I am undecided, especially after reading these boards. You all seem happy you did it, but I am wondering if I should give just the liquid diet another try. I did it once a long time ago and lost 50 lbs. This was in the 1990's and I am just now back to 240. I read the post-op dietary rules to my husband and daughter and they said, if you can do all that, you would lose weight, even without the surgery. My other concerns, and the reason I am thinking about cancelling, is because I can't stand the thought of never being able to eat some of my favorite foods again. I am talking about things like steak, lobster, shrimp, biscuits, and especially corn on the cob. I have already planted sweet corn in my garden - will I even be able to eat it? My insurance had no requirement for proof of previous weight loss programs, my doctor took my word for it that I had tried, but I must admit that I haven't tried to do anything lately. I look at various diets and give up before I start. Some days I resolve to stop eating things that are bad for me, but by evening I am hitting the candy or the salty stuff. Does the lap band stop these cravings? I think I could keep to the Medifast type diet for a few months. I did it before. It was kind of like quitting smoking, which I did cold turkey. And at least I don't have to give up my favorites completely, forever. I read your posts about having to go back to mushies or liquids and I wonder if I am ready for that much of change for the rest of my life. If I knew it would be for a limited time, I could deal with it, but forever???? I am 66 years old and retired and I want to enjoy the rest of my time here on earth. Do I constantly want to be playing with getting fills and taking fluid out of the band and trying to get it adjusted correctly. Seems like this is an ongoing problem. Does the surgery take away your hunger? Of course, as another of my daughters pointed out, my problem is not so much that I eat because I am hungry - I eat because the stuff tastes so darn good. I wish there was something that would decrease my sense of taste and smell! Or at least something that would make me very uncomfortable if I were to eat sugar. The reasons I want to lose weight are generally health related. I am on BP meds, Celebrex for arthritis, and a med for high cholesterol. My last cholesterol was 246. And while I don't care much about improving my looks (I am past that) I don't want to have lots of baggy skin to deal with. I already have some degree of panniculus, but doubt a surgeon would do anything as long as I don't try to lose weight, even if I could afford it on our fixed income. Your input will be appreciated. Thanks!

Erica, You know your post I wanted to be sure to answer past my bedtime or not LOL! You know the best step is what you are doing....research, research, research!!! This website is a great place to read profiles and listen to others experiences. Then ultimately you need to sift through all that information and figure out what is best for YOU not others that are 17 but for you. But talk to others....talk to another surgreon, another nutritionist. Seek out support groups in your area especially looking for thoses that had surgery at an early age. (I can say this becuase it took me 20 more years after I was at your point to actually do something) alk with your doctor and express your concerns. Research types of surgery on the internet versus your age. One thing I can say is as for "one thing about the bypass is that the responsibilities afterwards are super difficult and very cautious while there are things you should follow and for life......they are nto super difficult....well at first they are but then they become old habit and I do not miss my old eating habits. "and with lapband i dont like the going back to get it readsjusted and well its takes more time to lose the weight right??? and will i lose all my overweight???" They say for both surgeries the average is to lose about 70 - 80% of your excess body weight. I know those with gastric bypass that lost about 2/3 are now more than 2 years out and have nto lost any more weight and I know some withapband that sure they lost slower at first but have actually gone on to lose all there excess body weight and are now below goal. So again each person is differnt and each situation is differnt. For me I decided tht with the weight I had to lose that it might be to easy for me to cheat with the band. That and I did not want all the "maintaining" with fills etc. And that is what you have to look at. You will live with any surgery choose for longer than a lot of us. So looking at the long term effects of the by pass and the malabsorbtion would be something to look at as well as the complications of having a band for a long period of time would be another. Perhaps posting on the RNY or lapband or even open forum looking for others that had surgery at a young age and getting their stories and experiences would also be a good starting point. You are already talking a very important step by making an INFORMED descision!!! Best wishes! Donna

I am having the bpass on the May 14th. Tammy

Kelly, good luck to you! I know how I was that night before! Did not sleep much at all!!! Take care and post an update when you can!!! Donna

I am having surgery May 15th. I was wondering if there was anyone else having it the same day???