Well, here I am - deciding what to do. I am literally back and forth every five minutes. I feel like this is taking up all my thoughts. I can't focus on work or sleep after my consultation. I have so many thoughts. First I feel scared and overwhelmed. It upsets me to think about a foreign object in my body for life but then the alternative is much worse - staying this size for life. I worry that I may fail and I would have wasted my families' hopes for me. I feel weak that I couldn't accomplish this on my own. Where will I go if this fails? But if it doesn't fail then I will have accomplished something so great and will be healthy. I need some encouragement. I need some affirmation that this is a good choice for me right now. I need someone in my life that can understand what I am going through but there is no one. I am looking forward to talking to people here that understand and can give me some words from experience. God, help me to trust and rely on your guidance and leading in this situation. Please give me relationships that will help me through - whether I choose to get banded or not. Please give me peace and calm when I think about my decision. I need to know that my thinking is rational and sane and not based on over-emotionality. Please bless this decision and may your will be done.

Getting the band was the best thing I ever did for myself. I was banded on July 16, 2008 and am doing great. The band doesn't make you weak - it still takes a lot of strength and perseverence to loose the weight. When I was deciding to get the band, I spent hours reading through the posts. Like anything else, there are people who take the band seriously and accomplish their goals. There are also people who are addicted to eating who aren't able to make the life changes required for the band to work.

No one can tell you what is right for you. You really just have to decide what you are willing to sacrifice to get you what you want. Once you have a decision (either way) then you can focus on the next step. I know that was the hardest part for me - making the decision to go for it. Good Luck!

Hi Katelyn,

I gave it a lot of thought also...I researched the gastric bypass originally because a co-worker and friend of mine had it done and did pretty well. She went from over 300 lbs to under 200 and stabilized. Her husband just had it done because of his diabetes and weight, and he's doing marvelously.

After doing my research, I decided that the bypass was not for me - why? Because I would have to drastically change what I eat from that moment forward. Plus - the idea of more surgery doesn't appeal to me - I am African-American, and I get keloids (raised, puffy scars) whenever I am cut or injured with very few exceptions. The idea of a big, thick, ropy scar on my abdomen (to add to the one I already have from a prior surgery) did NOT appeal to me, so I started looking at the band.

I decided the band was for me because it would allow me to lose the weight without a drastic restructuring of my intestinal system. I didn't want the malabsorptive side effects either - I have enough challenge with vitamins!

The more I read, the more convinced I am that the band is for me. I encourage you to keep doing your research - do what you need to do to be comfortable. Some of us need to amass more info than others - but don't wait too long, girlfriend. Your health is at stake and making the decision now is better than waiting for another 50 or so pounds.

I wish I'd known about this surgery before I hit 265 lbs. Now I'm looking forward to being 100 - 120 lbs lighter in a year or so...I'm anxious to get started and to get the weight off.