I am an emotional wreck. As I am closing out my final week at work (my last day is Friday) and preparing myself for surgery on Monday, March 15, I am growing increasingly scared of the operation. I don?t think I am afraid of dying in and of itself; my biggest fear is leaving my daughter without a mother. I am a single mom and I know that no one is going to love and take care of her the way I will. This is the main thing that is really bothering me. I am tearing up thinking about it right now. I love my baby more than anything in this world and now I have been questioning the reasons I am doing this. At first I told myself that I am doing it to add years on to my life and to be around longer for my daughter. To get off of high blood pressure and high cholesterol medications. To be more active with her. Can?t I do all of this without risky surgery? Am I taking the easy way out?

I am just so scared of leaving my daughter motherless I don?t know what to do.

I just wanted to chime in and say you're doing what you need to, to keep yourself here on Earth for your children... you will make it through, I know it! Best to you on Monday! Scared is normal, and so is excited. Here's to your sleeve!

Ladies,

Please trust your decision. Know that you will be so happy post-op. I am three weeks out and wearing clothing that I haven't worn in 3 or 4 years. I move more easily. I'm so much happier. The obsession with food has passed. I am not hungry between meals. I drink tea and Water as I did before surgery. My visit to my surgeon yesterday was perfect. He removed my label of Morbidly Obese.

Have trust in your surgeon. The greatest odds are that you will survive the surgery and flourish and your children will be so much the happier for it. If you do not trust your surgeon, find someone that you do trust. In the week before my surgery I had only calm and delight at the upcoming event because I trusted that I was in the best possible hands and that my surgeon would not let anything happen to me.

Find your peace and hold onto it. Visualize yourself as you would like to see yourself in a month. Down on the floor playing happily with your children perhaps? I am happy to take any PM's if you would like to give over your fears. I will hold them until after your surgery and return them to you afterwards if you want them back.

My mantra preop was "everything always works out for me... everything always works out for me". Visualize the best possible outcome and keep it close to you.

Lee your attitude is so healthy and beautiful. I am happy you are part of this forum and message board. I have alway been fearful of thinking positive...fear that if I felt/thought positive the opposite will happen. I am now trying to understand just where my thinking in such a way originated from. I have read that what we think and/or say about ourselves will manifest. I get so confused I don't know what to believe.