Doing this by myself - terrified!

[wagyu 50]

Hi everyone, new to this forum. You can call me wagyu (as in i love wagyu beef!) anyways I started my journey will get sleeved sometime next month. Going through all my pre requisites like endoscopy/pulmonary etc... and I am doing it by myself. No one knows and I am so terrified. Well maybe one or two friends know. But no one is going to the doctors appts with me or the surgery, so I am very terrified. Don't know what to do, and feel like I am alone and want to back up because this is such a big thing. I don't know. But! I will go through with it! Would like some support if anyone is going through the same thing, or if not, do you have advice? Thanks a lot!

[judyoz 240]

You will be fine, I am sure of that. But you will need someone to drive you home after surgery.

[wagyu 50]

Hi yeah I am just going to uber/get a car.

[Babbs 14,680]

You're not alone! We will all be here for you!

It is a scary thing to go through. Especially without a lot of support. But if you decide to pull the trigger and go through with it, you will be so happy you did! It's a lot of hard work and dedication, but so worth it in the end to achieve the life you deserve.

Keep us posted!

[alindsey 230]

You can totally do it! I know several people who went to Mexico and did it alone! I was so grumpy after mine I wanted to be alone lol so enjoy it! It's totally a easy surgery just walk walk walk sip sip sip and you'll do great!

[wagyu 50]

Thanks Babbas and Alindsey!!

This helps a lot. I didn't know people go to Mexico alone. I'm doing it in town! Thanks a lot- i know it's going to be ok. After that it's going to be worth it.

[ThreeFifty 166]

Im having my surgery in a couple weeks. I had planned to not tell anyone and go to and from the surgery alone but my doc told me that I had to have someone there to drive me home and I couldn't be there alone.

if not for the docs requirements, I sure was planning to go at it alone

[Dreamer33 11]

I was alone too.. I actually chose to do it that way- felt as though I needed the time on my own to experience all the raw emotions without trying to bury them or have someone else "fix" them for me.. I got myself in this situation and I needed to get myself out.. Sleeved on 5/11.. Still mourn the loss of my old fur ever friend (food) but getting better .. In retrospect I am glad I went alone.. It redeemed my faith in myself, I found my strength and it felt good to know I can do it!. You can too!.

Edited July 4, 2015 by Dreamer33

[Life is Good in WY 1]

I'm five weeks out and also did this mostly alone.... it was so strange to drive myself to the hospital that morning! But also I felt some empowerment that I was doing this for me and no one else. You will be okay, stay strong and you'll come out the other side even stronger. And those first few days all I wanted to do was sleep and really didn't want anyone fussing over me, so enjoy the sleep and take care of yourself. There is ALWAYS support here, reach out and we'll encourage you.

[Butterflyhigh 504]

You should be fine. I had a ride home from surgery, and that was it. No help more than that. Here are some things I did to make things easier on myself...

My kitchen was ready. I had these tiny little tupperware (condiment sized) and I pre-measured broth and Water into those. I would get them set up in the morning and it was easy to keep track of my consumption. I also had all my med's lined up and ready for the day,

Immediatly post-op I had my living room set up...sofa was ready with lots of pillows, tv ready, bathroom....

I had the frige ready for stage two..pureed. I bought boxed Soups, yogurt, and whatever else I thought of that I may need. I really wanted to avoid grocery shopping with my new sleeve so I prepared as much as possible.

My ex kept the kids for about three days after my surgery. I was fine from that point on. Not much recovery time. Mostly it was food prep.

The MOST important thing was realizing that my number One go-to coping skill (eating) was non-existent. So my big advise would be to not forget about lining up a few new ways of dealing with stress.

Good luck on your journey!! The early days go by quick. The recovery isn't that bad. You can do it alone with some prep work.

[sleeve32 27]

I went to mexico alone. I was sleeved on May 1st. I flew there alone and back home alone. I drove myself from the airport home. The day of my surgery was rough and my back hurt so bad but after that first day it was so much better. You just gotta take it slow and remember to walk alot and sip Water as much as possible. The recovery is not as bad as you are probably thinking. I am 9 weeks post op now and yes sometimes I still miss food but it is so worth it to have lost 41 pounds so far. I feel 100 times better about myself now and I am still going! I wish you the best of luck with your journey

Edited July 4, 2015 by sleeve32

[wagyu 50]

I went to Mexico alone. I was sleeved on May 1st. I flew there alone and back home alone. I drove myself from the airport home. The day of my surgery was rough and my back hurt so bad but after that first day it was so much better. You just gotta take it slow and remember to walk alot and sip Water as much as possible. The recovery is not as bad as you are probably thinking. I am 9 weeks post op now and yes sometimes I still miss food but it is so worth it to have lost 41 pounds so far. I feel 100 times better about myself now and I am still going! I wish you the best of luck with your journey

Oh wow that is impressive! To Mexico alone? Congrats on your loss! I can't wait to get there!!

Thanks everyone else, this is seriously helping me a lot. So it is actually pretty normal to go at this alone. WOO!

Butterfly, thanks for the tips!! I'm definately going to follow the tips. it helps a lot thank you.

In general I think I will come here for support and questions because it really really helps thank so much everyone.

[Shustar 395]

I went to Mexico by myself, driving 6 hours from Arizona. My husband wanted to come but he has severe chronic pain and I did not want to worry about him. It was BY FAR the easiest surgery I have ever had! For others who have not had much experience with surgery, I can understand how hard the discomforts immediately after surgery are. I don't discount that but also know how temporary they are for the vast majority of us! I had no problems driving myself home after surgery but we were in the hospital 2 nights and in a medical floor of a beautiful hotel for 2 more nights which is longer than most US hospitals. Like the Uber idea. Go for it! You will be fine but not alone as you have all of us!

[ssflbelle 829]

Except for my roommate knowing I am doing this alone also. Most of my friends are obese and are against WLS and I only told one coworker and I know she will not tell a soul. They know I have had a hernia since 2012 so when I do go in for the surgery they will all think it is for the hernia. I only work 2 days a week and often do not have lunch so I don't see any problems with lunch time. If any one does ask I will just tell them that the hernia affected my stomach as well. I am willing to tell a little white lie to avoid all the questions and drama. I am just beginning as I have a 6 month supervised diet and will have surgery some time in 2016. I sent you a friends request. Anyone else feel free to send friends request to me too. Thanks

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Do what you feel comfortable with. I didn't tell anyone until 2 weeks before surgery. I then told only close family and friends. I wanted to do this because *I* wanted it without any outside pressure so I did all my research and pre-op testing by myself. It was more than fine. My sister drove me to the hospital, my bestie drove me for pre-admission testing. Everyone was there post-op. I was calm and relaxed going into surgery, secure in the fact that I had done my homework and was ready to make this change.

If you know in your heart of hearts this is the right thing, and have done your homework, then you will be fine.