My time is nearly here andddddd..... I'm starting to get pretty nervous. I've never had surgery before and I'm worried about the pain, the anesthesia, how long will I be in recovery etc. Someone please talk me off the ledge here! I'm trying to stay focused on my goals: better health, being able to do more with my son, less pain from fibromyalgia (hopefully), looking hot again (post PS I'm sure) etc. but still it's SURGERY! Am I crazy? Is this too extreme? I check in @ 5:30 am on Tuesday (PST), surgery @ 7:30. Holy Crap that's 32.5 hours from now-- HOURS! This anticipation is killing me- AAAARGH!

Edited December 28, 20205 yr by Suzi_the_Q

No, it's not too extreme. It's something you need and have anticipated and are ready for. Some people have ZERO PAIN (me! I had NO PAIN!) and the nausea from the anesthesia lasts about 24 hours. That's only one day. You can tolerate anything for one day that's going to make a lifetime of difference to your health and body. Everybody gets nervous. It's not just you. Focus on why you're doing this. Focus on the long-term results. Pray if you're a praying person. It'll be okay. We're here for you. Check in with us afterward and let us know how you're doing.

I've had other surgeries in addition to this one - and I'm always freaked out before them. I think it's a pretty normal reaction. BUT...most people come through this and other surgeries just fine!

like GradyCat, I had no pain with this surgery. I was a little nauseated the first few hours from the anesthesia my first time through a surgery, but the nurses put Zofran in my IV bag, which helped a lot (now I ask for a scopolamine patch (which you stick behind your ear) before I have surgery, which also helps).

Recovery was quick for me. I was mostly just tired.

as surgeries go, I felt this one was pretty easy. There are definitely some people who have a rougher time with it, but it seems like the majority of us sail right through and have a fairly easy recovery.

Youll be fine. Mine was at 3 pm. Talk about cruel and unusual. Lol.

Once you check in, it moves along quickly. Before you know it, its over. Not much pain for me, and I was able to walk from recovery to my room, no problem. I was amazed at just how good I felt. Do what they tell you and you'll be home before you know it. Once home, don't over do it as far as bending and lifting, but walk all you can.

Good luck!

This surgery is invasive but the recovery is quite quick. My wife and I had VSG surgery on 11/11 and we were both back to doing everything we could do before surgery very quickly. The pain was manageable and we only took pain killers for 1 day after we got home from the hospital stay. You will do great and this surgery is to help you in the long run. Our reason to get the surgery this year and as soon as we could was due to similar circumstances as yours as my wife was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis this year. Her pain has substantially reduced in just the last 8 weeks. Good luck tomorrow and just remember the reasons why you are doing this surgery. It will be worth it in the end.

My surgery is coming up on 12/30, and I haven’t hit any of the fears or concerns that I thought I would yet. I’ve had two c-sections and I also broke my nose and had a rhinoplasty to correct a deviated septum. I’ve done well with anesthesia and even my c-section recoveries weren’t miserable. I’m quite optimistic that everything will go well. I wish I could rub some of my optimism off on you! If you need to chat, I’m always around, please send me a message! We’re practically surgery twins!

I've had surgery three times and the only time I was nervous and scared was the first time. I went through a panic mode much like yourself, but my first surgery wasn't one I could wiggle out of since it was to remove my gallbladder that was bad and making me sick (I couldn't keep anything but water down). Our mind often makes things out to be scary then they actually are, because our imagination can run wild and we fear what we don't know.

The anesthesia from the WLS didn't make me nauseous so not everyone goes through that. The only time anesthesia make me sick was after my second surgery when I had MVD (brain surgery: Microvascular Decompression) because I was under the knife for six hours (it was only supposed to be a three hour surgery), but I don't actually know if the nausea that time WAS the anesthesia or from having brain surgery... I also had the WORST headache of my LIFE!

Anyway, everyone is different. Some are in pain when they wake up, and some aren't. I, personally, felt like I got hit by a bus. But, it was bearable. I barely used any of my pain pills at all (they gave me a prescription bottle with 30 Norco and I think I used 6). It's really not as bad as your mind makes it out to be and even if you do feel pain, most of it is from the gas and that wears off after a couple days as long as you walk, walk, walk!

Congrats on your upcoming surgery and you got this!

As others have said, MANY of us get through the surgery with minimal/no pain and few complications. It's natural to be nervous before surgery, particularly with something like this that can quite literally be life-changing. Hang in there and before you know it, you'll be on the losers bench wondering WHY you were so nervous and giving the same message we are to other new folks.

It's also quite natural to have "buyers remorse" here and there, but at least for me, those moments are few and far between and very short lasting.

Thank you everyone! I needed to hear this. I've been reading almost everything on this forum for nearly a year now, (among other things) so I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. It's crazy to think that I'll be going to bed in a few hours and then I'll be up and having surgery. I think probably the hardest part will be keeping my cat(s) from sleeping on me for a month ?

Hi,

How did your surgery go?

Mine is due on the 12th January and your post thread helped a great deal to settle my nerves.

Kind Regards,
Donna

Thank you everyone! I needed to hear this. I've been reading almost everything on this forum for nearly a year now, (among other things) so I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. It's crazy to think that I'll be going to bed in a few hours and then I'll be up and having surgery. I think probably the hardest part will be keeping my cat(s) from sleeping on me for a month [emoji28]

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I made it through! I don't even remember being wheeled into the OR which is nice. Overall I feel it went very well. My dr. told my family it was a nice boring surgery, lol. (She has a very dry sense of humor.) Just got home. Still some soreness/ pain in the abdomen and a little in the shoulder, but the meds keep it to a tolerable level. Feeling pretty wiped out so I'm going to get some rest. Thank you for all the well-wishes and encouragement, it means a lot!