Anyone ever struggled w/ decision?

[tesma 0]

Hi:

My name is Marcy and I'm 38, 5 '8, 272lbs. It looks like I will be approved for the surgery in the next month or so.

My question is Has anyone else struggled with the decision to have the surgery itself?

I feel bad that I have to resort to being banded because I can't control my eating. I feel like if I just had enough willpower, I could be "normal" but obviously I can't since I've had weight issues off/on all my life. As others have stated, I basically have to starve myself to be a normal weight.

Also what are the risks long term? I guess what I wonder is what are the long term effects of the band and will we still be banded at age 80? Will the band have to be replaced over long term?

Thanks for any responses. I'm single and out here by myself.

Marcy

[sweethot143 2]

for me I was a self pay and didn't struggle over it at all. I saw a commercial a few years ago for it and knew that I wanted this. It was way too much money and my insurance doesn't cover it and at the time I was only 50lbs overweight and wouldn't have qualified if they did cover it.

It just goes to show that if you have a strong desire for something and plant it in your mind and write it down and date it, you will be sort of forced into action to figure out a way to get it. I did just that and here I am, was 100lbs overweight, and have been banded 4 1/2 months. I didn't gain the extra weight on purpose, i had a 2nd baby and it came after her and stress of a deployment. but it all worked out for the good anyway!

Good luck.

[Tamjpjb 1]

Tesma,

I was totally struggling with the decision. I even canceled my surgery 2 days before for being a chicken! 2 months later I decided to look into it again. My insurance paid for it, so I felt like "why not". I rescheduled for 5/8/07. On 5/7, I started freaking out again! I had a meltdown, continued to talk to people, read these boards, and decided to go for it! I was banded on the 8th (2days ago). All went well, they say I had a hernia, which the fixed while they were in there. I also thought, why can't I just eat like I did have the surgery, and not do it. That didn't work for me. My will power is very low. I feel fine, a little tender, but I hope this is gonna be my year!

Good luck with your decision.

Tami

[isabelle290 0]

I think you know you are ready for the surgery when you can't stand another day being the weight that you are. I know when I get my band this summer it will be lots of work, but I feel like it is way more work to carry around 100 plus extra pounds.

[tyoung 0]

I too am struggling with the decision. I am so scared. I am reading and hearing more and more people that have had their bands 4 -7 years now and they are having issues and having the band removed. The issues aren't neccessarily due to the band, but one lady said that she had foot surgery and got an infection and nothing they can do is working so now that her band has erroded because of the infection she has to have it removed...she has had it for 7 years. Others have said that they have had trouble with their esophagas (sp?), this scares me. I am a self pay and I really can't afford alot of bills. I worry about the PBing and slippage and then stretching out my esophaga(sp?). I know where you are coming from. It is a very scary decision.

[Big As Life 0]

Marcy,

This is a very big decision...it is not one to take lightly....I knew this is what I wanted, almost from the very first time I had heard about the lapband....I thought about the gastric by-pass, but I just felt it was to invasive...

I was so tired of thinking about the weight...I went to sleep thinking about it and I got up thinking about it...I was so tired of struggling...I have been banded since 4/6/07 and I am so glad that I made the decision to have lapband....I don't regret it for one minute....There may be some complications with others, and it might happen to me. I pray that it doesn't, but I had to take the chance.....I just know that without the help of the band, I would continue to gain weight and never be able to get it off...trust me....I have tried every single diet there is.....

[KlopOut1 0]

My surgery is coming up fast, on the 16th, and I'm nervous. But it has helped so much to hear from everyone in here.

I came to the decision to have the surgery after gaining 40 lbs once I stopped taking prescribed diet pills last year. I weighed 190 before stopping the pills, which is still obese for me I'm 5'3". I think that's when it just made sense to me that I was exhausted with the uphill battle and tired of depending on pills and fad diets.

The lap band made so much sense to me. I finally felt that for the first time my body could be working with me, instead of against me.

We'll see after the 16th, but I'm excited and really appreciate everyone encouragement and advice!!

Karen

KlopOut1

[Alexandra 55]

We probably all "struggled" with the decision at some point. But I think we know when the decision is right by when it stops being a struggle. There may always be second thoughts, nervousness, but when we are convinced to our very core that it is the right thing and the only option, those thoughts and nerves are less worrisome.

If you are truly struggling with the decision, listen to your heart. Give it some time. Explore the options. The band will always be there for you when you're ready.

[musicalmomma 1]

Hi Marcy. Yep, I struggled for years over this. Up to five years ago, I felt WLS was for the weak willed and that I was just weak and needed more will power to lose weight. Then, after having my 4th child and getting up to 280 pounds, and watching some others have gastric bypass and succesfully losing weight, I started to think...hmmm, perhaps sugery isn't such a bad option. I still couldn't wrap my mind around the "rewiring" of my digestive system with GB. Then a couple of years ago, I saw a commercial about the lapband system. I tucked it in the back of my head and gave medifast a try. I was a hard core medifaster...starting at 285 pounds and got down to 233 in only 4 months!!! I was feeling on top of the world! Then, we all know the story, the call to binge got stronger and stronger until I gave in and in less than a year, but all my weight back on, minus 1 pound. So, my husband and I both began discussing lapband...we both went for consultations (seperately), we both decided to go for it. So, for many of us, this is a long process of research, thought, prayer and work. So, like others have told you, you'll know when it's the right time for you.

Best wishes in what ever you decide