God please tell me...i was banded on 4.23.08 i was fine during the day but tonite for the past 2 hrs or so i have been experiencing "Panic attacks" ...please reach out to me anyone and tell me if this is normal and has anyone experienced this before and if so what did u do to make it better i am am mess right now i am suddenly feeling i want my band REMOVED....just not to feel what i am feeling now this panic!! Please anyone who can tell me if you have experienced and what should i do to make it better!! Never in my life have i had panic attacks please help me i feel like i wanna die.

:smile2:

I can't say that I panicked after my band was put in, but I would guess that now that you've gotten the band, the full impact of the choice has hit. I know for myself, I remember that I sat in one of our support group meetings and began thinking that I really had no other excuses for my weight. I had SURGERY to alter things and now I had to put up or shut up.

So, examine why you might have panicked. Cut yourself some slack, it IS a huge change, but one that will reap benefits over time. It's a journey, come here to the website for advice and support. Introduce yourself to the group that had surgery the same time you did. All these together will help work through the panicky part of this adventure. Chin up!

Annette :smile2:

I was EXACTLY where you were 4 days post banding. I came to this board and I posted. I was in tears, I literally was praying for the band to slip or become eroded so that it had to be removed. That was the only thing that got me through was thinking that "this band isn't permanent". However, when I got to Mushies, everything got better. The physical action of chewing real soft food was so much better. You will get through this. Now, I'm 16 days post banding and I'm much better. As I told one girl who e-mailed me from this board, I don't love my band yet, but I've torn up it's eviction notice.

It really helped me to call a friend up and just cry, let it all out, she helped me tremendously.

~Marlene

Banded 4/10/08

I agree with the others in the fact that you have made a big decision in changing your life and the reality has come full circle. It is ok to feel the way you do. I did not have "panic attacks" but I did do some "what the hell have I done to myself" thougths. I must admit that with the discomfort and the not being able to give myself my usual pain meds of comfort food. I was a sorry mess. But I got to thinking that nothing comes easy and all really good things in my life have required work. So now it was my time to work!! I just needed to get a different mind set and then it was better for me. I also felt a little better when I got to feel something solid in my mouth. A little warm cereal was a good thing in the morning. *smile*

You will feel better as time goes on. I am happy with my decison and I know that the final results of all my hard work will be worth it in the end.

I pray that you will find some sort of peace within yourself and that you will soon feel better and better and ready to face your new adventure in your life to a new you!!!

Nancy :smile2:

I really don't have panic attacks just really bad anxiety attacks I guess you'd call it. I was on antidepressants pre and post banding for post pardum ( I had band surgery 10months after having my baby but I was still dealing with post pardum depression.) I started having the anxiety about 4months after surgery. I would worry about everything, I couldn't keep a train of though other than worry, I was picking at my arms, face, legs, and fingers till I had bloody sores all over me. Oh yeah an I started smoking again. Like a freight train. Also, even while on the anti depressants I would have horrid mood swings (throwing things and raging) I went thru several different antidepressants (welbutrin, paxil, effexor, and zoloft) I took zoloft last and it work for a short period of time but then it all started back so my doc upped the dose since I was on the lowest (due to the fact that I also take migraine meds which conflict with some antidepressants so you have to be closely supervised when taking them) Anyways, upping the dose was a big mistake....it made everything worse. I did a little research online and did a "Do you have anxiety" test and the results were that I had a high probability of having Generalized anxiety disorder. Armed with this information I went back to my doc and we agreed to go back to the low dose of zoloft and throw some adivan in for good measure to help as needed with the anxiety attacks. Well, I don't know what all the hype is about adivan because it did do anything for me..at all! So back to the doc armed with even more research done on antidepressants and antianxiety drugs. I am now currently taking welbutrin (again) mainly because I want to stop smoking (which I have taken before to quit so I know it works in that are) and I am hoping it will work with the depression too. Also, I asked her to try me on klonopin which is an antianxiety (but has less withdrawl effects than adivan or xanax) Well, I have currently been on this medicinal regimine for about a week and a half so it really hasn't kicked in yet (as far as the welbutrin) but if I am having a bad day I can take the klonopin and it really helps calm my nerves. I remember when I was taking welburtin years before to quit smoking that it made me really sweet and nice to everybody. I am hoping it will have the same effect this time around.

So long story short (sorry) If they are really becomming a bother go to you doc and tell them what you are feeling and experiencing. Write down on paper what is happening and how you are feeling when an episode occurs so that you don't leave anything out. Also it helps to have a spouse or someone who lives with you (and is seeing and experiencing these episodes with you) to either go with you or if that is not possible have them write down the events of the episode from their perspective.

If medicating to get thru this rough patch is not your cup of tea, you could try relaxation techniques. I personally am to nervous and tense for it to even begin to work for me. Plus I have a 16month old running around the house all day so I really have no time to myself. Hence that is why I personally am medicating for the problem. My little girl and I are together all day and she doesn't deserve or understand when I snap and yell at her. If I didn't have her I might just try to deal with it without all the meds, but it still wouldn't be fair to my hubby (who bears the brunt of it.)

thanks so much to you all reading this has already made me feel a bit better i neeed to keep reading some positive words of wisdom.

Thanks soooooo much alll!!!

I know you wanted more responses from experienced bandsters but I was reading through the threads and couldn't help but reply to you... I'm scheduled to be banded on May 29th:smile:. I can't wait!!!

What your feeling is very natural. Sometimes in order to adjust to a drastic changes in life we have to overcome fear, and many people handle it differently. We naturally fear the unknown. Its kinda like a first time mother with post pardom (sp). You need to remember the reason you choose to get the band in the first place. I'm sure you didn't just jump right into this, you were banded because you made this decision and believe me this is the hardest decision that I feel like I have ever made in my life. But its going to be ok. I couldn't image failing at gastric bypass after having all my organs re-assembled and lack of needed nutrition. Atleast with the band you have the option of getting it removed it you needed to..

Relax and embrace the new you. Your still human and the same person before the band, you just have a little buddy assisting in loosing weight better than any personal trainer. As mentioned in a previous post, I'm sure all of this will subside once you start eating solids. Good Luck and hang in there.......:smile2:

U know i read a post from someone that was dead set on calling their Dr. to have the band removed... but come to find out they were on only liquids for a long time. Sometimes when u are not eating u will get panicky... if that's a word.. prehaps u should drink some v-8 juice or something that will make u feel a little better than just the protien drinks... U have come this far don't stop now... u can do it...

Edited April 27, 200818 yr by mstrina27

i tell you..you guys are FANTASTIC!! You all have helped me get thru to tonight more that you will ever know..i cant say THANK YOU enough to each and every one of you that has replied to this post i am overwhelmed in tears. You are all complete strangers and have all touched me in such an amazing way.....Thank you for your continued support in getting me through this difficult time, sincerly from the bottom of my heart.

I'm so glad you are feeling a little better. Trust that you will feel better each day that passes - and ultimately, you will grow to love the band I'm sure.

For me, once my life started getting back to some normality I felt much better. Last night hubby and I went out for dinner to a lovely restaurant - I had lovely Soup and some fish. It was nice to get past that fear that I couldn't eat out anymore. Of course I can, just not 3 big courses :-)

Right now you are likely feeling overwhelmed by the reality of the life changes - but trust that those life changes will make your life so much better in the long run.

Everything will be ok, hon. Seriously. There is nothing worse then feeling anxious. Do you normally have episodes of panic or anxiety attacks like this? (((huge hug)))

When you are feeling anxious, take deeeep breaths, all the way to the bottom of your lungs. It will help to calm you. And stay away from any negative threads in regards to the band. Only read the success stories and postive things for now. Everything is just fine :huh2:

thanks so much...unfortunately this morning i woke up to the same feelings. Especially feeling terrible that today is my husbands bday and i cant really go out to eat at a resturant...he is supportive but i feel panically again today ....never in my life have i dealt with these feelings till now all i need to hear is that this will pass and everything will be ok...i am petrified right now with the thought of never eating normal again.

I'm very sorry you still have the same feelings today. I have been in therapy since 2003 dealing with why I overeat and binge, so I've dealt with why I eat the way I do. However, I've read about other people on this board who never had to face why they eat the way they do, and after the band they have no other choice than to face those demons. I'm not say that you are one of them, but you've made a HUGE life change. If you dealt with stress by eating (as I did), you've taken that coping mechanism away from yourself. I am on Lexapro & still in therapy & I still FREAKED OUT after surgery. All I can say is that if you can get through this, you can get through anything. You will empower yourself to take control of your life. I really never thought I would be able to say these things to another bandster when I was exactly in your shoes less than 2 weeks ago. Just know you are not alone, you're not the first person to question having this surgery and you won't be the last. Hang in there! You will be able to eat "normally" again, but you will just only be able to less of your "normal" food. You will not be on liquids for the rest of your life & there will be more birthdays! You're not missing anything today!

Lookin2loose, YOUR'E OK. Hind site is great, and I'm looking back to where you are now. It's your husband's birthday, and you're going to go out to a nice restaurant and have Soup. Last year, you ate the whole entree, including appatizer, and desert and cake and ice cream later in the day. Right????????

Well next year, honey, you will go out proudly with your husband as a "HOTTIE" which do you think would be the best gift you could give to your husband (and yourself)?

Hang in there. You're freaking out on the negative, but look at the positive!

Dear Lookin'

Please know that you are human and that you are feeling some very human things right now and you need to stop beatingyourself up and start looking at what you have done that will be for the better!! You have made a choice to become a better you!! Better in so many ways that you will be able to give your hubby many more things that just eating out!! I have to say that I have been able to eat a few things since being banded on the 16th. Go and enjoy the day with your hubby and make him glad that he has you in his life and that you are doing something that will enable you to be healthy and thus be able to be with him for a long time to come. That is a gift we all would want to have, our loved ones with us for a long time. :w00t:

This will pass and you will be surprised on just how good you are going to feel in the very near future!!

Hang in there!!! We are all here for you and for each other!!!

Nancy :huh2:

lookin, I'm being banded tomorrow and really feel for you. From what i'm hearing from a lot of people, once you can start eating real food, things start to look a lot better. If you still feel this way tomorrow, call your dr. I wish I was almost a week out like you. Hang in there and please keep us posted.