I wish I knew "what" before surgery....

LisaMarie, That is great hun ~Hugs~ but know we are always here for you no matter what you need. I felt I had issues really from day one with my food, I can remember that I would anger more quickly because I could NOT eat the things that made me "feel" better but now I can cheat and add some of those things in, which is what I am needing help with. Take care Debra P

Hi Debra, For all of us pre-ops out there, I want to thank you for starting this thread. As somebody mentioned, no one can fully anticipate things that haven't happened yet, but as a pre op, I am trying to work the emotional eating edge, and though I'm sure surgery helps in many respects for getting control back, emotional eating is fueled by feelings that will always exist. The task for us all (pre and post, and everyone who deals with these issues) is to constantly be working that edge, talking down the "deamons," learning new ways of coping. Hard, worthy work. Thank you everybody for all your input and Deb as always, for the great ideas. Hugs, Amy

Amy, You are welcome hun ~Hugs~ I know when I was pre- op I heard of all these things but I was one that said well that will never happen to me!!! Kind of putting my head in the sand about it. Now I know better and if it could help just one person that is good. Yeah this will be something we ALL will need to deal with forever.... Debra P

Great topic! Mine is a little different, I think. I wish I had studied the stages of banding list a little more carefully. My personality has changed and it comes from aggressiveness which is totally normal after banding, I'm told. I am now doing things about my life that I should have done years ago but was too much of a wuss to do back then. I often question how ready I am for this. There may be disappointments, but I have to try. Would I have done it knowing aggressiveness was a part of it..yes, but I think maybe I would have gotten more therapy. Kristine

Kristine, WOW I had no idea that aggressiveness is a side effect from banding....but I really did not do much research on that! I know I was quick to anger right after surgery and I think it was my food issues I do notice that people gain control after the surgery and take care of things in their life that should have been taken care of before, I guess we get that "control" back and it feels awesome. Take care and thanks for sharing. ~hugs~ Debra P

My mother said she would hope it's more of an "assertiveness" rather than aggressive, but aggressive is the word Jessie Ahroni, writer of a lap band book uses.

Kristine, Yeah I guess that could be a thin line between those 2 huh? I know mine was anger but like I said it was because I could not med myself with the food at that point. Debra P

I wish I knew, that despite all the research I did, everyone I talked to, every rule I knew backwards and forwards, that reality and living is far different than 'studying' it. I wish I knew how hard it was going to be to give up Advil for period cramps xosm

Just one of many things that should be given up... Debra P

Hi Debra Great topic! I wish I had known to save my $$$$ way before surgery so it would be easier for purchasing all those new clothes and shoes for my summer & winter wardrobes. Marianne