Lindaloo

As I said before I had two babies close together. I have four in all, 13, 10 and 1 year old girls and one son, who is 2. The 1 and 2 yr. olds are 14 mos. apart. While I was pregnant with my son, I had a normal weight gain for pregnancy, even though I was over weight at the time (about 220lbs). My previous babies weighed in the 6 lb range and were both born 1 month early. I had a lot of trouble with my son, I started to miscarry at 11 weeks and was put on bedrest. So I lay in bed for about 3 months, and then at 7 months was back on bedrest and meds due to premature labor. I had my son one month early, and he was a whopping 9 lbs. I had been tested for gestational diabetes, but had shown I was 'borderline." He got stuck during delivery, and didn't breathe right away after birth. It was very scary!!! But thank God, he was just fine. Then when he was 9 months old, I found I was pregnant again. I was petrified. This time, I was monitored more closely and did have gest. diabetes. I was able to control it with diet. She was born 7 weeks early, and was only 4 lbs, 8 oz., but she was healthy. I decided that I DID NOT want diabetes, so something had to give. I actually lost weight with my last pregnancy. I began the pregnancy at 232 and ended at 229. I didn't want to eat, I had to force myself to eat. The baby pushing up on my stomach just deadened my appetite. I thought..."If I could only have this feeling without being pregnant!!!" Then I learned about the lap band. I felt like it would simulate the sensation of fullness I had during pregnancy. So this is what I'm hoping for! I decided I liked the lap band because of it's reversibility, and also that my digestive system would stay in tact. I have had some second thoughts, thinking that RNY would be good for losing faster and for discouraging to me to eat sweets (dumping) but really just like the band for it's better (I feel) qualities. good luck in finding a dr! Linda Dr. Bonanni 255/255/150

Sorry....I'm looking in the thread below on this same subject. I didn't see it before.

You are an inspiration to me! I hope I can be like you and have a fantastic 40 lb loss soon after I am banded!!!! People who have never had to lose a pound, or people who have five or so pounds they'd like to lose...they truely don't understand things from our perspective. Perhaps, they have been familiar with someone who had RNY surgery and lost 100 lbs in three months or something wild like that. Just as we have to put up with comments from the well meaning but ignorant, or people who are downright rude while we are heavy, we have to put up with them on the way down the scale too. I just got approved. I'm a little nervous...my husband, who is a loving man, has never had to worry about his weight, ever. And every attempt I've made at weight loss he's tried to micromanage, wanting to know how much I've excercised, what I've eaten, etc. If I didn't lose right away, he was there to tell me that obviously I don't know how to eat, or I wasn't getting my heart rate up high enough. UGGGH!!! He drives me nuts. He has basically told me that he'd support me in this surgery, but if I don't exercise enough and this "fails too" that he will be pissed at me because I didn't get serious enough. How's that for pressure!!!! I know it's hard to put up with comments from others. Slow and steady wins the race, and you'll get there. You are already an inspiration to us!!!! Hugs, Linda

Hi, My doctor is in Reading, PA. His name is Dr. Bonanni, and he's very experienced in doing the lap band. I found him through ObesityHelp.com, as the previous poster suggested. You can find others, possibly in Philly there. Dr. B has a website, just do a google search for Reading Surgical Associates. I started the process with Dr. B in January and just recently got my surgery date of Nov 14th. It takes a long time to get the surgery if you go with him. He's in my insurance plan, so I went with him. First you have to attend an information session, where they talk about the surgery, you get a packet of info, and get to ask questions. You have to get three evaluations, from a physical therapist, a nutritionist, and a psychologist. Then you meet with Paula, the wls coordinator at the office. She goes over your information and gives you yet more information. Then you get an appointment with Dr. B. I got my appt. with him in July. He will schedule you for any additional tests you might need at that point. I needed an endoscopy to look for ulcers. Then if all is well, they will submit to insurance. As you see, it is a long, arduous process! Best of luck to you! Linda Dr. Bonanni Nov.14, 2003