Hopes and Fears

[Shinyhappymommy 2]

I am finally scheduled for surgery on February 8th. Now that this is really happening, I have all sorts of things going through my mind. I am mostly upbeat and excited about this change in my life. I am thrilled with the prospect of the positive changes in my life. There are some negatives in there and I just thought I'd get some of them down in words so maybe I can put them behind me.

Fears:

I'm afraid I will die.

I'm afraid that I won't be find the right diet for me post-op.

I'm afraid I'll have band complications.

I'm afraid I will still have intense urges to eat sweets in large quantities.

I'm afraid that I won't lose weight very fast and that people will judge me.

I'm a religious person and I know that all of these things are things that I need to put in God's hands and trust Him.

I guess I should put down my hopes as well.

I have hope that I will become a normal-sized person again.

I have hope that I will have renewed energy and vitality in my life.

I have hope that I'll become a more involved mother and wife and that I will be able to use my new energy to serve and bless others' lives.

I have hope that I will feel pretty again. I haven't felt pretty in so long.

I have hope that once I have succeeded in this journey that I can help others along as well.

Thanks for reading. Any reassurances are welcome.

[steph_co 9]

I guess it comes down to weighing the pros and cons. It can be a scary choice just because it's such a HUGE choice. But you know what's right for you and how to get there.

I was a major sweet-eater before the band. I was also afraid I wouldn't be able to kick that habit. But once you are properly restricted and you make sure to eat your regular balanced meals (Protein first, veggies next, then fruit or multi-grains), there really isn't room for much else! And really, because I've made myself stay away from sweet stuff for the most part, I can't handle sweet stuff as well as I used to. It makes me ill if I eat too much. The NP at my Dr's office also mentioned to me that as you lose a bunch of weight, your taste buds can change which can include making sweets taste TOO sweet.

It's an adjustment, but you can do this. And you will be AMAZED at what you are capable of doing when you have such a powerful ally on your side!

[slbindc 0]

Hi ShinyHappyMommy,

Thanks so much for your post! I'm being banded on the 4th (Monday), and I'm starting to freak out a bit. I share some of the same fears and hopes as you, but mostly I think I'm afraid of failing. I think the fear of failure is even larger than the fear of the surgery itself.

Also, I'm questioning myself....Did I do enough research on the LB? Am I sure I can't lose weight and keep it off another way? Am i REALLY committed? What will take the place of food in my life? Can I do this?

I have every intention of going through with it, but there's that seed of doubt trying to talk me out of it. I've been considering WLS for so long that part of me doesn't believe I'm actually going to do it.

[mbanja 1]

Well, I can't speak for all but I was a major sweet addict before the band. Post band with all the sweet protien shakes I have to drink, I am not so much into sweets now. To top it off my tastes for things have changed. You will do fine! You just have the preband jitters that all of us go thru!

[coolcrystal 1]

Cool, there are some other February bandsters in here!

I know how you all feel. I have some of the same fears myself. Ditto to what all of you said and add in the fact that I'm scared how my fat friends will treat me if I do lose a lot of weight. I fear that they will get jealous and/or avoid me.. I'm scared to lose them. Being overweight has been my identity for so long.. If I'm not fat Crystal, who am I? I've been thin before and I hated how I got treated. I feel safer being obese, but now my body is so runned down that walking in a grocery store kills my back.. I just can't do it anymore..