Some surgery anxieties

[SLK248 5]

I am scheduled to have surgery in February, which leaves me a good deal of time to worry! Here are some of my surgery-related anxieties in no particular order:

What if there are complications and I never feel well again after the surgery even though I am doing this to feel better?

How can I model healthy eating habits/body image for my daughter when I am having 85% of my stomach removed? (Of course, being obese and struggling with diabetes isn't so great either.). How will I explain it to her when she is older?

Will my life "go back to normal" or will every second of every day be about the surgery and its aftermath?

Will I be able to return to an intellectually demanding job within 2 weeks? What should I tell people at work (if anything)?

Will I ever be able to drink more than 2 oz at a time? Will I always be thirsty?

Will I still be able to take pleasure in food? (An appropriate amount of pleasure.)

Will I be able to have a healthy pregnancy after surgery?

Will all the nutrition requirements and changes after surgery be hard on my husband? He is so supportive and wonderful, but I don't want my stomach to be the center of our lives!

Just wanted to put this out there because I know so many of you have been here and may have some advice to offer. I know that continuing on with the status quo is untenable. I am too young to have the health issues I do, and I want to be around for my husband and daughter for as long as possible. Sometimes I am excited about he surgery, but sometimes I am terrified. I'm familiar with my current challenges (being overweight, the health issues etc.) -- they're comfortable. It's not knowing what my life will be like after surgery that scares me. I don't want to lose the good in my life along with the bad.

Thanks for reading (and for any advice you may have).

[ribearty 544]

I am scheduled to have surgery in February, which leaves me a good deal of time to worry! Here are some of my surgery-related anxieties in no particular order:

What if there are complications and I never feel well again after the surgery even though I am doing this to feel better?

• People do have complications, but they are the exception not the norm. From what I have read even the people with complications do not regret having the surgery.

How can I model healthy eating habits/body image for my daughter when I am having 85% of my stomach removed? (Of course, being obese and struggling with diabetes isn't so great either.). How will I explain it to her when she is older?

• You are doing this for your health and to be a role model for your daughter. I felt if I didn't do something, I may not be around later to show any good habits. Weight loss is a tool not a magic pill or wand. You still have to work it and follow the plan to be completely successful. This will be a good example.

Will my life "go back to normal" or will every second of every day be about the surgery and its aftermath?

• You will get a life. You will most likely be more conscious about what you eat. There will be times you don't think about the surgery. Waiting the appropriate amount of time between eating and drinking will become automatic for you.

Will I be able to return to an intellectually demanding job within 2 weeks? What should I tell people at work (if anything)?

• I returned at two weeks post-op full time to my job. I had another surgery on 11/4 and worked part time the remainder of that week for half days. My job requires me to be at the top of my game since the project I am on has a lot of visibility.

Will I still be able to take pleasure in food? (An appropriate amount of pleasure.)

• Yes, the first egg I ate after being on liquids was wonderful. You may develop new tastes after surgery. Some things you liked before no longer taste good or your desire for them is greatly diminished.

Will I be able to have a healthy pregnancy after surgery?

• Several people have become pregnant after having sleeve surgery. Here is the forum url. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/427-pregnancy-with-gastric-sleeve-surgery/

Will all the nutrition requirements and changes after surgery be hard on my husband? He is so supportive and wonderful, but I don't want my stomach to be the center of our lives!

• Many have posted their spouses or significant others lost weight since they also started eating healthier. My husband has always ate healthy so for him it is no change at all.

Just wanted to put this out there because I know so many of you have been here and may have some advice to offer. I know that continuing on with the status quo is untenable. I am too young to have the health issues I do, and I want to be around for my husband and daughter for as long as possible. Sometimes I am excited about he surgery, but sometimes I am terrified. I'm familiar with my current challenges (being overweight, the health issues etc.) -- they're comfortable. It's not knowing what my life will be like after surgery that scares me. I don't want to lose the good in my life along with the bad.

Good luck to you in your upcoming surgery.