Hi! I've been lurking forever and finally built up the courage to introduce myself :thumbup:.

I am 32, live and work in NYC and have a surgery date of 8/30 with Dr. Ren @ NYU.

I have been working on getting this surgery since October of last year (when I first attended the seminar) and at first I was really, really excited! Now that it is almost here - I am scared. I am scared to have an implantable device inside of me, I am scared I will want it out and I am scared I won't be able to handle... well all of it really. I know that I need to sacrifice something. If it's not this - it needs to be something - I need to lose weight, I need to be healthy - I am tired of hurt feet, knees, blood pressure meds and of being pre-diabetic. I want to wear heels, dresses and not be conscious of my weight every.second.of.the.day.

Sorry to be such a downer, but I need to keep this journey real and sharing with fellow folks who *get* what I am going through - I hope can help me :thumbup:.

I really welcome any and all words of encouragement and wisdom!

Hi alisonlen454 - how are you? how did the banding go?

lk77- Thank you so much for checking in. The surgery was a success and I could not have asked for a better experience than the one I got at Lenox Hill. All the DRs and RNs were amazing and supportive. I ended up having a hernia which they needed to fix during the surgery, so the dr. says Im having a little more pain than normal. But my anxiety is gone and I am so excited and optimistic for the future! Now that the surgery is out of the way, I know I can do this!

How are you feeling? I read your post from 7/8 about going back to see the psychologist, did you ever do so? I have to tell you, your ability to identify your issues with food and desire to take the steps to ensure you change them in order to succeed with the band is a testament to how well you will do. I think you will have nothing but success with the band! Please keep me updated!

Alison