Decisions Decisions

[Kia 0]

I'm Kia, I'm 28 years old and live with my hubby (Steve 37) and our 2 furbabies.

I'm considering LapBanding as a means to improving my health.

Steve is supportive of me whatever my choices. I know he loves me for who I am, no matter what I look like.

I'm 5'2"

I was around 200-210lbs when we met I'm now just over 300lbs.

I was 112lbs at 8 years old and 154lbs at 11 years old, my doctor told my grandparents (they raised me) it was "puppy fat" and I'd grow out of it.

Needless to say - I didn't.

Recently I talked with my doctor who suggested I speak to a dietician before discussing surgical options.

He also had blood tests run.

I don't have any signs of diabetes, my thyroid is "within normal limits", my blood pressure is on the low side of OK and I have low cholesterol.

Not bad for 300+lbs =)

As for the dietician - mistake - my jeesh - that woman had the brain cells of an amoeba and the attitude of "you're fat therefore you are stupid".

It's no good telling someone to eat less calories than they use, if you can't help them look where the extra calories are in the first place, or where they can increase the amount they use.

Added to telling me in the same breath I need to eat more....

OK which is it eat more or eat less - because I really can't do both LOL

And, nope I don't scoff crisps, sweets, chocolate, pies, chips, fried foods, cakes, Cookies, ice cream, burgers or the like.

I love cooking and homemake meals almost everyday such as stews, Soups, chili.

I bake, slowcook or grill meats, and bulk up on veggies.

I tried tesco ediets "totals" but gave up because I never managed to eat my "totals" each day.

So, now I'm considering surgury. I know I'm "super morbidly obese".

My activity is limited due to my size.

I can't walk far without pain in my lower back/hips.

I do taebo (don't laugh I really can, maybe not as fast as they do on the dvd, but I can do most of the exercises on the Billy Blanks Bootcamp DVD) 3 times a week.

I can't go to the local swimming pool (much as I'd love to) because of my agoraphobia - which has gotten worse as I've got larger.

Or have I got larger as the agoraphobia has gotten worse?

I think my main concerns are scarring - I have a nasty 6 inch scar from an appendectomy in '92 and I have a 8inch vertical scar from surgury 3 years ago, when I ruptured my uterus.

I had a cornual pregnancy (not that we knew) and I sneezed causing the uterus to rupture and lost the baby at 18.5 weeks.

I had complete wound breakdown of the incision and had to heal via secondary intention (wound packing) which took around 6 months, so the scar is deep.

How bad is the scarring?

I really don't want to add to the scars. In fact I'd even consider an apronectomy to remove the lower belly skin if the weight loss was successful.

Which brings me to the skin issue.

Is saggy skin due to significant weightloss common?

Does lapbanding really work?

Am I going to feel hungry from such small portions?

Recovery time?

If someone could wave that magic wand and take even 50% of the excess weight, I know the exercise would be so much easier to help keep the weight off.

Is lap banding a wise choice?

Kia xxx