danaclark2

rorysmom, Then obviously you do NOT think obesity is a disease, do you? Have you ever been obese? I certainly understand what you are saying about the other problems I mentioned--that they are things you can't help--like losing your eyesight, etc. I'm really passionate about this, so forgive me if I get slightly angry in tone... I have been overweight all my life. My mother tells me that she put sugar in my baby food (because my ped. doc. told her to). Along with this, she gave me honey Water as an infant. From studies I've read, all the fat cells that one will have in life is determined as a child. You cannot get rid of fat cells (unless you go the liposuction route); you can only shrink them. I believe that I obtained many fat cells as an infant. I exercise daily. In fact, in college, I jogged five miles/day and could never get below 175lbs. (I'm 5'5). Now, I jog 1-2 miles per day and take a powerlifting class 2-3 times per week. Along with this, I have an autoimmune disease, called hypothyroidism which makes it really difficult to keep weight off, much less lose it. I am not making excuses for all my weight gain--I have eaten too much in the past--and too many wrong things. BUT THERE ARE OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO WHY I AM OBESE--MEDICAL FACTORS--THINGS I DID NOT ASK FOR IN LIFE--AS A PERSON WOULD NOT ASK FOR CANCER. Please understand that if you have never been obese (which most doctors say is a DISEASE) then you really can't give any valid comments. Have an eye-opening day!

Amen, brother!

If we truly believe that obesity is a disease (which I do) then how is WLS an "easy way out"? Are c-sections an "easy way out"? Are open-heart surgeries? Are wearing eye-glasses? Are vaccinations? Are gall-bladder removals? Are hearing aides? Are chemo/radiation therapies? I could go on and on. Are all of these things "taking the easy way out" in order to lead a healthy productive life? Why doesn't the woman who has a weird shaped uterus (like me) just do things the natural way and push her breech baby out? So what if it kills her and her baby. C-sections are the "easy way out." Why doesn't the man who has a clogged artery just let nature take its course--and die. Why have open-heart surgery? After all, it's the "easy way out." Now, Now--don't wear those eye-glasses--though they make you see better, you're taking the "easy way out." And please don't give your children vaccines. I'm sure they were supposed to get polio (?sp). If they get the vaccine to prevent a life-threatening illness, it must be the "easy way out." And have your gall-bladder removed? Heavens, no. Remain in pain, please. Having it removed would just be the "easy way out." Hearing aides? Don't regain your hearing--you'd just be taking the "easy way out." And finally, why go through cancer treatments and fight for your life. That would just be taking the "easy way out." Sorry to ramble--but since I've embraced the fact that my obesity problem is not 100% my fault--true it is some my fault--but not 100%, I've accepted that I need medical help--WLS--to combat the demon of obesity. I'm so thankful for modern medical advancements. Aren't you?

With all this talk about band erosions, port infections, etc. and people second guessing themselves: Should I have gotten the band or not?, I'm slightly unsure now which WLS procedure to pursue. Anyhow-- Haven't they (bariatric surgeons) been doing Lap Band surgeries in Europe for years now? What do the studies/statistics show there? All the Lap band literature says that the band (ideally) should be left in (forever, if possible) to prevent weight gain. Are the Eurpoeans having these same issues 1-2 years down the road. Has anyone had the band in for over 5 years? 10 Years? If these procedures have been occurring for a long time--longer than in the US or Mexico--what is the consensus among European doctors? Just wondering if any of you had any info. on this. I want so badly to be successful...

I work part-time as a conservator representative (legal guardian) for twenty mentally-handicapped individuals. I mainly work from home (receiving emails, faxes, phone calls that require me to make medical and financial decisions for my clients since they have no family members to make these decisions for them). I also work VERY hard as a mother of three: Caleb Michael (almost 5), Samuel Taylor (almost 3), and Hannah Grace (almost 1).

I know you're excited!!! I'll be right behind you. Thinking I'll have my surgery in March 2006. Good Luck!!! Keep us posted.

Hi, all! Waiting to be banded, here. Just wondering about the first six weeks. My doc. has us on liquids for the first two weeks, then pureed/baby food consistency for the next four weeks (having about 1/4 cup of food 6 X/day). I've read that during the first six weeks, many are hungry because they have no fill. This worries me. Are you a little less hungry than before being banded? I can't imagine not being hungry on liquids. Your stories are welcome!!!

Pre-bander, here! Just wondering how much weight you have lost in one year. Some are trying to convince me to get the RNY because "you lose weight so much quicker." I don't mind losing slowly; in fact, I prefer that. BUT--I'd like to at least lose 40-50lbs in a year. If it takes me two-three years to get to goal--so be it. What's the most you've lost in one year--the least? Thanks!!!!

Jacilyn, I've completed all the requirements for my surgeon and insurance company (endoscope, psychological, nutrition and education class, gall bladder study (I have no gall bladder), etc.). Now, I just wait to be approved. I've been told it takes 2-3 weeks. After that, I wait for a surgery date. If all goes well, it'll be sometime in March. I CANNOT WAIT!!! I'm ready to get this weight off--of course, I'm trying now--but I really need an extra "push" that I'm hoping the band will give me. Thanks for asking, Dana

Kathy-- 34lbs in 10 months is still not bad--I was always told that 1/2 lb to 2 lbs. per week is the best way to lose weight. 34lbs. puts you at above 1/2 lb. per week--more like .85 lb per week--almost 1 pound per week. To me, that's great!!! Yes, it is French. I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me!!!

Not banded yet--but if I lose 52lbs. in one year, I'll be jumping for joy!!! Great job!

Hi, all! I'm feeling pretty gross right now--I've eaten like a horse--all day long. (I'm not yet banded, by the way.) I'm am hours away from starting my period--and I always have a difficult time controlling my appetite at this time. I'm also feel slightly stressed--I called my bariatric surgeron's office today to see if they had received my PCP's Letter of Medical Necessity (for the Lap Band), and they said that they had not received it yet. So, I called my PCP, and the secretary supposedly relayed the information to my doctor to write the letter (though he knew about this over 1 month ago). I was told at my initial appt. with my bariatric surgeon (On January 10) that they would request the letter from my PCP (for my insurance company). It's been almost two weeks ago. Am I being unreasonable to expect the letter to be written in this short amount of time? I guess I'm just so anxious to get this process started and over with. I feel like such a hog. Oh--then I worry--will the Lap Band work--really work. Will I be able to truly eat less? There's something just so tempting about the gastric bypass--like you know that you'll be relatively thin in 8-12 months. But the gastric bypass is not something I want to do. I don't want to permanently change my insides... Thanks for letting me vent...I just feel so horrible about how much I've eaten, and I'm dreaming of the day that I can have some mechanical self-control. I know it takes more than just that--I know you have to have will-power with the band, too, to make it work. I just want something that will limit the amount I can eat. I feel my stomach is a bottomless pit sometimes... Enough rambling--Have a good night all!

Exactly, Kabeerah! I know how you feel. It's like our bodies know the deprivation they are about to face...

Sorry--One piece of PIE vs. a whole one.

Thanks everyone! And, Jack, I can't wait for the day where over-eating is one piece of piece vs. a whole one.

I totally understand. I think the same thing every time I see that commercial. Like a size 10 is a big, fat blubbery size:rolleyes: --phew...if only I were a size 10... We'll get there some day! :thankyou:

PJ-- Oh--I used to live in Crofton--when I was in high school. I actually live in Clarksville now--about one mile from the hospital where Dr. Steely's office is. I have BC/BS of TN (PPO)--my husband is also a state employee (of TN, however). Do you know if insurance will cover the "fills"? Good luck with getting a surgery date. I hope it's soon for you. Let me know what you find out.

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! So happy for you.

Mary-- You've been through so much! Bless your heart. I pray for you nothing less than a full recovery and steady weightloss!! Congratulations on the 50 lbs. gone! I'll be joining you as a "bander" hopefully sooner than later.

PJ-- I have completed my psychological and EGD. I don't know if my PCP has sent my letter or not. I was told at my initial appt. with Dr. Steely that they would request the letter from my PCP. My PCP knows I am wanting the Lap Band--he is all for it. I have completed the requirements from my insurance company (the six months of a diet, checked by a physcian--in fact, I used the weight loss med., Phentermine, which made me crazy--too much of a stimulant for me--couldn't sleep,etc.). I have my nutrition and education class this Wed. After that, I guess I just wait for a reply. I'm going to call Dr. Steely's office on Wed. (it will have been two weeks from my initial appt. with him) to see if he's received the letter from my doctor (PCP). ***I have no gallbladder--so I didn't have to have that test run, and Dr. Steely didn't require me to do the sleep study because I've had no issues with snoring, etc. So--I, like you, just wait anxiously. I'm so ready to get this weight off. I hope I'm making the right decision by getting the band. I really hope it works. Have you known many people to get the band? Were they successful? ***I am from Crofton, Ky. I graduated from Christian Co. High in 1992. Dana

PJ-- I've mostly heard good things about him. I know a few people who have had the gastric bypass by him. They all spoke highly of him. One friend (who's mother had the gastric bypass at Centennial in Nashville) said that she'd heard he had had several deaths--but this is to be expected with the gastric bypass. I think the national average is a 1% death rate. I had my endoscope last Wed. with Dr. Steely. It went well. Like you said, he seems very nice, experienced, etc. but rushed. His wife, Barbara, did speek with me in her office for about 30 minutes answering my questions. I really only care if he's a good surgeon--his personality really doesn't matter to me. So, you're going for the band? Do you have a surgery date yet? Dana

That's awesome!!! What an inspiration to us "pre-banders"!!!

Hi, all! My name is Dana, and I'm so thankful that I stumbled across this website. I'm in the final stages of preparing for the lap band surgery. I never thought I would consider weight loss surgery until I attended a WLS seminar and the surgeron gave the statistic that 98% of obese people will never lose the weight on their own, and if they do, they won't keep it off without surgery--not that it can't be done--it's just not likely. It was like a light bulb went off in my head. This obesity thing--this thorn in my side--is a disease, a disease I've bee struggling with my whole life, from my earliest memories. I have tried and tried and tried on my own, to no avail, and having a thyroid that has failed me doesn't help matters (I'm currently on .112mgs of the generic for synthroid). Many people say that WLS is "not natural," but neither are c-sections, open-heart surgeries, eye-glasses, vaccines, gallbladder removals, biopsies, mammaograms,--I could go on and on...but neither is it "natural" to be 100lbs overweight. Through unusual circumstances I put this weight on, and through unsual circumstances I choose to take it off. I need medical intervention. That being said, I struggle with which surgery to pursue: Lap Band (which I'd much rather have) or gastric bypass (RNY). My insurance will pay for both. My surgeon has left the decision up to me. I want to do the Lap Band, but I'm so afraid of failing. I've read the thread about thyroid problems (and the banders who have had troubles losing weight even with the band--I guess they're called "turtles"). I know that WLS is a tool--not a cure all. I am determined more than ever to make great changes in my life. I do believe I need the extra "push" of WLS in order to be successful. I know the gastric bypass is so much more scary than the Lap Band, but I also know that you're pretty much guaranteed to lose weight witht the bypass. If you follow the rules of the gastric banding and are faithful to exercise and have your TSH normalized (between a 1 and 2), will this work? I don't care if I only lose 30lbs a year--just want to see progress (I have about 120 lbs to lose, by the way). Also, I was wondering about the EROSION thing. How long does it usually take for the erosion to show up? Could you lose a good amount of weight before you have to have the band removed. I'd hate to put all the time, energy, money, and hope into the band, just to have it removed 2 months later.:help: Thanks for all the responses (in advance)!!! I'm so thankful for all of you and for all of the other threads that I spent reading 'til 1:00 in the morn. this morning. You guys are awesome! Dana

P.S. How do you get those tickers on your signature. I went to tickerfactory.com and chose a ticker but did not know how to paste it on my signature. Thanks, Dana

Hey, Sherry-- No--I do not have the least bit problem with heartburn, etc. It's just a standard test that everyone has to have before surgery with this particular surgeon--just to make sure, I guess. I don't believe I have any ulcers--I worry that I might have a deformed esophagus because my uterus (as discovered during my first c-section) is strangely shaped--but I'm probably just being overly worried. I'm just so anxious to get these preliminary tests over with. I'm ready to start my life as a "bander."