Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Did any of you go through this? I was so excited and I know I want this, but yesterday I started telling myself maybe I should just forget about it. Did you do the same? How did you over-come this? I can see the real motivation for those of you in your 20's and 30's but I am in my 50's, so I find myself saying maybe I'm not getting enough good years out of doing this. Is this just an excuse? I haven't changed my consultations or anything, just getting real chicken. Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 At 6:52 AM -0400 8/28/01, MsMystic1@... wrote: >I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Did any of you go through >this? Absolutely. I was up and down several times, though I did not want to admit it to people close to me. >I was so excited and I know I want this, but yesterday I started >telling myself maybe I should just forget about it. Did you do the same? >How did you over-come this? I just pictured myself globbing further and further into grossness, not being able to climb stairs without major effort, having more shortness of breath, qualifying only for Jabba the Hut roles (Star Wars -- http://fan.starwars.com/darqueman/jabba.html), not being able to tie my own shoes at all, and dying (blobbing out) in another five years or so. >I can see the real motivation for those of you in your 20's and 30's but I am >in my 50's, so I find myself saying maybe I'm not getting enough good years >out of doing this. I am 61. Had my DS just 4 months ago. Losing somewhat slowly, but am down an even 60 lb as of today; 105 lb. more to get to target. I exercise every other day (1/2 hour on a semi-recumbent bike, turning up the tension every five minutes, and then about 15 minutes of weight resistance training). Though I still have a long way to go, I can climb the flight of stairs in my house now without its being a major event of the day; in fact, my wife heard me running upstairs on Sunday when i was in a hurry--she thought it so unusual that she commented on it. I can tie my shoes without my face turning red and my having to gasp for air. I am fitting into clothes from my closet long saved only as sad reminders of thinner days gone by. I am altogether off Lipitor (for high cholesterol); my diuretic dose has been cut in half, and, I suspect, will be discontinued entirely very soon (my blood pressure now hovers between 115 and 120 (systolic) and 65-70 (diastolic); my beta blocker (heart medicine) dose has been cut by 1/3; I will probably be able to go off Prilosec (for gastric reflux) soon; my knees no longer hurt (though I am slowly getting over about five weeks of lower back pain that some of us get as our centers of gravity shift from weight loss and redistribution, thus confusing the muscles around our spines). >Is this just an excuse? Sounds like an excuse; walks like an excuse; smells like an excuse... Know what: I THINK IT'S AN EXCUSE! >I haven't changed my >consultations or anything, just getting real chicken. That's OK, Carole. I didn't really calm down until the day before surgery. We are all different, and others have reacted quite differently than I. So, ride with your fears and emotions, and keep sharing them with us. We are here as your community, to share and to help you grow, in whatever direction **YOU** choose to grow (pun is half-intentional). --Steve -- Steve Goldstein, age 61 Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001 Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51 BMI on 08/28 = 41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 > I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Did any of you go through > this? Carole, I am 42 y.o., I have done many foolish and scary things in my life. Right up until I slid my big ass onto the operating table and they were securing my arms did I think " what the hell am I doing here? " . Then I took a deep breath and told o.r. nurse I needed a minute. My Dr. told me " , if you want to cancel and give this more time I will do you in a month, three or next year " . I started to think about the rest of my life in this prison I have confined myself to thought about the things I have missed doing. And I said " lets do this " to be honest I wasn't expecting to make it through the surgery alive wiith all my comorbitities. My recovery was hard, with the sleep apnea and renal failure. Dr. s told me the day he released me from the hospital had " I not had the surgery and seeing all the post-op problems he didn't think that I would have lived out the year " . Carole just think of this as a small investment in a joyous rest of yourlife. Best of luck and be well. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Carol, I am 47, 2 months out, down 62 pounds...feel great and lucky enough to have no problems. You will be giving YOURSELF and YOUR FAMILY one of the best and most important gifts you could. I believe the BPD/DS to be a CURE for that atrocius disease MORBID OBESITY! They have a cure! Why not grab it! My advice would be, take one step at a time, each preop step and before you know it....you will be enjoying your tremendous new gift to yourself, enjoying it EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Dan > I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Did any of you go through > this? I was so excited and I know I want this, but yesterday I started > telling myself maybe I should just forget about it. Did you do the same? > How did you over-come this? > I can see the real motivation for those of you in your 20's and 30's but I am > in my 50's, so I find myself saying maybe I'm not getting enough good years > out of doing this. Is this just an excuse? I haven't changed my > consultations or anything, just getting real chicken. > Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 WOW!!!!!!!! All of these stories have been FANTASIC!!! All of you who have stepped forward with your ages and how you went ahead and did this anyway is marvelous! I am 45 now and dont even have insurance that will cover this and may never, yet I keep to this group in hopes that someday I will, if ever, have this for myself. I lose hope every now and then becasue I am not getting any younger. I have been here for quite sometime now and seen a lot of people switched. But I never knew the ages of the lucky people who were successful in having been approaved. I applaud you and stand watching as the next voyager ignores all doubt and makes the leap into a new and much deserved normal healthy life. Sincerely, Lee H. .................................... << Carole, Hi! Im 57 and never entertained the idea of not having the surgery. I wanted to live longer which is why I had it to begin with. Our chances at longevity increase once its done! Im looking forward to living to 100 or more..........wooooooohooooooo!! Judie >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Oh Tom, you are too funny..What a riot! Love this one a lot. It made my day. truly it did. ))) Lee H. << Hi Carole: > I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Welcome to the club! > I was so excited and I know I want > this, but yesterday I started telling > myself maybe I should just forget about > it. Did you do the same? Right up until they injected the med into my IV to knock me out! > How did you over-come this? I didn't think about it until I got to the hospital. Then I just let myself go limp with terror, and the staff took care of the rest. > I am in my 50's, so I find myself > saying maybe I'm not getting enough > good years out of doing this. Is > this just an excuse? Yeppers. And it's a really LAME excuse too! (Not nearly as lame as some of the ones I tried to pull on myself, but pretty decently lame nonetheless.) > I haven't changed my consultations or > anything, just getting real chicken. Good. Now just stop thinking about it for a while and it'll be over before you even know it. Cluck, cluck, cluck-cluck-cluck, CLUCK-CLUCK! Tom >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Hi Carole: > I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Welcome to the club! > I was so excited and I know I want > this, but yesterday I started telling > myself maybe I should just forget about > it. Did you do the same? Right up until they injected the med into my IV to knock me out! > How did you over-come this? I didn't think about it until I got to the hospital. Then I just let myself go limp with terror, and the staff took care of the rest. > I am in my 50's, so I find myself > saying maybe I'm not getting enough > good years out of doing this. Is > this just an excuse? Yeppers. And it's a really LAME excuse too! (Not nearly as lame as some of the ones I tried to pull on myself, but pretty decently lame nonetheless.) > I haven't changed my consultations or > anything, just getting real chicken. Good. Now just stop thinking about it for a while and it'll be over before you even know it. Cluck, cluck, cluck-cluck-cluck, CLUCK-CLUCK! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 At 1:18 PM -0400 8/28/01, dwkteach@... wrote: > . . . The reality is that you do not wake up from surger thin. Aw, sh!# !!! -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Carole! My goodness, honey, you've got LOTS of good years ahead of you! And a lot MORE if you get the surgery! Though, I decided against the RNY, I did go to an education seminar (sales pitch) at Alvarado Hospital and something Dr. Wittgrove said really slapped me in the face. " When you go to the mall, how often do you see elderly obese people walking around? You don't, do you? Well, it's not because they're not leaving the house. " He didn't have to say more than that. You have so many good years in front of you and you deserve every single one of them! Believe in yourself! Tracey in San Diego > I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Did any of you go through > this? I was so excited and I know I want this, but yesterday I started > telling myself maybe I should just forget about it. Did you do the same? > How did you over-come this? > I can see the real motivation for those of you in your 20's and 30's but I am > in my 50's, so I find myself saying maybe I'm not getting enough good years > out of doing this. Is this just an excuse? I haven't changed my > consultations or anything, just getting real chicken. > Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2001 Report Share Posted August 28, 2001 Oh good grief, Carole. Being in your 50s means you have 20-40 years left to live. You want to live them as a morbidly obese woman? Not me! I love my DS Fear is the flip side of excitement. It's pretty natural to experience some fear. You get to choose whether or not to allow fear to stop you. As far as I know, the surgeon's don't cahrge extra for fear. LOL Think about the pros and cons. Be willing to be afraid without allowing that to define your choices. in Seattle DS at age 64 and thrilled I did it > I am starting to get chicken about this surgery. Did any of you go through > this? I was so excited and I know I want this, but yesterday I started > telling myself maybe I should just forget about it. Did you do the same? > How did you over-come this? > I can see the real motivation for those of you in your 20's and 30's but I am > in my 50's, so I find myself saying maybe I'm not getting enough good years > out of doing this. Is this just an excuse? I haven't changed my > consultations or anything, just getting real chicken. > Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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