Jitters

 Sooo, I'm a month pre-op.  I really am looking forward to having this done, but find myself preoccupied with the fear of blowing it.  I'm not going to back out.  Just worries me when I read about people *****lapse.  I know it's mostly about getting your head straightened out, which I'm working on.  Not sure what I'm trying to accomplish by posting exactly.  Just don't have anyone here to talk about jitters with!  The support group associated with my hospital only meets once a month.  Anyway...!  So there you have it!

I had those same fears and jitters pre-op too....until a day or two before my surgery (go figure!).  I kept thinking to myself, "when are you going to chicken out?" but I never did. It took me years to get to the point where I was ready for surgery (look at my join date!).  I was actually reading  the boards before my join date, so it has been years.

I am so glad I didn't cancel, and I can tell you that there are hard moments since surgery, however I have been able to stay on track because of the different food stages, as well as the jitters/fears.  I get through each day, one at a time.  I can't think too far ahead because it can be overwhelming.

I would suggest that you start preparing your kitchen with the foods and things you'll need to be sucessful, and start looking forward to your new life :)

 Thanks for all the reassurances!  It really helps.  Some days I get a little freaked, and others I'm totally confident.  I took your suggestion about getting stocked and made a little trip to walmart to get a couple of smaller dishes to put my smaller portions in for work.  (I saw somebody posted  that idea)  It makes me feel better to plan.
And you're right about not thinking too far ahead.  Pretty sure that is a skill that will come in handy!

Hey scaredeesquirrel! I'm right next door in New Freedom. We've probably seen each other waddling around Saubel's.

I'm not quite 2 weeks post-op but I understand about the jitters. I kept going back and forth in my head the whole time I was going through the 6-month program my insurance required. There were many times when I thought maybe I shouldn't do this. I've failed so many times at keeping weight off that I didn't think I could stand the disappointment if I had the surgery and then didn't lose weight.

So far, the band is working great and I haven't even had a fill yet! I'm really not hungry (a novel experience for me) most of the time and have to remind myself to eat. I realize that once I'm completely healed from the surgery things may be different but, based on my experience so far, I think I finally have the tools I need to not only lose weight but to keep it off (always my problem).

Drop me a message and I'll give you my phone number. We can support each other as we go through this journey.

 LOL, you mean that was you at Saubel's?  Over there eyeing up the doughnuts?  I should have said hi!  Congrats being 2 weeks out.  In a few weeks I'll be able to say the same thing. I'm reading a book called Shrink Yourself which is good headwork.  Reminding myself that fear of failure is no reason to not try.  Not trying will pretty much seal my fate, so ....here I go!  The book is quite good.  I'm actually taking notes.  Probably like nearly everyone here, I'm well experienced at having successes ultimately turn into failures over time.  I'm really hoping this tool will give me a good start.  More later...gotta settle my grandson in for bed.

Yep, that was probably me. The two most dangerous places in town for me are the day-old bakery racks at Saubel's and at Wal-Mart.

I was at Saubel's yesterday and didn't even feel tempted to check out the rack or go through the bakery. Instead, most of my trip was in the produce and dairy sections with a side trip looking for dry-roasted unsalted cashews (they didn't have them -- neither did Giant). They say the healthiest foods are on a store's perimeter, not the inner aisles.

Before my surgery, I gave a friend most of the unhealthy(hi-carb and/or hi-fat) food in my pantry. I didn't have any sweets to dispose of since they never lasted very long in my house. From here on out I need to stick with good quality protein and complex carbs. So far I believe the band will help make that possible.

 Hi Rich!
Been out of town for the past two weeks.  I know what you mean about the day old racks!  We haven't been home 24 hours and my husband made the rounds today at Saubel's and stocked up on the usual fare.  I really need to get this to stop!  He has two weeks, and then I'm really going to put my foot down.  My past track record doesn't allow for a lot of freedom here.  I had just started to purge the kitchen and he just restocked it.  Aargh.  Eleven days to go!
BTW did you have any problems with nausea post-op?  That's  one thing I'm a little worried about.  I don't exactly have a good track record with that.  Ended up staying in the hospital an extra day last time for that reason, and nothing seemed to help.

Good to have you back in town & on the board. My recovery from the surgery was really non-eventful. I had no nausea at all. The only "issue" I had was with pain/soreness but I expected that. A lot of it was because they fixed a hiatal hernia the size of a Winnebago during the same surgery and my diaphragm was very sore for a few days afterward. Nothing too bad and handled easily with the pain meds. I did stay one night in the hospital because of the hiatal hernia repair. My surgeon said that normally, I would have been sent home after the surgery. I was grateful for that night even though I only slept about 2 hours.

Sounds like you've got to lay down the law with your hubby. Tell him if he wants junk food he can keep it in his car or in the garage -- not in the kitchen! Fortunately, I live alone so I have control over what comes into the house. Of course, that means that any screw-ups are mine and mine alone -- I hate that part! I gave friends most of the foods in my pantry that are not part of my new lifestyle. I keep finding more though -- I'm going to have to make a donation to a food bank.

Again, good to have you back. Looking forward to welcoming you to the Losers' Bench.

 I like the putting the food in the car idea.  Seems that is his latest place to hang out these days. (He's a gear-head).  I'll be staying in for a night post-op. That's just the standard I guess for where I'm having the surgery done.  I'm hoping to have a quick recovery....don't have a lot of vacation saved up.  Fortunately I have the go-ahead to work from home, but I feel like I need to be physically there sometimes.  The day is creeping up...starting to feel real!!

Awesome!  Were you able to find the little dishes and cassarole dishes?