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

Wow - this is a great forum! I'm so glad I found it because I haven't told anyone yet that I will be banded on October 16th. My birthday is the 21st, so I figure this will be the best gift I can give myself! I'm 57 years old and I wish this procedure would have been available when I was younger, but there's no time like the present! I have two precious grandkids who always want me to get down on the floor to play with them and its so hard to get back up at my size.. that I usually just tell them I can't. Soon grandma will be down on the floor having a great time with Sam and Lily !!

My question is - how long was it before you could drive and return to work? I've recently had hernia repair and a couple years ago gall bladder surgery and I bounced back in about two days. My surgery is on a Tuesday and I'd like to be back on the job (sitting at a desk all day) by the following Monday. I live alone so I need to drive as soon as possible.

Thanks for any replies!!

Wow - this is a great forum! I'm so glad I found it because I haven't told anyone yet that I will be banded on October 16th. My birthday is the 21st, so I figure this will be the best gift I can give myself! I'm 57 years old and I wish this procedure would have been available when I was younger, but there's no time like the present! I have two precious grandkids who always want me to get down on the floor to play with them and its so hard to get back up at my size.. that I usually just tell them I can't. Soon grandma will be down on the floor having a great time with Sam and Lily !!

My question is - how long was it before you could drive and return to work? I've recently had hernia repair and a couple years ago gall bladder surgery and I bounced back in about two days. My surgery is on a Tuesday and I'd like to be back on the job (sitting at a desk all day) by the following Monday. I live alone so I need to drive as soon as possible.

Thanks for any replies!!

hey Topdownbug- I haven't been banded yet, its this Wednesday (Oct 3) but I'll let you know afterwards. I also went back to work 2 days after gallblader surgery. So maybe we have the same pain tolerance. I am hoping to have the surgery on Wednesday and be back for 1/2 day on Monday, full day on Tuesday. The place might fall apart without me!

thanks for sharing JJsmiles - I love that you put so much time and effort into your posts, I get so much from them!!! I hope today finds you well, and improving on every step....hugs K

benson - I hear your pain luvie, you should try to engage in more cuddles with hubby, he probably feels very rejected, and loves you for whats on the inside - he will be happy you are doing something to help yourself, because he loves you - and wants you to be happy and healthy, and comfortable with who you are.................good luck for November, and even when you are on the pre-op diet, you will have more energy to spend with your daughter and hubby - Go get 'em, and tell 'em you love them........... hugs K

hey Rastis - Good to hear from you, I know there is a bit of time difference between here and perth, but I'll still be sending you best wishes for Oct 3rd luvie........you will be great!! hang in there - you are nearly there..........make sure you keep us posted - hugs Karen

Topdownbug - everyone is different - I have one friend who was at a support meeting 2 nights after surgery (heelo miss jane) and then others who have suffered more..... is your employer abit flexible? any chance of a half day at the desk? good luck - K

Thanks Karen,

This is my first time blogging or foruming (whatever this is supposed to be) and I find I have as much written diarhea as I do verbal (I don't mean that figuratively - at least not really - I would say more gassy (hint hint) than diarhea) :heh:

I actually took 2 weeks off of work, at the recommendation of my doctor (so I am not due back until next week - Tuesday, because Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving). I am glad I did - not because I am still in pain, but rather because of the adjustment stuff. The pain is pretty much gone (still some shoulder twinges). I was actually swinging car tires in and out of my car yesterday and today (carefully) so I could get my winter tires on my car - in anticipation of snow.

I am finding that I have absolutely no hunger right now (not that I am really complaining because that never happens to me). According to my plan, I could only have "thin" liquids until tomorrow(Tuesday) and then for a week I can have pureed thicker liquids. Besides some head temptation, I have not wanted solid foods and am not sure that me pureeing soup tomorrow will go so well. I am not sure if it is the lack of food or what (I have been writing down everything I put in my mouth and have only been getting 600-700 calories per day - mostly due to protein shakes) but even last night, I was making some waterdowned soup and I ended up throwing it out because the smell made me nautious. I am not having problems swallowing (in fact I am back to taking all my medications whole with no trouble), so I am not sure what it is. I am glad to have some extra time to try to figure things out.

I hope you are all doing well and staying positive and focused on the journey ahead!!!

Hi everyone!

Ok this thread has gotten WAY to quiet! I miss everyone chatting.

Karen hows the diet going

JJsiles how are you feeling?

How is everyone doing? Come on I am a thread Junkie and check this thread at least 1-2 times a day. It keeps me going!

So please everyone check in once in a while and let me know how you all are!

Thanks!

Hi Ann,

Doing ok, although I seem to be battling quite a bit of nausea these days. I am not sure it is from a lack of food though. I am hungry, but I am not if that makes any sense. I am allowed to have thicker liquids this week (no thicker than babyfood) and I have to tell you, nothing turns me off faster than pureed soup.

On a great note (ok if I had any sense I wouldn't be overly glad - but I can't help myself), I got on the scale today (I know I know) and in the 10 days since surgery I have lost 12 pounds (19 if you want to count the 7 pounds I gained the day of surgery). I haven't been under 266 pounds in years and years (probably my first year of university). :faint:

I know real hunger is going to set in any moment and I am going to look at this with fondness. I am still battling "head hunger". It seems everynight KFC advertises between 9 and 11 pm almost continuously and it really makes me want fried chicken (even when I feel nauseus and full). I think advertisers have to take some account for the obesity epidemic.

Next week I am back at work and to make things worse, I am out of town for 4 days for work. I am planning to bring along all sorts of food to help me manage - we will see how it goes. I am supposed to booked into a hotel with a fridge and microwave. According to my "plan" I can start moving on to soft solids as I tolerate them. I haven't really even had a whole lot of mushies, so am not not how this is going to go. Not that I mean to scare you - I eat, it tastes good, I don't have any problem swallowing, but my stomach is not interested in food right now.

How are you doing? How goes the battle?

Hey Guys, Well I was banded 3 days ago and things are going well. I am still not sleeping well though, due to gas/wind pain. But I am still on my regular meds which seem to be helping, plus the nurse told me to drink peppermint tea to help disperse the wind pain, and it's doing wonders so far.

I am doing heaps of walking at the moment as well (prowling my hallway at night time), to also try and get things moving. So glad I now am officially banded!!!! Take care everyone!!!

Hey Karen and everyone needing a chat, I've got 3 days till being banded on the 9/10/07. I've never had one doubt in my mind that I'm doing the right thing. I'm so positive and excited about my new journey, that's not to say I think its going to be easy. I woke up this morning and thought I've only got a couple of days till my op, and I have to say I started to feel sick from fear I guess and tears welled in my eyes and Ifeelt like crying, I've got no idea why, scared I suppose of the big change in my life and can I do it.

10lbs down on pre op diet:whoo:By for now I'll report in before I have my op on tuesday:omg:

Hey JJSmiles, I started my pre-op today. Banding scheduled for Oct 19. I am so excited and I think I did pretty good today. I actually went the day without cheating! I hope I can get through this.

Congratulations Crispy.

The first week of the pre-op diet is the worst - I didn't feel really great (probably detoxing from processed food, fat and sugar). Second week went much better. I have to admit that I dreamed of chicken (not sure why chicken - not even fried - just a good old fashioned roast chicken).

I think the pre-op is really good - even just to get you started on the new you. Not eating very much for 2 weeks is great preparation and gets you away from the food (although not the obsession) that has been the scurge of your existence.

I only cheated for one day during pre-op- about 3 days before my surgery I went to a party and then out for supper. I had some crackers and cheese (not a lot) and then some pot roast, mashed potatoes and veggies. I am not saying I recommend it, but I was pleased to note that while I ate all the meat (I couldn't stop myself), I was able to eat only a little potato and was stuffed with my plate still half full (not a ususual occurrence). It felt great to be able to quit while I was ahead, and not just because of surgery.

Keep your chin up and take care of yourself!

Hey Devon - have sent you an email, I guess I'm worried that I won't see the weight come off - just like all the diets I have tried - they work for other people but not for me.............just feeling like a sad sack! Can't believe it's been a year since Steve Irwin died - he was a bit embarrassing as an ambassador, but an amazing guy none the less. Talk soon - Karen

Wow, I can't believe how many of us feel the same way... will it work for me, will I be the unlucky one who has things go wrong with it and so on and so on... I guess that's the pessimistic side of me. I'm from Sydney, Australia and I'm seeing my surgeon next Wed 10 Oct... a date will be set from there.

I was in the USA last year and was in Las Vegas when Steve Irwin died... I couldn't believe the reaction over there... I didn't realise how loved he was... a real live crocadile dundee

hi all, this week has been so busy.

I am really excited - next Tuesday night I go to an info meeting at the centre in ashfield in Sydney - and so starts my lapband journey WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO

:whoo:

My friend and I are both going to have lapband together and then support each other - we are so excited our hubbies are excited tooo,..

I missed you all this week - i also spilled diet coke on my laptop and some of the letters are sticking making it hard to type..heck

I will let you all know hoe the info night goes.

Hope you are all well

regards M:car: