I'm brand new here and about 4-6 weeks away from lap band surgery. I was doing great and had totally made up my mind about the surgery until yesterday. I told a friend about my plans and she was mortified by this. She said she had seen many people fail and/or end up with major complications. I Googled lapband complications and there are a number of people out there who are not happy about their surgery.

After reading that, I'm second guessing myself and would like to get some feedback from others who have had success with the lap band. I'm freaking out. Is this normal? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you. Nina

It is normal to have questions and doubts. I did a ton of reading and research into all forms of WLS before deciding on the Lap Band. I knew, after my extensive research that it was just right for me, my health concerns and lifestyle and once I made the decision, I felt very sure of my choice.

I am well aware of the horror stories, the naysayers and the inflated failure rates. I took it all in and I allowed them to inform me but I did NOT allow them to scare or deter me. I am smart enough to sift the wheat from the chaff and I am smart enough to understand that many who are pissed at their bands are pissed because they were non compliant and brought the wrath of their bands down upon themselves and many of the "failures" belong in that category.

Look, WLS is a huge decision and no one should ever have any surgery unless they are absolutely sure that it is what they want to do. If you know that this is what you want, don't let some mortified co worker stop you. You have to act in your own best interests! It's your health at stake, here. You are all that matters, no one else. Do what you want, what you need, what is right for you.

Hesitation, fear and conern accompanied with excitement is normal. Often negativity comes from people who just don't understand what is involved. rather than trying to explain and make them comfortable, focus on you to get ready for surgery. As long as you understand what your reuiqred lifestyle changes will be and you re happy to make them, you re ready.

To help you along this journey there is a lot of information to help you in preparation to surgery http://lapbanddiet.com.au/fluids-post-surgery-diet/, the transition diets http://lapbanddiet.com.au/transition-onto-solid-food-post-surgery/and the long term lifestyle to lose weight with the Lap Band http://lapbanddiet.com.au/long-term-diet/.

Hear to help.

If you have anu questions feels free to ask

Helen Bauzon

Lap Band Dietitian

I'm new here too and have a surgery date of March 12th. I have told exactly two people. My husband of course, and a lady I know that has had a gastric bypass. I too share your fears about the surgery, however, I'll say that doing nothing, or attempting the endless rounds of diets, and or suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes is ALSO

sorry about the above...don't know how to go back and fit it. All of the undesireable things about being overweight are just as dangerous (in my mind) as the surgery itself. Diets don't work. Your odds are better (in my opinion) having the surgery than doing nothing.

Stop waiting for others to support you. Most know nothing about the surgery at all and have only heard of those that don't do well. Very few are open minded about it. Obesity sucks!

We are all scared at some point. Scared of surgery and scared that even after, we will somehow fail. My surgery is in two weeks and I also have heard of some bad outcomes. But when I look closer at them it was because of non-compliance of eating the wrong things and falling into old habits. And I have seen so so so many good stories! Successful stories. This makes me mor confident in it. I think to myself, if I had gallbladder disease, I would have surgery for that no questions asked. Obesity is a disease. This surgery can save my life. That's how I think about it now.

Good luck in your research! I hope you decide for yourself and not based on what others say.

K