LindaD

You know, I think that when you're 100+ pounds overweight and have tried all the traditional things for years to correct the situation, then no matter WHICH path you take, you are taking a leap of faith.
There are no guarantees with any of them.
Don't have the surgery and keep trying to lose it on your own - there is no guarantee of success.
Accept yourself at your current weight and embrace life as a fat person - there is no guarantee that diabetes or apnea or heart attack or whatever won't stop you.
Lap band, sleeve, bypass... none of them come with a guarantee. People have them and do great. People have them and fail. People have them and have endless medical problems. Who knows what your roll of the dice will be.
For me, it wasn't about finding the "right" answer. It was about weighing the options and making my best decision, but still knowing it was a leap of faith in some regards.
Good luck with whichever path you choose. No, my decision does not come with any guarantee. But you know what - REGARDLESS of what you decide, neither does yours.

Well before my band, I was having acid reflux issues and other issues and learned then that esophogeal cancer happens in association with untreated GERD. For me, the band appears to have resolved my problems with acid reflux to great degree (though not completely).
It's true that band people often do deal with reflux, so indirectly the band may be more highly associated. But band aside, issues with reflux can cause this. For me (and maybe for many) it was a risk pre-band.
I recognize I could face band-related risks going forward, but I also resolved or lowered quite a few risks too.
I hope the treatment works for you. I assume they will remove the band for you now? It's one of the things I liked about the band- that it is removable.
Best of future health to you.

I have bought and read this book and others by Ellyn Satter and follow much of her advice. I think they are good books, they get my recommendation too.
Thank you all for your input. Just by way of follow up -- a few comments.
I do intend to share with people that I'm doing this. I've already shared with several my intent to do this (as I am in planning stages now). As I said in my original post, I wear my life on my sleeve pretty much. Having said that, I do believe I have to tell my daughters. So it's really more about HOW I tell them. I want ot do it in the best way possible so that I do no alienate my overweight daughter or make her think this is a substitute for healthy eating, etc.
And in case I wasn't clear, we already have made family-wide changes beginning 4 years ago... all skim milk, no sugared Cereal, whole wheat pastas and breads, etc. etc. We've made tons of changes. 8" salad plates for dinner. No more rolls/bread with meals. Lots of chicken and fish and less beef. No cookies/cakes/chips (except pretzels and baked tortillas occasionally). We don't do poptarts or any of that stuff - they have only low-sugar whole grain cereals. I mean, I think our diet stacks up pretty good against the typical American family. But none of this has yet shown to have an effect for my daughter. She (like me) has Portion Control issues and is always hungry.
She's 6, and yes I know she will be called fat and I know she will learn to hate that. I did too. But I hope I can help her navigate it to where this doesn't DEFINE who she is. Even though I have always been overweight, I am highly successful in my career, I have a wonderful husband, family, house, life. So I expect that my daughter will be able to rise above and probably be stronger for it. And someday if the band or some other approach is right for her, I'd support her in seeking it.
Right now, what is of utmost importance to me is to make sure she knows how much we love her and how we don't find her imperfect at all, she's gorgeous and smart and I just want all of us to be our best, the healthiest we can be, and that's why the doctor is helping me.