2 wks till banding - anxiety galore!

[KarenH 0]

Hello bandsters! 2 weeks from today (the 25th) I am scheduled for surgery. I had a pre-op physical, ab u.s., lab work, upper g.i., chest xray, surgerical

consult and on Monday I have a stress echo (thanks to my personal doc who I just happen to work for - she's VERY cautious/conservative) Each day I say, "This is the right thing for me. I have researched it, talked about, and worked towards it." I also have a mini meltdown each time I think about how I have failed in the past so many times, does this surgery confirm all my failures? I sit here crying as I write this. My struggle (as so many of the people I have read on this site) has been long and hard. Up and down. My father passed away in March from every complication there is from diabetes. I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes. I know I am headed down the same path as he. I don't want to be model thin. I am, quite frankly, too old for that, but young enough to still want to enjoy biking, hiking, camping and living life without worrying about my weight all the time!

I so appreciate this web site. I have read so many "testimonials" and appreciate everyone's perspective - negative and positive. This site has

educated me on so many things that are not covered in seminars, nutritionist visits, or doctor's visits. I am going into this with my eyes wide open, but I am still anxious.

Sorry if I sound redundant, whiny, or needy. I am sure I will be on a roller coaster ride until the 25th and possibly thereafter. I am also so excited to feel like I will finally have some control on my over eating!

Thanks to everyone for sharing. It makes me feel like I have many friends who have my same experiences and emotions!

Thanks to you all. Karen

[bjbstoney 1]

You are never too old or young to look and feel good, For me getting banded was the best thing I could have done for myself. I am 58 and I too was told I had diabetis just before I did this in Jan. 2007. I am now off all meds for that and High blood pressure and cholestrol and no longer need the sleep apna machine after have lost 167 pounds I feel great. Still need to lose about 14 more but if I don't I am a succes just because of no more meds which is the main goal. Good luck with your use of the tool being given and don't get discourged along the way it does work so be patient.

[HeatherO 7]

You are never to young or old to reclaim your health.

It is scary and intimidating before surgery. I know I was in a panic the night before and felt strange and out of sorts during the whole "last week." All I could think about is whether I was a failure, whether this would even work for me or am I just throwing more money down the drain, what if there is a complication . . . and on, and on, and on like a broken record.

I bit the bullet, got the surgery and found out things were not so bad. liquid diet time and following the post-op diet was hard but I did it successfully.

Now, I know without a doubt it is the best thing I ever did. I am 1 pound away from my goal and a normal BMI range which is very close to 100% loss of excess weight. It is one of those things where I wish I could go back now and talk to myself before and relieve all those anxieties.

Good luck with your surgery, and hang in there. It will be done and you will be on the route to a healthier you before you know it.