Wow - Okay well I'm new to this forum, not really sure what I'm doing. I am 38 yrs old, and have 7 1/2 weeks until I am banded. I have read everything I can find on Lap Band surgery, and feel prepared medically............ but mentally - I am scared!! I am scared that if I put myself and my family through all of this, and it doesn't work - what then??? I am 114kgs (sorry not good with pounds - I'm Aussie) and am not very tall at 5ft 4....... putting my BMI at 45. I have waited 10 months for my insurance period to expire, so I can get this done, I have tried every other weightloss plan/diet known to man, and I have researched every detail............... why then do I feel like screaming or crying half the time, and excited the rest...................I feel lonely, and scared! I can't see myself losing the weight, and changing my life like so many of you have....... it does not seem real.

I don't have many close friends I can talk with, and the ones I do have don't understand.................. I'm hoping for support and motivation from this forum, and I look forward to getting to know you all - Cheers Karen

Hi Ann, thanks for replying. Good luck at your doctors appointment tomorrow! Will it take allot longer after they submit to your insurance though? Sometimes the insurance companies drag their feet. I've been reading things on this site and there actually is a place where they have things to have on hand before surgery. I'll have to go locate it again now and print it off. No, he won't start me on anything prior. My next visit with the surgeon is the same day as my pre op physical at the hospital. I go to see him right after. That will be on October 30th. Just a short time before surgery. I started back up on the atkins diet this past Saturday. I was on it for 3 1/2 and lost like 67 pounds. I went off the beginning of the summer, to have real summer type foods, and gained back like 30 of the 67 pounds! Keep me posted about your doctors appointment tomorrow. Dianne

Hi New Me...You are very welcome!! Keep us posted - and you know, we will want all the details!! big hug for your journey, this will be great........... we'll do it together!!! cya K

Good morning Ann - Thanks so much...I read your post, with the words "WILL" emphasized in my head.... hugs for that!! I made it through day 2, and feel better so far on day 3, even though it's only mid-morning here. I am on Tony Ferguson shakes (which I think are Aussie only), it's supposed to be Opticrud - but I cannot stomach them at all. I am also using a bar version sometimes, green tea, diet jelly, vege's, miso soup.... I can do it - it's just taking it 10 minutes at a time when the going gets rough................

Ann - Good luck with your appointment, be strong, and be assertive (but nice).... catch more flys with honey, but make sure you tell him how committed you are, and that you want to get on his surgery list, so you can continue to diet until that date............ YOU WILL BE GREAT!!!!

p.s. copy and paste the ticker, directly under your name, on your signature text box......... hugs K

You keep going . Good on you it does get easier.

Take care

Karen---Thats what this is about.. Support from all of us. I am 10 days post band and all is going AWESOME!!. We will be here for you GIRL!!!!11

Hi Dianne and welcome to our "scaredy cat thread"..... I am no longer nervous about the op itself, I just had two of my local friends come through with flying colours. Like you - I do get anxious about vomiting, pb'ing etc...and remembering all the right things.......... but I will take each step at a time, and with the amazing support and encouragement of all those online, and my weight loss team - I am sure I will be fine, and so will you...... here, squeeze my hand.... did you feel that reassuring squeeze????? enjoy the journey, and keep us posted - hugs Karen

thanks Striver - i have just spent 1/2 an hour reading various threads and posts, and have got through one hell of a craving - mind you all 3 of my girls have been sent to their rooms, so that could be helping too!! A mentor huh??? I can do that.... but I'm still just me, honest and open, obsessive about information, and love to help people......... i get my buzz from watching someone grow and blossom, and knowing I played a small part in that journey - so if you promise to listen to my moans and groans occassionally, i promise to keep you motivated while you wait for your band...... deal?

And remind me, when you are starting pre-op diet... to give you some really good advice of how to beat the cravings and withdrawals.................lol!! What does "M" stand for? hugs to you, and thanx - K

OK Karen Deal! I have 11 and half months to go and counting... Cant wait.....I am confused though - shall I do the Atkins diet for the next 11 months - or should i eat everything I want and sacrifice myself on the BAND........

OOOHH too many choices.........:help:

Maybe the band will teach to be obsessive about ourselves - we mums always put ourselves last......wait til ur kids become teenagers and wont come out of their rooms.....lol:heh:

Oh I think your just great - i like to help people too - and usually those people u help and support return the favour when u need it....

OK M stands for my very long name which is Mujahidah - quite a mouthful that is for sure.

When I had my gallbladder out 10 years ago the surgeon couldn't pronounce my name so he said he would call me "M" and it stuck.I like to make things easier for people also.

Lovely to hear from you and keep up the liquid stuff it will be good in the end.

regards M:)

Thanks Jane, and Cierarosey - without the knowledge that I can come on here and vent, I wouldn't be as strong....hugs to you both............. keep in touch - K

Hey Striver (M).... I think atkins, is good for a short stint, but too hard to apply 24/7 for the next year, it also can be damaging, because it can lead to other complications with liver, kidneys etc............. i have an inflamed liver (and fatty liver disease) which my doctor blames mostly on yo-yo dieting, and is a contributing factor to my decision to change my life on a more permanent basis. Anyway - if we were good at dieting, we wouldn't really need a band???? I would maybe go for something that is not quite so severe, a bit more lifestyle friendly, so that you don't rollercoaster...... maybe Tony Ferguson, weight watchers, Club optislim or just monitor yourself, and make sure you are not gaining during your waiting period. Don't worry about putting added pressure on yourself - trying to acheive major weight loss before your band - enjoy the journey, and keep typing baby!!! hugs K

Reading your thread I too feel the same........what if........after all this time and effort this too does not work--fear of failure---fear as so many others did not work as did the others.

Honey - this will work, it is the only medically proven efficient, safe, adjustable, reversable, way to life long change in body weight. It is proven, and there are a team of professionals to help you every step of the way, and then there's us!!! your cheer squad!!! As my surgeon said - it is normal to doubt yourself, and the process, because we have lived with diet dissappointment forever. The band will reduce hunger, without the hunger, you can control the cravings, and with the band taking control of the quantity, it will work!! We will make it work!!...... keep posting when ever those nasty seeds of doubt appear, and make sure you read every success story possible!! cheers K

Hey Danna,

We are about the same age and same BMI :peep:. My surgyn won't touch me until my BMI is under 60. I know it is not there yet I was 65.5 Aug.8 now I think I am about 62 I will fins out tomorrow. I still want him to let me get on the surgical calendar since he is booked into the very end of Oct already!

Can you please tell my where you paste the info from tickerfactory so I can have the count down too?

Thanks and good luck, please keep in touch!

Hi Ann,

When you have formatted your ticker it gives you 2 URL addresses. Choose the top one and copy it. When you come into this forum open UserCP and then edit signature. Paste the URL in the Edit screen - don't use thepicture links below cause all you get is the link - no picture. Press the preview and your ticker should show up and then you just save it.

There are heaps of tickers to choose from. When I get my op date I'll start a countdown for it as well.

OK Karen Deal! I have 11 and half months to go and counting... Cant wait.....I am confused though - shall I do the Atkins diet for the next 11 months - or should i eat everything I want and sacrifice myself on the BAND........

OOOHH too many choices.........:help:

Maybe the band will teach to be obsessive about ourselves - we mums always put ourselves last......wait til ur kids become teenagers and wont come out of their rooms.....lol:heh:

Oh I think your just great - i like to help people too - and usually those people u help and support return the favour when u need it....

OK M stands for my very long name which is Mujahidah - quite a mouthful that is for sure.

When I had my gallbladder out 10 years ago the surgeon couldn't pronounce my name so he said he would call me "M" and it stuck.I like to make things easier for people also.

Lovely to hear from you and keep up the liquid stuff it will be good in the end.

regards M:)

Hey M,

I agree with Karen, Atkins for 11 months might make your liver smaller but it's not good for cholesterol (spelling?). You are supppose to lower your carbs to improve your liver, so maybe you could SLOWLY start to reduce your carbs - remember you have got plenty of time and if you go too strict now you will just end up putting it back on before surgery.

So maybe have one less slice of bread per day, or a small serving of rice or try switching to low GI and then when you are comfortable with that reduce your carbs a bit more.

I know my trouble is trying to make everything happen at once and that's when I usually fail. I'm hoping to be banded in the next month or two. Don't know if my doc will make me do OF - hasn't mentioned it yet, but thought I might try the liver cleansing diet (tried it years ago so still have the book) and see if that helps.

Wow, thats quite intresting, I never thought of it that way. I dislike the thought that an elastic will be holding your tummy tight. what if it breaks? does anyone know what will happen then.?