New and ready to go! I'm going to be banded beginning of Jan. One main question:

[lizreeka 0]

Hello everyone! i have already gone through some of the pre-op stuff, i have a psych. eval coming up soon, but i suspect that will be fine. My main question is; is your quality of life that much better after surgery?

i guess i wonder about 'addiction transfer'....i'm afraid of turning to alcohol or something because of not getting that satisfaction from food....anyone experience this?

what are the hardest things you've had to deal with?...and how did you deal with it?

thanks so much and good luck to everyone!:smile2:

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I'm not and wasn't a food addict so I can't address addiction transfer. Yes I weighed 405 but it wasn't an addiction, or at least not like to cigarettes or drugs.

HOWEVER I did have other issues with food! And yes my life is 1000000% better already and I am just getting started. The BIG difference is hope. Not optimism, but hope. I've been able to diet well in the past but always gained back everything plus 20-30 more pounds. Now I know when I get tired of a diet, the band can help keep me in place until I muster the energy to go on again. And once I hit goal, that restriction will help keep me there. To me, the band was the missing ingredient. Now that I've found it, my life will never ever be the same again.

The hardest part for me was the liquid diet my surgeon had me on for 2 weeks post op. Lots of people do turn to gambling or alcohol though, but a good therapist can help you past that if it becomes an issue for you! :smile2:

Edited October 13, 2008 by RestlessMonkey

[*slim* 2]

I simply wish that I had dealt with my food issues before banding. I am seeing a therapist now. If you can, go ahead and see someone now to deal with you food addictions. That way, once banded, you can concentrate on just being banded. I am trying to learn new habits for band eating while trying to learn new habits for dealing with food all together.

[lizreeka 0]

that was very helpful....thank you!

[Old Goat 0]

Hi Lizreeka

I am in the middle of all this right now myself. Transfer Addiction is just one of the subjects that will be covered by your Psychologist this his his job. Good Luck