Hey everyone, so I got my insurance approval last week and am waiting to hear when my surgery will be. I literally just spent the majority of the day on this site, reading posts and information. I went from being excited, to anxious, to dreading, and back again. Can anyone offer any words of advice to get someone through the first couple of weeks? I know there is going to be a lot that I have to deal with (learning new ways of thinking and eating and coping and life!) I need to just take a step back and deal with it one step at a time. What did people find useful in the beginning?

I was on the same boat as you just last week lol I'm 4 days out now and I'm glad I did it. It helps to keep in mind the longer, healthier, happier life that will be ahead once you have your surgery. The night before I couldn't sleep, I was freaking out and scared, but then I kept thinking to myself how much better everything will be after. If you keep that in mind, you will do just fine and you will be fine. (You must also follow whatever plan the doctor tells you to follow, it helps, BIG time.) Stay optimistic!

I totally agree. You will worry yourself sick the night before but after its over, you will be like "thats it?" Take it one day at a time and you will learn the new eating habits as you go along. You wont even be in that much of a hurry. The time will pass and you will be back to regular food in no time at all. Take it easy, slow and steady wins the race!

Start making changes now before surgery is my number one advice. Chewing your food well before you go on your liquid pre-diet, quit your coffee and all carbonated beverages now, watch your carbs from now until your pre-diet. Don't drink with meals, wait 1/2 hour after meals. Practice these things. Practice getting 64 ounces of Water in.

If you are going to have a "last meal" don't do it the day before your pre-op shake. Start working in getting a Protein shake in for Breakfast, a light lunch (perhaps cheese, tuna and then a sensible dinner. Learn to eat your protein first, your vegetables second and your carbs third.

The more carbs you eat the more carbs you crave and the harder it will be to do the pre-op shakes. Going off caffeine and carbonation during the pre-op phase is horrible, so do it first.

Spend less time worrying about surgery and more time giving yourself positive affirmations, that you can do this, you are worth it. Write a list of all the reasons you are doing it. Tell yourself if you are going to do this you are going to put 100% effort into it.

Remember no matter what, each day is better than the day before. Also remember that the sleeve is only a tool. It is YOU that controls the tool and you are not going into this surgery lightly and you will be able to be in control.

The more times you say, you don't think you can do something, the less likely you will be able to do it, so learn to stop the negative thinking.

Go into surgery with a smile on your face and a positive attitude and it makes coming out of surgery a more positive experience.

Know that after surgery you will most likely weigh a few pounds more than the day you had surgery. It's normal. Stall's happen, keep eating right and the stall will break and you will eventually lose. When stall's happen measure yourself.

Good luck and best wishes to you.

Thank you for your posts! The majority of my anxiety comes from the fact that I've had some major health scares/complications in the last few years. Super long story, but basically I had a complicated pregnancy (blood pressure issues, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia post delivery) followed by a gallbladder surgery 4 months later (surgery itself went okay, but had to have several endoscopic procedures from lingering pain-diagnosed with sphincter of odi disorder) Moral of the story is I feel like i'm cursed with medical procedures, and I don't want a leak or worse! But you are right, I need to stay focused and positive. I want to better my life for myself as well as my family! One day at a time.......