I'm 7 days out from my surgery, and now that it's coming closer I'm getting scared. I'm not really scared of the surgery, but what it's going to mean for me when the band is in place. I've been on my liquid diet for 7 out of 14 days now, and it SUCKS...big time. I find myself looking at everything that I just loved to eat and I'm thinking to myself...I'll never be able to eat that stuff again (at least not like I did). I don't doubt my decision...but this really does have me freaked out.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!! You should be able to take small bites of your fav foods - eventually!!

Believe me I was there and I'm about as indecisive as they come. I hung in there and went through with it yesterday. Hang in there and you'll do well it's truly not that bad of an experience. I had terrific nurses that helped a great deal. We'll be thinking of ya!!!

Its normal to be scared. Its already been about two years since I had my lapband and I have only lost around 40ish pounds. Its not as much as I wanted to be because as you stated, I LOVE TO EAT! lol I have found out that this is all a process; its a journey. You'll come to terms with everything and the biggest best advice I can give you is to seek professional therapy to why you have gained weight and why you love to eat. I have been in therapy for about 4 years now and I'm so happy now, so better then I was before I had my lapband, that now I don't care what I weigh or etc. But now that I'm truly happy, I'm ready to lose weight, for me, to be healthy and live a longer life. I had my lapband appointment last week and lost 2 lbs. And I realized that I haven't gained anything back!!! So I'm def happy and grateful for that.

Best of luck to you!

Chris

If you weren't scared!!! you would be out of the normal range... I put my 2 cents on this site in 2006. I said "I'm getting mighty nervous!!!"

I told my surgeon I was nervous, He said forget it this is a snap. So He fixed a old Hernia Repair for me, Took my lymph nodes out of the groin because he thought they were cancerous.

They weren't, then he did my band in about 20 minutes. Turned it in to a 3 hr. surgery on the table."HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY OF ME!!!"

I was fine So trust me,, you will do fine. Any Questions??? write me, and I will answer.

I'LL PASS THIS YOUR WAY...AS I WAS GETTING READY TO GO INTO THE SURGERY ROOM, THE NURSES SAID TO ME.... "

ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW LIFE" I SAID YES!!!

Shirley

10/31/2006

Dr. Jeffrey Genaw

Henry Ford Hospital "Center of Excellence"

I can imagine how nervous you must be. I just got insurance approval and my surgery date scheduled for March 31 and I am a nervous wreck. I know it's the right thing to do, but it scares me for sures. We will be just fine and so happy to start a new life. I have been dealing with my weight for years. Thank goodness we have an answer to our problem. Good Luck and stay calm.

I was nervous about the surgery its self, and life after surgery. I kept thinking- Can I use this tool the way it's intended? Will I succeed or fail? There are a hundred other questions, some tied to emotions some tied to reality, still rattling around in my head.

This coming Monday it will be two weeks since I had surgery. I'm still at the "will I succeed?" phase. I agree with Dreamer09 about counceling and understanding what place food has in your life. I'm going to counceling.

Also, measure what your definition of success is. Lose weight? Stop eating large portions? Stop relying on food as an emotional crutch? How much weight loss would mean you were successful? Rank your list, honestly, from 1- whatever. Revisit that list on a daily basis and add to it. Rewrite it as you change.

There are many people on this site to support you/us.

Blessings,

~A~

I hear you... this is a big decision. I'm scheduled for surgery on 3/1 and am a bit freaked out about it, but thankfully I have a great support system in that I have 3 banded friends who have been outstanding at answering questions, giving me guidance and cheering me on.

This is absolutely a lifestyle change, but for those of us who've tried and failed time and time again at everything from Atkins to Optifast to Weight Watchers to Nutrisystem, it's a necessary change. If you could do it on your own, wouldn't you have done it by now? I know I certainly would have, but at this point, I feel like having a physical limitation in place is exactly what I need. The motivation to not throw up or damage my insides is about as strong as I can imagine (that's why I'm doing the lap band instead of other methods).

I've been battling my weight since I was 10 years old and absolutely agree that you should seek therapy if you have a long term weight issue; it's deeper than just willpower. You'll learn alot about yourself and your behavioral patterns by getting a fresh perspective from someone who specializes in helping people with emotional eating issues.