Hi All:

I'm Danielle, I've been reading the board for about a month now and have learned so so so much from everyone's posts. I just got my surgery date of June 19th and I'm super excited but also pretty nervous! I've never had any kind of surgery and although I've done all the research and feel well educated on the ins and outs of everything I'm also scared about how life will be after surgery. My parents although being supportive of my decision are not happy about this at all. My mom keeps tearing up every time we talk about it and she is making me doubt myself just a little bit. I'd love to hear if anyone has had a similar situation and how I can make her feel comfortable with all of this.

Thanks!

Congrats on your surgery date!! I had my surgery on 6/23/08. I don't have ANY regrets!! I also had never had surgery and was so so scared. It was not bad at all!!! Recovery was pretty easy for me...just some gas pains.

What are the concerns that your mom has? Is she educated about the lapband? If she wants to talk to someone who has been through it, private message me and I will give you my email.

Good luck with everything!

Congratulations on your decision to get the surgery! I wish I would have done it when I was in my 20s! (although now that I think of it, it was not even available:eek:) Your mom's reaction is very normal, she loves you and is concerned. Once you lose the weight she will be very happy that you are healthy! How much do you want to lose? As far as life changing after, it sure does! There are lots of stages you go through and it is really up to you how you handle them. The band is a tool and you do need to work it. It sounds like you have done your homework and know alot. I would love to answer any questions and help you along on your journey! I have been very successful and it helps me to help others. I live in Westchester, NY and was banded at NYU. Where are you being banded, who is your Dr and where in NY do you live? What kind of pre-surgery diet will you be following? Please feel free to PM me! Best of luck to you!

Congratulations on your decision Danielle. For me the surgery and recovery was surprisingly smooth. I had no issues. I have absolutely no regrets with my decision. It's normal for a mother to be worried about her daughter. Maybe if she meets your surgeon she will feel better as she will be able to get her questions answered and he will (hopefully) inspire confidence. Best of luck with your surgery! Keep us posted on your progress.

Hi Amy,

I noticed in your signature that you were banded by Dr. Fielding..he is my surgeon too! Are you happy with him?

Well my mom is 5'7 and 130 so she doesn't exactly understand how I feel, but I recently moved back home and she is just saying that she thinks this is too drastic and she will do whatever it takes to help me to lose the weight on my own. She worries about when I want to have babies and that I'm going to regret my decision once I am sick throwing up etc. I try to explain that in no way do I think this is of some sort "magic bullet" I understand there will be a lot of sacrifice and hard work but that I'm ready to make this life change. So we've been going back and forth the past few days and everyday she's like "have you changed your mind yet" lol...I guess it will just take a little bit of time for her to get used to the idea...Also I think it didn't help that we had my consult the other day and now surgery is in a month I think she got very overwhelmed very quickly.

I really appreciate your response..thanks!

Congratulations on your decision to get the surgery! I wish I would have done it when I was in my 20s! (although now that I think of it, it was not even available:eek:) Your mom's reaction is very normal, she loves you and is concerned. Once you lose the weight she will be very happy that you are healthy! How much do you want to lose? As far as life changing after, it sure does! There are lots of stages you go through and it is really up to you how you handle them. The band is a tool and you do need to work it. It sounds like you have done your homework and know alot. I would love to answer any questions and help you along on your journey! I have been very successful and it helps me to help others. I live in Westchester, NY and was banded at NYU. Where are you being banded, who is your Dr and where in NY do you live? What kind of pre-surgery diet will you be following? Please feel free to PM me! Best of luck to you!

Hi Barb!

Thanks for the response...I started writing to you before and I think it got deleted, I am new to this whole forum thing so please bear with me I am a little slow lol. So Dr. Fielding is doing my surgery as I see he did yours too which makes me feel better lol. I am planning on doing either Slimfast or Carnation for the pre-op diet. I am a little nervous about doing liquids because I did Medifast for a week about 2 years ago and was VERY irritable! I live in Western Nassau County and ideally I'd like to lose about 75 pounds...I am 5'5 240. I think you are right about my mom she is just concerned which is normal but she has been making me feel uneasy about the whole thing which is why I needed some positive re-inforcement from you guys. I really appreciate it!

Congratulations on your decision Danielle. For me the surgery and recovery was surprisingly smooth. I had no issues. I have absolutely no regrets with my decision. It's normal for a mother to be worried about her daughter. Maybe if she meets your surgeon she will feel better as she will be able to get her questions answered and he will (hopefully) inspire confidence. Best of luck with your surgery! Keep us posted on your progress.

Thank you! It's great to hear that your surgery and recovery went smoothly I am hoping and praying for something similar. She did meet my surgeon and asked her questions which I was happy about but as I said earlier I think she got very overwhelmed that as soon as we left his office we booked the date and she started to freak..she thought that I was going to think about it more but I had been thinking, reading and researching for a while and basically had my decision made...meeting the surgeon was just the re-assurance I needed. I will def. keep you posted and thanks so much!

Dr. Fielding is great!! One of the best in the country , honestly. All of the surgeons at NYU are great. I have never had any issues with NYU. It can be a bit busy...but getting fills there is a piece of cake. My mom went with me to my consult and I remember Dr Fielding saying something that really hit home with me. He said for people that are obese...the chance of them losing all the weight on their own is about 5%. The chance of them keeping that weight off is less than 1%. It hit home for me then; but honestly it resonates with me even more now after almost a year of being on this journey!

Congrats on your surgery date! The surgery for me was a breeze. I was in at 6 a.m. and home by 2 p.m. the same day. You are very uncomfortable for the first few days, after that it gets better. Don't let your parents discourage you. You gotta do what you gotta do to get yourself healthy and with lapband it's a good choice.

Dr. Fielding is great!! One of the best in the country , honestly. All of the surgeons at NYU are great. I have never had any issues with NYU. It can be a bit busy...but getting fills there is a piece of cake. My mom went with me to my consult and I remember Dr Fielding saying something that really hit home with me. He said for people that are obese...the chance of them losing all the weight on their own is about 5%. The chance of them keeping that weight off is less than 1%. It hit home for me then; but honestly it resonates with me even more now after almost a year of being on this journey!

That is so good to hear! Can I ask you a question, when you have to go to the office for fills how long are you usually there for? Reason being I would like to somehow try to work this into a early morning before work or leave an hour early but don't want to have to take half days every month or so? Also how often do you go for fills? I know everyone is different just trying to get a feel for the office at NYU. Dr. Fielding said the same thing to me and I totally believe it, I really just want to use this as a tool to help me get it off and keep it off! I am so so so happy to hear that you are doing great and are happy with your results a year later

Congrats on your surgery date! The surgery for me was a breeze. I was in at 6 a.m. and home by 2 p.m. the same day. You are very uncomfortable for the first few days, after that it gets better. Don't let your parents discourage you. You gotta do what you gotta do to get yourself healthy and with lapband it's a good choice.

Hi Libby, its very nice to hear that your surgery was a breeze...my doctor said I could go home the same day as surgery as well so was happy to hear I could come home to rest in my own bed that night. Thanks for the kind words!

Hey Danielle! Congrats on getting your date! I am getting banded on June 19th as well! I'd love to keep in touch and share each others progress!

Hey Danielle! Congrats on getting your date! I am getting banded on June 19th as well! I'd love to keep in touch and share each others progress!

Hey! Congrats on your surgery date as well! I'd love to keep in touch, that sounds great..feel free to PM me anytime :scared2: