lapbandgirl4life

I've always struggled with commitment. In my head everything was easily accomplished, every goal seemed attainable, but reality told a very different story. Turns out the only thing easy for me to do all these years, was lie to myself. So here I am, ready to come clean, be honest with myself and take control of my life. Food is my drug of choice. It's my addiction. I am not any different from a heroin junkie. They have track marks, I have stretch marks. Bottom line is an addiction is an addiction. I've alienated people. I've sought comfort in food. I've chosen food over people. I chose food over life. But no more. It ends. It has to, or I'm not going to make it and not making it isn't an option for me. I saw my primary physician a couple weeks ago. I broke down in her office and told her that I needed help. I had some lab work done and it revealed that I have developed the early stages of diabetes and hypothyroidism. My thyroid levels were 6 times the level they should be, and consequently, I was prescribed medication for both ailments. Since I had also not been sleeping, I had a sleep study done this week and was told that my apnea was one of the worst the technician had seen. Realizing all of this, taking it all in how much damage I had done to my body at such a young age, was simply put: overwhelming. But rock bottom and all that stuff, right? I've certainly hit it, it seems, and it's time to scratch and claw my way back up. I have an appointment with a dietician on the 22nd, and the initial appointment with the banding surgeon on December 8th. I think I'm making progress in the right direction. Now it's just a matter of getting through all the bureaucratic bullshit. Apparently my insurance covers the procedure, so I'm looking to have the surgery at the beginning of the year. Anyway, in the meantime, I figure I'll use this blog to write down my thoughts and hopefully get a better understanding of my relationship with food since that's going to be critical to my success.

Wow! Well done! You should feel so proud! Reward yourself. I'd go get a massage. lol.

Welcome! I'm relatively new here too, and like you, I'm also ready to reclaim my life. I understand having to jump through hoops to get the procedure done. About 3 years ago I was looking to get it done, but my insurance required a 1 year supervised diet, and before the year was up, I had lost my job and my insurance! So here I am now, with a blue cross blue shield coverage and my first appointment with the surgeon is December 8th. I hope to have surgery around the first of the year. It's daunting, all this waiting, but like you said, in the end it'll be worth it! How has your relationship with your friends changed - if at all? It must be hard seeing them having lost all this weight.

Brush your teeth a lot and keep your hands busy.

I live in SW MN, so it's closer for me to cross the border into SD. I'm having mine done with Dr. Peter O'Brien at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. From what I've researched, he has a lot of experience in banding. Right now it's just a waiting game and I don't have much in the way of patience! Once I made the commitment to surgery, it's like you want it done now. You want your new life to begin immediately. Sorry to sound so sentimental. lol Still feeling okay? How is the pain level? And surgery is just overnight, right?

It's not an easy way out. food for some people (like myself) is as addicting as cigarettes. I should know, I'm an ex-smoker who is going on 1 year without smoking! But let me just say, I couldn't quit smoking on my own either. I needed a tool to help me and I found one that worked. And, while I haven't been banded yet, I am hoping that the band is also the tool I need to begin a healthy new lifestyle. My only advice is to surround yourself with supportive people while you get through the tough times.

Hi Christi! I also live in MN and am just beginning the surgery requirements. I have my sleep study taking place on Tuesday, followed by 5 more months of following a "supervised" diet before insurance will cover. I am aiming to be banded either in December or January. Either case, what a way to end the year/bring in the new one! How was the surgery itself, and how are you coping post-operatively?