Anyone else get scared to death after they had their pre op appointment? I had mine today and had a panic attack on the way home. I have been going through this process over 6 months now but I got really scared after my doctor had me sign all those papers about the complications. I knew what they were but having him read them to me and sign my name on the bottom made it really scary. I didn't realize severe depression can be a complication and acid reflux will be something I will have to live with. Also didn't realize 1 in 1,000 people die from this surgery! I am thinking of canceling my surgery. Anyone else feel this way before surgery?

Anyone else get scared to death after they had their pre op appointment? I had mine today and had a panic attack on the way home. I have been going through this process over 6 months now but I got really scared after my doctor had me sign all those papers about the complications. I knew what they were but having him read them to me and sign my name on the bottom made it really scary. I didn't realize severe depression can be a complication and acid reflux will be something I will have to live with. Also didn't realize 1 in 1' date='000 people die from this surgery! I am thinking of canceling my surgery. Anyone else feel this way before surgery?[/quote']

Having the surgery a week ago I can relate to your fears. I working on a post op medical floor, i see all the checks and rechecks we make as a hospital for patient safety. I think there are much more dangerous things we encounter these days than having elective surgery ... Like crossing a busy street. Praying for you.

Did you know that violent crime in the U.S. is down for the fifth year in a row? http://www.npr.org/b...h-year-fbi-says

All we hear about and remember in life are the outliers, the horror stories. The statistics on surgery complications paint a different picture: http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/17981515:

Complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Lalor PF, Tucker ON, Szomstein S, Rosenthal RJ.

Source Bariatric Institute and Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, Florida, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has recently become a feasible option in the management of morbid obesity. The objective of this study was to examine the morbidity and mortality arising from LSG as a primary procedure for weight loss.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 164 patients who underwent LSG from 2004 to 2007. Patients underwent LSG as a primary procedure or as revisional bariatric surgery. The short-term morbidity and mortality were examined.

RESULTS:

One-stage LSG was performed in 148 patients. The major complication rate was 2.9% (4 of 149), including 1 leak (0.7%) and 1 case of hemorrhage (0.7%)-each requiring reoperation-1 case of postoperative abscess (0.7%), and 1 case of sleeve stricture that required endoscopic dilation (0.7%). One late complication of choledocholithiasis and bile duct stricture required a Whipple procedure. LSG was used as revisional surgery in 16 patients (9%); of these, 13 underwent LSG after complications related to laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, 1 underwent LSG after aborted laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 2 underwent LSG after failed jejunoileal bypass. One of these patients developed a leak and an abscess (7.1%) requiring reoperation. One case was aborted, and 2 cases were converted to an open procedure secondary to dense adhesions. No patient died in either group. All but 3 cases were completed laparoscopically (98%).

CONCLUSION:

LSG is a relatively safe surgical option for weight loss as a primary procedure and as a primary step before a secondary nonbariatric procedure in high-risk patients.

Having the surgery a week ago I can relate to your fears. I working on a post op medical floor' date=' i see all the checks and rechecks we make as a hospital for patient safety. I think there are much more dangerous things we encounter these days than having elective surgery ... Like crossing a busy street. Praying for you.[/quote']

While I know your fears are 100 % real to you, they may not telling you the truth. All the best.

To be honest, I didn't put much thought into being terrified. I was very nervous the day of surgery. But only because it's a HUGE lifestyle change. My mom has had several surgeries by my surgeon so I was very confident in his abilities. I knew if I thought too much about it, I'd talk myself out of it. So I kept myself busy with my daughter and my school work as the days drew nearer. I had so much to get done in preparation, that I didn't hardly think of it as a big deal. I'm 5 days post op and I admit that it's VERY trying to stick with the full liquid diet. I've so far lost over 16 lbs since my pre op appt 2 weeks ago. It's totally worth the lack of food, seeing that scale drop. I'm hoping by next week I'll be back under 300! Good luck, darling... You'll do great!