xmaleengyx

Thank you. Your words have helped tremendously. I do feel a lot better and more excited for my new healthy life than scared. I used to be a health freak but like most people I've read here,its just been temporary phases in my life. I finally found my soul mate 2 years ago and we've become so comfortable with each other that I have just let myself go. I am at the heaviest I've ever been at 235 and I do not recognize myself in the mirror anymore. I want to take my life back and finally reach my goals and be pain free.I am tired of the 1 step forward, 2 steps back....I want to finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you again for your advice and knowledge

I felt that way when I went to do my endoscopy. If my mom and 8 year old brother weren't beside me, I would have pulled the iv out and ran. I did However still make a scene bc after waiting hours waiting to be rolled into the o.R., I could no longer keep my anxiety and nerves in check. I began to cry and it was embarrassing...I'm 25 years old. Lol. My surgery is scheduled for the first week in February and my biggest concern and fear Is the surgery and making it to the Operating Room. I don't know if it's possible to not have to wait so long before they roll you in and if they can knock me out before the roll me in. Something about being rolled down the hall into an open white operating room just terrifies me and I physically can't handle it. I suffer from anxiety and I will not be able to take my medication that morning so that's my biggest issue right now..

I felt that way when I went to do my endoscopy. If my mom and 8 year old brother weren't beside me, I would have pulled the iv out and ran. I did However still make a scene bc after waiting hours waiting to be rolled into the o.R., I could no longer keep my anxiety and nerves in check. I began to cry and it was embarrassing...I'm 25 years old. Lol. My surgery is scheduled for the first week in February and my biggest concern and fear Is the surgery and making it to the Operating Room. I don't know if it's possible to not have to wait so long before they roll you in and if they can knock me out before the roll me in. Something about being rolled down the hall into an open white operating room just terrifies me and I physically can't handle it. I suffer from anxiety and I will not be able to take my medication that morning so that's my biggest issue right now..

Thank you. Your words have helped tremendously. I do feel a lot better and more excited for my new healthy life than scared. I used to be a health freak but like most people I've read here,its just been temporary phases in my life. I finally found my soul mate 2 years ago and we've become so comfortable with each other that I have just let myself go. I am at the heaviest I've ever been at 235 and I do not recognize myself in the mirror anymore. I want to take my life back and finally reach my goals and be pain free.I am tired of the 1 step forward, 2 steps back....I want to finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you again for your advice and knowledge

Thank you all! In regards to the Bachelorette parties, you're right, I need to focus on the positives...like Im going to look good in all the pictures and not have to worry about approving all pictures people post of me or having to tell them to take them down!lol....does anyone else do this??
When I think about saying goodbye to my comfort buddy (food), it does make me sad. But in oNE of the responses,I read that food only satisfies you temporarily, but that weight gone is forever!! I LOVE that and it has made a difference in my mindset. As well as thinking about all the things I'll be able to do that I can't now.
Thank you all truly. I am glad I downloaded this app last night. Looks like it was right at the moment I needed it.

Jules,
My earlier post was in response to your post (at #43 above), in which you seemed to be saying that you think a likely (not possible, but likely) outcome of WLS was that you will die (referencing your anecdote about your friend’s mom who died of WLS).
In your post #43 above, you also expressed that you didn’t think you needed WLS at this point because you are able to work and support your family, because you have a successful sex life, and because you’re not like the “very large woman” who could barely walk into your doctor’s lobby and who looked “defeated.”
My earlier post was to express that my view of WLS is different from yours. You expressed your view. I expressed mine. No more complicated than that.
You then asked what my reasons were for choosing WLS.
I chose WLS when I weighed 235 pounds (I’m a 5’5” 69-year-old woman) because I wanted to regain the physical health and vibrancy I had when I was younger, but no longer felt. I chose WLS because I want to have a happy, active retirement with my beloved husband. I chose WLS because I want to stave off knee replacement surgery for several more years (like most older people I have arthritis). I chose WLS because I look a lot hotter at 169 pounds than I did at 235 pounds and I will look even hotter at 150 pounds. I chose WLS because at my age I didn’t have the confidence that I could lose the amount of weight I needed to lose to become healthy again. But most of all, I chose WLS because I have lost and gained and lost and gained hundreds of pounds during my lifetime, but never been able to keep it off—and I have a strong hope that I will be among the 50% of people who have WLS who retain all or most of their weight lost via WLS. And that 50% chance to remain normal-sized for the rest of my life is one helluva better chance to lick that lifelong problem I’ve fought tooth and nail than through diet and exercise alone.
You have every right to make your own decisions and to regard WLS in any ways that make sense to you.
And I have every right to counter your observation that WLS is only for “defeated” people who can barely walk, who don’t have good sex lives, who can’t work or support their families, or whose health puts them in grave danger of dying from WLS surgery.
I wish the very best to you. I truly hope that all your dreams come true. I hope mine do, too.

@@xmaleengyx
I can drink socially now a year out... Just be aware that it hits you much more quickly so be careful and it's not something you want to do on a regular basis. Also I can now eat anything anyone else eats, just way less. It is more than worth the effort of surgery, recovery, adjusted eating, Vitamins, etc etc etc.... I know some people do have aversions to certain foods post op, but they make it work by discovering new options. The only regrets I have ever seen are those with complications and even then further out most say they would still do it all over again. You can always set a date and if you aren't absolutely certain when it rolls around, cancel or postpone it. If you have the opportunity to set a date, take it! Others on here would mame and kill for your opportunity to be that close lol
As far as a catheter goes I never had one, and I believe it isn't common practice. If they do it goes in while you are under and it is uncomfortable to remove but because they want you up and walking very soon after surgery the likelihood of needing one is next to zero.. They only do them for those who are unable to get up to use the washroom with or without help.
The first week of recovery sucks, expect that. As long as you did your research on your doctor, trust your team. VSG they parallel to having your gall bladder removed, same stats ish lol...

@xmaleengyx Hopefully as it gets closer your anxiety will ease up, taking control of your health is so much more important. You will still be able to enjoy the bachelorette parties and make memories if you do not drink. You can even volunteer to be a designated driver if one is needed, otherwise you'll be the person with the steadiest pics and who will have the clearest memory to be able to poke at other later. Focus on the positive! The memories are more about being together and having a good time with your closest people than getting sloshed together. I have no clue what or how much people drank at my bachelorette party, I don't even think about that part, I've never thought about the drinking once, I just remember we had fun and getting drunk wasn't the catalyst to the fun. Becoming a healthier and better you is what is most important. =) You have plenty of life left to live, it'll be a blink of an eye and you'll be able to do the things you enjoy again.

Don't beat yourself up too much. I backed out when I started to make my 1st dr. appointment. It took another month before I realized my life was only going to get worse if I didn't go through with WLS and I just made up my mind to do whatever I had to do to get through WLS.
When making a big decision like this, I ask myself:
1) Do I want to be in this same situation or worse a year from now?
2) Is the pain of staying in this situation worse than the pain of the change I need to make?
So far, answering those 2 questions have given me the clarity I needed to make any major decision.

@@Elode
Thank you for your reply. I feel like that is going to be me in the hospital lol. Also, I too aam tired of the vicious cycle. My whole life has been a diet.I just wish they would let me take my anxiety pills before arriving at the hospital.