Just starting the journey

[rosbeve00 0]

Just starting the journey:lol:...My story is I have been over weight most of my life...I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure when I was 26 years old...I started taking one pill which was a Fluid pill...So, in 2000 I decided to change the way I was eating...I did not follow a "diet" plan...I just stopped eating a lot of bad food...I started eating fresh fruit and vegetables and more fish and less red meat...I started drinking Water and walking...I lost 55lbs the first year...Since I was diagnosed with having HBP when I'm stressed or extremely upset my blood pressure spikes out of control and I have to be hospitalized and treated...Even with changing my diet and taking my meds in 2004 my blood pressure spiked out of control which cause a TIA (mini stroke) at that point I was diagnosed with chronic HBP....So along with the fluid pill I had to take one aspirin a day, lisinopril and norvasc...Well, needless to say I had a bad allergic reaction to the lisinopril and I was told that I could not take no ACE Inhibitors (which worked for me)...I also developed 8 ulcers from the aspirin so I could not take the aspirin anymore...I was told that I could only take Beta Blockers to treat my chronic HBP...So, I continued with watching my diet and just not eating certain things so over the years I have gained and lost the same 55lbs and trying almost every diet out there...I'm currently a member of a weightoss center in my neighborhood...Then in 2006 my blood pressure spiked out of control and I had a Migraine that lasted for 6 months...I could not take the medicine for Migraines because of my past stomach problems...So, another medication was added to what I was already taking for the migraines and the HBP...I now take about 8 pills a day for HBP...Just recently in May 2009 I was stressed about work and I chest pains for about 2 weeks and my blood pressure spiked...When I went to my doctor a EKG was done and it was abnormal...I took a stress test and failed that...So, I had a heart catheterization done I was told that I had minimal Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)...My doctor told me that I was already taking beta blockers which is used to treat CAD and that it was now up to me and that she had done all that she could do because she can't treat stress...My doctor also said that I was a heart attack waiting to happen...But over the years none of my doctors ever told me to lose weight I figure I would do that on my own...But it is not working...So, several of my co-workers have had the lapband done and it seems to working well for them...So, when I asked my doctor about it the first thing she asked me was I sure that I wanted to have anymore surgeries...So, I switched doctors because I was thinking that maybe the lapband would help me get off some of the meds and help me with the CAD...I went to the seminar on July 16 and have scheduled my first appointment for July 23rd...I have contacted my insurance company (Atena) and I was told that I was covered for the lapband but I have to pay a 10% copay...which is fine with me...I'm only 39 years old and I'm on the verge of having a major stroke or heart attack...I just want my health problems to get better or go away...I'm so excited about my appointment...Is there anyone out there that has HBP and/or CAD and th got lapband? If so did it help?

[*susan* 1,709]

First off, welcome to LBT! You have joined a wonderful community for advice and support on the lapband.

Oh my goodness, you poor thing! You have been through so much. I know many people who have had various health problems prior to getting the band and once they started losing weight, a lot of those problems were alleviated. I am not sure about ones who had the same health issues as you do. Hopefully someone will see this and respond.

Best of luck to you. I truly hope the band helps you with your health problems.

[jeri_bell 0]

Wow, so how is everthing going I'm only into this for 2 weeks?

[rosbeve00 0]

Thank you...Well, my first appointment went great...I just have to have several extra test done because of my health issues...The doctor want to make sure that I'm healthy enough to get the lapband...So, I'm looking to have the surgery done around February or March 2010...I'm kind of excited and nervous...But I'm hopeful that all of my test will be okay and I can move forward...