TopTier

If I were you, chantel, I would seek a second opinion, too. How silly to have a dr that doesn't know/understand the situation? Best of luck to you!

Good luck to you both and thanks for sharing your journey and experiences!

Hi, Stacy, and best of luck to you!

Well, it's like I always say, "I dieted myself into obesity." It's a vicious cycle and once it's started, it's difficult to thwart the effects of yo-yo dieting. I don't even have a date yet for my band, but I'm so excited to hear that yours has been approved and that you are on your way!

Sue, congratulations to you! How thrilling a journey! I can't wait to be able to exercise again. I am so overweight and it is so painful to even walk to the end of the driveway. . . it almost brings me to tears just thinking about it. I used to walk 2 miles a day every single day of my life until about 12 years ago. I would be so thrilled to gain that habit back again!

I'm so excited that you have started on this journey! Keep us posted on your progress!

Congratz! So excited for you and best of luck going forward!

Best of luck to you. But stop beating yourself over the head about your obesity. It's a disease and not a personality flaw. Though there are some personalities that are more prone to obesity! It's a vicious cycle that we perpetuate but if it truly were as easy as simply pushing away from the table, none of us would be in this situation. In order to correct and reverse obesity, many people need specific tools to do that, just as people with heart conditions need pacemakers, or people with arthritis need joint replacement, etc. Granted we have to adjust our heads as much as we have to adjust our bodies. I'm just very excited that these tools are available to us.

Why does your doctor want you to get it out?

Please don't think of this as having "failed" at something. Because you haven't. You have "succeeded" in finding the right tool to help you take your life back. Keep in mind, this isn't a magic bullet and it will still require you to do work. So it's not like you're taking an "easy way out," as some people mistakenly refer to it. This is a very big step that requires a lot of courage and dedication. But you can do it, and so can you, Monica, because you know you are worth it and you know you have the strength and dedication to do what's right for you! It's hard living with morbid obesity. Using this tool to reverse your obesity is an awesome opportunity! Stay strong and continue to believe in yourself! We do. Believe in you!

Hello, back, and best of luck to you!

So close! How exciting for you! Keep positive!

How wonderful and exciting for you! *cyberhugs*

I went to the seminar yesterday evening. The surgeons who do this procedure do not do anything but LapBand, so if I were interested in bypass, they would recommend someone to me. I am not interested in bypass, however, for a variety of reasons. I've been thinking about this in the back of my mind for about 2 years now, but, to be honest, was too afraid to even look into it. I was afraid that I'd want it and it would not really be a safe, healthy thing to try. Since then, I discovered my niece had it done. She is down 40 pounds since the last time I saw her! I was stunned! Then I hear my dad is doing this (he's 74), and he just had his surgery last week. Then I find out that my team mate in a masters program I'm in had the lap band a while back and was over 100 pounds heavier than I've ever known her to be! I also ran into at least 3 other individuals, random, who have had it done and they all say the exact same thing: "It was the best thing I've ever done for myself." And "I would do it again in a heartbeat." So. I'm taking the plunge. I've attended the initial seminar and just dropped off the first packet of information today. I did not want to trust the U.S. Post Office to deliver the packet! I wanted to place it in their hands myself! Anyway. I'm 53. A grandmother of 3 boys, 14, 12 and 5. A Vietnam-era Veteran and a graduate school student. I have "retired" from my career in corporate communications and am looking forward to entering this next phase of my life with more energy, pep and activity than I closed out the last phase. I want to keep up with my grandkids. And I want to wear out my husband! It has been several decades since I was able to buy an outfit "off the rack" in the misses department of Macy's. In fact, it's been years since I've even been able to buy in the women's department. If it's not at The Avenue or Lane Bryant, I don't even bother. Enough about me. . .

No problem finding one at all. Interestingly enough, though, he has had heart problems and they wanted those worked out prior to surgery. So in December he had a pacemaker put in. They waited until a few more tests showed everything was A-okay, and he had his band put in last week.

Nope. Sorry. The "sleeve" is not an option. From what I understand about the band, the type of hunger I'm looking to be free from is the one that is triggered by the "full" feeling. Forgot to add: thanks, though, for the advice. I'm just not a fan of any sort of bypass or sleeve surgery.

All the doctors I've spoken to about this said it's a permanent solution. When it goes in, unless there are complications, it stays in for life.

I'm not banded (still in the early 'research' phase), but my dad is (at age 74). He just got banded last week. He says he's still hungry, but has lost 16 pounds altogether (pre- and post-op). I'm not eager to enter that "hunger" phase after surgery, because one of the main reasons I'm interested in this tool is because I want to have the hunger stop. I've dieted myself into obesity, and it's the constant hunger that takes such a mental (and ultimately physical) toll. But I'm proud of my dad. If he can follow the doctor's orders, I suppose I can too! (I'm 53, by the way.)