social akwardness at all.

8.  Vitamin supplement cost can easily be covered but the difference in your food budget.

9. You will not be weak. You will have far more energy than you can imagine.  Dumping is a result of too much sugar. You should be able to avoid that during work hours.

Rest your fears!  I waited until I was 55 and that's my only regret.

Hi!  I am 10.5 months post op and feel I can speak to this. I have lost about 117 lbs in 10.5 months. I had much of the same fears as you. I also had PCOS and worried (and still worry) that somehow my messed up hormones would be able to out-do the surgery. People here told me that the surgery really does work and they are right.

Here we go on your questions:

Is it like being on a forced diet for the rest of your life?  Depends on whether you dum*****t. I get sick from sugars. My cousin told me a way to eat around it..but I refuse to tell you. If we are blessed in dumping..we have extra motivation NOT to fall of the wagon. I can eat alot of fat and be ok.  Due to my PCOS I watch carbs. For lunch on friday, I had a bacon cheese burger without the bun (I refuse to give anything to pcos). I was full AND content with 1/4 of the burger. I took the rest home. I ate the same thing as everyone else and was physically happy with amount I had. It did not feel like a forced diet.

Will I lose hair in the front of my head and look ridiculous?_ ARe you already thin in front from high blood pressure meds?  I lost a lot of hair..but it was diffuse and all over.

Will I be in pain and not have safe pain meds to take especially as I age?  I had back surgery. I would be in pain if I did not do my exercises pre-op. Pre-op I could not jog (hurt the damn back too much). Post up-I jog, I run, I go to step, I go to yoga. I dont feel pain. Also..you can be safely prescribed opiates for pain management.

Will I have more wrinkles and look older when I lose weight?- I am 38.  I looked 38 (maybe in 40ish school marm) when obese. People tell me I am "reverse aging" with weight loss. I have observed no wrinkles.

What if I fail or don't get dumping and eat too much- Failure is up to you. Entirely up to you. If you give into head hunger and eat when it is not time it is on you and not the surgeries fault. I would recommend a psychologist to help you through if you are a stress eater and mediation. Also try to find an exercise that negates the anger/fear or stress. For example, I used to be a stress eater. **** happened at work. I had a stern conversation wiht my boss about lack of equibility between different areas/colleagues. The conversation went well but I was STILL ANGRY that this lack of fairness even existed. I tried mediating. STill mad and unfocused. IN a former stress-eating life, I would have just had something crunchy or sweet and ate the anger away.  But I knew I CANT DO THAT ANYMORE. So I put on my jogging shoes and ran like hell for 4 miles. The fastest I have ever ran.  And by 3 miles, the angry fire was gone and I was officially over it.   I had the zen feeling of calm and peace back.

I also burned 638 calories (rather than ingesting 400 needless calories).

On dumping-most people dont dump. "Being good" is going to be up to you.  Whether you dum*****t. My nut ahs patients that are dumpers. They eat the ****puke it up...repeat.  I hope you can see how mental that approach is. Apparently, they cant (or they have a whopping food addiction).

On eating too much-also up to you. Weigh and measure yoru food. At work I have bowls that I know can only hold 1/2 or 1/4 cup (different sized bowls). They fit well into my purse too. I use this religiously (like 2 times a day). I can put food in them without measuring knowing I am not going over. 

Vitamins are always going on sale and the ones you need can be purchased at the groery store. I dont spend a lot on food anymore (about 30 bucks a month). While my vitamins have gone up in cost, I dont mind. For example..I spent 189 bucks for 3 months worht of vitamins.  that is just a tad over 60 bucks a month.   NOw I spend about 30 bucks for food. Previously, it was about 100 bucks a month in food for me pre-op. So now, by the time I buy food and vitamins, I still am ahead by 10 bucks. Nifty.

What is your job?  Are you lifting bending over?  THat could be bad. For the first 3-4 months I would almost pass out in yoga or a few coitus positions.  Then, it passed and I havent had a problem since. It was more like a blood pressure lower body weight adjustment.

ON brain function-i havent had a problem. I even got PROMOTED during the post-op period.  

ON complications-they DO happen but they are rare. You arent your surgeons first rodeo. Your surgery is what he has trained for and has been doing for a very long time before you. He knows what to do and should be able to handle any crisis that happens. But these crises are rare.  Most of us had flawless surgeries.

Ihope this answers everything. It took me 3 tries (over an 8 year period) to get WLS. Yep, I did the 6 months of hell (insurance, psychology, and etc) TWO TIMES before it "took" and I pulled the trigger.  So the 6 months that everyone *****es about..I turned into 18 months!  I know what it is to be scared. I also know what can happen if fear controls you (you may get fatter..that is what happened to me. I also got poorer because I was wasting my disposable income on food and diets that didnt work. I also got sicker as my bad cholestrol, hormones, blood pressure, and triglycerides got WORSE).

If I could go back in time, I would have got the surgery 8 years ago. I wouldnt have let illogical fear ruin my finances, happiness, life, self-confidence and health.

Good luck

1.  I don't find it to be like a "forced diet" -- but I do find it as a drastic lifestyle change.  I have been "forced" to deal with my food issues and to re-examine a lot of things that I thought were important in my life.  The difference is that now my efforts are met with success.

2.  I did lose hair from 3 to 8 months.  It was pretty terrible to me, but I wasn't bald in any one place.  It is growing back now -- and losing hair is much better than being super morbidly obese.

3.  I have found that I have a lot less pain now.  I was big on excederin migraine -- I used to take them at least a few times a week for miserable headaches.  I rarely have pain or headaches now and when I do, Tylenol suffices.  However, this is a legitimate consideration if you already have pain issues.  You should definitely discuss this with your doctor.

4.  People tell me all the time that I look younger. I will say that many people go through a phase in their weight loss (usually near goal) where their face takes on a rather gaunt appearance for a bit.  But, it redistributes and fills out with a bit more time.  

5.  "Failing" is completely up to you.  At 10.75 months out, I really have no idea if I "dump" because I haven't ever tested it.  I would plan to succeed.

6.  What if you continue the way you are and have obesity related complications?  Obesity is a death sentence.  Statistically your 10 year survival rate is much higher with surgery than without.

7.  I don't know how your weight is, so I will use myself as an example.  I often didn't fit in a booth.  I would have to ask for a table -- sometimes claiming it was easier with my son.  I needed a seat belt extension when I rode on a plane.  I couldn't ride roller coasters with my son.  That is literally NOT fitting in socially.  However, to answer your question simply: yes, you will fit in socially and be able to eat in restaurants.  However, you may just find that eating in a restaurant will no longer be your concern but rather spending time with people you enjoy is.  

8.  There are a lot of inexpensive ways to buy your supplements.  Additionally, there are several financial assistance programs for post-bariatric surgery patients.

9.  Of course, I can't promise you anything, but I have never had my surgery affect my job.  And, if you follow your plan, you are very unlikely to "dump."  

We have all had these fears.  Now my biggest fear is being obese again.  Surgery was the greatest gift I ever gave myself and the people I love.

my biggest fear is being obese again too. I just packed up some 2X sweaters and thought "I dont want to go back. I dont ever want to go back. God, dont ever let me go back"

I have sold every size from 28/30 down on eBay.  I confess that I used to be afraid to get rid of the clothes -- I mean, I've always gone back eventually.  But selling them (made me a lot of extra cash!) and was cathartic. 

I actually have nightmares that I am suddenly obese again.  They're awful

Damn. I should have done that. I have some size 14 ralph laurens

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so grateful for your replies. I can't express enough how much relief I feel lol.  I think I am just questioning the extreme degrees of things that can happen and asking myself if I am prepared for any event.  I feel a bit silly but if I hadn't raised them I think I would feel I didn't prepare mentally enough.  I had this crazy idea that a lot of foods would cause dumping not just sugary or fatty foods. I have a few days off work so I am going to do all my pre op shopping read up heaps and get a heap of recipes ready.  I do work in a sometimes physically challenging job where I may be required to restrain so passing out would not be good lol.  Makes sense to take care of myself with correct nutrition. :) 

It IS extreme.

But if diet and exercise REALLY worked, and one got results on par with the effort that one put in, one wouldn't need surgery and we all would be skinny.

In my case, my endo literally admitted to it being "hormones"  Funny, when I was MO and blamed my weight on hormones, everyone would raise an eye. But apparently MD's can use the "hormone" card whenever they want.

Anyway, if diet and exercise really worked well for everyone, WLS wouldn't even have been invented.

So..you are MO..which is an extreme condition. And for every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction (i.e. weight loss surgery to right/aid in correction of obesity).

So go have that surgery and USE THE TOOL.

You will be amazed at how much better a PROPER DIET and exercise work after surgery. One actually gets results on par with the effort put in.