:confused:Ok, so my surgery is scheduled for 4/23/2008 and I am seriously considering cancelling it!! There are several reasons, 1) I have been coming across more and more problems due to Lapband. Everything from the tubing coming loose and embedding itselft into peoples stomachs, to after 5-6 years people getting REALLY sick and only being able to eat soup, and they had developed other illness due to the band. 2) In my opinion the LapBand is a tool that helps you change the way you live. It forces you to keep a low calorie lifestyle and eat lots of protein. After seeing how easy it is to loose weight on my pre-op diet, I don't see why I can't continue to watch what I am eating as I am now, and just loose the weight on my own. Yes, I have tried numerous diets before and they have all failed, but I have also never lost weight like this before and seen how easy it can been when I watch my calorie intake. If I am at the point in my life to make the commentment to have surgery, why not use the same commentment and loose it on my own, without having to have surgery.

I have had several friends locally who have had the surgery and they have all had the same problem of getting sick on a regular basis and throwing up. I really don't want to spend the rest of my life getting sick, and not being able to drink carbonated beverages ever again. Everything I have read or heard about the Dr. doing my surgery is wonderful, in fact I can't find anything negative about them at all. But I am just not sure I am ready to go to such drastic measures, and seeing that it is possible for me to loose the weight on my own if I just put my mind to it!!!

Am I just freaking out because my surgery is so close, or do I have legitmate reasons to doubt this???

I think you are probably freaking out because surgery is so close but hey, there is no harm in postpoining if you are truly upset. Just put it off six months and if you are not at your goal by then, or well on your way to it, then do it. I think this: all of my best methods, diets, and thinking got me right here. I'm going to do it. When you are ready, and not one second sooner, I'll see you there!

Everyone has their own comfort level with the risks of WLS vs. being obese. I was once at a point that you were ... I had no big health problems associated with being overweight and I didn't let it interfere with my life ... or so I thought. Of course, I couldn't wear the kind of clothes I wanted to wear because they didn't come in my size, I ice danced for 10 years and never found a partner, and a host of other small things that I was so used to that I just accepted them.

But still, overall, I was happy and WLS was not for me. Maybe it's not for you right now either. I would ask myself a couple of questions:

Are the negatives of the band something you can live with?

Are the positives things that seem positive to you?

Have you dieted successfully before but gained it all back and, if so, what makes you think this time is going to be different?

Are the risk factors something I can live with?

Are the lifestyle changes that are required something I can live with?

Just Remember....the Diet Is Okay For Now But When The Newness Of It Wears Off And Hunger Plays Apart In The Diet...that Is Where The Band Comes In Handy.....it's All About The Hunger Or Lack Of It.

Thanks for all your responses, and to asnwer some questions, yes a psych eval was done. I don't know what they do during everyone elses evals, but all they asked me was why I was wanting to do this, is my family on board, what are my long term goals? That was it!!

But I think I have to decided to go through with it!! Thanks for everything!!

Can anyone help me get my ticker to work? I have tried adding it several times and I keep getting "Invalid Path" response when I try and preview or add it?? I don't know what I am doing wrong!!

Edited April 21, 200818 yr by ceinman

I don't know if I'm nervous or what, but I keep thinking that this surgery isn't going to happen. I keep thinking that I won't follow through and get everything done, that I'll keep postponing my appointments and won't schedule a date, I don't know. I told my fiance about this and he said that he won't let me just forget about it because he knows how much I want this. I think I'm afraid I'll go through with this, spend all the money, and it won't work. I'm not miserable with my fat self, so it's not like it's desperation that I want the surgery, but I know I need to stop gaining weight and move downward. It's a strange feeling that I'm at right now.

Hey there. I think I can relate to you. For the last 3 years I have fought having any kind of weight loss surgery, especially gastric bypass. I chose the lap band because it seems less evasive. And just last Friday (my birthday) I saw my cardiologist for an echo and was told that my heart is a bit enlarged and a bit on the weak side. So he handed me several packs of ACE inhibitors and now I realize the severity of being overweight. I also admit that I am scared out of my freakin mind now as I read all the complications that many have shared with the lap band. My surgery date is April 30th and I am suffering major anxiety attacks (taking Xanax) and I can't control them. I am very scared now and wondering if the lapband is the way to go. Very confused and frightened.

Hi Guys

I was banded on the 5th of March. everyday I second guess my disicion...I do understand fear...thats for sure!

I just wanted to say thank you for making me feel better :-)

I have lost 25 pounds so far. It does keep me from binge eating ( that was always a problem for me). I wanted to back out too, then a

friend of mine put it to me like this. If I needed a pace maker for my heart I would get it... If I needed a hip replaced I would get it.

I needed something to help me control my hunger to help me maintain a healthy weight...I got it!

Good luck friend.

M

Hi Ceinman,

I sent you a private message but don't know if it got to you or not. I've been having the same feelings as you. I'm overweight with no health problems. I do get tired though walking up one flight of stairs and I hate the way I look. I've dieted 100's of times only to regain the weight. I'm very nervous but ready for this now. I think it's the only way I know to take control of my weight. It seems the majority of people say that after they adjusted to the lapband, that it's the best decision of their lives. Please let us know how everything goes and I'll say a prayer for you.

Just something to throw in the mix. Most of us are terrified pre-op.

A large percentage of that, are ecstatic only 6 months post-op.

You mentioned what if it doesn't work 10-20 years out. Well, so what? If it doesn't, remove it! The band doesn't alter your body's configuration, so if at anytime you realize or decide it's not for you, you just get it taken out.

I wanted to back out too, then a

friend of mine put it to me like this. If I needed a pace maker for my heart I would get it... If I needed a hip replaced I would get it.

I needed something to help me control my hunger to help me maintain a healthy weight...I got it!

Good luck friend.

M

I love that! Thanks for sharing. I'm scared too. Of surgery, of what will happen after surgery, heck, I'm scared of NOT having surgery and being this way, and worse, the rest of my life. I'm not that old and I want to live to be really old... as long as my health is good. So, I'm sucking it up and doing something proactive (instead of just banging my head against the diet wall) for me, my DH and my DD.

Ceinman,

If you really want surgery and you've done your research, it really isn't any one else's business why you are doing surgery. Of course you're scared, it's ELECTIVE SURGERY!! We MADE the decision to do this. A doctor didn't come in and say, "okay, I made a Rx for you for such and such and oh, yes, I also scheduled a date for WLS for you b/c you need to have surgery." No, most of us, either on our own, or with a doctor's suggestion, made the decision and have done all the work to get this done. We have to work pretty hard at even GETTING the surgery.

Also, if you have friends who are PBing all the time, I'd be asking them what they are eating and how fast. From what I understand, that's unusual unless you are eating too fast, and not chewing your food. I have heard if you are too restricted then you can have problems that just takes a slight unfill usually to fix that problem. There are times though when it's more of a problem than just a slight unfill would cure but that's pretty rare and I can't imagine several people you know having the same problem unless they are contributing to it. I think I'd ask them specifically what's happening to them.

I'm glad you're feeling better about your decision. This is truly up to you, no one can make the decision for you, not your friends, not your family, not your doctors or nurses and not us. Take care and let us know how you're doing. Best wishes to you!

I don't know if I'm nervous or what, but I keep thinking that this surgery isn't going to happen. I keep thinking that I won't follow through and get everything done, that I'll keep postponing my appointments and won't schedule a date, I don't know. I told my fiance about this and he said that he won't let me just forget about it because he knows how much I want this. I think I'm afraid I'll go through with this, spend all the money, and it won't work. I'm not miserable with my fat self, so it's not like it's desperation that I want the surgery, but I know I need to stop gaining weight and move downward. It's a strange feeling that I'm at right now.

I had no fears of the surgery, but boy, did I fear it wouldn't work. Well I have put that fear aside, my band IS working.

Last time I lost thirty pounds it took 10 months and was REALLY hard. Now I have lost almost 40 pounds in half that time and it was easier than the last time, pre band and I'm not even at my sweet spot yet!:glare:

FairyFacade, good for your for pointing out the obvious. That is the beauty, it can be removed. I have empathy with those who suffer from anxiety, but we are all here to tell our stories. Best wishes in all your endeavors future banders, including lapband surgery. g2s

The only fear I had was that I would fail. I did not and will not fail. You have to make the decision that works best for you but I can tell that if I had backed out of the surgery it would have been the biggest mistake of my life.

I've been banded for 5 months and I've lost 35 pounds. I've never PB'd or vomited. I can eat good healthy food but not too much of it. I can still eat my favorite foods as well but again, not too much of it. It is not easy but it has actually been easier than I ever thought it would be. Life is good!

Good luck to you!

Well I went through with the surgery!! I had it today 4/23/08 and so far not too bad. I think I had my self psyched out, and was thinking it would be worse than it was. I am getting up and walking a lot, taking Gas X, and sticking to the medciation schedule, and it hasn't been too bad. But give me a few days and check back with me :redface:

Congrats on hanging in there and getting banded! Glad to hear that you are doing so well.

Keep us posted.