UNDECIDED "newbie" Here

[Renee1003 2]

Hi all,

I'm new to all of this - just started thinking about getting the lap band a few weeks ago when the scale tipped way past the number that I swore I'd never see again.

I've been a yo-yo dieter for years - I've been every size from a 24 to a 10. Right now - my bmi is RIGHT AROUND 35 but I have mild diabetes and a very extremely UNDER ACTIVE thyroid

i'm scared to death of this surgery because of the POST OP way of life but i'm even more scared to gain any more weight - i have tried EVERYTHING - i just don't know what else to do....:thumbup:

So any help or words of advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!:thumbup:

[mollybella87 0]

Hi there,

I decided to get banded when I saw photos of myself and cried! The scales kept creeping up and up and up and I had a cyst on my ovaries and my Dr warned me that if I didnt loose weight I was at risk of it developing into PCOS.

My decision was very easy to make, my mother got banded 5 or so years ago and when I saw her journey and how much weight she lost and how happy and healthy she is now I knew that it was the right journey for me.

The actual surgery isnt too bad, you should only be in hosp a night or so, just dont let yourself get dehydrated like I did!

Life after lapbanding was quite difficult for me to adjust to, I was used to being able to shove whatever I wanted into my mouth whenever I wanted and its hard to get used to thinking about everything u put in ur mouth and deciding is it filling? Will it cause a blockage? ETC but finally now after 6 months I have the idea! It takes approx 30mins to eat a meal because you have to eat slowly. It will completely change your life and in the early days I actually regretted having it done. Now however I couldnt be happier! Inever ever want to go back to way I used to be. I lived to eat not eat to live! My whole life has changed. I eat because I need to and I still enjoy my food a lot but I am a lot more careful and I spend a lot of time having a meal, which means you can really enjoy it.

I reccommend contacting a surgeon and discussing it with them, my surgeon had an info session for people who were interested in getting banded and it was great, very informative, he answered any questions and it covered everything you need to know. Im not sure if all surgeons do this but if you find one that does, definetely go!

Anyways I hope I have helped, feel free to ask me any questions! :thumbup:

[Renee1003 2]

that's awesome - i'm so happy for you!!!!

i could totally see regretting it in the early days after the operation

I am afraid of vomitting, blockages, etc.... Can you shed some light on THAT?!?!?

I also dont have THAT much to lose compared to some so part of me feels like I'm doing the Wrong thing & the other part says - "you've yo-yo dieted you're whole life & look at you STILL!!!" I'm not getting any younger & i'm a mild diabetic..... I also love food - i think i associate everything with food.

We are planning a trip to jamaica about 3 months after my surgery - will I be ok??

[girl55 5]

i was unsure about having the band also. i too decided i could change my way of life if it meant not gaining any more weight. I weighed my options many times. But the fact of the matter is, I would only continue to gain. My top weight was 265. I really felt the burden of the weight when I saw pictures of me at my son's wedding. I was humungus! I hated what I saw. And even though I was self pay, it was entirely worth it. I was banded March 16 and am down to 228. the weight is steadily coming off. Thursday I go for my first fill. I'm ready! Good luck on your decision.

As for the getting stuck or throwing up, it's not that bad. I thought the worse when I heard about that. But so far I haven't thrown up, i have gotten stuck, but you learn how to handle those times.

Good luck!

[2beskinny 4]

I begun looking into this about 4 months ago...went for a seminar and I keep reading these sites. I have spent most of my life in the 30's bmi, however just recently hit 40. When I realized I was actually in a group that statistically benefits from this surgery and then when I started inquiring about it from my doctors (pcp and gyn) they both recommended it! Very safe and they have seen tremendous results. I think I've had a hard time really accepting that I'm this big (denial is a powerful thing) but I'm now waiting on insurance approval (I will self pay if I'm denied). I wondered if I was taking the easy way out, however, after doing so much research on the band - it's not the easy way out. It's only a tool to make the task somewhat more manageable. The biggest thing I'm struggling with is that I don't want to tell very many people and I'm wondering how to get through a few social engagements and overnight trips that will most likely be going on during my pre-op & post-op diet stage. I have a very strong history of obesity in my family (I'm the "thin" one) and I just don't want to keep getting bigger. I am choosing a different path for myself. My husband is physically fit and I have 3 teenage sons who are all multi-sport athletes in high school. None of them ever say a word to me, they all love me and are very kind, but I feel it is the elephant in the room. I really don't even want to tell my kids about it because I don't want them to worry about me (they would!). I feel that there are so many mis-conceptions about wls and I guess I'm afraid of being judged - bottom line. I can see myself eventually telling people - when it's behind me.

[girl55 5]

This is something you ultimately have to decide. But don't do it for everyone else, do it for yourself. We gals seem to do everything for everyone else all our lives. Take a stand, and decide that your life is important to you. Because if you are not healthy, you can't take care of others. and if you have to tell others, that's what you can say. I personally have not told a lot of people, but I think of they ask, that's what I would tell them.

I'm having a great journey at only 2 months so far, but every time the scale goes down a lb., it's a great feeling.

Good luck.

[Ilovebeagles 0]

Hi Renee,

I got my band "installed" last August after years of thinking I could lose the weight on my own. I am so glad I did!

Life after the band (or any wls) IS different and it takes getting used to. Sometimes I just want to shove something in and eat, but I am FORCED by my band to take tiny bites and chew thoroughly. Sometimes food comes back up if I try to eat too quickly or eat too much -- there's a learning curve to all this for sure, but it's been so worth it.

You can check out my blog below for some more real life insights of someone living with the band.

Good luck to you : )

[lauragshsu 6]

I was banded 3/15/10, after trying for years to lose weight on my own. At 24, I was diagnosed with PCOS, and it took almost 2 years for me to become pregnant. I had thought about lapband, but not too seriously in the past. The kicker for me was when my dad (at 59) was diagnosed with diabetes, and told me it was because of his high weight. He weighed one pound more than me. I suddenly didn't see myself living long enough to see my (now 2yr old) daughter getting married, and that terrified me.

The hardest part about post-op life is learning to slow down (when eating) and really listening to your body. You're body tells you when you're hungry, and when to stop eating. It tells you when your band is too tight or when you need a fill. It tells you when a food is good for you and when it's not going to work anymore (like eating chips).

The hardest part by far was slowing down while eating. I had become accustomed to cleaning my plate at every meal, and it was a foreign concept to put the fork down and push the plate away when there was still food there.

Good luck in your decision!!