I get banded April 2 and I would like a buddy to take this journey with me

Hello everyone,I will be banded 3/21 and I can't wait I really been over weight since I was about 17 yrs old I'm 40 now.lol I remember I was to big to play for any pop warner football,and was almost to big to play high school football.I never could buy my clothes from a regular kid stores,it was always in the men dept.I always felt different around peoples that was smaller than me.the last time I shopped at Walmart for clothes I was about 10 yrs old,Omg I can't wait.

Saz do not give up. The first week is always the hardest! Don't think in terms of how long you have to do it, that will drive you crazy. Day by day or hour by hour. You will be fine, we are here for you! I'm sure we can find food for you to eat. I heard some people eat qinoa (sp?) which is a protein that is similar to rice and pasta but is ity bity and will fit through your stoma. I will start looking for other things. . Your life is not over either. It's just beginning. Eye on the prize! Think about the vacation to the states you were talking about. It would be cool to have a meet up in a couple of years.

I have PCOS too. I am 31, an RN in California. I will be banded on April 5th. PCOS was a contributing factor in the demise of my first marriage ( plus the ***** down the street- but nevermind about her). I know how difficult losing weight is. We all do. We will do this. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.

I think the more buddies we have the better our success. I'm available here, or you can email me at smmrsue@gmail.com

I think it's great three of us are being banded so close with similar issues.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, it's definitely what I need right now. I've promised myself not to make any decisions about surgery until after the weekend.

I'm going out with a friend tonight to have a meal and to go the cinema. Hopefully this will cheer me up a little and take my mind off things for a bit

I was talking to my GP (local general doctor) today and she was saying that she witnesses more complications from patients having surgery, rather than actual benefits, and that I should try diet and exercise (AGAIN!!) It's that same old line every time, almost as if they're trained to say it. I've tried medication, diet and exercise with no success for half my life. This is my only option but I'm so scared of the future with the band.

I'm trying to take in what you are all saying about the beneficial changes it will make to our lives, but I just can't get past the fact that this band will be with me for decades, and no one can honestly predict how it will affect me personally. I guess I'm scared of the unknown, like everyone.

I need to find foods that I can live with eating in the future instead of rice and Pasta. I feel stupid talking about my reliance on food like this, but when you're a vegetarian, you have to be careful that you aren't cutting your food supply off completely. Maybe I'm so panicked that I can't see a way through this properly.

I haven't told any family yet either, so I guess that is stressing me out too. I just know my mum in particular is going to talk me out of it. My mum was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which is scaring me to death. She, like me, is very overweight and suffers with arthritis, severe asthma, depression etc etc. My biggest fear is ending up like her if I don't sort my weight out.

I feel as though I'm on a merry-go-round of emotions at the moment. I'm really sorry for complaining. I'm sure you're all going through your own problems leading up to surgery!

Sue - I would love nothing more than to travel to the US and catch up with you to see your band results thank you so much for your kind comment it really has cheered me up to know you're going through similar issues to me (including the breakdown of your relationship!!)