Good for you! I'm glad you have not succumbed to the fear. I have followed the thread you are talking about and I find it absolutely absurd! If I watched enough grisly footage of car or plane crashes, I'd never get on another plane or drive anywhere again. Yes - there are risks. And if you are one of the ones who happen to be on that particular airplane, then it's no longer a remote risk - it's very real and very life changing. I suppose if I were in a plane crash and had my legs amputated, I might very well try to discouraged anyone I meet from ever getting on an airplane. I might even consider it my mission in life to save unsuspecting people from airplanes.

But the number of people who die in plane crashes are massively outnumbered by the many people who get safely to their destination. Some get there safely but with a lot of hassles, others travel hassle free.

I've had a very safe and hassle free trip with my band. Others have hassles and still others have not been safe. But I still get on planes when I want to and I would still choose to live with my lapband.

Choose a reputable airline (clinic) and know your pilot (surgeon). No matter what your journey is like, you are already successful if you have learned to believe in yourself again. You recognize that this is not a magic cure - you will still ultimately be responsible for the outcome. By choosing to go forward with the surgery, you are accepting that responsibility and can trust yourself to do what is necessary to be successful. You've already demonstrated that by your willingness to ask questions and keep asking until you get those questions answered.

Not only can you do this, you already are doing this!!! :-)

Shelly

I love your response. Although I have just begun my journey (waiting for insurance approval), I have also been reading the blogs and there is just as much negativity as there are positive responses. One of the things that people need to keep in mind is the implications of NOT having the surgery. Possible candidates need to weigh the pros and cons of any decision that affect his/her life. Once this is done, the decision should be easier to accept. For me, my final decision focuses on my trust in God. If it is meant to be and I have done everything that I can, I place my life in God's hands.