Linda F W

Thanks for the encouragement. I went today for the first Nutritional assessment and I am psyched-up. As I said, I need encouragement and I realize the band is only a tool, the real work has to be done on my part. I think the band will be the tool I need to stick to the diet knowing the benefits I will have later on down the pike.

I have struggled all my adult life with being overweight and trying every diet know to man and have even made up some of my own. I need to lose about 70 pounds and have a BMI of 35. Most of the people I have discussed the lap band with tell me I don't need a lap band - just put my mind to losing it because it is not that much weight when you consider the risks. I am a high risk patient - I have had 2 stents in my heart, have had a blood clot in my femoral artery that nearly cost me my life and I have had abdominal wall hernia repair 3 times. Every day I wake up fully determined that I am going to stick to my diet but can't even make it through the day without cheating. If I could lose the weight myself I would but I can't. I am diabetic and have high blood pressure. The weight loss would probably end my need to take medications for these conditions. What I hope this forum will offer me is support for my decision to have lap band surgery rather that trying to scare the heebie-jeebies out of me. I am just getting started, I have attended the seminar, seen the surgeon who said the surgery was "doo-able" but would be complex because I have mesh from the hernia repair, and tomorrow start the nutritional visits. My surgery is a good 6 months down the road. Please send encouragement my way.