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My WLS Journey Starts Here....Eeeek!

C

Curvy_Kapricorn

New Member
Hi Everyone,

My name is Claire. I posted only once before on here and that was to ask a question about my Doctor wanting me to go on WL medication before he referred me. Right, well after all the polite demands and having my appointments with the Hospital's bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, consultant and psychologist. I can now tell you all that my gastric bypass is going ahead on Tuesday 4th November 2008.
I have been given my pre op diet to follow in the two weeks leading up to the op and im also awaiting an appointment with the sleep clinic to find out whether i have sleep apnea which i have been told will happen before the op takes place.

After wanting this operation so badly, I am now getting so nervous and keep thinking about the risks as i have an eight year old daughter and do not want her to be without her mummy. Are the risks really that bad?

I would really appreciate any support and advice :sigh:

C xxxx
 
Well as you will find if you look there are many conflicting reports to the actual statistics but the fact of the matter is that the risks are there and yes they can be very serious. There are articles on our web site that are medical based so more factual than some of the rubbish facts out there.
My opinion for my ten penny worth is that....the operation MUST, MUST be a last option ONLY and you MUST take care of yourself post op for the rest of your life.
Make sure you have a good surgeon, the op itself is pretty much a safe bet even though some risk is involved. The first 30 days post op is statisticly the most dangerous time.

I am now 10 weeks post op.
 
Well like you I have kids and can understand your fears, but the way I looked at it is that if I didnt have the op and loose the weight they would have been without a mum too young in their life anyway. That for me was the motivation to loose the weight, I wanted to watch my daughters grow up without them worrying about me or worse yet caring for me as my obesity got worse.
Yep its a last option but I am assuming that you have tried all options, I did everything and nothing worked so surgery was the last option but the best thing i ever did!
 
when i went to the weight management clinic i had asked to be refered as my bloodpressure had become boarderline and up until then i hadnt suffered any ill health related to my weight. It really scared me that my health was being effected by my weight but hadn't even considered weight loss surgery. When the specialist said thet the only thing they would do for me was a bypass i was shocked. I had managed to loose 3 stone on lipotrim but plataued.He wouldnt offer me medication because of my blood pressure and other than that it was a 300 cal diet and he didnt think that that was an option because i had sooo much to loose.
I look at it like caroline without the surgery im at risk of early death so hopefully the risks of surgery are worth taking as if i did die because of it i died trying to do something about my weight.
The media always sensationalise things but look at all the positive people on here. I dont think there is anyone who regrets their desision to have WLS.
Good luck with yr opand dont forget to come back and tell us all about it.
HC
 
I have a 7 year old son so I understand what you mean completely. I looked on it as knowing that yes, there are some risks for the surgery itself, but the risks to me long term far outweighed them.
 
Well all i can say is that of course you are going to get nervous, and consider all of the possible outcomes, that's only natural. You didn't just wake up one day and think oooh think I'll have a gastric bypass tomorrow did you? Coming to the conclusion that this is necessary is a long process, and the decisions along the way I'm sure weren't taken lightly.

Only you know what's right for you. If it makes you feel better (and if you haven't already) then hit the net and do the research, but be aware that research can be interpreted differently by different people and ditto for statistics, so consider the motivation of the author whilst reading. Look for solid facts, not so and so told me or I read somewhere.

For me, it was an easy decision. If I didn't lose a rapid amount of weight quickly I would be wheelchair bound before my 30th birthday (I'm 29) and in need of various joint replacement surgery fairly quickly. My husband would have become my carer, caring for a 20stone+ woman isn't easy! My life expectancy is reduced because of my illnesses, and being overweight would only have exacerbated that, whereas losing weight will make my quality of life better, assist my mobility, and reduce the strain on my body.
 
Hi i also have 2 kids an 8 year old and a 2 year old. i was very nervous and apprehensive about my surgery and di wonder the what if's. The way i looked at it was without the surgery my kids risked losing me anyway as my health was that poor. i also couldn't enjoy them as the weight prevented me from doing normal day to day things. weighing it all up i decided i had nothing to lose. My diabetes is now under control by diet alone and i can run around and play with mmy kids. I'm so glad i had the op and it has only improved our whole lives including my children's.

It's natural to feel nervous and worried. just try to keep positive and focus on why you are having the op done x
 
Hi Everyone,
I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.....
I have been without the internet since just after i posted the last message thanks to aol!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for all your replies and support.
I am still nervous but at the end of the day i need to get healthier as the surgeon estimated that at my current weight (22 and a bit stone) i have already taken 17 years of my life.

My family keep saying, but what happens when you want sweets/ chocolates / fatty foods and you cant? I always reply......look i have eaten my life time supply of junk for over 32 years and if it means i can walk down the road for more than five minutes without being in agony with my back and joints, i would give all the rubbish up for good as i want my life back!!
 
To prove to the surgeon how committed i am, i am nearly a month into giving up smoking too as he sdaid he will do a blood test on the day of the op and if there is a trace of nicotine - he will send me home!
I cannot wait to see his face when i tell him as i will have been smoke free for 6 weeks by the time of the op!!.
 
That's great, well done you! I gave up nearly 3 years ago so I understand how hard it can be.

Do you know what pre-op diet you'll be doing yet?
 
The pre op diet is just healthy eating with smaller portions and no junk of any kind. The list gives me a choice of things i can have such a grilled chicken breast etc and then i have to pick what else im allowed to have with it from the list. Does this sound familiar? Oh and i am not allowed to eat between the healthy meals.
 
Sounds similar to the 800cal plan I was given. Lots of one thing from this list and two things from that list etc.

You'll do great, and now you've got everyone here for support if you need it!
 
Giving up smoking has been alot easier than i thought actually Shel:). I have been smoking since the age of 13 and i was smoking roughly about 30 a day. Maybe its because i joined a non smoking group to give me extra support...........i just hope i will still find it as easy after the op. Well done you.....three years without nicotine!!!!
 
You'll make loads of new friends easily, and it's great cos they're friends that truly understand the processes you're going to be going through. there are people here at all stages of the journey and pretty soon you'll be the one giving advice post op :)

There are plans afoot to arrange a meet up just for us surgical miniminers down south for end of jan/beginning of feb, there is a thread dedicated to it somewhere, have a look, there are a few london members.

http://www.minimins.com/surgical-weight-loss/62843-southern-meet.html
 
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