MelVan

Alerker, I feel the same as you. I was banded on 3/21/12. I lost 7 lbs preop and I've lost 7 lbs post op. I walk with a walker and much pain so I have not been exercising at all. I eat about 600 calories a day and my weight loss is so slow compared to other posters. Let's not be discouraged. We all lose at our own rate and we are making progress toward a healthier life. I wish you the best in your recovery. MelVan

Fellow March Bandsters, My day is TOMORROW. I am already in Palm Beach at motel and I go to hospital at 9am/surgery at 11. I thank you all so much for this blog. I have learned so much and have a good idea what to expect. I won't be scared with every pain and new feeling. Pay for me as I am praying for all of us. I'll blog again after I cross over and am born again with my new baby stomach. Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels. MelVan

I appreciate you for sharing your food binging trigger being linked to sadness and feeling sorry for yourself. I certainly have experienced that as well...feeling unloved, doing too much for others expecting a thankyou, love, attention...not getting it and then binging as I dull the emotional pain. My bigger issue is stress related. I have to drive 2 hours to have my apts related to my lapband surgery 3/21/12. Every time I passed a hurdle apt., I would stop somewhere on the way home and buy a lb. of fudge or go out to eat by myself. I felt I needed to treat myself because I put myself out so much and risked so much in the pre op apt(gas money, difficult traffic, extensive medical history, psych interview, nutritionist interview, hospital preop etc). I am 80 lbs over ideal weight with many comorbidities because I use food for reasons other than hunger"my drug of choice". I have heard "insanity is doing the same thing over and over , expecting different results" We all need to learn new ways to deal with our emotions. I am considering this a rebirth, a new baby stomach and a new way of thinking. It is hard to change but we are all brave for trying to improve our lives and health. MelVan

Best wishes March bandsters! I cleared my last hurdle yesterday and I will be banded in Atlantis FL 3/21/12. Mostly excited now although still a little scared. My good friend will take off work to accompany me and stay in motel. She will be positive and distract me from worry. I thought I was going by myself. I am grateful. My big concern is my BP always goes way up with anxiety and pain. My blood sugar is not stable or controled now with meds. Too many highs with pain and stress and crashes sometimes when I don't eat. 4 yrs ago I was in acute kidney failure from dehydration from stomach ulcers(I didn't drink anything and my meds damaged kidneys). I have a shunt still in my abdomen from pseudo tumor cerebri which increases my health risk for infection that could spread to my brain. The roller coaster of managing obesity related health issues and meds is the scary part of this for me. For those of you who are younger and healthier CONGRATULATIONS for caring about yourself and your health and doing this before its too late. Here's the deal. I pray for us all and please join me in prayers.

I understand your pain. My husband went through a midlife crisis 12 yrs ago. cheated. I went to alanon 12 step group for support and I was told to give it a year and not make hasty decision. Alanon's program healped me alot with the support and self reflection.We are still married and he has not cheated again. You need to do what is best for you. Sometimes men(when they are doubting what they have known) go temporarily nuts. Your weight loss probably threatened him and he needed someone to reassure his fragil ego. This is not your fault.You didn't cause this, you can't control this, you can't cure this. It was his character defect. If you allow him to stay in your life he needs to do everything to regain your trust. It is possible.

I was required to have a 2 hr psych eval(PHD phychologist) and I filled out long questionaires. It was brutal. I was required to be followed by a psychiatrist and be on meds for depression and anxiety. I was also required to join a 12 step group of my choice , get a sponsor and have someone to call when I have future crisis. I consider myself sane and not in need of this. My surgery is March 19. I am sure I will miss food and that may trigger sadness. I know 12 step groups are free and that's a good deal. I found a CODA meeting. that's for codependents. I am always putting others before me and giving too much money to my kids. I need to learn to take care of myself first. I think food has been my best friend/enemy and my drug of choice. Body image is an entirely different thing but when I first see my shrink, if I like him, maybe he can help with the body image transition. Mostly I don't want to switch addictions as I hear that often happens.

Hello March Bandsters, I am scheduled for March 19 at JFK in Lake Worth FL. I have a 160 mile rt drive for any apts. My surgeon did not require an upper gi scope, no presurgery diet. This seems strange to me after reading on this site. I'm excited, scared, ready to lose my comorbidities and take fewer prescriptions. I am 60 and I should have done this before. I wonder why you did not opt for gastric bypass? So many on other sites prefer that. Prayers for all my fellow March bandsters.

Fla Banders, i am from Fort Pierce. I get my band on March 19 at JFK lake Worth. I am looking for someone in my area because there is no close support group. Blog friends would be great too who are following this path and can advise me with whatever develops. Scared, excited, ready for a healthier life.