Yes, I have a few worries and anxieties about this surgery, as I am sure we all do. I thought I would make a top ten list of my post op worries and would love it if you would share yours as well, so that I can see I am not in this alone. These worries are listed in no particular order:

1. Losing my hair. I already have very thin hair and color it because I am 80% grey. I have been told to avoid coloring it for a few months afterwards, so first I will go grey then bald??

2. Lovenox injections. We all have to be on blood thinners for a week post op and it seems that Lovenox injections are the most commonly prescribed type. I'm not a fan of needles, but not afraid of them. I do have a moderate Essential Tremor in both hands and am fairly sure I would end up stabbing myself before being able to inject myself. I do have someone who will give me the shots, but the whole idea makes me anxious.

3. Gas. When you have laporscopic surgery they pump your abdominal cavity full of gas so they can see what they are doing. This gas is very painful after waking up from surgery, that and Ashley Page (from this forum) just informed me that we pass stinky gas after surgery..great!

4. Catheter. I have never had a catheter.. that I remember anyways.. what if I get a urinary tract infection from it, I know I will deal with it if it happens, but it will just be on top of everything else.

5. Complications.

6. Lack of support or understanding from family friends and coworkers.

7. Dehydration. What if I can't get in all the liquid they want me too each day?

8. I have had problems with my stomach since I was a teenager, I am 45 now. What happens if I have problems with it post operatively? How do they look into your stomach after it has been separated and sealed away from the pouch in a RYBP?

9. Dumping Syndrome. Now, if this happens at home, it happens at home. Home is a safe environment for strange,painful, embarrassing body function things to happen at so I am not worried about that..but what if it happens in public??

10. Loose Skin. How can I prevent it? Is it preventable?

I'm kind of worried about the lovenox too. I got an injection after my hysterectomy 8 months ago only because the leg compressions weren't working right and were annoying to me. But afterwards my heart was beating so fast for a while! Could that have been from the Lovenox? I also had to have 2 units of blood transfused during surgery. Don't know if that matters or not.

oh, and regarding the hair loss- I have thyroid issues and my hair lady recommended Nexxus Shampoo/conditioner Youth Renewal Rejuvenating in the pink bottle. I buy it at Walmart. My hair used to come out in clumps and clog the drain but since using this I only have a few hairs falling out now and am also getting new growth!! My hair feel thicker too. I know this sounds like a commercial but seriously, this stuff is awesome!

As far as my worries or anxiety go for surgery in 3 weeks- I'm just trying not to think about it. The more I think the worse my anxiety is so in this case it is not healthy to think. Why I am even on this board right now reading everything- I don't know. LOL

I am more worried about one of my two sets of in-laws coming to help us. It was only going to be my 72 yr old mother in law (I love her dearly) who is an Obsessive Compulsive habitual cleaner and me getting this house cleaned up so she couldn't and then found out that her husband, who was banned from coming here because of what he wrote to me in a mean letter 7 yrs ago of how "dirty" our house was (we had just moved in 2 months before and didn't even have furniture! How could it be dirty??). So ya, what the heck. Just add another anxiety inducing situation to my plate why dontcha. ugh!

I will be keeping busy with making my house crystal clean (or not. They've known me for 25 yrs and the way I keep house so they can shut up or go home), making 'meals' for my husband and I for after surgery (very daunting. don't even know where to start or what to do yet. ::sigh: and taking all of my anxiety pills.

Good luck to all of us!

Edited June 27, 201412 yr by itsmekarenlee

Wow.. itsmekarenlee.. you already have a lot of stress and anxiety that isn't even surgery related. The good thing is that there is tons of support on this site, so use it, it does help! I have a mild anxiety disorder too, so it helps me to write everything down that I am worrying about and get it out of my head. As for your mother in law, if she has OCD (cleaning), no matter how clean your house is, she will find things to clean it is how she deals with stress and anxiety , but also she can't control the urge to clean, that's why it is obsessive and compulsive. Heck, if she wants to clean your home after your surgery.. let her.. if she wants to nag about the cleanliness of your house and you don't want to hear it go for a walk or listen to your mp3 player and tune her out. As for meals for you after surgery you will be on a liquid diet for a period of time, then pureed food.. Just buy the Protein drinks or powder that you need beforehand and it is one less thing to be anxious about.

Thanks for the info on the Nexxus shampoo, I am going to give that a try.

I will be keeping busy with making my house crystal clean (or not. They've known me for 25 yrs and the way I keep house so they can shut up or go home), making 'meals' for my husband and I for after surgery (very daunting. don't even know where to start or what to do yet. ::sigh: and taking all of my anxiety pills.

Hi KarenLee

Aren't relatives wonderful! After having my mother come to "help" when I had my first child, I had to ban her for the second!! I agree with Oweemytoe - just let your mother-in-law clean - she's going to do it anyway - we're addicted to food & she's addicted to cleaning.

Maybe she cooks too? Then you don't have to worry about your husband's meals after surgery. Another idea - I just doubled some of our favorite recipes the week before surgery and then froze 2 portions of each in individual containers. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, they have some really good frozen food (flatbreads, kung pao chicken, enchiladas etc)

Good luck - it will all be worth it!