newbie

[katzrule 0]

Hi I'm new here and don't really know what to say LOL.

I am considering the pro's and con's of getting the LapBand. My Brother has one and he is very happy with it. He's loosing weight at a good pace..not too fast or slow.

I'm scared to get it though. My concern is that I eat for all the wrong reasons, not just when I'm hungry but bored or for the sake of oh what's the word...um..well I seem to just almost always need to put food in my mouth an I love the taste of food. Plus I hate exercise so I wonder if it's worth it for me to get the lapband if I don't exercise and could I actually live with being able to eat what I want when I want. Little portions are ok but sheesh no Snacks, no no sugar ice cream!

I'm almost 50 now, no children, no spouse so needless to say eating takes up a large chunk of my passing time, for stress, etc. yeah I still have stress even without a family of my own.

So here I am trying to get a handle on this lapband and understand also why people think it cures diabetes. Oh yeah I am diabetic type 2 also. I think the LapBand could control diabetes but cure...that's a bold thing say and think. Isn't it too early to know that?

Anyway Hi all.

[Mrs. Bubba 0]

Sounds to my like you know all the reasons why you shouldn't have the band... so what are the reasons you have been considering it at all? There must be something in you that wants to be slimmer and more in control of your eating habits. I actually worried a bit myself, because, I , too, like to eat and love to cook.... But being able to walk with out stopping every few steps or getting up and down from my recliner by myself won out..... Then there is the fact that I'm not ready to die and want there to be a good quality to the rest of my life. I have a husband and children and grandchildren so me being a better me is important to them, but mostly it is important to me. I hope you are able to find your answers so you can make your decision... good luck........... Julie

[ElusiveQuality 22]

The band doesn't cure diabetes or high blood pressure. Your weight loss does and the band is a big factor in that.

I've been banded for 2.5 months and I'm off my blood pressure meds and my diabetes symptoms are gone. If I start eating like I used to before, they'll come back.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I would suggest going to a seminar and getting a good "start" on your education. But it sounds to me like you are right; the band won't do much for you. Until and unless you want to lose weight and will work at it, the band will just sit in there doing nothing. Not all overweight people want to lose. Not all who want to, can. We're all different! If you are happy like you are, then good for you, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart! :teeth_smile:

I like food, too. I just like living more. Personally at 405 pounds I couldn't get around and "do" like I wanted to. For me, being able to travel, to work, to LIVE (and I have a husband but no kids) was more important than being able to have a milkshake every day.

Furthermore I'm a nursing student and DM II is almost an epidemic here where I live. I have seen TOO many people, younger than I, who have lost a limb (or 2) or are facing dialysis because of their disease. When my primary doc told me that within 3 months I'd need diabetic meds you can bet your bippy I was totally on board with losing weight. There is no sweet treat on earth, no plate of nachos, no food worth losing a leg or finger or kidney over. NONE. But, that's just my opinion.

If you don't want to lose, or aren't ready to change how you eat (and why), then you are 100% right. The band will be a waste, at the least.

[katzrule 0]

The band doesn't cure diabetes or high blood pressure. Your weight loss does and the band is a big factor in that.

I've been banded for 2.5 months and I'm off my blood pressure meds and my diabetes symptoms are gone. If I start eating like I used to before, they'll come back.

This what I don't understand. Since diabetes type 2 is caused by being over weight and loosing weight is what make's the diabetes go away then why doesn't everybody who is overweight have diabetes?

I can't understand how loosing weight will make it go away when I'm not so sure gaining weight is what caused it.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Katzrule you need education on diabetes, not the band. There are many types of diabetes. DM II is the type that responds to a change in diet, exercise (very crucial) and weight loss. Too much for me to go into here but google it. Not all smokers have lung cancer or emphysema, eithern but the correlation is rock solid. Same with obesity and DM II. I'm 53 and weighed 405 and DID NOT have DM II YET....but over the years my blood sugar and triglycerides crept up as I aged, became more sedentary, and put on weight.

[katzrule 0]

Sounds to my like you know all the reasons why you shouldn't have the band... so what are the reasons you have been considering it at all? There must be something in you that wants to be slimmer and more in control of your eating habits. I actually worried a bit myself, because, I , too, like to eat and love to cook.... But being able to walk with out stopping every few steps or getting up and down from my recliner by myself won out..... Then there is the fact that I'm not ready to die and want there to be a good quality to the rest of my life. I have a husband and children and grandchildren so me being a better me is important to them, but mostly it is important to me. I hope you are able to find your answers so you can make your decision... good luck........... Julie

There are alot of good reasons to get the lapband no doubt about that. I just don't like the only reason or main reason my Brother's want me to get it is due to their believing it cures diabetes type 2. Being hungry isn't the only reason I eat, unfortunately for me. I need to be sure I don't go back to old habits like eating just to eat or for the flavor of food after getting the band. I fear I would be miserable and smoke twice as much if I can't eat anytime I feel like it. Plus I am addicted to pepsi one. I wish I could have crystal light but it gives me terrible headaches.

Having a family is great motivator you are very fortunate to have them. Death, although I don't look for it or want it, doesn't scare me but the likely chances of being on dialysis the rest of my life, loosing my eyesight, toes, etc., due to having diabetes does.

In order for me to make a decision I could live with I need to be sure if I can live with the reasons I shouldn't get the band in the event I have to live with those reasons. I need also to be sure I won't have to live with that too and see if there is a way to change or get around it before makeing the decision to be cut open. Fortunately I at least haven't reached the point where it's life threatening and I have no other alternative but to have surgery. If I can get past this I have a good chance of getting the band.

[katzrule 0]

Katzrule you need education on diabetes, not the band. There are many types of diabetes. DM II is the type that responds to a change in diet, exercise (very crucial) and weight loss. Too much for me to go into here but google it. Not all smokers have lung cancer or emphysema, eithern but the correlation is rock solid. Same with obesity and DM II. I'm 53 and weighed 405 and DID NOT have DM II YET....but over the years my blood sugar and triglycerides crept up as I aged, became more sedentary, and put on weight.

Apparently heredity factors add to it. It looks like I may have a gene that predisopses me to being likely to have diabetes. Weight gain seems to trigger it. I'm not 100% I'm understanding it correct but it does look that way. If that's why some get it when overweight and other don't it clears up one reason and problem for me. My Doctor told me my body holds onto sugar and that's why I gain weight and have diabetes 2. It's all so confusing to me, hard for me to understand. I need diabetes education for dummies.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I have bad news for you...you would probably need to quit smoking, too, to get the band. I think more research is in order for you. I don't now how overweight you are (not really any of my business!) but just because your "brother" thinks you need the lap band doesn't mean you do. If you are intrigued, go to a seminar, buy a book or two (amazon has some good ones) and educate yourself. Actually RNY surgery (bypass) is touted as a diabetes "cure". Not lap band. But lap band can stave it off, or cause it to remit if you eat properly and exercise.

As I said, if you are really happy with yourself and your life, then good for you and tell your brother you're happy for him but you don't want the band too thank you very much. If you want to be thinner and/or healthier, more active, etc, look into the band. Either way, please yourself, you can't do it for someone else no matter how loved he or she may be.

[chrissygo 0]

I come from a family that has type 2 diabetes on both sides of the family, plus I have a daughter with type 1 diabetes (and no she is not over weight at all). A person that is overweight and a diabetic is because the pancrease is not producing enough insulin or the cells are ignoring the insulin. the insulin beaks the food down into glucose and turn it in to energy and when you are over weight and do not excercise then the glucose builds up making you have more problem else where in you body. The reason that not everyone is a diabetic is because that it only hits certain groups of people more than others. If you were to talk to any doctor they would tell you that if you lose the weight you have a better chance of getting rid of the diabetes. this makes me very upset that you are a diabetic and do not know a lot about the disease. For a word of thought why don't all smoker's have cancer and some of the nonsmoker's do have cancer