charmingchuck

In response as to what was the purpose of my post????.....Simple!!....To tell my story....Go to the main page of Yahoo today and Al Roker tells his story of bariatric surgery, in which he failed somewhat.....It's followed by excellent advice from Dr's and experts....Good luck to all of you no matter how you lose your weight.....Al Roker finally did, and it's quite interesting!!!!

On the main page of Yahoo today, there is an excellent article about bariatric surgery and it's pros and cons which includes the story of Al Roker....After this article, some Drs. and experts in the field give their opinions.....I think it's a good read....Many, many succeed, some fail!.....I, like Al Roker, was the latter.....To those that are well on their way to success, may God bless, and to those who have faced disappointment, there is ALWAYS hope!!!!....HANG IN THERE.....Eventually you'll find the infanous "KEY!"

My hernia was the largest the Dr. in Detroit had ever seen in his 30 years.....But he did both....The surgery took 6 hours!.....My wife was worried sick and never informed....Additionally, I was supposed to have a room waiting for me after post op recovery, but spent 9 hours in the recovery room "alone," only patient with a nurse and my wife.....Got my room at 4 in the a.m......I had complications with all 3 surgeries....So, believe it or not Carolina gal, I did have issues with all of the surgeries..Lots of scar tissue became an issue amongst other things!..Congratulations to both of you on your weight loss!.....Topamax is "not" a diet pill, but rather prescribed to prevent migraines and epilepsy....Off label uses include weight loss....For many it works, for some it doesn't!..You must find the right dose!.....I started at 25 mg a day per week, then slowly up to 75-100mg, and food became something I really didn't care for!....I believe that lap bands do work, and I have nothing against them....Weight loss is an ongoing battle.....It consumes us at times....But the light at the end of the tunnel after the journey is worth it no matter how we get there!.....Good luck to all and think "thin!"

In response to the one question, the first band was 5.5 years ago.....To "Mean Jean!".....As a contributing editor, I find your attempt at humor quite putrid, to say the least..How do you know all the details of my weight loss and surgeries, and as only one example, the meds I had to take after the surgeries, and what they caused???...Are you a surgeon too?.....In a subject as delicate and individualistic as weight loss with so many variables, your "assumptions" are quite erroneous, and based on your false perceptions!....Attempting to "make fun of someone" is "not" fitting for a so called editor!....FE FI FO FUM....YOU THINK YOU'RE SOMNEONE!....ALAS, YOU'RE NOT!

What a long and disappointing journey!....Traveled to Detroit from Pittsburgh so as to not wait for insurance guidlines and paid myself.....Dr. discovered largest hiatal hernia he had ever seen and HAD TO REPAIR it......While in there he did the band.....Admitted that BOTH should never be done at the same time.....But because of travel he did.....Tons of scar tissue left....Band had me lose 20-30 pounds, put it back on, but I never felt the good restriction.....Went to a local Dr. and he said he'd do it over.....He did.....RESULTS THE SAME......I then had gastric bypass, and it was very difficult because of the previous two surgeries.....I dropped around 35 and ate what I was supposed to etc....Had little restriction.....I was very distraught....I exercised my buns off to avoid putting any back on......All of this took 2 years out of my life!!!!.....My gastric Dr. told me that only 10 percent of people who are banded meet their goal....I talked to my primary care Dr. and he prescribed TOPOMAX.....I lost all the weight that I wanted to without feeling hungry!.....I'm now at my goal.......Think long and hard about surgery......Don't get me wrong as some can do it, but I WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE!...MY BEST TO ALL OF YOU!