I'm scheduled to have my surgery on september 13th. I am 18 years old and I am very excited to get the lap band. But I am having doubts. I do not want to feel a lot of pain and I'm not looking forward to the gas or shoulder pains people have been talking about. I'm really nervous about hair loss as well. And I don't know how ill be able to adapt to new eatting habits. So my question to people who have been banded, will it be worth it in the end?

I'm 2 weeks out from my surgery and my doctor did not prescribe any pain medication. Advil and Tylenol was all I could take. If you take those two on a regular basis after your surgery for about 3-4 days, then you should be fine. I didn't feel like eating after my surgery so that gave me a jump start for sure. The only time I ever doubted having the surgery was the day of my surgery. My daughter and husbund stopped at McDonalds on the way to surgery, (cruel I know) and that is when I decided that losing weight was weigh more important than eating a chicken McNugget. You will be fine and it is already worth it for me! Message me if you need more advice after surgery and I would be happy to walk you through it. PS....you don't have to walk a lot to get the gas to go away, just around the block or your drive way is enough.

I see you actually lost weight before even starting your pre-op diet. very impressed ! I go to the Dr on the 1st and my surgery is the 14th so he will probably start me around then but so far he hasn't said anything. I haven't weighed myself so it will be interesting to see what I have gained , shocked if I lost. You're doing great hope I can do it.

I do Water aerobic twice a week and if and when my weight loss slows down , I can increase the exercise. I don't like walking so you are one up on me there. Good luck.

Thank you very much!

I had to see the Nutritionist starting in February so I figured if i was going to do this...I was going to do it right. So I started by cutting out all sugar (ie, candy, cake, regular sodas) and drinking more water. Good luck

Thank you

To answer your question about IS it really worth it in the end?I am pre op,the same as you but I have spoken with other WLS patients at my support group and they all say they wish the surgery would have been available earlier in their lives and it was worth every penny.I am pretty sure I will feel the same way even though I am a self pay patient and I am financing $11,200.00 to get banding surgery.I think the most important thing I have learned from other WLS patients is that you will have more success and fewer complications if you follow the rules for your banding and surgery to the letter.I know most people won't do this but it will only benefit you if you do and save you from trouble like food getting ''stuck''.

Thank you very much! When is your surgery?