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

oh come on Karen u are going to be my mentor when i get sliced up next year - u have to be brave and bite the bullet sort of speak.

Moaning occasionally and whinging wil be tolerated in small doses.

I am so impressed with your posts of courage and inspirations - im designing a graphic especially for you lol

How could u give up all that good stuff in one day - crazy!

Probably the only way to go

Good luck with your pre op diet

kind regards and sympathies M

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

Just keep telling yourself only 4 weeks to go and remember the more you lose pre op the better the op goes.

I know it sounds silly but it does get easier. I had a 1.5 litre of water and just kept grabbing it everytime I craved something else.

Played havoc with the bladder at night

Take care

woo-hoo look at your ticker Miss Jane!!! that is enough to make me feel good - hope to see you tomora...... K

Hi all, Hope you don't mind me adding my 2 cents worth here.

I just got back from my first appointment, and told that there should be no problem for me to be banded. I meet with the dietician on 5 October and the surgeon on 10 October when I will get my surgery date. Have been told it will be about 4-6 weeks so hopefully will be mid - late November.

It's starting to feel real now - and scary.

Congratulations Danna - good luck with everything - my biggest advice - read, read, read and then read - information will be your best friend through this journey - and of course there are these wonderful people on here for support, motivation and inspiration. Where are you from? K

Hi Karen,

I'm from Sydney and being banded by Dr Liebman. I was refered to a different doc but didn't feel comfortable with him so tried the team at North Shore. One of the team, Sarah, who I saw today has actually been banded so I think its great to actually have someone there who has lived it, not just talking about it.

Today is my final meeting witht the surgeon before my banding on OCT 8. I just want to thank you all for writing on this board, I have read it many times over the past few weeks and I re-read it this morning as I was feeling like I should cancel the whole thing because I am scared that it will not work.

Your words got me through this little rough patch and now I am back to knowing that this is the right thing for me.

Have a great day

Hey Karen,

I know just how you are feeling and you WILL make it through!. On Aug 9th I went from eating everything to NOTHING but 3 shakes a day. It is hard at first VERY hard, and I won't lie even after you are feeling better with it there will be bad days, BUT you WILL stick with it. It will be over before you know it. 4 weeks is nothing heck I have been doing it for almost 7 weeks now and have at least another 3-4 to go

What shakes are you drinking? I drink V.H.P. shakes I will tell you they don't taste bad AND you don't feel hungry on them!

Also you might want to chew on some sugar free gum when you need something, it works!

Good Luck!

Good Luck New Me! Please let us know how you make out today! I go tomorrw to see if I can get a date yet or not.

Hey Danna,

We are about the same age and same BMI . 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!

I was banded last October by a doctor in Tijuana. The care was awsome and I have lost 98 lbs. It took nine months to loose the weight. I feel great. Do not worry about not loosing the weight because you will loose the weight, the band makes you loose it, that is what is so great about it. Good luck

Hi all. I was just approved to have the surgery! I will be banded on November 5th. Like Karen I'm scared now. It's been a long time waiting - going through all the procedures to be banded. Like, endoscope, nutricionist, psycologist, stress test etc. Now that my insurance has approved the surgery and the scheduling has happened I'm scared. I'm scared of the puking, getting something stuck and all the other things that can happen. My surgeon has not put me on any liquid diet at all before surgery. They did say that I should diet prior to the surgery so the liver will be smaller though. Anyone else being banded in November or has been banded just recently? How are you doing? How is the recovery? I'm so grateful for the site. I'm now going to go look for some prior to surgery needs. Hope to get in contact with someone real soon. Dianne

Hi Dianne!

Congratulations! Keep your fingers crossed for me I go to the Dr tomorrow to see if he will give me a date and start the ins thing! So what things do you need prior to surgery? Maybe he will start you on liquid once it gets closer. Gee my liver better be smaller after all these weeks of liquid!

Good for you though... a date! Thats a BIG step forward!!

GLGL!

Hi Eureta ,

WOWOWOWOW 98 pounds in a year :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::welldone:amazing! May I ask what you started at and your BMI? Do you go to the gym a lot, and what do you eat!?

Thanks