HELLO TRYING TO DECIDE

HELLO

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DECIDE IF I SHOULD HAVE LAP-BAND DONE. I KNOW I WOULD LIKE TO BUT I AM A LITTLE AFRAID. WHAT IS LIFE LIKE A YEAR OR TWO AFTER? DO YOU DEVELOP SOME SORT OF NORMALCY? I'VE BEEN CONSIDERING IT FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT THEN I GOT PREGNANT AND HAD TO PUT THE PLANS ON HOLD. I HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN BIGGER, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE NO CO-MORBIDITIES NOW, I KNOW WHAT IS TO COME BY LOOKING AT SO MANY OF MY FAMILIES MEMBERS. WHEN DID YOU KNOW FOR SURE IT WAS RIGHT?

I had lap band surgery done in March of this year- so I can't tell you what it is like a year or tow out, just 6 mos out.  I was always thin until I got pregnant for my children.  I think I took my first pregnancy as a ticket to devour everything in site.  Forget the eating for two- maybe it was more like eating for twelve.  At this time I also developed a thyroid problem and my wonderful metabolism was now dead.  I exploded like a tick!  I tried all sorts of diets and none worked.  I could probably write a book on diet and exercise with all the info I have from going through it so often.  Same would always happen, I would lose a bit and gain it all back, sometimes my fat would even find extra friends to bring back with it.  I loved to eat and portion control was where I had issues. 

I went to my PCP one day and talked about a diet with him.  He told me about some of his others patients and what huge success they had had with WLS.  I was devastated!  How dare he suggest that I was so fat I needed this!  I knew I was fat- but I thought it was only something for people in the 500 lb plus category.  I was barely at a BMI of 40.  He gave me a number for a surgeon but I threw it away right after leaving the office.  I was ashamed and so hurt that people saw me as that fat.  Such denial I was in!  About a year later, I started seeing ads for the Lap band.  I checked out their website and did a bunch of research.  It was time to face that fact that I DID need help with this.  I spoke to my PCP again about it, got the surgeons number again and got the ball rolling from there.

I also had no co-morbidities, but knew I would probably develop them later in life as both parents have high blood pressure and mom has type 2 diabetes.  As for knowing it was right- my hubby was a huge doubter from day one on this and was very against me getting surgery.  He would just keep telling me I was too lazy and could really lose it if I put my mind to it and tried.  This is coming from someone who has never struggled a day in his life to lose weight.  Part of the paperwork I had to fill out for my surgeon required me to document all of my past diet attempts.  I showed my hubby it and he got a better idea of all the ones I had tried and the results.  He was a bit better after this, but still not convinced.

Put your past weight loss attempts down on paper- what diet/exercise plan, when, what did you lose, how much did you keep off.  It helps to see this in black and white.  Have you been trying to lose for a while now without success?  Have you exhausted all of you attempts?

Hope this helps and feel free to message me with any questions

Hi,

I had my band done in 2005 and while others may disagree....I feel I am normal.  It is normal to be afraid - but the more information you gather the better.  I knew it was right for me after my mom had RNY.  I knew that wasn't for me - but I watched how well she did.  Then I learned about the band and my hubby and I talked about it.  The more I learned the more I knew it was the right decision. 

Ask lots of questions - the people here are wonderful!!!