Hi,
My name is Patti. I am 53 years old. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 303 lbs. I am so happy I found this site because I feel I am being led to seriously considering the lap band. First and foremost, it seems to be a safer method, much less invasive. That is important to me. Secondly, I will probably have to pay out-of-pocket, and though I could afford the surgery of the bypass, I'm concerned about possible complications which could devastate our finances.
I am learning a lot and I've only logged on to this site a day ago. I need all the advice I can get and would really appreciate some feedback from "old pros" of the band.
I know it will be a good journey.
Patti:decision:
Hi, all
I had the lapband surgery in Lafayette, LA with Dr. Gary Stevens December, 2006. To date I've lost 43 pounds.
I would have hoped to have lost more weight almost two years post surgery but I had a complication which I am now just getting over.
I started vomiting January of this year but did not tell my doctor. I can't tell you why but it was a definite mistake on my part, because by March I couldn't keep anything down. My doctor unfilled my band for 3 months and told me I had a pouch dilation. My band was too tight. Three weeks ago I had my first refill. So basically I'm starting over. I did manage to maintain a 40 pound weight loss through all of this. I lost another 3 pounds the last 3 weeks since my refill. My surgery was self-pay and so were my fills so I guess you could say I'm a lot smarter now that I've been through all of this.
I will ONLY be eating 1/2 cup of food per meal; only drink between meals; limit carbs, and CHEW, CHEW, CHEW. (I'm addressing head hunger which promotes emotional eating for me.) I have so much to make up for but I feel I'm back on the right road and feel fortunate I was able to keep my band.
Sorry so long, but I felt the need to write all of this down, for myself and just maybe for someone else out there with my same issues.