ElfiePoo

I love my husband dearly, but it wouldn't matter whether or not he was against the surgery. I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing it for me. I came home after I made my decision and just told him I was doing this and handed him all of the brochures and info I was given. After 20 years of marriage he still doesn't understand why I can't just practice 'all things in moderation', particularly since I did lose 70 lbs...and kept it off...on my own, but he understands how important this is to me and is supportive for that reason. .

Water off a duck's back. I have a friend who weighed 500 pounds. She went on some diet that involves injecting herself with urine (?) and eating about 500 calories a day. Now, granted she's now down to 399 pounds after a year, but she's arguing with me that the lap band is an extreme fad? ROFL. We decided to agree to disagree. Fortunately, my own family is extremely supportive, but even if they weren't, that's their problem.

Scared of what? Not having back pains? Not being fat? Who says you have to give up carbs for good? I've talked with quite a few people who've done the lap band surgery...some are 8 years post surgery...and none of them have given up carbs completely. What they have done...and what the lap band has helped them do...is control the amount they eat. So you may not be able to eat a whole bear claw...but a bite or two as a treat now and again...that you will be able to do based on the experiences of everyone I've spoken with (and I've spoken with many many many people while researching this for the past several years). .

I agree. If you're that uncomfortable, have it reversed. That's one of the pluses of the lap band system.

Except for my $10 co-pays on office visits, my insurance is paying 100%. I'm told they'll also pay 100% for plastic surgery on a tummy tuck and breasts because they consider it a potential high risk health problem (bacteria, sores, etc. under the excess skin), particularly since I'm a diabetic.

Agree completely. Nobody denies that self-control and a change in life style habits will be necessary to lose weight. The lap band is not a miracle cure...it's a 'tool'. It's still up to us to make the right choices. As for making those choices prior to the lap band...despite losing 70 pounds on Atkins 6 years ago and keeping it off, I know unequivocally that, at this point in time, if my doctor required me to be successful at dieting before the lap band, I would be unable to do it. If I could, I wouldn't need the lap band and would just do it on my own.

I eat because I like food. Eating is a full sensory experience...but I feel like an addict. Take the first bite and I can't seem to stop until I feel full. I don't need to feel gut bursting full...just full. That's a lot of calories. I've thought a lot about life after banding. My husband and I love to travel but when we get where we're going, I'm too tired or my back hurts too badly to walk and see the sights. So I'm looking forward to just being able to walk with him. I'm also looking forward to being able to paint my own walls, steam my carpets and scrub my own floors! For the last 10 years I've had to pay others to do those things because I tire too easily or they hurt my back and/or knees. Oh yes...but the one thing I'm really looking forward to...riding roller coasters again! .

Hi everyone, No date set for me yet but looks like it will either be the end of October or first week of November. While I've researched lap banding for a number of years, it was a fall in the bathroom 3 weeks ago that finally motivated me to move forward. It's a bit scary when you almost can't lift yourself up from the floor...a combination of weighting 260 lbs and having no upper body strength and bad knees. Two weeks ago I had my first visit. Within 4 days, my insurance approved coverage 100%. I had my psych eval (required by insurance) done yesterday and on Monday I'll give them a call to see if they'll go ahead and set the date while they're waiting for the psych report. If they won't, then it could be 2-3 weeks (yikes!) before the psychiatrist gets them the report and then a few more weeks to fit me into the surgery schedule...still November, but probably mid to late. I also don't mind being banded pre-holiday. It just means I won't have to lose the usual 10 pounds post holiday.

Develop some interests. :smile: Life is more than eating and drinking although many of us have forgotten that.