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Hello everyone, i am 20 years young and i weigh 340 lbs. i want to get the lap band surgery to start my new positive life. However im having some anxiety about going in for surgery. I have never had surgery before and dont know shat to expect. Plz help me better understand how i can deal with the anxiety of going into the medical room so i can start my new life. Thank you :)

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I have anxiety too ( panic attacks at times) the best thing for me was to literally not think about it at all until it came. I just dove into work. I had the dr make me the first surgery (6am) so I was do sleepy it was just like going back to sleep. Just remember its a day surgery and if you having a surgery it's one of the safest ones to have. You will do just fine, and good luck!

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I as well was EXTREMELY nervous! I've never had any surgeries before this either! I worked right up to the night before and did my liquids and went straight to bed, I'm not used to getting up that early so i was super tired and only got anxious when they brought me back and put the IV in! Keep yourself busy! Just like Loneil said "don't think about it"...Try not to!! I'ts always going to be in the back of your mind so just make sure you keep yourself busy!!! Dont forget to be ready for pre op and post op Liquids and foods!!! Good luck and you'll do fine!!

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I just had my lap band done last Wednesday. I was a little anxious, but I think that is to be expected. They will start an IV and then when it's time to go back they give you a lovely little "cocktail" through the IV. After that you go to sleep. When it's over you will wake up in the recovery room and you will feel groggy and be in some pain. You might also feel sick to your stomach. The nurse will give you something for the pain and nausea. You might throw up, or in my case dry heave. It's all normal reactions. There was a girl in the next curtain area in recovery and I swear she must have had a caffine drip going in her IV because she was all bubbly and happy and very talkative. I, on the otherhand, could barely talk and was pretty much out of it. Everyone responds differently. You will be fine. Good luck on your journey!

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I had my first surgery 3 months before my band and i was scared out of my mind. But I had a lot of faith in my wonderful, fabulous surgeon. But when the hottie anesthesiologist arrived (and I mean CUTE!) he gave me a little "cocktail" to take the edge off. That helped because it made me a little drunk. :P

So my second surgery I was a pro. I do know that surgical staffs are very sensitive and if you tell them, they will walk you through it.

My advice from one patient to another is to make sure you are confident to put yourself in the hands of your surgeon. Both my surgeons are top notch doctors and wonderful people too.

Good luck and keep us posted!

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If you're just starting out do lots of research, this forum is wonderful for all kinds of questions you have. Be sure to tell your surgeon how nervous you are, the will usually give you something to "relax" you prior to the main course. lol It's a quick surgery normally, my doctor said about 40 mins is all. They're all usually wonderful in the operating room and will put you at ease the few seconds you remember being there.lol You'll do fine....give all your worries to God...he can handle it all. My surgery is this Thursday am so excited to get going! Good luck on your journey and new life!!

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It's normal to feel anxious, I've had 6 surgeries prior to lap band, yep i said 6.lol (3 sinus, 2 c-sections and appendix) so I was a pro at surgery and I was still anxious the week of my lap band surgery. Like all the previous post said, ask all the questions you need b 4 hand, and let your dr know that you're feeling anxios, they can give you something for that. Good luck on your journey, I'm sure you'll do well

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It is totally normal to feel anxious. I think everyone does. My appoinment was scheduled first thing in the morning and I was called back within minutes and before you know it you are getting your cocktail and then waking up. You will be fine just keep yourself busy and not ponder on it too much. It it worth! Good luck!!

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I know this sounds awful for the people who have fear...but i'm not afraid at all..I can't wait for surgery.I want to get this show on the road.i'm so excited to start my new life..the only think I worry about in nausea after the operation.Because anesthesia make me suck.but i'm sure they have anti nausea meds I can take before surgery....can't wait for my new beginning

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I had 100% confidence in what I was doing right up until the day before. Then I had a mini melt down. Got it out of my system and was fine the next morning. I highly recommend being first on the surgery schedule, if at all possible!! And if you're excessively nervous, let them know, as others have said, they have a nice little cure for anxiety!

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I know this sounds awful for the people who have fear...but i'm not afraid at all..I can't wait for surgery.I want to get this show on the road.i'm so excited to start my new life..the only think I worry about in nausea after the operation.Because anesthesia make me suck.but i'm sure they have anti nausea meds I can take before surgery....can't wait for my new beginning

Make sure you tell them you are nauseated. They will give you something. This happened to me and they put something in my IV and the feeling went away immediately.

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surgery was done on June 29th everything went awesome feel great.down 20lb. scars are fading fast and the anti nausea worked wonders :)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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