I've just submitted to insurance and up until now I've been rather excited for surgery. Im prepared and ready for my November surgery date but I'm starting to get really emotional about this whole process. I feel like im putting down an animal and I want to make the last few weeks with it the best possible before I say goodbye forever. I'm not 2nd guessing my decision, in just feeling like I'm losing a part of my identity. Any thoughts or tips on coping with this whole process?

Hey @@jesstea2, what you are feeling is completely normal, at least that's what I believe. You are experiencing a healthy mix of emotions, you are excited to start a new chapter in your life but sad about what's being left behind. I can only speak of my experience while preparing for surgery (VSG) and I can tell you that I felt what you are feeling. It was like a misplaced nostalgia of some sort, a feeling of loss that I couldn't really put my finger on. With any change come feelings of loss and they are healthy and completely normal. Don't fight it, maybe it's your own way of saying goodbye to a way of living that is now going to be different, but let me tell you, it is a good kind of different!

You will not "lose" part of your identity, you will only re-shape it.

Good luck to you on your journey.

I've just submitted to insurance and up until now I've been rather excited for surgery. Im prepared and ready for my November surgery date but I'm starting to get really emotional about this whole process. I feel like im putting down an animal and I want to make the last few weeks with it the best possible before I say goodbye forever. I'm not 2nd guessing my decision, in just feeling like I'm losing a part of my identity. Any thoughts or tips on coping with this whole process?

I also was recently submitted to my insurance. I share some of the same feelings. I can only tell you that I am concentrating on the new me. I have been eating as close as possible to how I will eat months after I have been through surgery. Once or twice a week I indulge in foods/restaurants that I either will not eat again (my choice) or I think will be a real long time before I eat them again.

That being said, I expect that I will still be same me after surgery, recovery, and learning how to cope with the new nutritional and healthy lifestyle I have chosen for me. Same ol' me, just much thinner.