It was the Right Choice for me!!

[Mommy0105 0]

Debbie -

I questioned my decion constantly up to, and shortly after my surgery. I was even sobbing in the OR as they prepped me for surgery. I wondered if I should have chosen the bypass instead and I told my surgeon that I felt like such a failure for resorting to surgery. She told me I was making the right decision, and while a yellow brick road did not lie ahead, she had every confidence in me to use the band and be successful with it.

After the surgery, I still questioned if the LapBand was the right procedure. I was one of the people who still felt a lot of hunger before getting filled. I had been losing weight, but only out of my short termed will power (that was beginning to wane). After my 2nd fill ( I think it was the 2nd one) I noticed a huge difference. I was no longer constantly starving and fruits and veggies actually filled me for once in my life!!!!

From that point on I knew I had definitely made the right decision. And with continued collaboration and band adjustments, I am certain my viewpoint will remain as such.

We are not failures for electing to get the band, and neither will you be. We are strong people who were willing to admit we needed help with our weight loss and even stronger people for doing something about it.

Good luck to you. Keep us posted as to your journey.

[debi717 0]

Thanks, Pat & Mommy0105. I needed some reinforcements. I need to keep telling myself "I am not weak, I am not weak..." Sometimes we just need to hear our story from another perspective. I appreciate your taking time to share with me. This surgery is a first for me, except for a tonsillectomy when I was 4 years old (many years ago), so I'm really nervous about that too. It helps to know that you felt the same way I do. In a way, I can't wait until it's over with so I can stop thinking about it and follow your advice, Pat, to just get over it and move forward.

Debbie

[Mommy0105 0]

2 Sets of Before and During... Why does it limit you to 5 pics? I have my backside and right side to show too!!! LOL

[Mommy0105 0]

Here are some of the others.. Still plugging along.

[juliegeraci 7]

That was a great letter. Congrats on having the courage to stand up for yourself and to get bandecd. Good luck.

[Mommy0105 0]

Thanks Julie - Great job yourself. Almost 80 lbs. super!

[ladypitboss 0]

Your pics look great btw!

I too wrote an email when I decided to get the surgery. I didnt do it to explain my reasons why. My reasons are my reasons. My email to my family made it perfectly clear that I wasnt looking for approval or permission. I was only looking to inform them of the type of surgery and how it differed from the RNY that one brother and another SIL had, and the very botched stomach stapling that my mom had had years earlier.

I remember that I was disappointed that I had heard from my mom and 2 of my brothers but the other one hadnt responded to my email or called. He was the one whose opinion did matter to me because he is the "medical" person in the family. My DH said , well maybe he doesnt approve. You told him you werent looking for approval and he is staying out of it. Well when I did hear from him ...not only did he approve but had done his own research on it. He thought it to be the only way to go. He asked me all kinds of questions. Now I am waiting for an email from him about the new vericose vein procedures. I really dont want to go through stripping and having lots of staples and such. Yikes!

[debi717 0]

Mommy0105,

Your pics look great!

Debbie

[sophrosyne 0]

Debbie, I know what you're going through. I've thought the same thing. But I've been on so many diets and so much yo-yoing, I think I've totally screwed up my metabolic system and I don't know how to fix that. I'm hoping the band helps me reset that.

The other thing is that, when you're very overweight, exercise isn't much of an option. Every time I exercise, my knees go out. And gentle exercise just isn't cutting it. With the band, I'm hoping I'll lose enough weight using just gentle exercise, that I actually can start exercising for real without all the undue stress on my knees.

There's always a trade-off. Whether you're doing it the Oprah way or the Carly Wilson way. There is no fast, easy and coin-free method of weightloss. The band is a tool to get you to the place where diet and exercise can do their job.

At least that's how I'm looking at it. I have my first doctor's appt. this Friday. Last night, to "help" me in my diet, my husband bought me a mint chocolate chip milkshake with whipped cream. And I'm sure he's going to keep doing that post-band. :eyeroll:

[debi717 0]

Sophrosyne,

I get the "eye roll". I've been married 36 years.

I have a bad back and the weight definitely works against it. I'm hoping that losing 100 lbs. will relieve some of the discomfort when I stand or walk. I don't know if I could call myself a legitimate yo-yo dieter since I can't seem to get very far with dieting before I burn out. The most I ever lost was 60 lbs. Usually, I manage to lose 25 lbs and then lose steam. Unfortunately, 25 lost means 30 gained. All I can say is I hope my road to heaven is lined with restaurants serving every kind of food imaginable and none of it will have a calorie that counts against me.

Debbie

[tropicaljill 0]

Wow, what a powerful thread.

I am thankful I had the support of both my family and husband. All I can say is this is the best thing I have ever done for myself, and I cant wait to get close to my goal like mommy0105! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Mommy0105 0]

"I cant wait to get close to my goal like mommy0105! Thanks for the inspiration!" - wow thanks tropicaljill! I never thought someone would view me as an inspiration. What a nice thing to say.

The truth is, in the past, comments like that usually acted like poison for me. I'd lose some weight, people would notice, compliment, yada yada yada, and subconsciously I guess I felt the need to reward myself (always with food!) and before you knew it, it was all back and then some!

This time seems so different though. Encouraging words motivate me to get to the gym when I'm spent. They motivate me to choose grapes as a snack instead of Cookies.

I tell you, I fully expected the band to limit the quantity of food I was able to eat, but I did not expect to have it change my whole outlook. My husband jokes that my surgeon must have implanted some sort of regulator chip inside me - He's never seen me so determined. Once again I say, I am so glad I did it!

I can't wait to reach goal. I've never been so motivated - and much of it comes from the wonderful people on this forum.

[Mommy0105 0]

WOW tropicaljill - You are doing great yourself. 30 lbs in under 3 months. That is great. We both started at 238 too!

Keep up the good work and kudos!!!

[mommyofthreebs 0]

Hi again!

I wanted to let you know that I ended up telling my mom. I didn't write her like I thought that I was going to. I told her over the phone. It just came out! :nervous To my surprise, she was very understanding! She thought that she might even consider LBS. Surprised me a little because she had told me before that she thought it was "the easy way out". That was before I explained to her what the band actually does and that it is just a tool to assist me in my weight loss. Unfortunately, my mom is very competitive with me and I think that it scares her that I might be smaller than her soon!! She weighs about 30 lbs less than I do. I do wish that she wasn't that way, but I know that is why she is thinking about doing it too! I would actually love it if she did. We could support each other and motivate each other. We'll see!

Thanks again for giving me the courage to tell her! I really appreciate it!

Melissa

[becca77 0]

Wow, thanks for shairng that you guys. Those letters were very powerful and it helps me feel not alone.