Anxiety before surgery

[maryeliza 3]

I am planning on having surgery March 26th but I keep going back and forth if I’m going to do it or not. I have lost almost 40lbs on my own since I have started this process. I just keep wondering if I can do it without being sleeved. I have heard some horror stories about the way you feel after surgery and I just worry I’m going to feel sick for longer than I originally expected. I have a hard time recovering from the flu how will my body react to major surgery?!?! Has anyone gone through the whole process then backed out?

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

Flu and surgery are not even relatable as far as recovery. One is a virus, the other major surgery. The flu can be horrid for me, but surgery recovery was not that difficult. Not a picnic but way less trauma than my imagination. I am 62 yrs old.

We all have anxiety before surgery, that is normal. Ask for a scopolamine patch for nausea from the anesthesiologist - amazing, I had propofol for the surgery anesthetic, and for pain after I had 1000mg in an IV of parecetamol (acetaminophen) every few hours and it worked as well as stronger meds.

I can and have lost lots of weight, but never could KEEP it off. I am not hungry, I have good restriction. It is surgery and permanent - but isn't that what you want ? A permanent solution to this battle. Good luck.

[DaleCruse 756]

If you don't have surgery, will you regret it later?

For what it's worth, LOTS of us had anxiety & wondered whether we should have surgery. Three years later, I look back & wonder what I was so tied up in knots about.

You are not alone. Good luck!

[LELH 72]

I am planning on having surgery March 26th but I keep going back and forth if I’m going to do it or not. I have lost almost 40lbs on my own since I have started this process. I just keep wondering if I can do it without being sleeved. I have heard some horror stories about the way you feel after surgery and I just worry I’m going to feel sick for longer than I originally expected. I have a hard time recovering from the flu how will my body react to major surgery?!?! Has anyone gone through the whole process then backed out?

I had all the same thought/feelings that you are. I had a really difficult time with the anesthesia but at Day 5 I felt great. DAY FIVE!!!! What is five days of discomfort and hardship compared to a life of the pains that come with obesity and its affects?! Big big hugs! You got this!!!

[Seahawks Fan 771]

9 hours ago, maryeliza said:

I am planning on having surgery March 26th but I keep going back and forth if I’m going to do it or not. I have lost almost 40lbs on my own since I have started this process. I just keep wondering if I can do it without being sleeved. I have heard some horror stories about the way you feel after surgery and I just worry I’m going to feel sick for longer than I originally expected. I have a hard time recovering from the flu how will my body react to major surgery?!?! Has anyone gone through the whole process then backed out?

Yes! Read my past posts. I was scheduled for surgery May 30, 2017 and I was in the hospital with the IV in my arm when I backed out and went home. This was the worst decision ever as my addiction became realized. I’m happy to say I was back in the hospital on January 18th & got sleeved. Everything went great and I so regret not doing it back in May. If you’re nervous when you go to the hospital and ask for Ativan and don’t forget to get the patch behind your ear for nausea. For me personally the surgery was more like a procedure. Everybody loses weight pre-surgery if they follow the pre-op diet but if you have an addiction to food the weight will come back like always! This is the only way to stop the real yo-yo.

[BostonWLKC 806]

Surgery was great for me- just some really bad gas pains for about 2 hours after surgery. The rest of the time has been sore but nothing that would ever make me rethink. Best decision ever


HW 242
SW 236- December 20, 2017
CW 196
GW#1- 199
GW#2- 175
5’6”

[maryeliza 3]

Was anyone taking antidepressants/anxiety meds before surgery?

[Seahawks Fan 771]

1 hour ago, maryeliza said:

Was anyone taking antidepressants/anxiety meds before surgery?

Yes again! Haven’t taken them since the day before surgery which was January 18th.

[mylighthouse 782]

On 2/20/2018 at 3:01 PM, maryeliza said:

Was anyone taking antidepressants/anxiety meds before surgery?

Yes. I'm bipolar and took my regular night-time meds for mania and depression the night before surgery. Was allowed to have my anti-anxiety med (klonopin) the morning of surgery. I did fine, and I have had plenty of panic attacks in my lifetime. No problems at all going into surgery.

Like you, I lost some good weight on my own just prior to surgery....I also kept going back and forth in my mind as to whether or not to proceed with surgery. But what kept bringing me back to going through with the surgery was that I had A LOT to lose, I needed to get the weight off quickly so I could have a hernia repair...AND I just knew that I wouldn't be able to keep the weight off or lose enough if I continued to try on my own.

Crazy now to remember that all the way up to the night before surgery I thought about backing out. Boy, am I glad I didn't!

I had a horrible recovery from a surgery the year before my sleeve surgery. I was very sick and spent 2 whole months in the hospital. Believe me, sleeve surgery was a breeze...recovery was pretty easy...chances are it will be for you as well.

I wish you the best.

[Dylpowers 1]

I have surgery scheduled for March 6th and I have anxiety to but more about the long term changes in lifystle ( concern about overeating a little and then vomiting a lot.. still being able to enjoy wine every now and then just in general all the social stuff that happens that seems to most of the time involve food or alcohol.. I know that is a big part of the reason I am so heavy

does anyone know what happens if I postpone do I have to get insurance reapproved

Just not sure if I am mentally ready

thanks

[Seahawks Fan 771]

15 hours ago, Dylpowers said:

I have surgery scheduled for March 6th and I have anxiety to but more about the long term changes in lifystle ( concern about overeating a little and then vomiting a lot.. still being able to enjoy wine every now and then just in general all the social stuff that happens that seems to most of the time involve food or alcohol.. I know that is a big part of the reason I am so heavy

does anyone know what happens if I postpone do I have to get insurance reapproved

Just not sure if I am mentally ready

thanks

Been there & backed out on May 30, 2017. I couldn’t have regretted it more! I was back in & sleeved on January 18th & it was the best decision I have made in a long time. Ask for anxiety meds on surgery day ASAP. You’ll be fine as long as you follow plan instructions.

[beccaconaty87 52]

I backed out twice and I regret it. I now have to do the 6 month process over. I could have been healthy and skinny by now [emoji6] if I would have just done it the first time. Plus u will still be able to enjoy wine and yummy foods after you heal.

Sent from my SM-J700T using BariatricPal mobile app

[kakatlady612 1,053]

Mine was equally a duh. Had started in August 2015, job terminated in January 2016, lost my insurance, to have COBRA'd over would have taken 7/8th of my Social Security monthly pension. So I didn't persue it any further. I was recently informed when I changed insurances the new one had fewer requirements, they had already approved me and were only waiting for me to supply the new numbers and a surgery date could be assigned. I surely would have gone forward had they called in 2016. I started over again last fall, as my previous certifications were all 1.5 to 2 years old, I had to do a fresh set, did it all, now they have refused to go forward, all their idea not mine. Now I will enroll in another bariatric plan, all my paperwork and charts will transfer but if plan #2 has further requirements then I'll have more to do. Nobody better say I'm uncommitted or non compliant. I feel like I've done everything short of crawling across broken glass to achieve this goal. I'm old, tired and fat, the fat part at least I can change.I can't be someone else but I can be the best ME possible. And that better be enough for everybody. Amen.

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

[logicwand 269]

Yes! Read my past posts. I was scheduled for surgery May 30, 2017 and I was in the hospital with the IV in my arm when I backed out and went home. This was the worst decision ever as my addiction became realized. I’m happy to say I was back in the hospital on January 18th & got sleeved. Everything went great and I so regret not doing it back in May. If you’re nervous when you go to the hospital and ask for Ativan and don’t forget to get the patch behind your ear for nausea. For me personally the surgery was more like a procedure. Everybody loses weight pre-surgery if they follow the pre-op diet but if you have an addiction to food the weight will come back like always! This is the only way to stop the real yo-yo.

So glad maryeliza started the topic b/c I’m pretty much freaking out. I’ve had two panic attacks this week thinking about my surgery on Wednesday. And Seahawks, thank you for posting your story. I’m pretty much thinking I may chicken out in the preop room and run out of the hospital. I’m so glad to know that it’s actually happened and I may not be the only one!!! But I am trying to remain strong and quash my irrational fears. I will definitely call the doctor to see if they can give me a medication so I can get to the hospital in the first place. I know I need this!

[logicwand 269]

I backed out twice and I regret it. I now have to do the 6 month process over. I could have been healthy and skinny by now [emoji6] if I would have just done it the first time. Plus u will still be able to enjoy wine and yummy foods after you heal.

Sent from my SM-J700T using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for sharing this!!!