Re: Help, Pantic...surgery in 4 days!

[Guest guest]

I kept asking myself if I was sure while the anesthesiologist was injecting the drugs to knock me out for surgery.

I knew I wanted the surgery but it's spooky going to Mexico to a surgeon you have never met before based on research alone. But it is the right decision.

As for losing weight... want to hear the stats on morbidly obese people losing weight? OF those that are actually able to do it, a whopping 3% manage to keep it off for life.

Are you betting you are within that 3%? I'm not talking 3% of the obese population, I'm talking about those that lose all their weight and keep it off. That would be more like 0.0000003% of the entire obese population. ;o) Honestly, if you believe you are part of the 0.0000003% of the obese population, try another diet. Which one haven't you tried yet? I'll bet you have covered them all, haven't you?

Surgery is a choice, either you want to get healthy or you want to put it off. Wow, that sounds pissy and mean and I promise you, that isn't how I mean it. There comes a point where we have to say enough is enough. We want to be normal sized healthy people. Surgery is going to do it, dieting isn't. But if you want to keep fighting a losing battle there are a gazillion diet fads and pills out there. Are those safer than surgery? ;o)))))

You'll do fine, don't worry.

On 2/21/07, bettywbr <bettywbr@...> wrote:

Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not sure. I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my own

I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty

[Guest guest]

Betty,

I felt that way for years. But since getting the band and losing 51

lbs. I am so glad I went through with it. It is such a great helper

to eating right. I can still enjoy the things I used to but just not

in the quantities I did before. Last night I was sitting and watching

TV and realized I had not evening snacked since my surgery. I just

dont wander the house like I used to looking for food.

Good luck on your surgery. I am so happy with my decision to have it

and I think you will be too. This is the scary time- up until it is

done. I was terrified, especially once I got to Mexico but it will be

OK. Take your computer and pop in here for support!

>

> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing

> the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not

sure.

> I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my

own

> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic

> step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?

> I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my

> own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would

> appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty

>

[Guest guest]

Betty

I did that, about 2 weeks before I left, I went back and forth. I was

a bit of a mess for a couple of days.

It is just panic from fear of the unknown. I was traveling to a

another country, letting a doctor operate on me that I had never met.

But it passed and I was ok. also once I got there and met everyone I

was calm as a cucumber (well almost, I'm a needle panic person, can't

stand shots of any kind, any where)

When you get there ask Serge about having to pull off the

ceiling from her freak out about having to take a shot! I think I

scared the guy to death.

It was kind of funny considering I never even felt it! That was a

first for me.

You will have to sit down and weight your thoughts, I had 80 pounds to

lose also, but I have a bladder disease and had quit smoking around my

neck and losing weight was something that was not going to happen for

me unless I got some serious tools to help me.

FL

RNY 10 Jan 07

209/176/128

[Guest guest]

>

> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing

> the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not sure.

> I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my own

> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic

> step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?

> I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my

> own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would

> appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty

>

[Guest guest]

Betty,

I think we all felt that way but ask yourself, how long have I been

overweight? What negative affects is this extra weight having on my

life? Have I implemented lifestyle changes in the past? If so, how many

times and what were the results? If the results were positive, were

they short term or long lasting?

You should be a little nervous, this is a big step evaluate the whys

for getting this surgery. Remember you are going to a great team. Dr. A

is a member of the Am Bariatric Surgeons Association or something like

that. He has done many many of these procedures (an important

consideration). And you have seen the positive experiences and results

from the members of this board. I was banded in October 2006 and

sometimes I stay think " man, I went to MEXICO for surgery " . But I look

at my results I'm 37lbs lighter and much healthier. Yes, it was worth

it to me.

I say this all the time, the band gives me the willpower and self

discipline that I was lacking. I know that I will be successful now

that I have my band as a tool. I will caution you though and you will

hear this ad nauseum at Alameter Hospital. The band is a tool. You can

use the tool by following the rules and you will have success. You can

choose not to use the tool and your success will be limited. The

decision is yours. Also, you need to make sure that your expectations

are appropriate. You will not have the band surgery and wake up skinny.

The band makes weight loss easier but it still requires a significant

amount of effort from me.

The #1 thing I've learned is that even with the band you MUST BE

PREPARED TO MAKE SOME LIFESTYLE CHANGES. Losing weight is a numbers

game, you must expend more calories than you take in. Having the band

does not give you a hall pass on this rule. Even with the band you must

eat appropriately and EXERCISE. The band makes it easier but it will

not do the work for you.

A week or so after surgery you may start being hungry again and you

will get discouraged because you are not losing weight like you were or

like you want to. You will probably question your decision. Again, this

happens to almost all of us. You must get through the first 6 weeks.

When you get a fill or 2 or 3 or 4 you will start to feel the band's

restriction. That is when the band starts working.

I hope this is helpful. You can do this if it is what you decide you

want to do. You can also postpone your surgery if you are not sure

right now.

~~

>

> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing

> the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not

sure.

> I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my

own

> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic

> step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?

> I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my

> own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would

> appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you karen..your words helped me realize that I making the right decision for myself. I'll let you know how it goes...Bettymagnoliamouth <karenostrom@...> wrote: BettyI did that, about 2 weeks before I left, I went back and forth. I wasa bit of a mess for a couple of days.It is just panic from fear of the unknown. I was traveling to aanother country, letting a doctor operate on me that I had never met.But it passed and I was ok. also once I got there and met

everyone Iwas calm as a cucumber (well almost, I'm a needle panic person, can'tstand shots of any kind, any where)When you get there ask Serge about having to pull off theceiling from her freak out about having to take a shot! I think Iscared the guy to death.It was kind of funny considering I never even felt it! That was afirst for me.You will have to sit down and weight your thoughts, I had 80 pounds tolose also, but I have a bladder disease and had quit smoking around myneck and losing weight was something that was not going to happen forme unless I got some serious tools to help me.FLRNY 10 Jan 07209/176/128

Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit.

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for you words..they helped me alot and I feel I'm doing the right thing. I'll let you know how everything goes. Bettycb495079 <cherylbeck@...> wrote: >> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing > the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not sure. > I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my own> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic > step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?> I think that I just need to come to terms that I

can't lose it on my > own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would > appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty>

Be a PS3 game guru.Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Games.

[Guest guest]

Dear Betty,

I think that most of us had moments prior to our surgeries when we

wondered if we were doing the right thing, or making a huge mistake.

Heck, when you think about it, having second thoughts and last minute

jitters is something that occurs to many of us before almost ALL of our

really big life-changing moments, right? Or am I the only one in this

group that has periods of anxiety before big events.....

I personally remember that just prior getting into the car to drive to

the hospital to have my daughter, more than 20 years ago, I was

emphatically telling my then-husband that I had reallllly changed my

mind, and thought it would be best if we just put this whole giving-

birth thing off until another day. ( nope, didn't happen...he put tarps

on the seat of his car to protect the leather - and yes, that IS one of

the reasons he is my " then " husband instead of my current one )

drove me to the hospital, and in site of my last minute change of mind,

was born.

I've submitted resume's, interviewed for positions, accepted them,

resigned from the previous job, and then had those long nights where I

lay awake wondering what the HECK I was doing. Looking back over the

years though, every change I've made has been for the better, at least

for that particular time in my life.

My beloved current husband ( I like to call him that, just to keep him

in line ) has a good friend who is actually doing quite well in the

music industry. (For the other over 40 women in the group, who remember

Bret s and Poison- think heavy metal/hair band combos of the

80s, or just watch a few late night shows on VH1 and you'll see Bret)

Pete, our buddy, has spent the past 18 years with his own band, Evick,

and the past few years touring with Bret in the Freedom of Sound

tour,and will even be featured ( unless the folks in the editing booths

get carried away) in segments of VH1's new reality show " Rock Of Love "

starring Bret and his quest to find true love. Anyway. Pete has

written a song called " Just the Same " and a portion of the lyrics

include " If I had the chance to do it all again, I'd do it just the

same, as I already did " . The line itself isn't nearly as impressive OR

as inspirational when it is being typed by me, instead of being sung by

the band ( and the crowd) but the truth is, it speaks to MANY of us

because no matter how many things have gone other than the way in which

we intended for them to, we'd stick with where we are right now.

I have no idea how I got from your anxiety to babbling about Bret

s, but somehow mid-reply I had to go check out Bret's website

one more time to check out his latest video. A girl can dream can't she?

Ok, so we all have those moments when we wonder if we are about to

cross some invisible line that is going to completely alter the course

of our destiny, and since we don't have the benefit of clairvoyant

proof that it will all be for the better, we hesitate and want to pull

back into the safety zone.

When I made the decision to have the lapband procedure done, it was

actually the first time that I DIDN'T have lingering second thoughts

about the choice I had made. From the moment that I came to accept the

fact that all of the weight watchers meetings and Lean Cuisine frozen

dinners in the world were not going to save me from dying young due to

the multiple comorbid complications of my obesity, and that the only

option that I could really hope to be THE TOOL that would allow me to

completely alter my endless cycle of weight-loss / weight-gain would be

the lapband- I felt completely sure of my decision. At peace. Thrilled,

even. Throughout the period of time when I was arranging the details of

the surgery itself, talking my parents into loaning me the money, tryig

to convince my husband that I was not crazy and making some huge

misguided mistake in the hope of a 'quick fix " to my long struggle with

my weight, I never once had any doubts.

Every now and then one of my skinny friends will continue to ask me if

I wish that I had done things differently. Well, sure, in terms of the

entire course of my life, there are some small incidents I might want

to go back and do over again, hoping for a slightly better outcome, but

in terms of being banded? It was absolutely the best thing that I ever

did for myself. Sure, it would have been fabulous if I had never become

morbidly obese in the first place, if I hadn't spend most of my adult

years counting calories and feeling deprived, guilty, hopeless,

helpless and overwhelmed. It would have been just ducky to have lived

my life as a normal sized person, instead of the ungainly mass that I

was when I first met Dr. Aceves prior to my procedure. Didn't happen

that way though.

I like to think that instead of reaching for the band as a risky

measure, for me, it was the lifeline back into the safety zone.

My motto has always been that life is a journey, not a destination.

It's probably time for me to add an addendum to that motto- so from now

on , MY motto is.....

" Life is a journey, not a destination...And along the way, I choose not

to have to take up two seats on the bus "

Good luck to you!

>

> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing

> the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not

sure.

> I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my

own

> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic

> step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?

> I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my

> own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would

> appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing

> > the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not

sure.

> > I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on

my own

> > I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic

> > step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?

> > I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my

> > own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would

> > appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be a PS3 game guru.

> Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at

Games.

>

[Guest guest]

thanks a bunch susan..your words helped. Betty <susan@...> wrote: Dear Betty,I think that most of us had moments prior to our surgeries when we wondered if we were doing the right thing, or making a huge mistake. Heck, when you think about it, having second thoughts and last minute jitters is something that occurs to many of us before almost ALL of our really big life-changing moments, right? Or am I the only one in this group that has periods of anxiety before big

events.....I personally remember that just prior getting into the car to drive to the hospital to have my daughter, more than 20 years ago, I was emphatically telling my then-husband that I had reallllly changed my mind, and thought it would be best if we just put this whole giving-birth thing off until another day. ( nope, didn't happen...he put tarps on the seat of his car to protect the leather - and yes, that IS one of the reasons he is my "then" husband instead of my current one ) drove me to the hospital, and in site of my last minute change of mind, was born.I've submitted resume's, interviewed for positions, accepted them, resigned from the previous job, and then had those long nights where I lay awake wondering what the HECK I was doing. Looking back over the years though, every change I've made has been for the better, at least for that particular time in my life. My beloved

current husband ( I like to call him that, just to keep him in line ) has a good friend who is actually doing quite well in the music industry. (For the other over 40 women in the group, who remember Bret s and Poison- think heavy metal/hair band combos of the 80s, or just watch a few late night shows on VH1 and you'll see Bret)Pete, our buddy, has spent the past 18 years with his own band, Evick, and the past few years touring with Bret in the Freedom of Sound tour,and will even be featured ( unless the folks in the editing booths get carried away) in segments of VH1's new reality show "Rock Of Love" starring Bret and his quest to find true love. Anyway. Pete has written a song called "Just the Same" and a portion of the lyrics include "If I had the chance to do it all again, I'd do it just the same, as I already did". The line itself isn't nearly as impressive OR as inspirational when it is being typed by me,

instead of being sung by the band ( and the crowd) but the truth is, it speaks to MANY of us because no matter how many things have gone other than the way in which we intended for them to, we'd stick with where we are right now. I have no idea how I got from your anxiety to babbling about Bret s, but somehow mid-reply I had to go check out Bret's website one more time to check out his latest video. A girl can dream can't she?Ok, so we all have those moments when we wonder if we are about to cross some invisible line that is going to completely alter the course of our destiny, and since we don't have the benefit of clairvoyant proof that it will all be for the better, we hesitate and want to pull back into the safety zone. When I made the decision to have the lapband procedure done, it was actually the first time that I DIDN'T have lingering second thoughts about the choice I had made. From the

moment that I came to accept the fact that all of the weight watchers meetings and Lean Cuisine frozen dinners in the world were not going to save me from dying young due to the multiple comorbid complications of my obesity, and that the only option that I could really hope to be THE TOOL that would allow me to completely alter my endless cycle of weight-loss / weight-gain would be the lapband- I felt completely sure of my decision. At peace. Thrilled, even. Throughout the period of time when I was arranging the details of the surgery itself, talking my parents into loaning me the money, tryig to convince my husband that I was not crazy and making some huge misguided mistake in the hope of a 'quick fix" to my long struggle with my weight, I never once had any doubts. Every now and then one of my skinny friends will continue to ask me if I wish that I had done things differently. Well, sure, in terms of the entire

course of my life, there are some small incidents I might want to go back and do over again, hoping for a slightly better outcome, but in terms of being banded? It was absolutely the best thing that I ever did for myself. Sure, it would have been fabulous if I had never become morbidly obese in the first place, if I hadn't spend most of my adult years counting calories and feeling deprived, guilty, hopeless, helpless and overwhelmed. It would have been just ducky to have lived my life as a normal sized person, instead of the ungainly mass that I was when I first met Dr. Aceves prior to my procedure. Didn't happen that way though.I like to think that instead of reaching for the band as a risky measure, for me, it was the lifeline back into the safety zone. My motto has always been that life is a journey, not a destination. It's probably time for me to add an addendum to that motto- so from now on , MY motto

is....."Life is a journey, not a destination...And along the way, I choose not to have to take up two seats on the bus"Good luck to you! >> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing > the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not sure. > I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my own> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic > step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?> I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my > own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would > appreciate any help someone can give me.

Betty>

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[Guest guest]

WOW! , that was heavy. I don't know about anyone else but when I read a post that hits me...I save it into my Dr. Aceves file. I haven't had surgery yet and honestly don't know when/if I will be able to afford to (my husband and I are retired and live on his pension and his social security) BUT these posts really motivate. Thank you for the inspiration! <susan@...> wrote: Dear Betty,I think that most of us had

moments prior to our surgeries when we wondered if we were doing the right thing, or making a huge mistake. Heck, when you think about it, having second thoughts and last minute jitters is something that occurs to many of us before almost ALL of our really big life-changing moments, right? Or am I the only one in this group that has periods of anxiety before big events.....I personally remember that just prior getting into the car to drive to the hospital to have my daughter, more than 20 years ago, I was emphatically telling my then-husband that I had reallllly changed my mind, and thought it would be best if we just put this whole giving-birth thing off until another day. ( nope, didn't happen...he put tarps on the seat of his car to protect the leather - and yes, that IS one of the reasons he is my "then" husband instead of my current one ) drove me to the hospital, and in site of my last minute change of mind,

was born.I've submitted resume's, interviewed for positions, accepted them, resigned from the previous job, and then had those long nights where I lay awake wondering what the HECK I was doing. Looking back over the years though, every change I've made has been for the better, at least for that particular time in my life. My beloved current husband ( I like to call him that, just to keep him in line ) has a good friend who is actually doing quite well in the music industry. (For the other over 40 women in the group, who remember Bret s and Poison- think heavy metal/hair band combos of the 80s, or just watch a few late night shows on VH1 and you'll see Bret)Pete, our buddy, has spent the past 18 years with his own band, Evick, and the past few years touring with Bret in the Freedom of Sound tour,and will even be featured ( unless the folks in the editing booths get carried away) in segments

of VH1's new reality show "Rock Of Love" starring Bret and his quest to find true love. Anyway. Pete has written a song called "Just the Same" and a portion of the lyrics include "If I had the chance to do it all again, I'd do it just the same, as I already did". The line itself isn't nearly as impressive OR as inspirational when it is being typed by me, instead of being sung by the band ( and the crowd) but the truth is, it speaks to MANY of us because no matter how many things have gone other than the way in which we intended for them to, we'd stick with where we are right now. I have no idea how I got from your anxiety to babbling about Bret s, but somehow mid-reply I had to go check out Bret's website one more time to check out his latest video. A girl can dream can't she?Ok, so we all have those moments when we wonder if we are about to cross some invisible line that is going to completely alter the

course of our destiny, and since we don't have the benefit of clairvoyant proof that it will all be for the better, we hesitate and want to pull back into the safety zone. When I made the decision to have the lapband procedure done, it was actually the first time that I DIDN'T have lingering second thoughts about the choice I had made. From the moment that I came to accept the fact that all of the weight watchers meetings and Lean Cuisine frozen dinners in the world were not going to save me from dying young due to the multiple comorbid complications of my obesity, and that the only option that I could really hope to be THE TOOL that would allow me to completely alter my endless cycle of weight-loss / weight-gain would be the lapband- I felt completely sure of my decision. At peace. Thrilled, even. Throughout the period of time when I was arranging the details of the surgery itself, talking my parents into loaning

me the money, tryig to convince my husband that I was not crazy and making some huge misguided mistake in the hope of a 'quick fix" to my long struggle with my weight, I never once had any doubts. Every now and then one of my skinny friends will continue to ask me if I wish that I had done things differently. Well, sure, in terms of the entire course of my life, there are some small incidents I might want to go back and do over again, hoping for a slightly better outcome, but in terms of being banded? It was absolutely the best thing that I ever did for myself. Sure, it would have been fabulous if I had never become morbidly obese in the first place, if I hadn't spend most of my adult years counting calories and feeling deprived, guilty, hopeless, helpless and overwhelmed. It would have been just ducky to have lived my life as a normal sized person, instead of the ungainly mass that I was when I first met Dr.

Aceves prior to my procedure. Didn't happen that way though.I like to think that instead of reaching for the band as a risky measure, for me, it was the lifeline back into the safety zone. My motto has always been that life is a journey, not a destination. It's probably time for me to add an addendum to that motto- so from now on , MY motto is....."Life is a journey, not a destination...And along the way, I choose not to have to take up two seats on the bus"Good luck to you! >> Has anyone felt before surgery that they are not sure they are doing > the right thing? one day I'm all for it and the next day I'm not sure. > I say to myself..should I try to lose weight just one more try on my

own> I should be able to do it if I really tried. It seems like a drastic > step even though I'm 80lbs over weight. Can I change my life style?> I think that I just need to come to terms that I can't lose it on my > own and if I want to lose weight this is what I must do. I would > appreciate any help someone can give me. Betty>

Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit.