Last Minute Panic

 Okay, I'm flipping out here... my surgery is next week and I am really questioning this decision.  Maybe I have read too much--- I have came across so many contradictions, I am really confused. My program says NO CAFFEINE EVER AGAIN.  Sure, I can do it, but  a cup of coffee is such a simple pleasure... really?  Never?  And cutting my food into pencil-eraser sized bites and chewing each one 30 times?  Is this forever?  I am all for changing my bad habits, and have come so far already.  I want to be intelligent about my new life and get the full benefit of this procedure, so I'm not just being childish and irresponsible; but I don't want food to be an obsession anymore.  I want to be normal.  I am more than willing to sacrifice unhealthy foods and love feeling in control, but need to know if things get more reasonable and easier to live with.  I know I sound like I haven't been paying attention, but  I don't know enough about life after the first post-operative couple of months.  Can someone help me with the big picture?

Well for me I dont have carbinated drinks.  I know some ladies who have coffee and I'm not sure why in your documents it said no coffee.  You have to have small bites and chew chew.  Yes it is forever unless you have no restriction.  You need to think about these things because they will impact your life.  But I can only speak for myself, by making the choice to move forward with my surgery in March 2009, I have lost 111 lbs.  So the sacrafices I've made for my life are well worth it, because now I no longer have to use my CPAP, my liver is 100% better, I can run, box, tie my tennis shoes without propping up my foot, touch the floor with my flat hands, wear misses size clothes on top, not pass out from just walking, etc.  I still go out and sometimes I eat unhealthy choices (very rare) like pizza,, chicken wing, etc., but its a choice and I know what I have to do to have them.  

Hope this helps.  Basically once you have the surgery everything you knew you basically restart over.  I had to commit to this before.  Before surgery I chewed, no liquid during meals, etc.  

Breathe in, Breathe out. Go back to when you first started to think aoubt having surgery. Why? Look at your life now- is it "normal"?. Problems I had included not fitting into a booth, worrying if a seat belt would fit, even movie theatre or chairs at concerts were too small. Trouble bending over, being tired all the time.

According to my surgeon the reason for no caffeine (and aspirin and ibuprofin) is that they are hard on the stomach and wear away the lining of the stomach. Since erosion is a huge problem with the Band you don't want things that could increase the chances.

Even people who haven't had weight loss surgery chewing fool slowly is good for them. Eating slowly gives more time to get that message of fullness.

Breathe in, Breathe out.
Karen

I panicked before my surgery as well...I think it is normal considering the lifestyle change ahead.

As for the coffee. I know bandsters who drink caffeinated coffee without a problem and one in particular who still drinks tons of coffee and is very successful w/weight loss. I was a big coffee drinker and didn't plan to give it up BUT I find that I have no taste for it now! I bought a cup yesterday and could not get through more than a few sips. Now I prefer tea (caffeinated and herbal).

Re: other lifestyle changes. I plan to lose my weight following the band rules BUT I plan to maintain my weight via healthy eating and excercise. Hopefully, I will have developed good eating habits by the time I am at my goal weight and, at that time, I would like to be unfilled. If you are unfilled you can eat more normally. The band will still be there - just not functional. If I cant maintain my weight, then we will do fills again.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

 Thank you!  What you said about getting unfilled at goal is what I guess I needed to hear, because I feel much better.  I have a hard time admitting even to myself that the thought of following "rules" and answering to a list of do's and don't's makes me crazy.  Sounds irrational, I know, because I have adopted all the pre-op changes very comfortably, and things are going well... I haven't had caffeine since March, and I don't miss it.  It must be a psychological stumble... I have come too far and survived too much, and bottom line, I am too old to let  anybody tell me what to do!  Just part of the process, I guess.  

I have been really distressed at having nobody *****ally 'gets it.'  When I try to explain how I feel, they come back with all the reasons to lose weight.  I KNOW that!  Weight loss has been my holy grail since I was five years old.  I learned to add by counting calories, tablets and tablets of listing everything I ate.  My body was never just my business... everybody and his mother had an opinion and a sure-fire solution.  My perspective of myself in the world has been so skewed that it took me until I was in my fifties to finally get a backbone and make peace with myself.  So when I say I just want to be normal...  I just want to think about something else for a change.

Thanks again!

Hi there!  I'm only 6 mo out, so my point of view is not a real long timer, but it's been long enough to establish routines.  As far as the eating habits, the new way just becomes the habit.  You just tend to cut those tiny bites without even thinking about it and chew that many times w/o thinking, too.  You aren't obsessed once it becomes normal, it just is.  Personally, I love food..I'm a food network watching foodie...but now I'm a foodie that eats small meals and enjoys them, but still loses weight!  It works for me.

I think many Dr's want you to stop caffeine because it can irritate the stomach.  If you didn't have issues with your stomach & coffee pre-op, then you probably won't have them post op.  I drink a cup of coffee everyday, and tea too.  So you can bring caffeine back into your life.  I gave myself 3 months post-op to insure my stomach was healed and then brought it back.  I also make it 'healthy' (in my mind haha) by adding blended protein powder to it as my creamer.  (Check out Max Protein by www.SEIPharmaceuticals.com it's yummy.  I like chocolate).

It's normal to be nervous about any surgery and you should be thinking carefully about one that will change your lifestyle.  My thought process was that I needed to change my eating habits drastically or I'd be miserably diabetic with heart issues the rest of my likely short life.  I'd tried every diet on earth..amazingly from the age of 18, I'd been on a diet every year of my life except the two  years I was pregnant!  Clearly, dieting was not going to work without some big help... and that was the band.

Good luck & hugs!
Lisa

Hi there! I am so happy that I stumbled upon your post. I, too, am scheduled for surgery next week and have been second guessing my decision. I am so happy to hear that I am not alone. I know I NEED to do this, but the fear of the unknown is killing me! I am so scared about the changes I need to make and am scared of failing. I feel that I have really educated myself about this procedure, but I am feeling anxious about what it is really going to be like. What if I don't like it? What if I am sick all the time? etc... 
I know this is the right decision for me, but I am so scared!  I know I can get through this and I know you can too!  Good luck to you!

 I drink coffee all the time and never had a problem with it. No soda.

Take a few minutes to reflect back on why you wanted to do this!! I think everyone questions the decision since we are all only human. You are taking a big step toward a better you and yes you will have to make some BIG changes alone the way. We have all made food an obsession and it is time to change it!! You will be fine and good luck.

My doc. says that we can have some caffeine, but I chose not to. I got rid of the soda (diet Pepsi addict) as that is a golden rule. Cutting out caffeine was the best thing I did. Until you do it, you really don't realize how much of a drug that stuff really is. I feel like I have more energy and I get way less headaches. You may want to try a period of no caffeine for a month or two and see how you like it.