PatU

Destiny, I applaud you for taking the time to research this procedure. I'm sorry to admit my own husband of 19 years didn't have a clue until he read the brochure while I was in surgery. I'm approaching my 6 month mark and have lost almost 40 pounds. I have a thyroid condition but am very satisfied so far and would do it again in a heartbeat. Even if it takes me another year to get to my goal, I feel I have added years to my life by getting extra weight off. As mentioned before, complications do happen. Two of the five ladies who had their bands placed the same day as I did have already either had it removed or are in the process of having it adjusted due to slippage. However, I have not had any trouble other than my band was too tight for about 5 weeks. Now, I'm in a perfect spot where I can eat pretty much anything (smaller quantities) I want but am never hungry. Good luck! PatU

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 1998 and have been on Synthroid to help the hypothyroidism since then. My inability to lose weight with virtually no metabolism was the main reason I got the band. I have lost 35 pounds since August, something that would have not been possible before. Not that losing weight for anyone is easy, but with the added thyroid disease, it's just that much harder. I'm not a doctor but it's helped me finally feel I am on the right path. PatU

I suffered with an overfilled band for 5 weeks. I was excited that the weight was dropping off but frustrated that I could barely drink any liquid, especially during the New Years weekend. I had 3.6cc in a 4cc band. Now, I have 2.8cc and it feels great! I still have some restriction but no hunger or pain. I was PBing like crazy when I was overfilled. Not even an issue now. Good luck! PatU

Get over it. You are not taking the "easy" way out. Living with the band is still about diet and exercise. You just now have a fighting chance to keep the weight off once you've lost it. Be proud of the fact that you are taking a positive step and ignore the naysayers . . . they will always be around. I still have co-workers who think I should not enter a company wellness (read: weight-loss) contest because I have the band and they consider it cheating. Screw 'em. They don't know the struggle overweight people live with everyday to lose weight. I have every right to get my BMI to a normal level, no matter how I do it. I watched the same Oprah episode and I was actually happy to see that I already eat many of the items that were on those shelves. I even thought about entering the contest and wrote an essay but will probably not go any further. I just felt better getting my goals down on paper. Everyone has second thoughts before the surgery. But, a few months down the road, you'll wonder why! Make the decision for you and your health. PatU

I can definitely relate to a reluctant husband and I also wrote a letter to explain my decision (I still have not told my parents or children about the band though). His response was a surprise because he is not very romantic or demonstrative. : ) What I wrote to Steve: You like numbers . . . check these babies out: Doug: 210 Pat: 215 Jon: 220 I should not be in the middle. I should be around 130. But, as you well know, I have not seen that since before the boys were born. I have been fighting this weight issue for over 15 years. I am tired. I have tried everything that I can think of to lose this weight and keep it off. Over the last six months, I have lost and regained the same two pounds a hundred times. How can you possibly understand the frustration I feel every time I step on the scale? You can't. This lap band is only a tool. I will still have to diet forever but at least I might have a chance to keep it off. I don't do this lightly and have been thinking about it over a year. It might seem like a drastic measure to you but it's a last resort to me. I don't like the way I look. I am starting to feel older than my years. I especially don't like it when the boys call me fat since I know that's how they see me. I get really emotional when I talk about this because it is so fucking unfair. I hope you understand why I feel I need to do this and can support me. If you can't, I understand. I have to do this for my health. I don't really know what else to say. Genetics dealt me a shitty hand and now I have to take a gamble. Are you in or out? Pat Steve's response: I do think I can somewhat understand what you feel and why you want to have this procedure. I am not hesitant about the money, your health is much more important. My concern is that you have a good qualified surgeon and the proper facilities for doing this safely. I trust you have done your research on fully this. I can understand that you don't want to tell anyone about this plan and possibly receive a negative reaction. However, should anything go wrong (always a possibility) I don't think you should be alone, so I will try my best to accompany you on this trip. We can talk more about specifics when I get home, but you've made up your mind and so you do have my support on this. I love you. See you when I get home.

You know, there is photo gallery for those of us who need visual aids . . . ; ) PatU

Dr. Ortiz is a great doctor. I was banded at his center in August 2006. You both should have a good experience because even the staff at the Hotel Lucerne is very helpful with newly banded patients and families. I felt totally at ease in Tijuana despite what people my say. My husband and I felt very confortable walking around after my surgery. I found recovery very fast and we even stayed an extra day in San Diego. I was a little tired but not too sore. It'll be here before you know it! PatU

I'm sure it was just your body's way of letting go of all the pre-op stress. I don't cry that often either but do recall having a good one once I got back home. I don't think it was over the loss of food, just the fact that I made it through! PatU

I had horrible gas the third day out too and made the mistake of having apple juice on the plane. I thought I was gonna die trying to hold it in. However, the engine noise was so loud I doubt anyone would have noticed anyway. I actually had more trouble with other bathroom issues than gas that day. I was so ready to get home. The discomfort only lasts a couple of days. I also get similar gas pains after a fill and sometimes after certain foods. You soon learn what your body has issues with. You'll be good to go very soon. PatU

Faybie: I have exactly the opposite problem . . . I'm big in a family full of thin people. They constantly talk about diets, their weight and exercise. They just can't understand why I can't lose weight permanently. None of them have ever weighed over 200 lbs. I've done it three times! The hardest thing is being compared to my thin, twin sister. She never had children so she has a much easier time (I had twins). The only family member that really understands is my birth mother who has struggled just like me. PatU

Hi, Faybie: Why haven't you told your mom about the band? My mom has given up trying to give me clothes. : ) PatU

As I watch a program on obesity on Discovery Health, I know the reason I committed to the surgery . . . my life! I have thyroid disease and have been struggling for 20 years with weight issues. I've lost weight on phen-fen and medically supervised diets only to gain it back. With no thyroid, I have no metabolism to burn calories. I can't tell you how much better I feel since the band has limited my intake. Before the band, I was always hungry eventhough I didn't physically need the calories. I finally found something that works! I am four months out and 31 pounds lighter. I still have 50 pounds or so to make my goal but I am happy I spent the money (self-pay). I feel better everyday and would not hesistate to do it all over again. Recovery was very easy for me. As mentioned before, the band does change your life. You can cheat the band by eatting high calorie foods. However, once you start losing weight, you will try really hard to make your band happy. I had to give up beer. That was really hard for me. But, I discovered wine. I have really cut back on my alcohol but I refuse to give it up completely. You can still eat and drink most anything, just in small quantites. Once you get fills, you may also have to adjust the time of day you can eat certain foods. I'm pretty tight but can still eat most foods in the evening. It is a big decision and only you can make it. The best thing is it is reversible. Good luck! PatU

I still love eating out and have actually started to enjoy cooking again. I do miss the fact I can't eat all the pizza I want at a sitting since it's my favorite food but otherwise I just have smaller portions. I also thought I'd really miss beer but have discovered wine. I don't miss soda and have only had one carbonated beverage to date (Champagne today to Celebrate my daughter's 21st birthday). I made Stollen for Christmas brunch and didn't have a bite. I just saved for an evening when my band was loose. I think you'll find that you enjoy food even more because the band makes you slow down and savor. I am always the last one to finish. PatU

I hope all the ABCers had a successful holiday. I am glad this one is over. Even though my daughter was born on Christmas (21 today), I find this day extremely stressful and depressing. Every year, I try to make it less so but I'm still ready for the 26th. This is my first Christmas with the band. I was a little worried because our family does a morning brunch and I typically can't eat solids until afternoon. My parents and kids still don't know I have the band so I was drinking tons of coffee in hopes of relaxing the band. It worked! I was able to eat a biscuit and hash brown casserole without incident. I almost told my family today but decided against it. When I walked in, my mom was talking about the lap band. Apparently, she had read an article in our local paper about a teenager having the surgery. Of course, this would have been a perfect segway, but I really couldn't tell what her opinion of the procedure was from her tone. So, I let it drop. But, during the meal, Mom brought it up again and I asked what she thought of the article. She said, "It should only be a last resort." Well, at least I knew where she stood. I doubt she would have thought I need to resort to that since I've only been struggling for 20 years and didn't weigh 300+ pounds as the girl in the story. No, 85 extra pounds wouldn't have been enough. Diet and exercise was all I would need. Blah, blah. Sigh. I really wanted shout out I had the band but just couldn't. My teenage boys thought it was dumb and wondered why people get fat in the first place. I felt my face get flush but no one noticed. Maybe someday I will share my secret. Maybe not. So far, my kids or parents haven't even noticed my weight loss of 29 pounds. But, I can! Merry Christmas to me. PatU

After seeing yet another fat photo of myself and unable to lose a pound after six months of really trying with slimfast and exercise, I decided I was gonna get the band. I figured it was my only hope with thyroid disease. Tomorrow is my four month bandivesary and have lost 25 pounds. It is slow but I am not complaining. After years of struggling, I have finally found something that works. I still have not told my kids or parents about it though. No one has really mentioned the weight loss since I have a history of fluctuation anyway. When, and if, they do ask, I will simply say "diet and exercise". It's the truth! PatU