rupy

rupy (kathy) I was banded on Jan 3 of 2007.

I'm 38, married for 19 years in Sept. I have a wonderful husband. I have 2 children, 12 and 14 years old. They are my world. I'd love to be able to do more with them. I have Multiple Sclerosis so the decision is possibly harder for me to make. I am only considering Lap Band. Because of the MS I don't think RNY would be a good choice. I can't afford Malnutrition or the effects major surgery from RNY would put me through. I think it would be too taxing. Fatigue with MS and pain are my biggest problems. I'm afraid major surgery would be too hard to recover from. I feel rotten most of the time and I'm hoping the weight loss will help me feel more human. I've also been dx'd with Degenerative Disc Disease c5 c6 c7, bulging discs at L1-2, I have horrible hip pain worse on right side but both sides hurt everyday. My elbows hurt, my feet hurt. I have GERD. And I suspect sleep apnea. I've never been tested but am planning on asking when I see Dr. Geller. I will feel better about getting a sleep test before surgery. I get breathless going up one flight of stairs... my bedroom is on the 2nd floor and every day I think that eventually I will not be able to climb the stairs because of my knees.... and when I get to the top I'm breathless and wonder if I'm going to wake my husband with my heavy breathing. It's embarrassing. The least I've weighed in 6 years was back in 2000 after 6 months on FASTIN. I got down to 224 from 254. Since then I've gotten up to 274. Would love to be in the 100's again. 8-20-2006 I rescheduled to go to Dr. Geller's seminar on Lap band surgery for the 22nd of Aug. I was scheduled to go last Monday, but I for whatever reason wrote down it was for Tuesday. So I missed it. I was very upset. When I emailed Dr. Geller he told me to call in and get signed up for the seminar on the 22nd. I was lucky. I got the last two seats. My husband is going to be able to go with me. I'm excited and nervous. Well so far I have told my husband of course, my daughter who is 12, my very very good friend Betty who had RNY a few years back. I got brave and told my mom. I had been worried about telling her but she wasn't negative. She just wants me to be sure to get a doctor that has done this many times. I told my brother today. I had no idea what he would say. But he surprised me and started talking about a guy he works with that is interested in it and wishes he knew how to ask he's wife about considering it. My brother also told me about friends of his that have had the RNY. So he was, and will be supportive. I haven't told anyone else. I don't know right now if I will or not. The majority of my friends would be great about it I think. I have some family that I'm not sure about. I feel like some of them would try to just rain on my parade. Anyone else... just passing people I have no interest in telling. Maybe after I lose weight if they ask.... There are so many negative people out there and I'm just not really in the mood for them. 8-22-06 Today is the day I go to the seminar. It's not until this evening. I have tons of questions to ask the doctor. I'm happy but nervous. I will write about how it goes later.

I haven't had surgery yet. Today I go to the seminar to start my journey. I have made a decision though. Lap Band. Why? Because of all the weightloss surgeries it is the safest. I've been researching RNY and lapband for months. RNY scares the pants off me. I've sat and read story after story of complications from the surgery. The saddest are the ones that you get to see their journals and how happy they were each step of the way to getting their approvals and the day of their surgeries saying they will see you on the other side. They meant on the losing side.... but now it's on the side of Heaven. Type in RNY or gastric bypass and death in a google search or go to obesity help.com and read the memorials. Those people thought they were doing something to start a new life. It ended their lives. Lapband surgery, although I may lose weight more slowly than an RNY person, for me is the logical choice. I do not have immediate life threatening problems that would make me need RNY. There are people who have to take the chance and do the RNY. I recently read a study that 1 in 50 within the 1st 30 days die after bypass. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/21/earlyshow/contributors/melindamurphy/main668323.shtml I have two children and a husband. Life can be better for them and me if I can get to a healthier weight. But I can not take the chance to be 1 in 50 that doesn't come home. RNY is much safer now than ever before, but it is still very dangerous. The higher your BMI and the more health problems you have the riskier the surgery is. I think lap band is worth a try first. Take the safest road first and if you aren't successful then think about RNY. Lots of luck. Kathy W.

I think anytime that the lady at work wants to compare weight loss I'd let her go first. And no matter what I'd be losing a pound or two more than her even if I wasn't. People that do things like that are just busy bodies. The ebay thing was good....lol Take care and happy losing, Kathy W.

I'm 38, married for 19 years in Sept. I have a wonderful husband. I have 2 children, 12 and 14 years old. They are my world. I'd love to be able to do more with them. I have Multiple Sclerosis so the decision is possibly harder for me to make. I am only considering Lap Band. Because of the MS I don't think RNY would be a good choice. I can't afford Malnutrition or the effects major surgery from RNY would put me through. I think it would be too taxing. Fatigue with MS and pain are my biggest problems. I'm afraid major surgery would be too hard to recover from. I feel rotten most of the time and I'm hoping the weight loss will help me feel more human. I've also been dx'd with Degenerative Disc Disease c5 c6 c7, bulging discs at L1-2, I have horrible hip pain worse on right side but both sides hurt everyday. My elbows hurt, my feet hurt. I have GERD. And I suspect sleep apnea. I've never been tested but am planning on asking when I see Dr. Geller. I will feel better about getting a sleep test before surgery. I get breathless going up one flight of stairs... my bedroom is on the 2nd floor and every day I think that eventually I will not be able to climb the stairs because of my knees.... and when I get to the top I'm breathless and wonder if I'm going to wake my husband with my heavy breathing. It's embarrassing. The least I've weighed in 6 years was back in 2000 after 6 months on FASTIN. I got down to 224 from 254. Since then I've gotten up to 274. Would love to be in the 100's again. 8-20-2006 I rescheduled to go to Dr. Geller's seminar on Lap band surgery for the 22nd of Aug. I was scheduled to go last Monday, but I for whatever reason wrote down it was for Tuesday. So I missed it. I was very upset. When I emailed Dr. Geller he told me to call in and get signed up for the seminar on the 22nd. I was lucky. I got the last two seats. My husband is going to be able to go with me. I'm excited and nervous. Well so far I have told my husband of course, my daughter who is 12, my very very good friend Betty who had RNY a few years back. I got brave and told my mom. I had been worried about telling her but she wasn't negative. She just wants me to be sure to get a doctor that has done this many times. I told my brother today. I had no idea what he would say. But he surprised me and started talking about a guy he works with that is interested in it and wishes he knew how to ask he's wife about considering it. My brother also told me about friends of his that have had the RNY. So he was, and will be supportive. I haven't told anyone else. I don't know right now if I will or not. The majority of my friends would be great about it I think. I have some family that I'm not sure about. I feel like some of them would try to just rain on my parade. Anyone else... just passing people I have no interest in telling. Maybe after I lose weight if they ask.... There are so many negative people out there and I'm just not really in the mood for them. 8-22-06 Today is the day I go to the seminar. It's not until this evening. I have tons of questions to ask the doctor. I'm happy but nervous. I will write about how it goes later.