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How to Get Rid Of Anxiety before Weight Loss Surgery

How to Get Rid Of Anxiety before Weight Loss Surgery

Sometimes, it is not easy to get rid of anxiety before surgery, because it is a completely normal process. In fact, it doesn’t even matter what kind of surgery it is; whether it is a major surgery or a simple procedure that your surgeon has performed hundreds of times, it is common to feel nervous and anxious. Some of this anxiety may be triggered by fear of anesthesia or the surgery itself. Some people already have existing anxiety issues.

However, it is important to know when and why exactly you are feeling anxious before your surgery so that you can be able to overcome it. We have noticed that anxiety can actually slow down the recovery process of a patient after a weight loss surgery.

Anxious patients usually need more medication and even more time for this medication to take effect before and after the surgery.

 

Feeling anxious before your weight loss surgery? What can you do?

Whether you normally suffer from anxiety or you are simply nervous before your bariatric procedure because you are afraid of complications that may happen with anesthesia, during the surgery itself or after the surgery, we do understand your fears. We understand that these feelings although normal can be very difficult to control.

Below are a few things we think you can do to help you get rid of or minimize your feelings of anxiety before the day of your procedure.

 

Do Some Research

Your anxiety may probably be triggered by uncertainty and fear of the unknown. The best thing is that in this age, the internet gives you access to information on anything you want to know. Do some research about the kind of surgery you will undergo and what to expect during, before and after the surgery.

You can also find online forums where previous bariatric surgical patients talk about their experiences. Their successful weight loss surgery experiences can do a lot to help you get rid of your anxiety. If you can, talk to someone who has goes through a bariatric surgical procedure.

 

Ask Questions

Talk to your bariatric team about your feelings and asking questions about what you don’t understand. At Advanced BMI, we are always happy to give you any information about your weight loss procedure and all the support you need before and after the surgery. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about bariatric surgery.

 

Find a Distraction

Walk, read a book, get lost in a TV series (whatever you love to do or makes you busy) day or weeks before your surgery. This will improve your state of mind and keep you distracted from obsessing about your scheduled procedure. If you have less time to obsess about the procedure, you can be able to take control of your anxiety and any irrational fears.

 

Relaxation Methods to Get Rid Of Anxiety

Finding a relaxation technique can be just what you need to get rid of your anxiety. Some common relaxation techniques include; breathing exercises, meditation or even prayer (whatever works for you). Meditation and breathing exercises have been known to lower blood pressure and stress levels.

Learning some relaxation techniques will help calm your nerves and take you to a better place psychologically before surgery.

If you are considering a bariatric surgery as a weight loss treatment here in Lebanon, feel free to contact  us with any questions you may have. We are always happy to be of help. Likewise; if you are scheduled for weight-loss surgery with us and you are feeling anxious about you procedure, please feel free to talk to us. We will be happy to help you in any way we can to alleviate your anxious feelings.

Author Info

Dr Nagi Safa

Dr Nagi Safa is a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon (Weight-Loss Surgeon) at the Advanced BMI in Lebanon and at the Sacred Heart Hospital of Montreal, and holds an academic appointment at the University of Montreal. Furthermore, he is involved in the training of residents and surgical fellows on how to perform advanced laparoscopic obesity surgery. In 2010, he launched the Advanced Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (Advanced BMI) in Lebanon, and has been helping hundreds of patients from all over the Middle-East through his expertise in obesity surgery. Education: Dr Safa completed his residency training at the University of Montreal General Surgery Program. He then performed a fellowship in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and Minimal Invasive Surgery (Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery), at the Sacred Heart Hospital of Montreal, which is the largest Weight Loss Surgery center in the Montreal area, and one of the busiest in Canada. Experience: During his training, and throughout his practice, Dr Safa performed more than one thousand laparoscopic procedures, including Roux en Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, gastric plication and many other abdominal surgery procedures. He has a particular interest in LaparoscopicRevisional Surgery including banding, bypass and sleeve. With a keen interest in the advancement of obesity surgery and newer minimally invasive surgical techniques, Dr Safa gained experience in the single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), and offers Single Incision gastric banding and Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery. Research: His current research interests include clinical outcomes from various bariatric surgery procedures and investigations on the impact of bariatric surgery on Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome X. Memberships: Dr Safa holds professional memberships with the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons, Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Association for Surgical Oncology, Quebec Medical Association, Trauma Association of Canada, Association Quebecoise de Chirurgie, International College of Surgeon, and the College des Medecins du Quebec.
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