Has everyone been at the stage I am at right now? Gone thru the process and waiting for approval and wondering if this actually is the right thing to do? Part of me wants to give the natural way of loosing weight exercise and diets(which we all know never work) yet another shot. Is this a natural feeling?

I was there nearly 10 years ago. It's totally normal. For me, however, I was signed up for gastric bypass at an army hospital. I went through all the requirements, and decided I was uncomfortable with the surgeon and the facility and the procedure was too much change to my body and ultimately decided not to do it. I was in my mid twenties. I know now that at that time, I wasn't ready to make the changes that would have been required. I'm really glad I made the decision to step back at the time, because I believe I would not have taken it seriously enough to make it a life change, and I now have the option of the sleeve which I am MUCH more comfortable with than bypass. I'm now 36 and I know the difference between being ready and not. This time I went through all of the requirements that I had control over and didn't have to wait on someone else to schedule or submit within 7 days of calling for my first consultation appointment (I'm self-pay, so that's easier than if you have to wait on insurance...)

No one can make the decision of whether or not you are ready but you, but either way, a certain amount of questioning is completely normal and appropriate. This is an enormous life change. There will be a lot of emotion that comes with it. My nerves this time are more like excitement butterflies, like what I feel the first time I am about to start a race on a course I've never been on before or step up to a longer distance (can I really do this?), where last time, it was an underlying knowledge that I wasn't ready for the change. If you need help sorting out what you're feeling, I would seriously consider consulting a therapist a couple times to talk through it. A therapist is unlikely to tell you whether you are ready or not to commit to the work and changes that will be required, but they'll be able to help you examine what you're feeling and what it might mean.

Rest assured, what you're feeling is totally appropriate. I would be more worried about it if you weren't at least a little nervous about the changes that are coming. And don't forget, you have time. You can try a diet while you wait for approval and you could delay your surgery for a little while to give yourself a little more time to figure it out.

Best of luck as you consider the right thing for you,

dd

As you know, I'm sure; this is a lifelong change you're going to do to yourself. It means surgery, pain, re-learning how to eat and keeping with it for the rest of your life. It will be hard, there will be massive challenges. If you're not 100 percent ready, don't do it. Wait until you are.

It's normal to be anxious. To have the thought: OMG what the h*** am I about to do to myself, little moments. I'm there right now. Lol. But I am 100 percent sure I want and need this. That I'm making the right choice.

Good luck!

I thought I knew everything I needed to know before surgery. Then I had it 4 days ago and it has been way way way more difficult than expected. I'm hoping it gets better by the day.

Based on the posts I've read so far, it seems like day 6-ish is when people start to feel human again and stop feeling so hammered by the shock and awe of the whole thing... Hang in there!

Hope it gets easier!

dd

Shock & awe. Perfect description.

I was scared and had a lot of second thoughts prior to surgery. I prepared myself for the worst in my mind and the first few days were pretty rough, but not impossible. I feel very fortunate, but honestly...for me the experience has not been that big of a deal. Very little pain post op, no real hunger, etc. I'm on week 4 of post op liquid diet... which is long, but it's not hard. I did have a LOT of nausea and vomiting the first few days after surgery but the worst part of this experience so far has actually been the anxiety and fear prior to surgery. There are risks, but not as many as some websites report. Take a deep breath, do your research, mentally prepare, choose a great surgeon and embrace the change. You can do this!!