This week I completed my last pre-op appointment, and am now just waiting to hear from my surgeons office to schedule if I am approved by the surgeon. I'm self pay, but still had to complete a waiting period and a lot of pre-op appointments. I'm very excited but am also starting to get nervous! Up until now there were so many things I had to do, but now I'm just waiting to schedule a date. I find myself doubting I will lose the weight, or I'll be disappointed in my results. Totally unfounded thoughts, but they are still finding their way in to my head. How did you deal with the stress, nervousness, doubt?!

Hey there,

Just know that most of us on here have had times of doubt before going through the surgery. I think that is just a normal human response to this type of thing.

Of course I am not a physician, but I can pretty much tell you for a fact that you WILL lose weight! Now this is not magic and the surgery alone can only help you to a certain point. You must go in with the knowledge that this will take more than surgery to lose and keep the weight off. Know that you will need to eat as your dr and nut suggest, exercise and address the issues that got you to where you are today.

Yes it is scary to walk into a hospital with nothing wrong with you and wake up a few hours later not feeling so hot, but I can tell you that once you start seeing changes in your body, you will know that you have done something good for yourself!

Hoping your journey is a good one! Make up your mind to follow your drs and nuts advice, try not to cheat and realize that every day you will get closer to your goal! YOU can do this!

This week I completed my last pre-op appointment, and am now just waiting to hear from my surgeons office to schedule if I am approved by the surgeon. I'm self pay, but still had to complete a waiting period and a lot of pre-op appointments. I'm very excited but am also starting to get nervous! Up until now there were so many things I had to do, but now I'm just waiting to schedule a date. I find myself doubting I will lose the weight, or I'll be disappointed in my results. Totally unfounded thoughts, but they are still finding their way in to my head. How did you deal with the stress, nervousness, doubt?!

Nurse Bonnie,

My doctor submitted my claim early. My employer's insurance has a 6 month med supervised diet. I didn't want to get my hopes up at all that my surgery would come before I had finished my six month supervised diet and then be disappointed in case they denied the early submission. So for me I knew it was going to happen, but did not know when. It seemed like a vague unknown event in the future. I think I know exactly how your are feeling. I just received verbal and written approval and my surgery date this week. All of a sudden I knew that the surgery was going to happen and sooner than I had expected. I then knew I had to start looking at my work schedule and finding the best time for me to take time off for surgery. I am excited and anxious at the same time. I have those doubts, which I am sure are totally unfounded, such will it work for me since I have tried so many other things in the past. I have a prolapsed, unfilled lap band but still feel since I have had one wls that did not work but still feel at times like a failure at weight loss surgery.

Just remember why you want to have this surgery. You might also write down now how you feel, emotions you experience with food or reasons why you eat. I would also take measurements before you start your pre-op diet. If you have these things written down, you can go back and examine how you felt and possibly learn about what triggers some of your eating habits. It can also help you when you have those doubts about why you are having or had your surgery. This can assist with keeping you on track when you think about eating something that may not be the best choice. The measurements serve as a benchmark for you to use and measure your progress. The scale may not be moving as quickly as you like, but you could be losing inches.

I am sure you will do fine. Good luck to you.