DL88

Hi Lap Band People, I am just trying to get into this site because I believe I will need some support and information on my journey. This seems to be a huge and active discussion group. I am also hoping to find a local support group in Milwaukee. I got my band on Thursday, May 12, 2011, from Dr. Thomas Chua, Wisconsin Bariatric Clinic, on Loomis, in Milwaukee. My insurance excluded coverage so I bit the bullet and paid for it myself. It certainly cut the paperwork and got me on the fast track. Now I'm healing. Still sipping vicodin, but starting to get free of it. I changed my dressings. I got a food processor and little 4 oz cups to freeze stuff in. I have a kitchen scale (for foods). A couple of weeks ago I was 313 lovable pounds. Now I am 297, sore, disoriented, but no less lovable, I hope. I was crabby this morning with a person who works for me, who is also obese. I told her I didn't appreciate her assumption that every new idea would be a bad thing. My goal is 200 pounds, but maybe it should be 175, as I am 6', 61 years old. I am divorced since a couple of years ago. I have 6 children, 3 of which are in their 20's. One is 9. I wanted to stick around awhile to see how they do. I have a good primary physician in Milwaukee. He has watched my weight increase despite stringent efforts to overcome the problem. He watches over my asthma, sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, heart risks, etc. He mentioned the lap band surgery. I resisted by trying one last-ditch effort with a psychiatrist, who gave me prozac for 6 months. At first it helped. I stopped drinking alcohol too. But eventually the appetite reduction effect subsided, and I quit prozac and psychiatric visits and started drinking again, which certainly doesn't help anything. I don't think of myself as an alcoholic, but there is no question that alcohol lowers my resistance to sensible eating. I eat too much. It's a vicious circle. But I hope I am done with all that. I am doing well with the lap band. I have no desire to start drinking again. I am looking forward to feeling well enough to exercise. So that's me. I introduced myself. I will appreciate any support and try to be supportive in turn.

Thank you, everyone. I feel proud to know you. You each are on your journeys and give me hope. What I wonder now is how do I get a nifty weight tracker a lot of you have. And how do I get it to attach to my messages?

I was banded in Milwaukee May 12, Dr. Chua. I live on Milwaukee's south side. I am male, 61, single, and determined to lose at least 100 pounds and keep it off. I did the Lap Band because I have seen the co-morbidities creep into my life--sleep apnea, worsened asthma, gout, heart risk, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, etc. I have six children and would like to stick around to see how they do. Plus I am sick of being a whale. Up and down all my life, but always a little more weight gained than lost. Now I sincerely hope I will never see 300 again (I am now 297, after losing about 10). Anyway, a once per month meeting in Milwaukee somewhere would be lovely, if we can get critical mass. I would like to benefit from veteran lap banders and over time I would hope to be supportive to others.