mball2011

Well, tomorrow @ 10:15a ET, I have my initial consultation. I will not lie, I am both nervous and excited!! I have 2 friends that have recently had the procedure, September and January, and they both are glad they did it and are having very good results!! I have encountered a little bump in the road though. I was diagnosed with breast cancer after my first mammogram 10/2008 when I was 40 (early detection and awareness truly are key). Knock on wood, so far so good, but I found a small lump on the same side, so far they are telling me it is either scar tissue or an infection, so I am on antibiotics for a week, but I am not letting this get in the way of my consultation tomorrow!! I am a 44 yr old female, wife and mother, been on a diet since I was 11 yrs old, literally!! Enough is enough, oh, I also found out in November that I am borderline diabetic!! The surgeon I have chosen said most people that have the procedure and lose weight go off alot of the meds they are taking for different ailments, fingers are crossed!! Thanks all!! Michelle

I hear you!! Went to a seminar back in January, have my consultation appt 2/17, I am ready to go now, when I make up my mind, I just want to get it done!! Hang in there!! Michelle

Hello all, My name is Michelle, 44 years old, married, mother of a college sophmore (daughter). I have been on a "diet" since I was 11 years old. My heaviest was 366 lbs, which was as recent as this past September. I am now at 352, we had a Biggest Loser contest at work, I actually came in 2nd place. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy about the loss, but it took me 3 months to do so. I have done everything from Weight Watchers, Quick Weight Loss, Medical Weight Loss, liquid diets, the hot dog & banana diet, the cabbage Soup diet, etc. I have always been opposed to surgery for weight loss because I figured it came on the old fashioned way, therefore I should be able to lose it the old fashioned way. I have probably lost 400 lbs in my lifetime, lose 100, gain 110, etc. The last time I lost 100 lbs I was in my 20's, I am here to tell you it is much harder to lose weight in your 40's. Also I forgot to mention that at my very first mammogram 3.5 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which is another subject altogether, let's just say I was very lucky as it was caught early, was non-invasive so I only needed a lumpectomy and radiation. I also have GERD. Luckily my BP and Cholesterol are ok, but I have recently found out that I am borderline diabetic. So, since 11/19 I have taking Metformin and I totally revamped my pantry and fridge. Any bread, rice or Pasta is brown, no sweets (thank goodness I am not a big sweets person, just once a month chocolate craving), alot of chicken, vegetables and certain fruits, nuts and I treat myself on the weekends. Diabetes really scares me, almost more than the breast cancer!! Don't get me started on aches and pains, ankles, knees, back, shoulders. So now I am open minded to surgery (just Lap Band). A gal I work with had it done in September, I have watched her from pre-op on and she is doing fantastic, also a friend of mine in Chicago had it done about 6 weeks ago and she is also glad she had it done. This has motivated me, so far I went to a seminar, then I made the appointment for the initial consultation which is 2/17. Based on my BMI alone, I qualify, but I know there is additional testing that is required. I have not shared with very many people that I am considering it, but my husband, daughter, mother, siblings, (haven't told my dad because he would just freak a little), and my friends that I have told are very supportive except one, who is one of my best friends. The first thing out of his mouth was that I was taking the easy way out and if I got my ass to the gym 2 hours a day I could lose it that way. Needless to say, I was irritated and hurt, I responded to him, are you kidding me? I have been overweight since I was 11, what working person has time to go to the gym 2 hours a day? I am not naive either, I know that the Lap Band is a tool, it restricts the intake of food, I know I will need to exercise and of course eat healthy which I have a jump on already. Bottom line, I need help, at the rate I am losing it would take me 3 years. My goal is to be under 200 lbs, I am 5'6 and big boned (love that expression), I have never been skinny and do not aspire to be a size 4, I just want to be healthy and comfortable, for me when I was a size 16 I felt great and looked great, some people are not meant to be skinny and I am ok with that, but enough is enough, so that is why I have taken this initial step. Sorry about the book but I have been visiting this site for weeks but have not had the courage to say anything. Looking forward to hearing from anyone going through same/similar. Sincerely, Michelle in Michigan

Thanks so much for sharing!! I am a little nervous, but more excited. If I can go through childbirth, gallbladder surgery, breast cancer, partial hysterectomy, heart cath, endoscopy, colonoscopy, I think I can handle this!!

Hi Cliff, I am just now starting the process. I have my appt 2/17 for my consultation. I am a female, 44yrs old, on a diet since I was 11 yrs old, I am the only one in my immediate family that is obese, some in my extended family are though. I have been through some stuff the last 3 yrs, breast cancer the most serious, thank God it was non-invasive, so knock on wood, a little over 3 years cancer free. My other issues are GERD, borderline diabetic, not to mention everything hurts, aches and pains everywhere!! Huff and puff just walking to the car in the parking lot. I work with a girl who is 45, she had the lapband in September, she is down at least 40 lbs, also a friend in Chicago had about a month ago, she is down 27 lbs, I have gotten nothing but positve feedback from both, we are all close in age, all have well over 100 lbs to lose, the gastric bypass and sleeve seem too permanent, the lapband is meant to be a tool, and if you follow what you are supposed to do, and adopt new eating habits, I don't see how the other surgeries would be all that much better. I know people that have had the bypass and gained their weight back, look at Carly Wilson!! In any event, I am with you, I think the lapband is the best option. Good luck to you, Michelle.

Hi there, my name is Michelle, from southeast MI. 44 years old, married, mother of a daughter who is a sophmore in college. I have thought about surgery a few times, but ultimately, the gastric bypass just scares me, too invasive to me it seems. I didn't know much about the LapBand, briefly talked to my primary about it, and he was not opposed to me looking into it. Bottom line, I weigh over 300 pounds, I am at my all time heaviest. I have GERD (acid reflux), aches and pains, just found out recently that I am borderline diabetic and had breast cancer 3 and a half years ago. I have probably lost 500 pounds in my lifetime, you lose 100, gain 110, etc. So, I have taken the first step, I went to a seminar, then made an appointment for a consultation 2/17. I don't look at it as a cop out, it is a tool. For Pete's sake, drug addicts and alcoholics go to rehab and they are treated better than overweight people (the last acceptable discrimination). Another thing that has motivated me is that a friend at work had the LapBand done in September, down about 40 pounds so far, a friend in Chicago had about a month ago, down 27 pounds. I have gotten nothing but positive feedback from both of them. Sure, you are sore for a few days, sure you get tired of the Protein shakes, but I am more tired of feeling like crap all the time, and huffing and puffing just walking to my car in the parking lot!! I too am self conscious about going out to eat, movies, etc, I see the looks I get. First and foremost I am doing this for my health, I have just had enough, and again, this is a tool, it is forced portion control, and if it helps then great!! It is so easy for people that don't have a weight problem to say, you can do it on your own, sure you can, I have before, but gained it back and then some!! So, listen to yourself, and if you need a tool, then so be it!!