Has Anyone Experienced Anxiety With Having The Lab?

[sharklove82 10]

Anxiety about having surgery and essentially changing your lifestyle is to be expected...even the most grounded individuals will have some reservations about making those types of sweeping changes. I know i did...

Trust me when I write that life as you have known it will resume' date=' with a few minor exceptions. I'm only 5 months post op, but now I'm able to attend parties, go to restaurants, travel, and go sailing. Pretty much all of the activities I enjoyed before getting my band. I just make different choices on the menu, and every meal I order gets stretched into 3 meals.

For the initial month or 2, you are still adjusting to the many changes we need to make...and inherently, people do not do well with change. How we interpret the situation we are confronted with makes a huge difference in how we ultimately will adjust to our new lifestyle.

It's important to understand that the more self determination we feel in life, the healthier we will be from an emotional standpoint. Having a band is very self empowering; you and only you will determine your level of success with your weight loss journey. For some, that can be a frightening thought, because many have a fear of failure. Day to day, remaining compliant with your diet can be very challenging, but overall, we do not need to be perfect, only make the best effort every day to do the best we can to follow the rules.

People who do not need to loose weight do not have the surgery...and the reason many of us got to the point of choosing to have the band was because of our relationship with food. That has to change; food is not your friend. We must learn to eat to live, not the other way around. When you have to say goodbye to a friend, you can actually go through a grieving type process as you adjust to understanding that you can no longer seek solace from food to cope with stress or boredom.

I was fortunate to have a chance encounter with a woman who had been banded 2 years ago...she helped me to place things in a better perspective. What is more important to you, having your health and mobility or knowing that you can eat whatever you want to in whatever quantity you want to? Put into those words, discussion over...just do it!

Yes, it has been a major adjustment for me; and pre op and initial post op times are the most difficult. Gradually you do get your life back to some sense of normalcy.

My interpretation of having my band is that it is an opportunity for me to restore some of the health that my weight was stealing from me. I still feel fortunate that I was able to have my surgery, even with the complications I have experienced. Because I know what the alternatives would be...so my thoughts remain positive and I do my best every day to remain compliant, and I also accept that I am not perfect.

Get in touch with your reasons for choosing your band, and keep them at the forefront of your thoughts so you can review them when you have moments of anxiety or regret.

Best wishes...[/quote']

thank you so much. I teared up reading, I know I can do this. I hope too get stronger everyday. With ppl on this forum I feel so much support. Which I so need, since only 3 ppl in my family know I have the band. None of my friends know either. so I depend mostly on this site, thank you again. Best wishes.

[sharklove82 10]

Hang in there and take your time while you eat. Sometimes I even take a break and go back to it.

Great advice thanks.

[Cooper123 93]

Sojourner,

That was incredible advice. Thanks !!!

[judych 225]

I keep hearing no drinking before or after eating for 30 mins on this forum. But my doctor has never told me this so its another thing I'm worried about. What is the reason for no drinking while eating?

i think its so that the food doesnt slip through the band faster and in greater quantities than its supposed to?? that can cause problems over time.