What's everyone's biggest worries or concern when going for surgery?

Sent from my SM-G781V using BariatricPal mobile app

Personally I wasn’t worried too much about the surgery in terms of anything going wrong. I was most worried about the surgery not working for me. In other words I wouldn’t lose anything at all or I would lose some but gain it all back.

My only big concern was complications and I have to say there are a few that have come up. Overall though I don't regret having the surgery.

I was worried they wouldn't do it.

My surgeon told me that if I gained weight between the last appointment and surgery (about 30 days) they would not do the surgery. Of course, I gained weight.

I found out my surgery, being open, was being used as an educational experience for several other surgeons. Had it not been for that...

Good luck,

Tek

Death. Complications (resulting in extended hospital time). I'm just ready to be on the other side and recovery.

I have some worries about it not working so great for me.

I have some worries about having horrible heartburn, etc. and feeling terrible regret.

23 minutes ago, You Are My Sunshine said:

Death. Complications (resulting in extended hospital time). I'm just ready to be on the other side and recovery.

I have some worries about it not working so great for me.

I have some worries about having horrible heartburn, etc. and feeling terrible regret.

Same.

i was worried that i was going to go under and never wake up. I remember even trying to fight the anesthesia, lol (was not successful obvs…counting down from ten, i think i only got down to 6 or 7 ,ha)

When i did wake up in the recovery room, my first thought was “YES!! I’m alive!”

Thank you everyone. My biggest concern honestly is going under and not waken up. I got 3 babies so I guess that's what I am worried about.

Sent from my SM-G781V using BariatricPal mobile app

1 hour ago, Tracy Bjerke said:

Thank you everyone. My biggest concern honestly is going under and not waken up. I got 3 babies so I guess that's what I am worried about.

Sent from my SM-G781V using BariatricPal mobile app

That is a very common concern, believe it or not.

Because my mom and 2 sisters have Malignant Hyperthermia (allergy to certain types of anesthesia that can be fatal), I'm generally the first surgery of the day.

8 hours ago, Tracy Bjerke said:

What's everyone's biggest worries or concern when going for surgery?

Sent from my SM-G781V using BariatricPal mobile app

Like others, not waking up is a concern. I've had many surgeries in my life. My odds are getting worse.

I'm a bit anxious about complications. My biggest worries are: Post Bariatric Hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, and heart arrhythmia. Dehydration and bowel obstruction are other concerns, but not the biggest. I also have a weird worry that I am going to lose too much weight.

I went to Dr. Google (LOL) and studied up on all the complications and the treatments. That has reassured me and calmed me down, a lot. Pretty much every complication can be treated. Some need to be recognized sooner than others, but with timely intervention they can be taken care of.

Fear of the unknown is real & an understandable reaction to something like this surgery. Mine went all so quickly, that I really didn’t have time to worry about anything: 6 weeks from initial GP’s appointment to meeting the surgeon, the dietician, doing the pre surgery diet & then the surgery.

Though I’m also not a big worrier. If I have questions I’ll ask or research it myself. Knowledge is power. Think I was more concerned about telling my mum. Lol! A friend had recommended her surgeon & on meeting him I was confident about his ability. I was going to a good hospital. I had a supportive GP. And, after years of watching my father suffer with cancer, treatments & complications, I sort of learnt you can’t worry about something that MAY happen. It’s a waste of effort & emotions. Be aware of possibilities but you can’t be certain of what will happen until it does & then you can plan to move forward.

2 hours ago, Jeanniebug said:

Like others, not waking up is a concern. I've had many surgeries in my life. My odds are getting worse.

I'm a bit anxious about complications. My biggest worries are: Post Bariatric Hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, and heart arrhythmia. Dehydration and bowel obstruction are other concerns, but not the biggest. I also have a weird worry that I am going to lose too much weight.

I went to Dr. Google (LOL) and studied up on all the complications and the treatments. That has reassured me and calmed me down, a lot. Pretty much every complication can be treated. Some need to be recognized sooner than others, but with timely intervention they can be taken care of.

How did I forget that one!? Yes, this too, very much so. I've been dealing with hypoglycemia since I was a teenager. I worry about it getting worse, too.

Also, Dr. Google and I have a very inappropriate relationship. ? I'm also in a bariatric complication group on Facebook and it's hard. People say to not read it and stay off. I don't want to have to have more surgeries, though, and I don't want to have the doctors on speed dial. I just want smooth surgery and new life!

7 hours ago, You Are My Sunshine said:

How did I forget that one!? Yes, this too, very much so. I've been dealing with hypoglycemia since I was a teenager. I worry about it getting worse, too.

Also, Dr. Google and I have a very inappropriate relationship. ? I'm also in a bariatric complication group on Facebook and it's hard. People say to not read it and stay off. I don't want to have to have more surgeries, though, and I don't want to have the doctors on speed dial. I just want smooth surgery and new life!

I would definitely get away from that FB group. I have anxiety bad enough, I don't need to add fuel to the fire. LOL!

I think that most complications happen early on, after surgery. Your body is adjusting and freaking out. The bowel obstruction thing... Well, that's a lifelong concern - but it is for us sitting here, now, too.

I think of it like this... If the doctor told me that I would have to have 5 more surgeries, would I still do it if it meant a longer, healthier, better life after? Yes. If he told me that I would have to have a colostomy bag, would I still do it? Yes. If he said I'd need to get a pacemaker for my heart, would I still do it? Yes. I just had to come to grips with the "what ifs". If I knew that the "what ifs" were definitely going to happen, would I still go through with the surgery? When the answer to that became "Yes" my anxiety and fears pretty much went away. All the possible complications - short of dying on the table - can be treated.

But there is a 99% chance that we won't have any complications at all. The vast majority of patients have no problems. We hear most often about the complications, not the successes.

While you definitely want to be aware of the possible risks and the treatments for such issues, personally I would steer clear of a group that posts only about complications. I would just worry it would begin to make it seem like everyone has issues which is really far from the truth. If you feel like you need to keep searching about them I would also make sure to search for the statistics that put it all into perspective of how likely (or unlikely) each issue is to actually Happen to you. I hope this helps.

I think it's normal to be worried. I've had over 15 surgeries now; some major and some minor. I was worried about all of them. While worry is normal, being paralyzed by fear is not.

The truth is we as humans are really bad at understanding risk. if you look at that data, we are many, many times more likely to die or have life altering complications from being obese, than we are from WLS. In fact statistically, WLS is even safer than things like gall bladder removal surgery.

Thank you everyone. My biggest concern honestly is going under and not waken up. I got 3 babies so I guess that's what I am worried about.

Sent from my SM-G781V using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm a single mom of a 5 year old and that was my biggest concern, and terrified she would be placed with her bio dad that she doesn't know, she scared of men she doesn't know, so the thought of her being forced into a house where she doesn't know anyone and her being terrified of the person who's supposed to be her primary parent .... I cried several times just thinking about it.... but I did what I needed to, to help things, I went to local child advocate and asked her if I could pay to retain her just incase, so that my child had an impartial person speaking for her that the judge couldn't ignore.... she refused to take any payment, but took my information and surgery date, as well as my parents information.... she had me call her with in 3 days of my surgery, she said I'd I dudnt call she would file with children's services to be her legal representative.... so that she could legally call my parents as well as start the process to get them full sole custody.... it actually made me feel better

I know that was long but my only point is do anything you think will help your peace of mind even of it seems like to much, it can really help your mindset going in and coming out. I'm very glad I did it ..... but I really want a salad lol

Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

Not waking up. I’m anxious though by nature. Lol