Im Scared!

[newmaude 0]

Im considering scheduling my surgery in 2 weeks and although I was gungho in the drs office, im now getting cold feet. Im scared to death about how i'll feel after surgery and honestly, the dr never even discussed that with us during the seminar or office visit. any advice from people who've gone thru this and were scared also? please help, I cant decide if i should have the surgery or not :smile2:

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Rather than me rattling on and on about whatever, can you be specific? Are you afraid of the pain immediately post op? or of feeling bad say 2 months out? When you say feel, do you mean hurting? or how you'll need to eat and live? I will gladly help you if I can...just need a little info! :smile2:

[newmaude 0]

I guess specifically, I'm scared about the long term complications more than anything else. I understand and accept that there will be post operative pain but i think my real concern is having it done and then discovering that i dont have what it takes to work with the band. im afraid that eating liquids and then mushies for a prolonged period of time with throw me into a depression and i'll begin to think "omg what have i done to myself" i guess i really just need someone that has already gone thru it to explain to me what their daily life is like now that theyve had it done. i think im just looking for reassurance that im making the right decision and that it will all be ok. im a bit of a worry wart :smile2:

[pickles123 0]

I am scared too. I can't be specific because I don't know what is coming other than what I read. I know I am afraid of the pain after surgery. Then what if I am a 70 year old with a lap band. Am I still going to want it?

I read the longest someone had a lap band was 14 years and in Australia. I don't know this for a fact.

What happens after 20 years. No one knows. I think I am going to do it but I have my doubts now and then to. I guess we just need encouragement.

[ccweeks 0]

I look at it like this (i'm pre-op): I think of being overweight and all the complications that come with carrying this extra weight. I think about huffing and puffing, sweating, people looking at me, feeling insecure, not being able to cross my legs as well as a skinny girl, my breathing being cut off by my too tight jeans and then I KNOW I can deal with the after care for my band. I know that I will do whatever it takes to make sure that I stay on track and don't drink sodas, eat stuff that will stretch my pouch, etc.

To me, the benefits of this surgery faaaaar outweigh (no pun intended) any hesitations I have of how the post-op will go and how my life will change further.

HTH!

[ParrotheadCathy 0]

CC, I think pretty much everybody got nervous when it got close to their surgery dates. It is surgery, after all, and you are entitled to be a little nervous. You have my email address. If I can tell you anything at all about my experience (same surgeon, probably same surgical center, etc.), I'll be glad to share. Just remember that it's okay, normal, and common to be nervous as your date gets closer.

[JUKU 1]

That was me totally. I was so sure about it until the nurse actually called and gave me a surgery date. Then I felt "oh my this is really going to happen." Just trust in your decision. Good Luck.

[ccweeks 0]

CC, I think pretty much everybody got nervous when it got close to their surgery dates. It is surgery, after all, and you are entitled to be a little nervous. You have my email address. If I can tell you anything at all about my experience (same surgeon, probably same surgical center, etc.), I'll be glad to share. Just remember that it's okay, normal, and common to be nervous as your date gets closer.

No, no. I'm not scared. I was actually trying to make the OP feel better. :biggrin: Sorry for confusing you!

[tammy green 0]

hi my names tammy i felt the same way, really scared of it all i have been banded a little over three weeks now. have lost 11lbs. my advise is to research, research, that way you will know what you are going in to. and keep in mind everyone is different. i researched over a year. and the most of the people had pain for about a week, and the gas too. but as for me i had 1 pain and hardly any gas, and the liquid diet , i didnt feel hungry, and im on soft foods now not really hungry . my head wants a big juicy hamburger though. i check this web site daily, there is no better advise then from the ones who already have the band. i chose to have wls because of the pain of arthritis in my knees, and ankles and i know if i dont loose the weight i will be in a wheel chair. i always had in the back of my mind i can always back out. but when i was there i told myself i can live this way the rest of my life or i can make a change. research is the key thing.

[isaviolinist 11]

I was also very gungho about getting surgery while I was going through all of the preop appointments. About a week before the surgery I started getting progressively more terrified. The morning of the surgery I was a nervous wreck!

I just had my first fill this morning. Since my pre-op diet, I have lost a little over 38 pounds. I have to say, I am so happy with my decision so far! I am so glad to never see those pounds again!!

Like the above poster said, do A LOT of research. My surgeon is so excellent - I had very little pain after surgery (and a little bit of gas pain only in my neck, which went away after one day). My fill this morning was quick and relatively painless (Ive heard of horror stories with fills...doctors poking 5-6 times before finding the port). I am so grateful for a really caring, competent surgeon. I think it really makes all the difference (so don't be afraid to comparison shop :biggrin:).

Good luck!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I guess specifically, I'm scared about the long term complications more than anything else. I understand and accept that there will be post operative pain but i think my real concern is having it done and then discovering that i dont have what it takes to work with the band. im afraid that eating liquids and then mushies for a prolonged period of time with throw me into a depression and i'll begin to think "omg what have i done to myself" i guess i really just need someone that has already gone thru it to explain to me what their daily life is like now that theyve had it done. i think im just looking for reassurance that im making the right decision and that it will all be ok. im a bit of a worry wart :biggrin:

Thanks for clearing that up! :thumbup:

I think you voice some very valid concerns and it is smart of you to think ahead to life with the band. I don't know if you are a worry wart, or a good planner!

The liquid and mushies stages are FINITE. I stress that because, having been on a huge variety of diets before (with the caveat that you must eat cardboard for life, or whatever) liquids and mushies are NOT how you will always eat. They are for healing. If it helps, think of it as if you will be on a 4-6 week (or however long your post op diet is) course of medicine that is composed of certain foods. Fine distinction, but vital I think. They will not be a way of life.

We are all different, but as my surgeon says, a huge chunk of your post band life starts between your ears. How tight you end up will be totally under your control. For example, I can eat a cup to 1 1/2 cups of food at a time. Could I be tighter? YES. Are people tighter? YES. However I know myself; tell me I can't have something and I MUST have it (and even with that I got thru the post op diet!) Staying where I am allows me to occasionally eat bread, pizza, enchiladas, Pasta, rice. I eat chicken breast or steak almost daily. I have had fried okra (talk about a veggie that has fiber)

Having restriction makes, to me at least, it easier to choose healthy things. I can eat 1/2 a sandwich and some chips and be hungry in 3 hours. I can have some chicken breast (unbreaded or fried, whatever) and be full for 6 hours. Since I don't usually eat to be hungry, I pick the food with the most bang.

I didn't used to do this, preband, because it seemed to me like preband I was always hungry. I probably was, and it probably had to do with insulin resistance (not head hunger)....the band has mostly stopped that for me.

So I can eat anything, I am losing well (46 pounds since 5/7 when I found love and happiness and the sweet spot with that fill!) and feel wonderful. The band is my friend, it is my tool. I can tighten or loosen it as I see fit. Looser and I can eat more. Tighter and I will be able to eat less. I am in control. You will be, too.

Some do have issues. The psych consult is supposed to catch those unlucky ones (at least the ones with issues adapting) but it doesn't always work. AND yes there are complications...but they are rare. Follow the rules your surgeon gives you and the odds of a complication diminish. There are no guarantees in life; there are no guarantees without the band.

At my age, with my health, the band became the healthier more logical choice than remaining without it. But we all must weigh the odds and come to our own decision. It isn't for everyone. But for some of us it is a miracle.

[123crod 170]

I too suffer from Clinical Depression. I had Lap Band Surgery on July 13 and I made it through. I had an anxiety (panic) in the recovery room but they took care of me. I have had less depression and anxiety since Surgery because I am focused on keeping to the plan and it keeps my mind busy. I think you should not worry about depression getting in your way. If it does happen to pop up later and you can't reach for you friend (food, thats mine) you will slowly find you don't need that “friend” for comfort any more. But everything about this whole process is slow so you have time to work through things. Do you see a Counselor or take meds for depression?

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Clinical depression shouldn't stop a person from getting the band. Especially if you work with a doc or therapist; Losing weight is a very postive healthy thing even if, for some, it causes some emotional issues that need to be dealt with. Working with a therapist during the pre- and weight loss phase can only help.

[123crod 170]

I agree, seeing a Counselor through this process is GREAT idea depression or not.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I have one and she is as vital as my surgeon! I don't need her all the time but she helped me get back on track right after graduation...

and I'm going through some family crud now that I am handling WAY better than I ever would, thanks to the band and my therapist!

A good therapist is golden! :biggrin: IF you need one. :thumbup: