Hello - New to The Forum

[VBomber22 0]

Greetings Everyone!

I am a newbie! I am a 34-year-old woman who is 100 lbs over weight and simply tired of feeling like crud all of the time! I am tired of being heavy, feeling sleepy, having a hard time breathing, having my feet and ankles swell, and not wanting my picture taken. With a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and suffering from high BP and sleep apnea as well, I am ready to turn my life around. I have tried many weight loss programs to no avail. The thought of dying like this scares the heck out of me. It's time for me to get serious and lose this weight once and for all!

I have not decided whether I will undergo the LapBand procedure or not, but I am hoping to learn a lot from you all. I am currently doing a lot of research and I think hearing from those who actually have undergone the surgery will help me make a firm decision.

Thanks for having me join you... and I look forward to learning a lot on this forum.

Vickie

[TN_girl21 1]

Vickie,

I may not be able to give you as much as others because I am only 3 days post op. My family history sounds like your's. Although, I am only 21 years old. The reason I chose this surgery is because it will not do the weight loss for me, it is a tool. Unlike the bypass or the sleeve. The worst part of the surgery is the gas pains. The post op diet is hard, I won't lie. But right now I'm not feeling hungry, just dealing with head hunger (and craving saltine crackers lol).

This website is a great place to learn anything and everything about the Band!! Everyone here is so supportive and will answer all your questions to the best of their ability. Good luck in your research and your decision!

[VBomber22 0]

Thanks so much, TN_girl21. I really appreciate the welcome - and your honesty. I am not expecting this to be easy - that is for sure. I have to do something before I have some really serious medical issues. I want to have children and quite frankly, I cannot do it like this! I want to be healthy.

Keep me posted on your progress. Good Luck!

V :smile2:

[TN_girl21 1]

Being able to have children is one reason I was banded too! I have PCOS, and I know if I don't lose this weight, my husband and I will never be able to start a family!

[VBomber22 0]

AWESOME! Good Luck. That is so exciting!

[btrieger 21]

Hi and welcome.

I can probably give even less advice than TN. I am about 30 pre-op but I saw your other post and I do have Aetna.

My surgeon's office told me that Aetna approves almost all claims for Lapband that fall into their requires criteria and you have that covered.

If there is a good chance you are going to have the surgery, it is best to get the ball rolling now. There will be a 3 month supervised diet/waiting period prior to surgery and that should give you sufficient time to complete the required testing and research the band further.

You'll hate the word "tool" by the time you are done researching but it is true. The lapband is only a tool. YOU have to lose the weight yourself. The lapband just makes you feel full sooner.

If you are not ready to change your lifestyle and follow the simple bandster rules, the lapband will NOT work for you.

Good luck and get out there and start reading!

[VBomber22 0]

Hi There, BTrieger!

Thanks for this helpful information! I really appreciate it. I am so scared about this whole process, but I am more fearful of losing my life! Being overweight as much as I am with the comorbidities that I have, the surgery seems like a much better option for me.

How are you feeling 30 post op? Was it worth it thus far? How long did it take you to recover?

Thanks again!

Vickie

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

Good luck with your decision. You're right, now is the time to do something before you have any serious heath problems. I'm 2 1/2 weeks post op and have been overweight my entire life. I'd lose 30 pounds, gain 40, I think we all know the drill. I was tired of hiding from cameras and refusing to look at pictures because I didn't want to see myself. I'm a single mom with a 5 year old son and while I do as much as I can I still felt like I was missing out on so much of his childhood because I was tired and worn out by the end of the day. I'd go out to practice soccer with him and 10 minutes later would be exhausted. I still have a long long way to go and can't wait to get my first fill and have a little restriction but so far am loving my band. The pre-op and post-op 2 week liquid diets SUCK but eventually end. The surgery itself was a breeze to recover from. And I'm already feeling better, less tired and run down and kicking my son's butt on Wii fit .

My best advice? Go to your PCP and get started on the supervised weight loss program so that you've got that going, even if you decide against the lap band it will be beneficial to you. Then read, read, read, and read some more. There is some excellent advice on this site and a lot of people who are ore than happy to help with any questions you have. Again good luck!

[btrieger 21]

I am 30 days pre-op but rearing to go under the knife and get this over with.

I've lost a lot over the last 3 months through altering my eating habits and walking. I want the surgery done so I won't gain it all back immediately like I have in the past.

If you need more incentive, dying is nothing compared to the pain of a heart attack.

[crzytchr 3]

Prior to my surgery, I was in pain daily. I woke up every morning hurting and had swelling in my ankles and feet every evening. I have asthma and used an inhaler almost daily. All of that is gone now. Heck, I don't even know where my inhaler is right now. I feel so much better.

All of the weight I have lost so far, I lost without exercising. I am joining the gym tomorrow, so I can finish my weight loss journey. I eat 1200-1500 calories per day, and I have almost every day since about 4 weeks post op. I have fairly good restriction and can eat most any food that I want, I just eat less of it. I need more willpower with my band not real tight, but I don't want my band to rule my life, I just want it to help me out.

Keep researching and reading up to help you decide if the band is right for you. Once you have made that decision there are a few things you can start doing to help your transition be a little smoother. Start cutting down on sodas, since you aren't supposed to have them after you are banded. Try to cut down on the amount of liquids you drink during your meals. Also, practice taking smaller bites and chewing your food well. Good luck!