Question:
What can i do to minimize the nervousness that i feel towards my surgery.
I am constantly thinking about it, to the point where i am losing sleep. Is this normal are am i losing my mind. Any advice to help me cope with this would be greatly appreciated. Also please say a prayer for me Surgery date 10\16\2006. Thanks Spunky — spunkygal (posted on September 30, 2006)
September 30, 2006
I can only offer my personal experience. I will also pray for you. I was
nervous about the surgery. I remember the day of surgery, I was crying so
hard my surgeon said, "if you want to back out that is OK". Of
course I was determined but petrified. Some wonderful nurse anesthetist
gave me some antianxiety medication IV which the anesthetist said would be
available should I ask. Although I never asked, I remember thinking how
stupid I was to not have asked. The medication made me so calm-which I
needed. Anyway, I guess if I could go back and do it all over, I would ask
my doctor to give me something for my nerves. Take it for what its worth,
free advice.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 30, 2006
Hi Spunky,, Yeah i will pray for you... You really should speak to your
Dr.... you can get something ot help with your nreves & anxiety... do
not WAIT any longer i was on medication to help me relax & it just
took the edge off.... not made me sleepy.... so please call your Primary
Dr.......chat soon
— babs810
September 30, 2006
Hi Spunky! I can honestly say that I was not nervous until the morning of
surgery. I was excited! I had 3 weeks between approval date and surgery so
I stayed upbeat and busy getting things ready. My surgery was just 11 days
ago on 09/19/06. I'm still on liquids. Popsicles and chicken broth are my
friends! Just keep your mind on getting your house ready for when you are
recuperating, or getting some meals cooked for your family and freezing
them. Just stay busy and hopefully it will help calm you down some. Will
pray for you on 10-16. You'll do great, girl!
— Teresa K.
September 30, 2006
i had my doen on sept 11th, I was so upset that my BP was 165/108 I was so
scared, but I had waited so long for the surgery that i was not going to
back out. They gave me medication to calm me down. I went back to surgery
and the next thing I knew I was out. I will pray for you . Just remember
how bad you want this surgery.
— adelpha23marke
September 30, 2006
Congratulations Spunky! No you are not loosing your mind. I also go in on
the 16th of Oct. But so far I am very relaxed about the whole thing. Just
maybe try to concentrate on getting everything ready for the hospital, and
getting your household all in order to hopefully run smoother once you get
home. Get all your shopping done, things like that. Or, do as I do, talk on
the phone a lot. Just keep remembering why we're doing this. But yes, if
the anxiety doesn't subside any, then by all means discuss this with your
Dr. Best of luck, and I wish you the most comfortable and speedy recovery!
Jean
— Jean N.
September 30, 2006
SORRY U ARE IN MY PRAYERS......BUT THERE IS NO SPECIAL WORDS TO EASE UR
FEARS..........IT IS SCARY ........BUT JUST THINK ABOUT ALL THE POSITIVE
STUFF THAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE U DO........ULL FEEL AND LOOK LIKE A NEW
U.....HOPE ALL GOES WELL..........
— MIKI4
September 30, 2006
My answer on both counts is yes. It is very "normal" to lose your
mind a bit before ANY major surgery. I did. The thing that got me through
the sometimes sleepless nights was to write. Write poetry. Write down your
feelings. Draw out how you feel. You don't have to be an artist. Get your
feelings out there. Distract yourself. Your friends are always there for
you on ObesityHelp.com if you need some encouragement. They helped me
through my surgery and beyond. You can also try to connect with someone
else who has the same doctor or hospital. I met my closest friend, Kelley,
because of ObesityHelp.com. We had a very special bond and decided that we
would just write a silly book about the many reasons to have the surgery. I
can't even mention some here! We wrote it for us and it worked. She helped
me through and then 6 weeks later was her turn. The trick is of course...
to remember where you left your marbles after your surgery is done. I am
still searching for mine! but being a bit wacky never hurt anyone.....
:o) Jeanne Bashore
— mrs.qtip
September 30, 2006
PS, Spunky, My Best Wishes to you and I too will pray for you and for your
speedy recovery.
Also, make sure your computer is near your bed so you can
"talk" to your buddies after the surgery. (Helpful note: You may
want to bring a long handled spoon and baby wipes. It gets embarrassing
asking the nurse for potty duty all the time!)
Oh yeah, my friend Kelley felt so great after her surgery that she kept
insisting that they did nothing! She kept asking the surgeon if he really
did something. She was discharged after only a couple days. Not until her
pounds began to melt away was she convinced that they did the surgery.
— mrs.qtip
September 30, 2006
Hey I know how you feel my surgery is Oct 6 and I take a nerve pill already
and its not helping me I am so grateful to get the surgery but it seems
that all I can do is cry cry cry I think i am just worried about any
complications but I keep telling myself at the same time very thing is
going to be alright but i just keep crying ,,, I am glad to know i am not
the only one
— brandy3333
October 1, 2006
As a nurse, I was fine until the day of surgery, too. (I had surgery 9/5)I
knew all the risks and possible outcomes of surgery. But I also knew what
my life would be if I didn't have the surgery. No, you're not losing your
mind, but maybe writing down your fears and concerns about the surgery
would help. I find it helpful to get those feelings out. If you've seen a
psychologist in preparation, call him/her and see if there are any
suggestions.
I, too will pray for you. Its a lifesaving procedure; you won't regret it!
Glenda
— gtali1954
October 1, 2006
For what it is worth, I lose sleep thinking about anything that is
exciting! Losing weight is well worth it. Will keep you in my prayers.
Julia
— Julia W.
October 1, 2006
My faith is what sustained me. I kept telling myself if I didn't wake up in
the recovery room, I would be in heaven. And I've always heard near death
experiences in that they didn't want to leave, but were compelled to leave
and come back to their bodies.
I know this sounds to some people to be crazy. but it worked for me, to
keep me from being anxious. If its not your time to go, you will be back
with us.
— geneswife
October 1, 2006
I can SO relate to this! I was excited and absolutely petrified at the
same time. "what if it doesn't work, then what?", "what if
there are complications?" -- but you know what? YOU'LL BE FINE! It
WILL work. I'm 4 yrs out in December and I think all of us posties can
relate to the feeling of waking up from surgery and being handed 10ccs of
water in a medicine cup, drinking it and getting full and then breaking
down in tears, saying, "Oh my god what have I done!" But, again
- believe me, YOU WILL BE FINE! It WILL work. You WON'T have
compications. Stay positive -- remember, a lot of recovery is your
attitude. If you are bound and determined that you will be the sick one,
will be; If you keep telling yoursel that you will be the one who never
loses weight, you won't lose weight. It's normal to be nervous. Harness
that energy and use it elsewhere - talk to others that haven't gotten as
far in their WLS journey.
Trust me, you'll be GREAT.
— debih001
October 1, 2006
Hi Spunky,
Please don't fret..everything will be fine. I had my surgery in 08/03 and
boy was I nervous...but excited at the same time..We had the pleasure of
staying up at a hotel the night before surgery, it was set up because the
hospital was an hour away, that was a wonderful help.the hardest thing was
to say good bye to my boys.but i do not regret this choice that i had
made.Breathe, breathe, that is the best thing i can say to do, relax and
imagine yourself on the other side.it will be so worth it.you will sit back
and giggle about your nervousness...I will be thinking about you on the
16th and wish you the best.feel free to email me at [email protected] if
you need to.
Crystal Yeast
— lippyblonde2000
October 2, 2006
ou are prfectly normal! Just try to keep busy and not think about it.
Exercise so that you are tired at night.
— Novashannon
October 3, 2006
Spunky you are perfectly normal. Everyone gets excited, nervous and
fixated on the surgery once they committ to it....The way I helped myself
was to get on obesityhelp and other websites and talk to people who have
had the surgery...I even spoke to people who had difficulty with their
recovery and found out they would do it again....wow! I looked at before
and after pictures...etc..... My prayers are with you..
Rawnie
7/11/06 RNY 72 lbs down !!!!!
— southernnmdreamer
October 5, 2006
My surgery date is the same day and trust me I know what you are talking
about!!!!! I have asked work to give me any project possible so my mind
wont stray. Also all the hard work I did to quit smoking and my nerves are
really testing me hard!! Best thing I have found to quiet the mental
chatter is to meditate. Go to Barnes and Noble or somewhere else and buy a
guided meditation cd that should help.
— nitabean
October 8, 2006
Spunky..
My VSG is scheduled for 10/25. I am very nervous and scared also but I
believe we will be fine, look at all the people that have been through it.
Good Luck on the 16th
Laura
— florida16
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