A handful of hours away from surgery..
 

My surgery is tomorrow at 6 am. It's currently 8pm and I know I should be asleep as I will be getting up at 4 am to shower and to make it to the hospital on time. However; I can't sleep. My nerves are haywire.. Nausea has become me and I keep looking at my son and asking myself, "Is this the right choice?" I'm doing it for him, but I fear the risk of death from the surgery more than words can describe. At this point, I'm trying to remind myself that it will be okay, and I have an excellent surgeon, but I'm just so shaken. Did this happen with any of my fellow WLS chicks? My therapist keeps telling me it's normal, but I guess I'd rather hear it from a post-op WLS patient. Sorry it's so last minute, and thank you for any responses.:^::?:

I was a terrified mess up until I was in the operating room. The only thing that helped me was thinking "I'm in control, I can stop this any time". Honestly, I was a huge mess the day before surgery. I was having panic attacks, crying, the whole ball of wax. I had to travel 200 miles to the hospital, stay overnight by myself in a hotel, and then go to the hospital the morning of my surgery by myself. My sister met me there, thankfully, and that helped me. Do you have people there with you, and someone to go with you to the hospital?

My mother and my fiance are with me. I'm in the hospital bed as I type this. I'm still in tears, and still scared more than words can describe. I don't think it would be as hard if I didn't have a child to think about. But I'm here.. And I'm trying to get through this as calmly as possible. Thank you for responding to my post. =)

waiting to hear how it went - and what you were thinking is COMPLETELY normal. i hope the anesthesiologist showed up and gave you something to help you calm down.

hugs!!!!!

Thinking well-wishes and warm supportive thoughts for you this morning, Momma. :hug:

Good thoughts going your way--feel better soon!

sending love and support! I get the feeling, but it will all be done and beginning your new life by now! :hug:

Angela

Here's to a gentle recovery ((((HUGS))))

Thank you everyone! My surgery was over at 12:30pm and I've been spending a lot of time sleeping. I'm in a good amount of pain, but it's not intolerable. I've opted not to take anymore morphine because of the intense nausea, however I am taking another pain medicine and an anti-nausea medication. I can't say I'm happy with my decision at this point in time because I feel like I got hit by a truck, haha, but I'm sure I will be very happy with my decision in the long run. I really appreciate the support everyone's given me. It helped me to realize that I'd be okay, despite what my anxiety kept telling me. Thank you all very much again!

hurray! Glad it all come out ok. hehehe Now just heal, sip sip sip and get to walkin as soon as the dr. gives you the go-ahead. There is the key! Do exactly what your dr. and support staff tell you. Come here often...ask questions...help other people with what ever experience you have.

Happy, Healthy Recovery!

Angela :hug:

Yay-glad to hear it went well! I'll be in your shoes in 2 weeks and very much understood your pre-surgery anxiety! Check back in soon!

Thank you! I intend to stick around and answer other people's questions who are as fearful as I was. And as always, I'll definitely be needing support from my fellow Chickies. Juliemarie, I know you were nervous about having the surgery because of your daughter.. And I was very nervous about having it because I didn't want to leave my son behind. I cried to my nurses in the OR and they were all so understanding and supportive. They will help calm you down and remind you that you're doing this FOR your baby. And now that I have gone through it, I feel confident in telling you.. It will be okay! Especially if you carefully picked your hospital/surgeon. I wish you the best of luck and we can both be excited about the results together!

BigM - these next few days will be the toughest - but you CAN and WILL get through them. and please give yourself a chance to heal - it takes energy, and you will be tired. this too shall pass.

glad you came through with flying colors!!!

I agree with Jiffy. The first week or so are pretty sucky, but from there it's easier every day.

I'm definitely feeling it. =( My surgeon came in to check on me about an hour ago and he was pushing the liquids and walking. I'm dizzy, exhausted and nauseous, but I'm trying to just suck it up and make it through this without much whining. I'm lucky to have my fiance by my side, and they let him spend the night with me so he has been helping me out. I just wish I could get comfortable and have the pain stop for a while. =(

hang tough. you're healing - and it takes time. and thank goodness you have your laptop with you!!!! oh. and the fiance, too. LOL!

You will notice a great difference in feeling better at about 2 weeks out. Don't worry about the food, just make sure you stay hydrated. Sip sip sip your water and walk walk walk

Oh goodness! Two weeks? I was hoping it would only take two days. Haha. Ughh, well as I sit here sipping my broth and water, I'll keep thinking about the road ahead and what a positive outcome this surgery will have.

Good! focus on the positive! The two weeks will crawl, just do the "one day at a time" thing and it will get there (sometimes its one moment at a time), and after that, things start flying!

Thank you! I'm so appreciative for the outpouring of support. I had a lot of people (like family) tell me how "stupid" my decision was and to be able to come to the computer and get support from people who don't even need to know me makes me feel like I made a good choice, and perhaps the family members who showed no support are just closed minded or miserable in their own lives. Thank you all so much for going through this tough time with me! <3 I definitely needed and NEED it!

Most likely you are weak and dizzy because you just had surgery. But in the next few weeks, watch your salt intake. It was the only real problem I had right after surgery, I was getting very dizzy and weak....it was a lack of sodium and potassium. And still, if I don't get enough salt, my body doesn't retain my potassium and I get dizzy and weak. Even almost 3 years out. I saw that you are sipping broth, Good! Maybe you could talk to your NUT or dr. about the salt content of the broth. After I switched to using salted boullion with my chicken broth, I stopped being dizzy. Just sayin'.....

Of course, consult your dr. first!

Angela

Wow Mommy, sorry to hear you encountered some hateful people in regards to the weight loss surgery! That can be very difficult. My mom and my sister were both very much against my surgery at first, but they came around. My mom worked with a lady who had gastric bypass and she saw what a difference it made for her. I still dont think my sister fully realized how much I needed the surgery until she was there in the hospital with me. After fully understanding how much I really do weigh and how hard it is for me to do things, she got on board. Either that or she has decided to keep her mouth shut! :lol: Either way, I'm happy! ;)

I'm hoping what you'll find after all of this is people becoming more educated about the surgery and therefore becoming more tolerant and understanding. Or, at least if they see how hard you are trying and what a journey this is for you, maybe they will at least cut the negativity! :crossed: I find that a lot of people are uneducated (case in point: my boyfriend's cousin asking me a week after surgery if I was up to eating a cup of food yet! :yikes:) and that sometimes it just takes someone like you to open their eyes.

Whatever the case may be, 3FC is a great community and I'm glad you're reaping the benefits from it already. I've been a member for a few years but just recently came back after a 3-year hiatus, lol, and its just as supportive and wonderful as it always was.

:wel3fc:

angela - how did i miss that you had problems with your sodium and potassium? wow. glad it's figured out though - you might be the ONE PERSON in the world who HAS TO HAVE salt!! lucky you [i think].

BigM - given that your family and friends have said that your decision was 'stupid,' i gotta give you a heads up about relationships. They change after surgery. and not always for the better. You will be dealing with food differently, and that can change how you deal with people [ever been so angry with someone that you ATE so that you wouldn't yell at them? well - you won't be able to do that any more!].

your goal: live a healthier life. if that means that you express your anger [for example], instead of literally swallowing it, then so be it. just be aware of what's going on. this is one of those issues that drives many of us into counseling.