I am scheduled to be banded next Friday Feb 16, 2007. I am so terrrfied. I do not want to be sick I am feeling so good now. Lost about 20lbs on the presurgery diet. Energy is good but the more I read about the side effects experienced by my fellow bandsters I get scared. I have lost large amounts of weight all of my life. But I can't seem to keep it off. I think band is so drastic for me but after having my son last year I decided to lose weight once and for all. I have the typical high blood pressure and acid reflux. My acid reflux is bad already before the band. How worst is it going to get? I think this site is great I will keep you posted as I go. And for anyone locally in Baltimore. Sinai Hospital program is the best. They really prepare you with accurate information about the band.

Current LBS. 213

Goal LBS: 155

Scheduled to be banded:Feb 16,2007

CONGRATS and welcome to lbt!!!

Welcome Nursedeeva. It sounds like you've been through the same stuff most of us have, the yo-yo weight and also being scared of actually going through with banding. Think of the problems you've read about as part of the learning curve. There's lots of support and information here to see you through anything that might occur.

Good luck with it all!

For many people the band actually helps reflux improve, it does not necessarily make it worse. It is normal to be scared before surgery, I'd be more surprsed if you did not have some anxiety. As Devana said- most of us have done the yo yo diet thing- its the keeping the weight off that is tough usually and the band is a good tool to helath with this. You may have read some problems and sorry if that has scared you- I admit to having problems that have taken a while to get undercontrol but I have never regretted my decision to have the band! Would make the same decision now- Yes!

You have to do the research and become comfortable with the idea before gong down this path- that means looking for the good, the bad and the (rare) ugly- I think if you look at this sight you will see far more "good" than bad or ugly. Problems can be managed.

Finally, being severely overweight has problems that are down right scarey too- no action guarantees problems, losing weight and keeping it off ( by what ever means) may be a scarey thought- but there are a whole heap of positves along the way