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My surgery is scheduled for July 23rd. I am so nervous!!! I just got insurance authorization today. Reality has kicked in. Am I going to be ok?

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Congratulations! Yeah, you will.

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YES, you will be fine. This surgery stuff is scary, especially if you're like me and had never been operated on prior to this.

The hardest part of all of this for me as the liquid diet because I made the brilliant decision to get sleeved December 23. I had like three holiday functions during my 10 day fast, so it sucked, BUT I got through it and it was totally worth it.

When I look in the mirror at my size 8 body as opposed to my sz 22 body, that's also worth it. Not to mention that my sleep apnea, high blood pressure, painful joints and disgust for my form is gone.

You're going to be fine. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but I promise you will. When I was on the other side, I was 100% convinced something was going to go wrong like I'd die on the table, or wake up in the middle of the surgery because they didn't use enough gas on me. What scared me the most was the thought that "What if I go through ALL this and the surgery doesn't even work? If I don't lose any weight?"

But, l had to make a decision. Stay fat and KNOW I was going to die a slow death from sleep apnea/high blood pressure/diabetes/high cholesterol/immobility or take a chance on a surgery that MIGHT have a complication but would DEFINITELY give me my life back if successful.

The risk of a surgical complication was less scary to me than the definite of dying from a co-morbidity.

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Absolutely! I think the scariest part is fear of the unknown. 1)What will it feel like? 2)Will I get sick? 3)Will it be very painful? 4)Will I regret it? And after all that...5)WILL IT WORK FOR ME?? Answers: 1)Uncomfortable at first- give yourself time to heal and don't rush it. Be prepared for some rough days when you'll feel awful, but this is very temporary. 2)Maybe, but probably not too much if you follow the doc's instructions and listen to your body. 3)There is going to be some pain and discomfort from time to time, but it is temporary and you will be through most of it within 6-8 weeks with some residual discomfort occasionally for up to 12 weeks. 4)During the first month you may feel like you might regret it, because you feel yucky and hormones are flooding your system making you extremely emotional but that will pass. I can honestly say that I wasn't very excited about it at first even though I was dropping weight, I still felt blah. 5) YES! If you do what your doc says it will work for you too!! Within 6 months you'll probably be telling everyone you should have done it sooner because you'll start looking AND feeling better than you probably have in years. You will feel like you have been given your life back (and you probably didn't even realize you'd lost some of it along the way) Things that may have been impossible for many years will become possible! Just a few things I could do six months out that I hadn't been able to do for 20 years: Buy clothes at regular stores, cross my legs, fit in stadium/theatre/airplane seats comfortably with room to spare, not have to use a seatbelt extender on an airplane, walk 1- 2 miles without getting short of breath or uncomfortable. I never would have thought this could happen for me and now it has! Every day will be like Christmas morning with new surprises and gifts you never knew you wanted until you got them. You'll do great!

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Thank u all so much for the encouragement. It is so comforting to have people to talk to that can relate. :)

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    • Theweightisover2024🙌💪

      Question for anyone, how did you get your mind right before surgery? Like as far as eating better foods and just doing better in general? I'm having a really hard time with this. Any help is appreciated 🙏❤️
      · 2 replies
      1. NickelChip

        I had about 6 months between deciding to do surgery and getting scheduled. I came across the book The Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon in Arizona, and started to implement some of the changes he recommended (and lost 13 lbs in the process without ever feeling deprived). The book is very simple, and the focus is on whole, plant based foods, but within reason. It's not an all or nothing approach, or going vegan or something, but focuses on improvement and aiming for getting it right 80-90% of the time. His suggestions are divided into 12 sections that you can tackle over time, perhaps one per month for a year if a person is just trying to improve nutrition and build good habits. They range from things like cutting out artificial sweetener or eating more beans to eating a pound of vegetables per day. I found it really effective pre-surgery and it's an eating style I will be working to get back to as I am further out from surgery and have more capacity. Small changes you can sustain will do the most for building good habits for life.

      2. Theweightisover2024🙌💪

        That sounds awesome. I'll have to check that out thanks!

    • BeanitoDiego

      I've hit a stall 9 months out. I'm not worried, though. My fitness levels continue to improve and I have nearly accomplished my pre-surgery goal of learning to scuba dive! One dive left to complete to get my PADI card 🐠
      I was able to go for a 10K/6mile hike in the mountains two days ago just for the fun of it. In the before days, I might have attempted this, but it would have taken me 7 or 8 hours to complete and I would have been exhausted and in pain for the next two days. Taking my time with breaks for snacks and water, I was finished with my wee jaunt in only 4 hours 😎 and really got to enjoy photographing some insects, fungi, and turtles.
      Just for fun last week, I ran two 5Ks in two days, something I would have never done in the past! Next goal is a 10K before the end of this month.
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    • Teriesa

      Hi everyone, I wrote back in May about having no strength. I still get totally exhausted just walking from room to room, it’s so bad I’m using a walker with wheels of all things. I had the gastric sleeve Jan. 24th. I’m doing exactly what the programs says, except protein shakes. I have different meats and protein bars daily, including vitamins daily. I do drink my fluids as well.  I go in for IV hydration 4 days a week and feel ok just til evening.  So far as of Jan 1st I’ve dropped 76 lbs. I just want to enjoy the weight lose. Any suggestions or has anyone else gone thru this??  Doctor says just increase calorie intake, still the same. 
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