DianeH

Hi there-it’s normal to be afraid, it is a major surgery and a permanent change. Might be strange if you weren’t afraid. I went through fear fits right up to getting on the operation table. I dealt with my fear through research as I’m a sciencey kinda gal, but maybe some of these links and facts will help.

fact: for many obese people like you and I, the stats show that we’re highly likely to fail keeping weight off ( if we can lose it at all) without surgery

fact: bariatric surgery is the most successful method of weight reduction in our arsenal today

Fact: while there are risks of complications, laporoscopic bariatric surgery is as safe or safer than many other common surgeries like joint replacements or gallbladder removal

fact: doctors don’t completely understand all the mechanisms but bariatric surgery (aside from the band) can help your body reset to a healthier weight and does not typically reduce your basal metabolic rate as much as if you lost the weight through dieting alone. This is partly due to how it affects your hunger hormones. Keeping your bmr up is an important part of succeeding at weight loss.

Fact: while it may feel barbaric, you and I live at a time where surgery is the best option giving the food-rich environment we’re exposed to constantly, an environment that our bodies did not evolve to deal with. Maybe in 20 years they’ll have less invasive fixes but we need to live our lives now.

Fact: you’re worth it. Hopefully you have a bariatric team behind you reinforcing this. Your team has helped many people through this process and unless they’re all masochists they do it because the see the positive impacts on people’s lives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/health/bariatric-surgery.html

http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/surgery-is-not-the-easy-way-out-a-bariatric-surgeons-perspective

I suspect it also helps to be realistic about the tool. As my nurse put it, I am unlikely to reach a so-called normal BMI (according to the stats) but I will be a healthier weight and much healthier person.

Best of luck,

Diane

My Bougie was a 50 French. My surgeon apparently keeps them on the larger size and leaves the upper part ( anstrum) of the stomach. Too early to tell. I’m only 2 days out and in the painful gurgly gut stage. No nausea today though. Best wishes in your surgery.

Hello there southern ladies. I enjoyed reading this thread tonight, especially given its 2:30 am, I’m 5 days into my liquid diet and I’m wide awake with illicit fantasies of crackers and hummus. I was a little cocky about this phase and it’s kicking my ass. 9 days to go.

Keep on sharing fluffy chic!

THanks for the encouragement chycky

My eating felt pretty in control last few months and 4 days of liquid diet feels like I’m back at Go, do not collect $200, all progress lost.

4 high Protein boost drinks plus .5 c cottage cheese per day. And sugar free liquids, tea, 1 c. broth. Never thought I’d fantasize about vegetables.

Anyone know why we can’t eat low carb vegetables on the pre-op diet? My prescribed diet has 0 fibre and I’m thinking this will not go well.