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Stressed And Scared! Am I Doing The Right Thing?



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I'm 11 days away from my surgery and I'm getting extremely nervous about whether I am doing the right thing. I know I need to lose the weight for my health. I think I am reading about too many horror stories and wonder if it's going to happen to me. I know this pre op diet has got my nerves a little on edge too. I was so excited last week and this week I feel like I want to back out. Anyone else go through the same thing?

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Yes i know how u feel i just got approved got medical clearence now waiting for consent appt. Now im more nervous . Now i wonder if i can really do this. But then i think what will happen if i dont do it. Then i smile realize we need this. So im trying to look at positive. Im sure right up until surgery we will have doubts but it will be fine.. good luck to ya let us know how u do

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Hi there. I had mine done on Mar29 2012. I had no concerns going in but when i woke up i started questioning my choice. Talk about poor timing. Anyway,that quickly faded and now 2 weeks out i have no second thoughts at all.

Only you can answer yourself. All i can offer is just be sure it is what you want and NEED and you'll be fine.

As far as to many horror stories, you are right. I watched them too. After a lot of research i found almost every case was an issue of self control. Of course some are not but look at the thousands done and the very few problems encountered.

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I didn't start second guessing my decision until two days before surgery. Yes, there can be complications with the band, but some of those complications are self-inflicted (not eating properly after being banded). The complications that are not self-inflicted can require another surgery, which would be inconvenient, but is generally not life-threatening. The reason I chose lap-band was the fact that it is reversible if I find I can't tolerate it, and of all the weight loss surgeries, it has the least serious complications.

I've been banded about 2.5 months, have lost 24 pounds, my back pain has already been greatly diminished, my BP med has been cut in half, and I'm completely off my ridiculously expensive acid reflux Rx!!!!! BEST DECISION I EVER MADE FOR MYSELF!! If I had a complication today, my goal would be to get that complication resolved and hopefully be able to be banded again!!!

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OHHHHH I know how you feel..My Surgery is scheduled for June 11th, and I go from feeling excited to days of I dont think I should do this.

What I think needs to happen is "I NEED TO STOP RESEARCHING ON THE COMPUTER" For every success story I read, there is a horror story to follow.

So I have to realize that this is going to help me with many medical problems, and I need to stay positive, trust my Doctor, and go forward with the Lap Band.

I wish you the best and hope that you have a speedy recovery. :)

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It's totally nervous to second guess yourself as you near your surgery date. I know I did, in fact I can remember waiting to be wheeled into the ER thinking "holy crap, what am I doing?"

Thankfully I went through with it and I'm so glad I did. Honestly, being banded is the best thing I've ever for myself. I was banded 3 months ago on Jan. 6 and I've lost 65 pounds so far. I feel better than I have in years.

You have to take the horror stories you read with a grain of salt. I look at it like car accidents- once in awhile the the accident is no fault of the driver whatsoever, but more often than not there's some degree of operator error involved. The Lap Band is the same way. There are times something goes wrong by no fault of the banded person, but the majority of the time it's because of something they did(or didn't)do. (even if a great number don't admit it here)

Ultimately, the decision is yours and you must do what's best for you.

Best wishes to you :)

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I'm being banded this Friday. I've spent a year looking into it. Even went to a consultation last year before backing out. I know this is going to help me. But I must admit I'm nervous, more than nervous a wee bit scared. Sometimes more. I'm doing ok on the pre-op diet- hungry but I'm getting in the groove on how life will be after. I'm ready.

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Meant to say, I think it's normal- but make sure you are ready for the changes you are going to have to make in your life. If you are ready go for it!

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Thanks everyone for you comments. I will try to think more positive. I have many health issues because of my weight. I need to lose over 150 pounds...so I know I have to do something. This did seem the safest way after trying all the other non-surgical strategies. I'm going go get through this part. I think it feels almost like breaking up with my best friend...sad isn't it. That I love food that much. But thanks again everyone for the support. April 18th is not far away!

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Stay strong and keep your head up!!! Being nervous is to be expected with any surgery. You have come too far to turn back now. You would have never made the first step if you really didn't want this. The horror stories come with any surgery. Most of the time the complications comes from not following the rules or having too high expectations. You can do this! Good luck.

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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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.
      · 1 reply
      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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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