Hi, everyone!

After reading Lab Band posts for the past six months, and coming out of denial about my weight, I am ready to start the insurance process for lab banding.

About me: I live in Dallas. I am a 47/y/o woman weighing 245 lbs. I am 5'6" tall. Found out in 10/05 that I have hypertension, sleep apnea, high tryglicerides, and impaired kidney function. Both parents are/were diabetic, so I'm next. I have been working out on and off for a year, and never lost a pound. Diets have not worked, either.

I am embarassed, but relieved to admit all of this. The truth will set me free (hopefully). Any encouragement is appreciated!

Thanks for reading this confession!

:welcomeB:

I grew up in Irving, but I now live in Marshall.

Good luck on your lap band journey.

Hi DivaNita! Welcome to LBT! Be sure & check out the "Texas" forum as well... we have a pretty active DFW group (we have lunch together once a month). We're glad you're here!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64

I am so glad to find DFW support. Thanks!

Hi Divanita, welcome to Lapbandtalk, the best WLS board in the world! Well, that's just my opinion - and pretty much everyone else who joins it! You'll see. The people here a just great about answering questions and supporting you through thick and thin. I'm in South Grand Prairie - right where 360 and I-20 cross. Some fellow local bandsters are meeting in Irving at 1:30 pm on Saturday the 22nd at Jack Astor's. I think if you check the Texas forum you'll se a thread there about the group. Feel free to join the fun!

My best piece of advise about the LBT board is to try not to spend too much time on the "complications" thread. It's good to know what kinds of things CAN happen but if you spend too much time there it will only freak you out unnecessarily. The national average for complications is at or under 3% - which means the percentage of people having the surgery who have no complications is a whopping 97%. Don't stress yourself out over it. I did when I first came here, almost talked myself out of surgery and was absolutely FREAKED for no reason. I'm fine and have lost 20-some pounds at 4 weeks post-op.

Good luck on your weight loss journey and congrats on your decision to improve, and most likely extend, your life.

I loved your message-from the quote at the bottom to the advice about complications. Too late-I read most of the complications forum, until I realized that many entries were by the same people. I want to be informed, but in a balanced way.

I am interested in the monthly meetings; I think it will help me feel less isolated about my lap band process. Most of my family and friends have never heard of lap band, or they feel that I am just fat and lazy.

Thanks for your encouragement:p

I think that you have made the right discesion. I was banded a year ago by Dr. Katz Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas at first it was kind of a slow weight loss and sometimes you say to yourself your not looseing any at all but when other people say girl you are really looseing I think that's what really motaviate me to stay on track. Good luck and best wishes. I live in Lancaster texas but I grew up in Oak Cliff.

Welcome to LBT from one Texan to another! Good Luck!