Having second thoughts.

[Scaredloser 10]

Hello everyone, I know that you've all seen a post like mine before. I'm exactly 9 days away from getting gastric bypass surgery. I've tried so many other things and have failed over the long term to keep off my weight. I'm at 436 (was 445), but the diet they put me on helped me lose a few pounds. I'm very, very anxious about the surgery. My mom had the surgery years and years ago when it wasn't as perfected and it didn't go well for her. She lost weight but had a ton of complications. My fear isn't really surrounding post op activities, but rather going through the surgery itself. I hope none of you think less of me, but I'm terrified. I'm even having nightmares about it. My wife got the sleeve a year ago and she didn't have outrageous pain or anything. She was quite doped up lol. I'm scared of going to sleep and waking up in immense pain. I guess that's the jist of it.

[Possum220 222]

58 minutes ago, Scaredloser said:

Hello everyone, I know that you've all seen a post like mine before. I'm exactly 9 days away from getting gastric bypass surgery. I've tried so many other things and have failed over the long term to keep off my weight. I'm at 436 (was 445), but the diet they put me on helped me lose a few pounds. I'm very, very anxious about the surgery. My mom had the surgery years and years ago when it wasn't as perfected and it didn't go well for her. She lost weight but had a ton of complications. My fear isn't really surrounding post op activities, but rather going through the surgery itself. I hope none of you think less of me, but I'm terrified. I'm even having nightmares about it. My wife got the sleeve a year ago and she didn't have outrageous pain or anything. She was quite doped up lol. I'm scared of going to sleep and waking up in immense pain. I guess that's the jist of it.

Certainly don't think less of you. This is major surgery. You are normal to be scared. Then again think of what life would be like long term if you didnt do this. Maybe that is more scary? I know at that time before I had my RNY I didnt want to go on living entombed in my own body. I had this surgery in May 2022 and the surgeon also repaired a hernia at the time. (A few years prior I had another hernia fixed and that was very painful on it's own). I woke up in lots of pain (so maybe some of the pain was from getting the hernia fixed) but I was given lots of pain medication. The staff dont want you to be in pain either. So yes it was very rough but pain meds and heat packs eased the intensity. High end pain killers were needed for the first few days and then less and less over the next few weeks. And for the record I would rather be a little sleepy if it eases the pain. I needed to remind myself that it would get better and it did. Short term pain for very long term gain.

Truly your journey will be yours and your alone. You may be in pain or you may not. You may have complications or you may not. I would also hope that the medical profession have learned more in the time since your mom had this operation. You wont know how it will be for you until you do it.

PS - I would go through this again in a heartbeat. There is freedom again,

Edited April 7 by Possum220

[ShoppGirl 3,367]

I don't think you would be normal if you didn’t worry at least a little about having major surgery. I worried ALOT. I wish I could tell you that you won’t have any pain or much pain but that’s not a promise anyone can make. It’s surgery. What I can assure you is that the doctors and nurses do everything they can to keep you from being in pain. In fact, mine gave me pain meds before i even woke up I guess to try and get ahead of it.

When I was sleeved three years ago I was one of the lucky ones that did not have much pain. I felt like I had done about 1000 crunches but i told them I didn’t need the prescription pain meds when they went to give them to me and I asked for Tylenol instead. Then she said well you’ve already had some so why don’t we wean you off just in case you do have pain without it. She did and I was fine but my point in sharing is just to tell you that they do everything they can to keep you from being in pain.

They also did a nerve block in my stomach which is basically like an epidural. I was sorta surprised to learn this when I couldn’t sit up but the recovery nurse told me so don’t be surprised about that if your dr does them. Also, not sure if you’ve ever had surgery before but in recovery there are nurses that pretty much just sit there and watch you as you are waking up. If you were to wake up in a great deal of pain they should know immediately so they can get you some relief.

i always wake up a few times to them putting my oxygen mask back on me because for some reason l like to take it off when I am waking up. Long story short. I don’t think anyone can promise that you won’t be in pain when you wake up but, you can rest assured that the hospital is the absolute best place to be if you do experience any.

[summerseeker 1,852]

Fear of the unknown is huge. We are human, it is hard wired into our DNA to protect us in prehistory. My fears keep me awake at night too, I hate that.

You can jump ship or postpone the surgery but you will wish you went through with it. Hold your nerve and get it done and you will be overjoyed. This surgery is life changing.

You wont be alone when you wake, the nurse assigned to you will be watching your progress. You shouldn't be in pain because that would be bad practise. They need you to get up and walk around asap. You couldn't do that in pain.

I had zero pain when I woke because they gave me meds in my drip. You will not wake up screaming in pain. You might feel tender in your mid section. I hugged a pillow to my stomach for a few days while standing.

Breathe, take each day as a chance to stay or jump. Get yourself to the morning of surgery and then decide.

[catwoman7 10,867]

I really didn't have any pain at all. In fact, at first I thought they hadn't done the surgery! Pain is all across the board with these surgeries, but I've been hanging out on this site for nine years, and from what I can tell, most of us experience very little pain. If you're one of the ones who DOES have pain, they'll give you pain killers to keep on top of it. They're pretty effective and the pain shouldn't last for more than a couple of days.

I also would not worry about complications. Techniques have improved immensely over the last few years, and complications are pretty rare.

Edited April 8 by catwoman7

[Scaredloser 10]

A huge thank you to everyone who has replied so far. It really comforts me to not be alone in this process, as I have been this entire time. I should've came onto hear sooner! Thank you.

[Elizabeth21again 13]

I was a bit nervous too. I think any time we going into a major surgery it's worrisome.

But here's the thing for me: I know I how miserable and painful it is to remain so overweight. I am already in pain and on a course to be trapped in my body forever. So, if, I'm going to have pain, I'd rather it been in pursuing a solution to my entrapment.

Fortunately, my surgery went well. So far recovering from this surgery is a lot easier than my hernia surgery some years ago. The first few days I was tender, but take the pain meds, use ice packs and rest. Everyday I felt a bit better.

Best wishes!

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,829]

I didn't have much pain when I woke up from my sleeve surgery. The pain came after i got home. It was a ROUGH 2 week recovery. HOWEVER....when I had my revision from sleeve to bypass, no pain. I was literally up and moving and walking and doing well while still in the hospital. The recovery was night and day compared to the sleeve. My only regret is that I didn't just do the bypass to begin with. I think you'll be fine. Just breathe through the nerves, remember why you're doing it, and take the leap. I promise, once you're on the other side of the surgery, you'll be so glad you did it.

[ms.sss 14,679]

i had low grade anxiety the morning of surgery.

i remember a nano-second of PURE PANIC literally just before i was knocked out. I remember them telling me to count down from 100 (or was it 10?)...i got to like 97 (or 7..) and felt myself starting to freak out. the last thing i (sorta) remember was 95 (or 5??)

next thing i knew i was waking up in the recovery room and my very first thought was "YEESSSSSSSS!!! I'M ALIVE!!!!!". the relief of it all allowed me to ignore whatever pain i may or may not have been in. when i did finally register pain, it was manageable. i took the hard stuff pain meds during my 1 day stay at hospital. i was sent home with an Rx for more, but didn't fill it...i was fine with just Tylenol. best description of it would be it felt like i did a ridiculous number of situps...more of an ache than a pain, if that makes sense.

so yeah, alot of us had at least some level of fear/anxiety/trepidation.

only way is through it!

good luck ❤️

Edited April 11 by ms.sss

[Scaredloser 10]

Just wanted to update everybody. I did it! I did have some pain right after the surgery, but the nurses gave me something that really worked. I haven't had a ton of pain since. I'm doing good with my fluids and am now 411. I was 429 on the day of surgery. It's awesome!