Hi everyone,

I'm Melissa from Ohio and new to the forum. I was just approved for lap-band surgery on the 3rd of June! I'm here to find out as much as I can about what to expect before and after my surgery. I have one last appointment with my surgeon on the 9th of July. I will find out my surgery date that same day. I'm excited to say the least!! Looking forward to sharing this experience with others who know what I'm going through!

Congrats! It is an awesome Journey, challenge, and transformation. There are many people here who have more experiance than I do but with what I have experienced so far my first changes have been mental and emotional. I didnt realize how much of my family interaction has revolved around eating! So we are all revamping. My husband seems to be a little relieved. The way I use to cook was one for my family and some "healthy" experiment for me and they can have it with thier hamburger. His most common dinner request was something "NORMAL". With the lapband I feel like I have been freed from the guilt of eating "NORMAL" foods in excess and the Splurge we are all accustomed to. food is no longer the enemy and we are as a family rediscovering "YUM". Taste is good. This is my first great relief. Eating lapband portions really how much damage can I do and still be able to keep it down... :drool:

THe lapband is a great tool. So far my biggest challenge is to relearn how to eat. I didnt realize it but I had the BAD habit of eating too fast, and NOT chewing enough. Now the band reminds me when I need to SLOW DOWN and CHEW< CHEW< CHEW... This is a hrad habit to break! GOod luck, we are here for you.

I know what you mean when you say, "I didnt realize how much of my family interaction has revolved around eating!" It seems as if every gathering my family has revolves around food. Weddings, birthdays, reunions, holidays, graduations, and even funerals. My family definitely lives to eat instead of eating to live!

Hi "melmarlem,"

Congratulations on your approval! Sometimes that's the hardest part to wait for. I'm sure you're very, very excited! My surgery is later this month and while the pre-op liquid diet that I'm on is hell, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I wish you the best of luck with your surgery! Keep us posted!

Congrats, Melmarlem! So excited for you.

Lauren, I'm in surgery next week, too. June 24. I've just started my pre-op liquid and hoping I can handle it! LOL!

Congrats, Melmarlem! So excited for you.

I've just started my pre-op liquid and hoping I can handle it! LOL!

Oh you can do it! The first two days were really though for me--I felt horrible, but it get's better. By day three, and now four, my body has adjusted and I'm feeling better. I won't lie and say that it's easy or that I'm not hungry or that I don't want to eat regular food, but I haven't caved. For me, a lot of this is will power. As long as I get my Protein in, I'm not actually hungry, but I feel the need to eat when studying, etc. I don't know, for me, I think I'm learning when my eating triggers are and am fighting through them during this phase. Bottom line: if you can make it though the next day or two, you can do anything!

You'll be in my thoughts next week!:bored: