damienne

Thanks Ailbhe for all that information...I have a clearer picture of what to expect when/if I go ahead. Did you (and any others out there) agonise much over your decision to have the surgery? I swing between thinking(1) "maybe I should accept myself as I am" (2)"maybe I could get a handle on my weight by taking more exercise/eating less (3)"maybe it makes sense to give this REVERSIBLE surgery a chance ....since I have certainly given the other options(above) years and years without great success. One thought I have is that my stomach has probably stretched because of 'emotional eating' and that makes 'cutting down' very hard. If this is so then the band will have the effect of making my stomach seem much smaller and that makes sense. MY appointment is in the raglan clinic at 12.30 on thursday.Maybe I will see some of you there? Damienne

I have a few questions before meeting Chris DeBruyne which I hope someone can answer for me; (1)How far in advance3) would I have to book and pay for the surgery? (2)what payment method---cash/cheque/etc? (3)reading posts here I would be most concerned about what I would have to do if I had a problem which couldn't wait until the Dr's return visit,e.g. a very tight fill. I would love to make contact with anyone who can be a bit of support with this. I ALMOST had a band fitted two years ago and am in danger of loosing my nerve again (and now I'm 61, then I was 59)!!!!! HELP, Damienne:confused::wub::thumbup:

I am considering having the lapband surgery but (being a cautious person) am wondering what it might be like having a lapband longterm.....say 5yrs,10yrs,15yrs? Does anyone out there know ?:glare::scared2::Dancing_biggrin:

I wonder if anyone knows if I am likely to be accepted for the lapband ?....I am 61 yrs old and in very good health DAMIENNE.:tt1:

Hi Pinkie, I don't want to bash you for your reply to me...rather have a bit of a conversation about it. I asked this question to get feedback (positive and negative) so I consider all replies as having potentially important information for me in making this decision.....and I appreciate people taking the time to reply. I have read and reread your post trying to understand the points that you made....and I can't really make head nor tail of it! In one sentence you SEEM to be saying that 'older people shouldn't have surgery if their obesity is is NOT threatening their lives'. On the other hand, you're saying that older people are' ALL unhealthy/iffy to begin with'...i.e our lives are ALL under threat by being 'older'. In a way I think that you are making a case that older people SHOULD have surgery ??? This is along the lines of my own reasoning.....my poor bod has battled bravely with too much weight ,shame ,dreadful clothes etc.and yo yo dietingfor about 50 years. (everyone on this site knows the story) It has produced 8 fine healthy children and breastfed them all! It has survived and recovered from being knocked down by a car. Somehow I still have good health and I don't look too bad for my age. I am lucky that I can happily walk...last night I danced for hours at a great party. Yes, I could pop my cloggs today and so could anyone!(even a young'un). Yes ,I could die during the op (the risk is there for ANYONE having ANY op! If I come to the conclusion that having the Lap Band fitted will help me reduce my weight and take the pressure off my heart, liver,joints etc. etc. AND help me LOOK BETTER (without damaging my stomach) then why would I not do it?? Could you younger ones have a bit of sympathy for us older bandsters.......how would you like to live the rest of YOUR life in a world where you have NO OPTION but to keep battling away on your own with your weight/food problem?????( as we older ones have done until now) Yes ,it's painfully late but I think it's a case of 'better late than never' Anyway, my dad died at a hearty 91, so I MIGHT have another 30 yrs! to :wink2:enjoy the benefits of having a band.:tongue_smilie: Don't be afraid to disagree with me if you have anything else to say. Damienne:smile:

Thanks for all your wonderful encouragement....I need it ! I almost went ahead with this surgery two years ago but decided against it as I wanted to try and help myself in a more 'holistic' way. Instead,I tried O.A for a while and was able to cut out bread(my biggest downfall). I lost about 35 lbs and have managed to hold it off quite well but can't loose any more...My B.M.I. was over the magic '40', now it's (only????) '37' so I hope that won't be a problem. This week I bumped into a woman I met thru O.A.(who had a band fitted over a year ago)and she said that it was undoubtedly the BEST thing that she had EVER done for herself.....she has lost 112lbs,looks so much better/healthier and her blood pressure is now normal. I KNOW that I eat too much for emotional reasons. I have battled with food and suffered by being overweight for most of my life and I am tired! Even now I know that I could pile back the bit of weight that I have lost and more even(which has happened so many times before) Dare I say I want/deserve some REAL HELP with this and I'm hoping that having a band fitted will actually do that for me. Thanks for all your love and support:thumbup: