my surgery is in 13 days. Im not getting any support from friends, family or coworkers I just want to hear some encouraging words, success stories anything positive. I want my life back not a quick fix. I hope this is the answer im scared of the post op diet and any complications. this is forever and i really need to know its safe and it works..

While I can't give you any post op encourgement, I've been where you've been. After almost 8 months of getting through all the doctor's appointments, etc., and reading everything here, I wanted to back out. But like you, I decided getting my life back was more important than the couple months of discomfort and I scheduled my surgery date - for the second time (health issues delayed it the first time).

There are a lot of people on here, pre and post op that will offer a lot of encouragement and support. Stick with it.

Post op for most is not fun but neither is any surgery. I would say after the first two weeks you start feeling good. You may or may not get hungry it depends. I was hungry by the end of week one but it doesnt mean you will have a hard time. Is a couple of weeks discomfort really that bad compared to having a lifetime of health. You have to do what you have to do to be happy. With every surgery there are risk but 90 percent of the time there are none. You cant let the negative take over the positive.

You're nervous and that's normal, but you need to do this for yourself. many people criticize what they fail to understand, but I was banded 18 months ago and I've lost 126 lbs. I feel like a new person, both physically and mentally. Isn't that what you want for yourself?

You need to know that what other people think is not what is best for you. ONLY YOU and your doctor know what is the best decision for your health. Why would you let unqualified people (even though they are family) dictate how you lead your life? They are not the ones who are dealing with YOUR weight issues.

I was back to work after a week with my surgery and yes, the first month is not fun and weight loss can be slow, but I get a sense that you are committed to this as a lifestyle change and not some quick fix. You have to work to lose weight until the point where you have proper restriction and looking back, it can be frustrating at times, but do i think it is worth it? Oh HECK YES.

I wish you had a support system at home, but I know for me, I met SO many wonderful women through the blogging world on Blogger.com. I started a blog "Dreams of Skinny High Heels" the month before my surgery and I encourage you to go visit it and read about my journey starting in Jan of 2010. The other bloggers and I share each others frustrations, Celebrate each others accomplishments (like meeting goal) and are a cheering section for one another when those around us may not be so supportive.

Good luck to you and seriously, screw what other people think. This is YOUR life!

The post-op diet is a couple weeks of not eating solid food. It really helps your mind get used to the idea of the life style changes you are about to adopt. It's really not that bad. If your like me, you won't even be hungry during that time anyway. My friends, family and coworkers were very supportive but honestly, if they hadn't been I don't think it would have made a difference. I was doing this for myself not for them. Ask your doctor to hook you up with another one of his patients that's having surgery around the same time as you. You can support each other. Go to his support group meetings if he has them. And by all means, keep coming here. We are all here to support each other.

Don't worry about complications of surgery. Yes, there is always a risk with any surgery but this is the safest bariatric surgery there is. The mortality rate is less than 1 in 1000. As for the post-op discomfort (which is minimal) just think of the discomfort of living in a 43 BMI body. There is really nothing worse than that! You're 39 years old. They say that life begins at 40. Start your life happy in a healthy body. You'll be so glad you did!

First, I have to say I love all of the posts here! ~So helpful and encouraging. Next, I am in your same boat, as I will be having surgery in Oct. I look at it like this~ I want only to be healthy and here for my family. It is life changing and you will eat differently and that is not a bad thing. (Scary, but not bad). I have to do this for myself. I have a very supportive group around me, but find that even with that I turn to these boards with people who have "been there done that", for guidance and support. No one looks forward to or wants to have this done, it is scary. But, in the long run, carrying around all this extra weight (not only on my body but in my mind as well) is really slowly killing me anyway. I have to get healthy, it really is the only option for me. I wish you the best. Keep us updated!

[i was having second/third /two hundred and five thought till the drugs knocked me out (I posted my surgery day story on the thread ) and even a few days after I was thinking what the hell did I do to myself

It is real scary to change your life….i wil not lie the pre op died is hard, it does hurt a little after surgery (but they give you drugs and it’s not an unbearable pain definitely less that a root cannal

Now before my first fill I am still hungry and fighing to eat 1000 calories but I know it will get better

You read some of the stories here where people have lost over 100 pounds in a year and I think wow

Lets be honest we are all here because we couldn’t lose weight on our own..it doesn’t matter any more

We have this cool tool and if we want we can change our lives…I will be 47 this year and thinks are not going as planed I know the weight lose won’t fix everything but if I can just fix the weight well mabye I will feel better about myself and who know’s

I told none except two friends so i understand not having any family support

it would be real nice but if we don't have it it's ok we can do it on our own with a little help from this group

Scared is normal ..courage is have the surgery and changing your life

If I can do it so can you

I had my surgery on Febuary 16,2011. I choose not to tell anyone about my surgery other then my husband of course. He's been my rock and hugh supporter. I do not work well I'm a stay at home mom of four boys. I didn't tell any other family members. Just for the fact that I didn't want to hear them complain about what I had chose to do. Durning the post op liquid part. I was not hungry didn't have any pain at all. I had a couple of surgeries before my lap band. I had 3 c-sections and had my gallbladder removed. My doctor put 3 cc in my bnd the day of surgery. So far thats all in my band. I finally told my mom that I had the surgery in August. She wanted me to come visit her and was talking about eating out all the time. She has turned into a big support in this process as well. She has been heavy all my life. I have lost 96 pounds so far. I'm 5 pounds away from my goal weight.

I have found that going to the support groups that my hospital offers twice a month very helpful. I go to one of them though. They are all in the same position you are or have been. I have also found this group and the chat part of it very helpful.

It's normal to be scared. I wanted to live and be happy with my life so I decided to have the surgery. It's been the best decision that I have made in a long time. I finally decided to put myself first.

You will find the support you need. Let your new life beginning. You will be so happy that you did. Good luck!!!!!

my surgery is in 13 days. Im not getting any support from friends, family or coworkers I just want to hear some encouraging words, success stories anything positive. I want my life back not a quick fix. I hope this is the answer im scared of the post op diet and any complications. this is forever and i really need to know its safe and it works..

Geta, just so you know you are not alone, thought I'd give you some of MY families responses.

*Sister: well, this is a very dangerous surgery and I will be worried about you til you come out. You could hemhorrage and die, you know. (everyone needs a truly supportive sister, yes??

*Son:Won't there be a lot of extra skin hanging? (I guess as opposed to being over 300 pounds and my heart going bad?

my surgery is in 13 days. Im not getting any support from friends, family or coworkers I just want to hear some encouraging words, success stories anything positive. I want my life back not a quick fix. I hope this is the answer im scared of the post op diet and any complications. this is forever and i really need to know its safe and it works..

Geta, just so you know you are not alone, thought I'd give you some of MY families responses.

*Sister: well, this is a very dangerous surgery and I will be worried about you til you come out. You could hemhorrage and die, you know. (everyone needs a truly supportive sister, yes??

*Son:Won't there be a lot of extra skin hanging? (I guess as opposed to being over 300 pounds and my heart going bad?

my surgery is in 13 days. Im not getting any support from friends, family or coworkers I just want to hear some encouraging words, success stories anything positive. I want my life back not a quick fix. I hope this is the answer im scared of the post op diet and any complications. this is forever and i really need to know its safe and it works..

Ah, jiminy, hon. My sister said I could bleed to death and my son thought the hanging skin would be worse than a bad heart from weighing over 300 lbs! That's because this is not happening to them, this is about US!! They don't suffer my joint pain, wheezing, mobility issues, self disgust with my current state. I AM GOING TO FEEL BETTER AND I believe after prayer and research and physician recommendations THIS IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE. I WANT TO GO ON MISSION TRIPS AND TRAVEL AND ENJOY MY HUSBAND AND EAT NORMAL SIZED PORTIONS AND FEEL SATISFIED. And if that means I have to change the way I live my life then so be it. God is with me, my husband supports me and most of all I am soooooooo ready for this after 40 years of being overweight and unhappy. I love my family but they just don't get it and that's okay. This is all about ME baby, nobody has to agree with it, I just told them about it out of consideration for them, not for permission. I love them, but I've spent my life taking care of everybody but me and this here is MY turn!!!