I need a Penpal! I want Lap-Band, but my family isn't supportive

I'm trying to find a surgeon for Lap-Band, and I just need someone to talk to who can relate to me. I'm the only one in my family with obesity and no one seems to understand so I'd love a penpal!

I feel you... My mom does not think I should have it either.I can be you pal I to will be having the band.

Thanks so much! I thought I was the only one who didn't have the support of the people around them. My husband, kids and bestfriend all think I'm overreacting to my weight. I'm 5'4" and 223lbs and gaining so fast. Everyone around me thinks I should just exercise. What they don't get is that I spent the last 3 years exercising 4 hours a day and it only help me lose 20 lbs. I became an exercise instructor in 2005 and I couldn't do it anymore because my supervisor was constantly pushing me to workout more and more and making me feel horrible about my body, so I quit about a year ago, but not before I developed a binge and purge eating disorder.  Now I feel so defeated about exercise that I can't bring myself to do more than 30 minutes a day, and I'm trying to straighten out my eating and it's going so SLOW. I know I'm getting depressed over it. 
Thanks again for offering to be my penpal,
Robin

I will join in this my family was very unsupportive of me having it done when I got it I was at 293 am now done to 244 ... I would love to be penpals with both of you!!!

The more, the better! How has your family been since the surgery? I'm scared to even schedule a follow up appointment because I don't want to get into the discussion again with my husband. Don't get me wrong, he's a sweet person, but he's so bent against the "easy" way out. It's hard to explain to him or any of my family that this decision isn't easy. Not to mention I feel like there must be something wrong with me because I can't lose the weight on my own.

I'd love to hear how things are for you.

My family still has mixed feelings about it,. Some are not happy I have done it but I have learned to see that it is not all about what they want I did it for ME not them it was MY choice an I am happy I did it.. go for it..

Thanks for the encouragement! Did you get the Lap-Band? What are the after effects?

I did have the Lap-band.. an to be honest other then some issues I had due to poor after care I have not had any issues with it. Just make sure.. you have a good care team. I had my sugrey on the 8 of aug last year the following day I was in little to no pain.. though I will say I walked alot more then they normal patient does ( the nurses kept telling me to rest lol... I was just so happy to start my new life that I could not sit still. Now that I have found a great doc i have been getting really great care an have been losing the extra weight... It is worth doing an would recommend it to anyone..

If you don't mind me asking...what's your name? I feel a little silly just typing without at least knowing for myself how to address you:) I'm Robin.

Since you experienced poor care at first, what would you look out for if you wer me? and how much did you have to pay out of pocket?

Sorry lol my name is Lindsay...


As far poor care goes mine came when I had my first post op visit an could here my sugren yelling at paitents who had not lost anything. Then he got mad at me becasue I only lost 5 lbs between surgery an seeing him ( mind youthis was a matter of 3 days which i thought was great.. but he told me he should have never done my sugrey. .. That was the first at last time I seen him. I also then went 6 Mo with out care (very bad thing to do) but I had no where to go. until I found my current doc. An as for out of pocket I paid nothing other then my office copays. my insurnce covered everything. Most do depending on what you have. I am sure everything will be great for you. It is a choice you have to make for you an only you an I am very glad that I made mine when I did.

Lindsay