New member needs honest answers/ stats

Daisybelle · October 31, 2005

I know you've gotten the answers you needed, but I just wanted to add my 2 bits.

I had surgery on July 27th of this year. I've lost almost 60 pounds to date and that's wonderful, but if I hadn't lost a bit I would still be happy. You see, I chose to have this surgery because I couldn't stand to swallow one more pill! Everytime I went to the doctor (which was every 3 months post surgery) it seemed he increased a current medication or added a new one and I just couldn't take it anymore.

I was desperate to get healthier, not to keep taking more and more and more medications that seemed to make me only feel consistently worse. In the past 2 years I'd had a kidney removed (cancer), colon polyps removed (thankfully non-cancerous), hernia surgery (from which I almost didn't recover and which required almost 3 months of confinement to my bed attached to a wound-vac), had rampant uncontrollable diabetes, increasingly higher blood pressure & cholesterol, increasingly lower thyroid function - metabolism - and energy. I was at the end of my rope and the insurance company kept refusing to pay for any type of weight loss help. So, I took matters into my own hands, and my own pocketbook and made a trip across the border. It was in desperation, and maybe not the best way to do things, but it was my only viable option and thankfully things turned out beautifully for me.

The last medication I took for my diabetes (pills & insulin) and for my high blood pressure was the day of my surgery. I have not taken, nor needed any since... and believe me I still check both many times a day just to make sure. My cholesterol medicine was decreased and will probably be unnecessary soon. Now, I look forward to going to the doctor because those visits simply reaffirm that my decision was the right one for me.

It wasn't about looking good, wearing a swimsuit, or catching a man... For me it was about life and a chance to actually have one.

Chunk · October 31, 2005

I can't tell you which surgery you ought to pursue, only that I am very satisfied with my band. For me, knowing that the band is reversable and adjustable has brought much comfort. I have lost a lot of weight (about 50lbs since May). Most of the weight fell off quickly after my operation. By late summer I stopped losing weight. My surgeon explained that after a fill, the stomach becomes irratated and swells just a tiny bit. As the swelling reduces, restriction is lessened. After each fill, I lost significant weight quickly and then leveled off just a bit. Eventually, the band will be filled to my desired restriction (I think I am there now, but I will know better in a few weeks).

Also, I was not excited about having my stomach or intesting cut and feared what whould happen in my old age if my intestins failed to accept nutrition readily.

Parvathi · October 31, 2005

I'm extremely happy w/ my band to date.

I've gone from a BMI of 41 to a BMI of 29.4. I've went from 262 lbs to 187.8 lbs. I have heaps more energy and self confidence. I even managed to wear a pvc outfit to a party this weekend (after much encouragement lol) and looked fantastic *g*

I have had no complications, apart from an overfill and a few PBs, but that's to be expected.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Margo · October 31, 2005

I had my surgery on August 17, 2005...so that's 2.5 months ago.....lost 20 pounds pre-op and 22 pounds post-op....total of 42 pounds gone forever!!! I had no complications with surgery, recovery time is quick, little to no pain, have only .5 cc in band, but going tomorrow for another fill. I started at 350 and currently weight 308....the NSV's are too numerous to list, but I can tell you that yesterday I spent 3.5 hours cleaning my daughter's bedroom without sweating to death, hurting or stopping every 10 minutes.

Would I do it again.....in a heart beat!!! Good luck with your decision.....