FaeryKiss

Obesity runs in my family. My mother is morbidly obese. My father was morbidly obese before he died. I have tried diet upon diet upon exercise program upon pill upon prescription (just getting finished with a round of Adipex-P). My blood pressure is borderline hypertension, but other than that I'm pretty healthy. My doctor attributes my current health to my age, 28. I have a rather busy schedule. I work 40+ hours a week, I go to school almost full time (11 credit hours this semester), and I am a single mom. My knees hurt, my back hurts, I am always tired, and I have a difficult time keeping up with my 9-year-old who is also starting to gain weight. I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle. My BMI fluctuates between 38 and 42. After testing my thyroid and taking me off of Adipex-P because it made my blood pressure higher than it's ever been in my life, my internal medicine doctor mentioned that I might want to condiser seeing a bariatric specialist. The weight just won't come off!!! I don't eat horrible things. I get some exercise (as much as my busy schedule will allow), but still I can't lose the weight. I don't like the idea of having part of my intestines removed, so traditional bariatric surgery is out for me. I did start reading about the Lap-Band procedure and I stumbled across this forum. I would appreciate any preliminary advice anyone has for the basis of their decision to get banded..... and I'd also like to hear from anyone who is borderline for morbid obesity. I'm on the fence as to whether or not to try another diet or to consult with a bariatric surgeon. Any suggestions/advice/thoughts? Thanks!!! ~FK :girl_hug:

Question...... Does the band ever get removed? I mean, how does a person stop losing weight? I know this may seem like a stupid question, but that part of it just doesn't make sense. Thanks again! ~FK

Thanks again for all who have written. I am going to call the bariatric center at a local hospital (it's a center of excellence which is required by my insurance company) and see if I can register for a seminar. I'm not sure that I'm ready to make this decision, but I do know that I have to do something. I want to be able to enjoy the rest of my life. I have a beautiful daughter and I only just turned 28 (last week). I have a great career. although I'm attending college to broaden it. I have so much going for me, but I don't want my weight to drag me down. ~FK :redface:

Thanks to everyone who has replied. Being overweight often makes me feel like I am in some kind of solitary confinement.... Trapped and Alone. It is wonderful to realize that, while virtual, there are a ton of people who are in the same boat I am... Thanks again.... and I'll keep you posted!!! ~FK

RM, Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm 5'8" and 267 lbs. I haven't weighed less than 200 lbs since my sophomore year in high school. I keep on yo-yo dieting... I lost some weight on Atkins only to get so sick of it, like you said, that I finally binged and gained all the weight back. I'm an upbeat, fun person, but I feel that my own body is limiting me and I also feel that I'm starting to project my poor self-esteem onto others in my daily life. I can't sit comfortably on an airplane..... I'm worried about my health. I quit smoking last October and I gained 30 lbs. I haven't been able to shake it. I keep wondering if I should just start up again (which one is worse?). I just want to enjoy a quality of life for a long time.... I don't want to wait until I have type II diabetes or heart disease to start my weight loss journey. Thanks so much!! Your comments regarding the pacemaker for your heart made me realize that maybe this is a tool that I need..... I think I'll register for an info session! ~FK

Good luck! Good luck!! Good luck!!! ~FK

RM, Thanks for your quick response. I'm not really looking to be "sold" on the band..... I just want to look into it to find out if it's the best solution for me. I mean, surgery should be a last resort and I'm wondering if it's too drastic. On the flip side of the coin, I don't want to wait until I'm having extreme health problems like unmanageable hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, and etc. I want to lose the weight now while I'm young and while I can avoid the aforementioned weight related health problems completely. As I said before, I'm on the fence here...... I just want some input as to others reasoning for making the decision to get banded.... Thanks!!! ~FK