Hi all, I am new to this forum. There are so many wonderful posts and inspiring posts.

I am taking the steps to become a bandster. I went to a seminar on Saturday that the surgeon requires all his patients to attend, in fact he does the seminar himself, it was very inspiring and informative.

I am reading through all the paperwork he gave out and I am reading the page about making an appt for a psych eval and pulmonary doctor and all of a sudden the excitment left my soul and nervousness hit. The surgery does not scare me as much as going under, has anyone felt this way? If so how do you get out of the funk?

I know there is no other option for me, I am 43 and I have stopped living 4 yrs ago when the weight started going up and up. I am tired not taking my kids to the pool, not going out with friends, not going into my kids classroom, walking into a restaurant and wondering if a booth will fit me, tired of being tired.

I know if I get approved for the Lapband (bcbs of Illinois) it will be a new beginning for me, a new start to a healthy life. I just do not know how to shake the nervousness that I feel.

Would appreciate any input and thank you for reading my post

Hi Beth,

Welcome to LBT! I can certainly relate to your fear of going under--that was really the only thing about surgery that frightened me. Medical people are so cavalier about it; they see it each and every day time and time again, but if surgery is a rare occurrence in one's life general anaesthesia can be terrifying.

Your feelings are perfectly valid and understandable. I think they will pass, though, as you move through the process and get closer. There's a lot to think about and process, and the actual surgery itself is only one of those things. Learning more about it can only help.

Good luck, and nice to "meet" you!

Thank you Alex. Your stats are amazing:speechles

I also have BCBS of Illonois. Approved with very minimal requirements and was approved in a day!!! Paid 100%!!!1 Good Luck!

I'm pre band too. Doing all the pre tests now. My surgery consult appointment is in July. I am really hating all the waiting and patience I'm suppouse to be doing. (not real good at the whole patience thing) But the only thing I'm nervous about too is the surgery. I had my tonsils out when I was in 2nd grade, and since then, the only hospital visits have been for the birth of my two girls. I think its natural to be nervous. I just want to get started though .

Melissa

That was the only thing I was nervous about too was being put under. My last visit at the doctor's office they ask me if I was nervous and I said "Yes", and they told me if I wasn't then they would think something was wrong with me. They told me it was normal to be nervous, and that made me feel so much better. Once I got to the hospital, all of my Doctor's crew came in and talked to me and made me feel so much better.

I was nervous too but think of the reward in the long run. You will have your life back! Keep believing.

Laura

Welcome to LBT Beth!!!! Your fears and feelings are completely normal. It is ok to be scared. For me, I had to weigh the risks and benefits and the benefits of having the surgery and changing my life, far outweighed the possible surgery and anesthesia risks. I couldn't be happier with my decision. I didn't feel too hot the day after surgery, I have a huge sensitivity to meds, but 2 months and 33 lbs. later, it was the best thing I ever did. You can do this!!! Hang in there and get all of the testing done. The testing is a good thing...the more they know about you, the better care they can take of you...and that means a lesser risk of complications.

Hugs to you.

Hey Beth! Yeah, you hit on my number one scaredy point. I'm going in on Thursday, just TWO days away and I'm really worried about the anesthesia. Like DtDtKty I'm pretty sensitive to meds so I worry about this. I did have anesthesia once in high school and all went well then, so I'm holding hope that this will be the same.

For now I'm just concentrating on how important this whole process is.

Also, as for the testing...think of it this way....this is setting a baseline for you so that when you are banded you'll be able to know how far you've come!! The testing is not that bad, yeah a bit of a pain in the heiney, but not terrible. Just get it done! Look as it as necessary steps to get you where you want to be.

Welcome to the boards!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your responses. I am scheduled for a breathing test tomm and on July 1st a chest xray and pulmonary testing, not sure what that entails. I have a call in for my Psych eval and I see the Sugeon on July 6th. I wonder if they can give you something a couple of days before for the nervousness??