grandpamark53

I will begin by stating that I researched and prayed about this decision for two and a half years as to whether this was the right decision for me. I spoke with different people I knew that had been through the gastric bypass. Seeing how much weight they had lost and how much better they felt afterwards, I finally decided in late summer of 2009 that I was going to pursue this. I am a diabetic and insulin dependent on an insulin pump. I also had high blood pressure, had angioplasty twice in the past 8 years with 4 stents in my chest already and two arteries that were 45% blocked two years ago at my last stress test. My 21 year old son says our kitchen cupboard looks like a drug store annex.I had the lapband procedure on March 18, 2010. That was a month ago. I am already off the pump and just taking shots as needed. I have lost 34 pounds since starting the program. My wife bought me my first size 44 jeans. I was so excited. I haven't wore a 44 in 20 years. I find the support groups to be the absolute key to success. When I begin to think that I am in this alone and noone could possibly understand, I go into a support group meeting and see people that understand EXACTLY what I have been through and had the same feelings. I highly recommend this procedure to anyone that qualifies for it. Had it not been for the decision to have the surgery, the nodule, the doctor found and removed would never have been found until it was too late. I believe God has a reason for everything and this was my time.