hi.

my question is do you think it is possible to wrap your head around the changes that will take place after surgery? can a person mentally prepare beforehand or is it something that you fully dont "get" until its done?

I have been banded in the past, is the changes in eating sort of like when being banded?

I was clueless until it was done! and then I had my doubts..I refused to answer any questions that started with "do you regret"...I can say now, after almost two months, I am glad I had it done...The biggest obstacle is your thought process and recognizing/changing the way you approach eating...The desire is still there but the ability is not..Unless you force it!,.,,Best of luck!

Yes, I think you can prepare mentally--and you need to--before surgery. But the day-to-day survival piece isn't really understandable until you live it. I am 3 months out next week, and it has become my life.

I agree, you can't understand it til you live it. It took about 3 months for me to adjust to the new way of eating as far as amount. I don't know how it would compare to being banded.

I agree, you can't understand it til you live it. It took about 3 months for me to adjust to the new way of eating as far as amount. I don't know how it would compare to being banded.

thanks for your input. i think i might be trying to over think everything. I want to be sure I know everything and all there is to know before and and sometimes thats not do-able.

I thought I would be prepared reading posts and getting my meals, medications and necessities ready. Nothing could have prepared me for post surgery. It gives new meaning to the words "everyone is different".

Pain, no pain, eating, not eating. I experienced things I would have never thought about. Something as simple as eating apple sauce. I still can't tolorate it. I bought tons of apple sauce pre-op to try to "prepare" myself. Now I have jars of apple sauce. Dang it!

I had pain with my drain, when I read most said they hadn't experienced any. Everything is still new. I still stumble cooking/trying foods, but thankfully I have my "go-to" foods that my sleeve has not rejected. Foods I thought I couldn't live without don't even cross my mind now. It's so strange.

It was definitely an eye opening experience. You can't imagine unless you actually go through it. I don't regret it at all.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery!

I thought I would be prepared reading posts and getting my meals, medications and necessities ready. Nothing could have prepared me for post surgery. It gives new meaning to the words "everyone is different".

Pain, no pain, eating, not eating. I experienced things I would have never thought about. Something as simple as eating apple sauce. I still can't tolorate it. I bought tons of apple sauce pre-op to try to "prepare" myself. Now I have jars of apple sauce. Dang it!

I had pain with my drain, when I read most said they hadn't experienced any. Everything is still new. I still stumble cooking/trying foods, but thankfully I have my "go-to" foods that my sleeve has not rejected. Foods I thought I couldn't live without don't even cross my mind now. It's so strange.

It was definitely an eye opening experience. You can't imagine unless you actually go through it. I don't regret it at all.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery!

well i looks like you are doing good and i love hearing that you dont regret it!!!!

I think you definitely have to prepare as much as possible. Read up, go to support group meetings, do a pre-op program with your physician. The more prepared you can be, the better. It definitely IS possible to prepare. HOWEVER, there are somethings that you just won't completely be able to prepare for me. I felt that I was REALLY prepared. I did a 9-month pre-op program, read books, did behavioral change modules, therapy, etc. I knew what to expect and how to behave after. However, I don't think the literature or the programs prepare you adequately for the emotional part of the experience. I literally had to grieve the loss of food because it had been my comforter for so many years. That was tough. But, all the other tools helped me find some healthy coping mechanisms to replace that loss. Emotionally it is tough at the very beginning. Cognitively, though, it's totally possible to prepare.