If You Are On The Fence About Surgery Read This.

[Allison0927 329]

6 months and a week ago, i had no health problems even with a 47 BMI - BUT i felt so disgusting. I hated clothes. I wore things just to hide myself. I knew I had a pretty face but that all others saw was the fat. Today, 6 months after surgery and 88 pounds later, I feel INCREDIBLE. i am all about what i'm wearing, my make up, I feel just plain unstoppable. I want you to know that yes there can be complications. I have experienced none so far (truly this is thanks to GOD and following my surgeon's instructions) - but they can happen. I am very, very sorry I did not do this 10 years ago (I'm 38). But i cannot dwell on that. This is a LIFE CHANGING thing if you let it be. I truly wish all of you the best of luck in your decision and if you have the surgery - the best of luck on your journey. It TRULY is a journey. God bless us all!!!!

[loretta\ Baconton Georgia 10]

I am 38 also and I was just banded 12/20/ I cannot wait til I am 6 months out! 40 pounds in 6 months would make me happy! I am sure it is teh best decision that I have ever made for me but I am in still in that early phase so when I have something good I want to eat eat eat it.. lol luckily, I know the consequences of bad behavior.. thanks for sharin your story.

[Caribear 184]

Thank you so much for this inspiring post, and congratulations on your success! You're doing great!

[kll724 3,055]

Congrats! MY surgery was 2 1/2 years ago. I, also, feel the life changing decision was the best ever. It gave my daughter and my son teh coourage to go forward with their own LB surgery. Best of luck to all, Karen

[marydj 2]

I am just starting the process of getting the Lap Band. I go from excited one hour to I am not going to do it because something might go wrong the next hour. I know it would change my life, just scared I guess. Just found this site tonight already feeling better from reading posts. Any advise for someone at this stage???

[xavier 153]

Agree, LOVE my band! I was obese for almost 20 years and every diet made it worse....

[B-52 7,113]

Thanks for you story.

We need to hear more positives here like that.

One would get the impression, especially a newbie, that this website is all about the negatives.

I would like to believe there are more success stories out there than people realize.

[vivelaja 11]

I was also feeling really gross about my appearance. I was tired of hearing "you have such a pretty face". In my head, I was hearing "you have such a fat ugly body".

Its only been about 5 weeks since my surgery and since then I've lost a few lbs, hired a personal trainer and work out 3 x per week. Even though its clear that I have an incredibly long journey ahead of me, I'm feeling so psyched that I've finally started the journey. It feels so good to be doing something about my fitness and my health instead of just feeling horrible about myself. I was not expecting to feel better about my appearance before losing a significant amount of weight but here I am feeling great just because I'm taking action and doing something about it. I'm not sure how I'm going to feel after the first "dreaded fill" but I'm up for the challenge.

I already feel more confident and attractive and wore 2 dresses to work this week that I have not been able to fit for OVER 2 YEARS!!

[Caribear 184]

@marydj: If you aren't sure you're making the right decision about having surgery, here's some advice that I have heard. Take a sheet of paper and draw two lines across it, dividing it into four boxes. In the top two boxes, write "Pros for having the surgery" and "Cons for having the surgery," and the bottom two "Pros for not having the surgery" and "Cons for not having the surgery." Then write down any pros and cons you can think of, for and against surgery. When you are done, you can look at this sheet and it might help you decide one way or the other. (I hope this makes sense!)

If you have already decided on surgery, but aren't sure the lapband is the one for you, talk to your doctor about it. He or she can probably give you an idea of the surgery they would most recommend for you and why, plus answer any questions or fears you may have.

Whatever your decision, I wish you good luck.

[Jim1967 3,569]

Thank you for sharing your story. You are doing fantatic. I come to this forum often as I need the boost. I am involved in a class that is 6 weeks long (1 day a week) and discusses eating. I am in with 8 other people and I am the only one getting banded. All the others are getting bypass. I find myself questioning whether or not I am choosing the right procedure.

[B-52 7,113]

Many people do and have good results. My Dr and I never discussed it, other than him saying I did not have to loose that much weight and the band will work just fine for me.

But I do trust him and i would have listened to whatever he advised.

[Allison0927 329]

Many people do and have good results. My Dr and I never discussed it, other than him saying I did not have to loose that much weight and the band will work just fine for me.

But I do trust him and i would have listened to whatever he advised.

it's weird - my surgeon actually tried to talk me OUT of it - and pushed (slightly) gastric bypass - but i had already done all the research and had my mind made up before i even met with him. He just thought i had too much to lose for lap band - but he is thrilled with my progress so far. I think people need to listen to the surgeon but also their own instincts - we all know ourselves better than anyone and what "works" for us. You are doing FANTASTIC and should be really proud of your achievement.

[psquared 0]

I am just starting the process of getting the Lap Band. I go from excited one hour to I am not going to do it because something might go wrong the next hour. I know it would change my life, just scared I guess. Just found this site tonight already feeling better from reading posts. Any advise for someone at this stage???

I completely agree. I feel like I'm watching myself at a tennis match! Yes, No, Yes, No, ...

[twi 40]

I feel like getting banded is best thing I have done for myself. I knew going in that there are some side effects. I have gas pains ,burping, and since my first fill a I have purged some food. Learning I don't think of any of this as neg.s. it's just new parts of my life. I feel very happy I'm starting to lose wt again after fill and so happy to be restricted with 2 cc/s. I love my tight band. Cannt wait to be able to get back to gym.

[vivelaja 11]

For me the decision to move forward with weight loss surgery was a no brainer. Physically, I had been feeling so slow and sluggish (and sick) due to my weight for so long that I felt like this was almost my last chance at feeling physically better and feeling better about myself.

Additionally, unsuccessful attempts to make significant long term changes on my own were always unsuccessuful so I really felt like I had no choice. The only decision that I had to make was which type of surgery to have. I settled on the band based on research and personal reasons.

I know several individuals who are obese but who have not decided on surgery or have no interest in surgery and I think thats ok.

My advise is...research, research, research and move forward (or not) when you feel that you know all the pros and all the cons.

Good Luck!