My introduction..

Hello. My name is Shannon (moeandez1) and I am 29 years old and I currently weigh about 280 pounds. I have struggled with my weight most of my life but didn't start having major problems until after high school. I had a sudden weight gain of a hundred pounds in one year and since then it's got worse. It took over ten years of problems..thinning hair, no periods, weight gain...until I was FINALLY diagnosed with PCOS in about 2009. Unfortunately I have only been diagnosed and not treated. In 2008 I started having issues with feeling like I had a flu all the time. If someone touched me I would yelp. It hurt so much. Eventually my pain got worse and worse and early last year I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have been off work for about a year now. I am still in the process of trying to get the pain under control and finding the right medication. My weight keeps going up and up. I have recently started having issues with low blood sugar but haven't been treated for that either. I've tried a number of very expensive diets and I have been semi successful but then I end up gaining all my weight plus some back. I have made a decision to go with the lap band. I don't want my health getting worse and I really want to go back to work. Unfortunately in BC, the lap band is not covered and any other surgery is about a five year wait. I cant' afford this but I can't afford not to. My husband loves me the way I am but knows that I am unhappy. I have become very reclusive because of my weight and RA and I don't want to live like this anymore. I have my surgery date...June 27th! I am so excited but at the same time I am so scared. I spend time every day reading about the band. I have read a number of peoples blogs and for some reason every link I clicked on in the past day or so has been a negative experience with the band...I have to admit, it doesn't raise my confidence...therefore, encouraging words are defninitely welcome! lol. My husband and dad are super supportive and know this means a lot to me but the few friends I told have accused me of taking the easy way out and told me it's a dumb idea. Of course, all those people are within a normal BMI and have never had a weight problem in their life. I l love hearing about other peoples experiences and would love to hear from people who have had the surgery done or are waiting to have it done. Are you as nervous as I am? hehe.