Hello,

I read very carefully through your post and will start with the obvious comment which is that you have to do what is best for YOU.

My main concern would be approaching the weight loss this way knowing that you may want to have more children. I too am 37 and a mom but for certain will not be having anymore children so for me that wasn't a concern.

I was scared too and kept pushing back my surgery date. I am now on day 5 and it has been so rough. I will be honest but not to scare you but because I want you to have the flip side.

I had the surgery at 7:30am and was home by 11:45am. Then by 12:45 I was being rushed by ambulance back to the hospital where I stayed for 4 days. I stood up from the toilet and was so weak and all of a sudden everything turned foggy, then all white. I collapsed and didnt even have enough energy to get up. This happened in front of my children which was horrifiying and my daughter literally saved my life by calling 911. Apparently my blood pressure had sunk to about 50/30 per paramedics.

For the next few days I was on a liquid diet in the hospital with a migrane that never left and not even enough energy to walk to the bathroom with an aide.

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All the time alone in the hospital really made me have a converstion with myself and ihad to ask myself if I had really tried the best I could. Answer long story short: NO. I am grateful for the surgery and cant wait to continue the journey and see the end result but I know now that if I have the will power to do this then I had it all along without realizing it.

My experience is my experience and I am sure is rare but I am asking you to weigh every thing and talk very openly with your husband and your physican. Reconcile EVERYTHING before the surgery so there are no doubt. I had anxiety big time in the hospital and I know that it is because I did not reconcile things for myself. I am here for you as we all are on this site and whatever you decide you will get through it. Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

Thank you for the taking the time out to respond, and for sharing your story. I am so sorry to hear about your complications. How are you now? How's it going?

I know that ultimately it's MY choice, but I hear you so loud and clear about having the will power with or without the band. Part of me thinks if I had the will power, I wouldn't need the band, and I think the band will MAKE me adhere to my possible will power. It's a struggle for me, and I am praying about it everyday.

I will keep you informed of my decision. Please let me know how you are doing, you are in my prayers.

I too am 37 and I am just starting the process...going to the doctors appointments and such. I am excited to get the band. I have thought about this for years, and my weight has just climbed to a point where I feel so overwhelmed and buried, and I dont like myself. I have 2 kids that need me, and I THINK I have made peace with myself about this. Its not like I am getting a boob job, or something for vanity. I will die from this weight problem if I dont help myself. I havent told a soul except my husband about this, and for me, its better not to have all those opinions in my ear. Its better than the phentermine which has controlled my weight for the last 13 years (yo-yo-ing) and hopefully wont make me feel as crazy : )

Thanks for responding. I wish you the best of luck. I totally understand how you feel. I was on Phen Phen in my late teens and most of my 20's, and I know it totally messed up my metabolism. But at the time, I didn't care. I am so tired of the yo-yo too, just want to feel consistantly comfortable, healthy and full of energy.

I still haven't decided for sure yet, but I am really leaning towards going through with it. I know it's drastic, but so are all of the complications that come with being over weight.

Let me know how your progress comes along, I have a surgery date of Dec.12, doesn't mean I will do it, but I will keep you informed.

Thanks again for answering.