Hello,

I understand your feelings about the surgery, however do not base your decision on someone else's experience, you must do this first of all for you!! The most important thing is checking out the surgeon you choose and God will do the rest. I was banded 1 May 2010, I have lost 30lbs and feeling great. Don't mean to sound so harsh, I guess it's 25 years of being a Soldier. Good Luck in your decision.

I had surgery in February 2010 and I don't regret it for a sec. There is some pain and discomfort from the gas immediately following surgery for a few days. I thought about surgery for more than five years before doing it. Now, I only think, "I should have done it sooner". My bestie had lapband last November and is doing great too. On her last fill appointment she begged to be super restricted and now I think she may be too tight. She doesn't want to unfill the band though. I met a lady this weekend at a ranch that I visited..... who lost 80 pounds since last October. My sister's mother in law had lapband three years ago, lost very little and her band slipped. She no longer has it. I have a co-worker who has two friends who have gotten the band and have lost very little. She tells me that their eating habits are very different from mine. I am convinced that the unsuccessful stories are due to people's bad habits more than 90% of the time. Several people at my doctor's office, True Results, have lapbands and are all success stories. I don't mean to babble but since you asked, I wanted to give you experiences that I personally know about. Good luck with your decision. The lapband is the right choice, just make sure your eating habits are right too. I always tell myself that the band is going to do its part, so I have to make sure I do my part. BTW I am down 52 pounds and thirty pounds of it are since the surgery.

I sometimes wish I would have had the bypass because it is like I'm not losing the weight fast enough but after reading how people gain their weight back with the bypass I am happy that I had the band put in. My mother had the band put in and it slipped and she almost died and they had to remove it but that didn't discourage me because I would have done almost anything to be thinner.

No regrets. This is a fantastic opportunity to get and stay healthy -- for me, my family, my friends, my co-workers. I have more energy and enthusiasm for life and living. Best wishes :-)

Thanks for all the wonderful advice and information. I'm just trying to get all the information, people's views, people's experience, just everything I can before I make my decision. I know a couple people myself that have had the band and they have all had wonderful experiences with it. One has lost over 100, the over close to 60 or more. I think this will be the best option for me because it sounds much safer then gastric, and I need something to help me lose the weight I need to, to be healthier and happier!! Thanks again!!