Miss Sammy

Aww head hunter, do you mind if i ask about your experience with lapband??

I know that alot of people don't put in the hard yards before considering WLS and that people think its a quick fix, by far i know that its not.

I will give an explanation of my history...

When i was born i was a very very small premature child, when i turned 4 i went from being small to being a llarge child, and then everyyear i gained weight, without it ever ceasing, i know for a fact it wasn't due to what i ate because i was eating fruit and vegies etc and mom wouldnt really ever let me have chips in my lunch box etc.. it was fruit, the occasional naughty treat like cake or some shapes and what not, but that was occasional.. When i was 9 i started seeing a dietician after being scrutinized for my weight, and continued seeing my dietician without any luck in keeping the weight off, When i was 14 id been getting so big every year it was becoming a problem, at this age i learned i had Polycystic Ovarian Disease, which explained my depression, my extra hair growth, my major mood swings and eratic horrible crippling periods (and i mean that heavy and that painful i was nearly hospitalised when i got them) and alot of other things. To this day ive tried mnearly every diet and exercise program i swear is known to man. Tony Ferguson, KicStart, Optifast, Weight Watchers, Atkins etc etc etc.. and yeah for some i would lose weight for a little while but then i would gain it again still whilst on the program. The most effective was the shakes where i lost 14kgs.. but then started gaining again. I cannot do normal diets like others like the weight watchers and jenny craig etc because the amount of intake especially sugar (i.e certain fruit and veg and portions etc) are too high for my Insulin Resistance and i end up gaining weight.. the shakes were my last resort before considering the ever looming WLS that ive feared my whole life..

My dietician told me 5 weeks ago, that she is SO against WLS its not funny, but there is 5 people that she would say tomorrow that you need WLS and she said i was one of them.. She was not the first to tell me this.. My specialist for sleep Apnoea and my Spinal Surgeon have also told me that its my last resort to consider..

I know that i over eat, because i am never satisfied or should i say i never get that "full" feeling. My mind isnt strong enough to stay on shakes for the rest of my life nearly vomiting them up everyday, so this seems to be the option for me.

After having spoken to my Mother in Law, Mom's Best Friend and alot of people on here it seems that i wasn't wrong in thinking that lapband was the option for me, i just hope that given my history its the right decision.

I know its just a tool to help me and that i am going to have to help myself and that is going to be a Large struggle for me, with such things as learning to eat slowly and chew to a million peices (because it always tastes horrible once u massacre it) and learn to drink slow as i guzzle.. these are just a few things i need to learn.. But i also know that its all a learning track and because my will power to stick to certain diets hasnt been strong enough because i wasn't getting the results and depressive eating, i know the band wont allow me to over eat like i do and if i do i will suffer the consequences. Im scared to have it done because it will change my life negatively and positively as i know it. Im worried i wont ever be able to eat certain foods again and that scares me, im worried it will depress me more for that reason.. but i also know i need to know what its like to not be the young child with all the medical problems, the obesity, the picked on child who loved sports and was good at alot of them but wasnt given the chance alot of the time..

i know the band is a tool to help my body not eat so much therefore counteracting half the problem of my over eating and that will give me time to work on trying to make myself eat the right foods with that smaller portion i can eat..

the more i think about it the more i do what i always do and second guess myself thinking this band will have such negative effects on my body..

i guess i now need to know what willl happen with it down the track aswell..

Aww thanks Head Hunter.. i love your signature about the band too.. "my experience wasn't good but i want yours to be fantastic" << that is beautiful..

Your right though, if the band doesn't work for me then i have other options.. if i do the others then ive already lost an option.. i dont want to go through them all i want to be happy with one..

But im already thinking negatively lapband may work for me and i may have no complications as others have, my surgeon said complication rate is less than 5%. I guess i should take it day by day.. im just worried about the long term effects of the band now..

Also the lady that pulled me up about the band had, had the band and had to have it removed because she was throwing up her tea during her sleep and she wasn't eating past 6pm and apparently that is very common... so after awhile she had had it removed and got a vertical sleeve.. she said they dont reroute your intestines or anything and they use the healthy part of your stomach for the procedure.. ahh i don't really know..

Wow.. thankyou so much for the information everyone!!

I just thought i had better clear a few things..

I havent yet had lapband i havent had any form of surgery.. i am set to have lapband in january due to insurance ive chosen to wait till then..

i know lapband is the lease brutal of all WLS options but as this person said to me, "wrap an elastic band around your finger and see how it will be after 3 years", well most would know it would die and drop off.. does this mean that the stomache is going to be in such a bad shape and i know that it does ruin the stomach shape i know a few people have had it removed and afterwards they have ended with a stomache that pretty much is that of a Gastric Bypass..

I need to lose 121pounds (about 55kgs) but i don't want to kill my insides but seems that no matter what i choose my stomache is going to end up mutilated.. what happens after youve had the lapband for years?

Re: About the location of my surgeon.. he is here in the same city as me luckily.. so no plane flights or long driving.. only about 10minutes away..!!

I just havent really heard of alot of people having had it for a long long period of time... my mother in law has had it done 2 years and she loves it and had no problems... my moms friend has had it about 6-7years and she had alot of problems at first PB'ing all the time but now as far as i know she is fine.. but ten yaers down the track can the band stay on still? Would it not of eaten so far into your stomache that obviously is no longer reversible..

I don't really want something that is reversible incase i change my mind, i wanted it reversible incase i had complications and my body rejected it or my body didn't cope with it.. not as some people presume because i dont want my "weightloss to be permanent" thats just ridiculous because of course i dont want it coming back..

Hey everyone.. ive been around this website for a few months now and have learnt so so much thanks to everyone..

Lately ive had a few people confronting me about my decision to get lapband vs gastric sleeve. I don't really know alot about the sleeve, but i knew lapband was reversible and when i saw my surgeon re: lapband he was very happy with doing it based on my weight (275pounds or 125kgs), height (5'8) and bmi (42) etc, nothing more was mentioned about any other form of surgery.. So i just went along with what he thought and what id only ever presumed i thought i would get done.. i was just second guessing my opinion and probably shouldnt.

Lapband is not without its complications im aware of that but im 21 and am planning on have kids does anyone think ive made a wrong decision..?

I just don't fancy having too much messing around inside of my stomache like bypass and vertical sleeves involve..

Really confused..

Hello Beautiful..

Im trying im trying =)

Mom took me shopping today and i found a beautiful dress and a belt i wear under my boobs with it and a few other nice pairs of clothes and it made me feel heeps better.. and i brought myself a beautiful blue ring - blue makes me happy.. so thats a good start.. today was a great day.. how was your day my lovely what have you got planned for the same day i just had but that you are just beginning.. lol.. get it? 12hr time difference and ur behind

Evie.. thankyou so much.. its so hard.. today was a really really REALLY bad day for me.. im not sure how things are going to go from here.. nearly did something stupid.. its nice to know atleast one person is here..

love sammy

Lol MissK Top Tier has the most original to the heard responses im with you on that girl!! im hearing you xx

Mrs JL i am so so very sorry to hear about your losses of your much loved mother and unborn child that is two of the hardest things anyone could ever experience! i really hope you are doing ok xx

Hey There,

I personally made the decision of lapband over gastric bypass for a few reasons most of which have been mentioned...

1. Its totally reversible

2. They don't reroute you intestines

3. Healing time is a lot less

4. I don't believe cutting out a chunk of stomache for it to grow back seemed worth it

5. I want to be active sooner

This was a personal decision but an opinion that many seem to share. Either way neither one will get rid of the diabetes or shrink the pancreas so why go the more drastic one if it doesn't make a difference?

Thats just my opinion, i hope it helps

xxx

Top Tier thankyou very much for your care and concern! I will remember that next time something is said to me about it!!

Thankyou so much everyone!! i realise that lapbanding is serious and its a very very big decision for me. i know its hard work, but its the first step to helping me in a positive way as normal diets plus exercise didnt end with me losing weight. Atleast with the band hopefully that plus exercise and correct eating will really help! Hearing your stories really helps me put my decision into perspective! My family arn't reallly a great support through this as my mom has asked me to tell nobody. She is larger that side of my family are all the same way, actually both sides are. Yet so hard on me for my weight! Due to my depression and sickness i have lost most of my close friends so the only person i really have to support me is my partner and sometimes its not enough and he doesn't want to listen. My family don't really believe in surgery they believe natural is better so im fighting an uphill battle and it just makes me feel so alone.

Love and wishes,

Sammy

thanks heaps guys.. MKS im happy to find someone who has similar problems to me (horrible that you have to go through it).. do you believe your PCOS has been a great faulting in your weight loss? Did you find the banding procedure painful?

hi anyone.. i only just stumbled across this site.. i wasn't sure if i would be able to find anyone who could relate to me or would want to talk to me.. im 21, ive been morbidly obese for the majority of my child and teenhood. i suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Disease which is said to of caused the majority of my weight gain, Severe depression.. i say due to my weight as i have been fat since i was 4 and have seen a dietician since i was 9.. i feel so alone, my family some of whom are large but don't seem to go through the same thing i do, and i don't have many friends or a best friend that i can talk to. My parter of 14months is the closest thing i have and he just wants the best for me. after trying nearly every diet known to man, lapband is now the last resort. i am seeing a lapband specialist in two weeks after all other specialists for my back problems, polycystic and sleep specialists have reccommended. i am so scared as i have seen the negative side of the surgery in my moms ex best friend but also the positives in my partners mom. i am scared that i will not lose much weight by doing this and that is my greatest fear. i need to lose nearly 50kgs.. nearly half my body weight to be at what my dietician deems my optimum weight. i just wish i had someone to talk to so i didn't feel so alone despite the fact i know there are thousands apon thousands of people suffering aswell i just don't seem to be able to find any to talk to.. i would really love to hear stories from others and anyone interested in talking to me and guiding through the process..

I hope everyone is having a beautiful day and that things go great for you all!

Kind regards,

Sammy

p.s. my email is missdillon@live.com.au and my msn is xox1misled_angelxox1@hotmail.com