Good Morning to everyone. I am exploring options right now. BMI around 40 (5'5" and 235 lbs). I have already met with my Weight Ctr here in Boston. Comprehensive (nutritionist, MD and psych components). Lap band would be the only consideration from a surgical standpoint,as it seems to be the least invasive and complicated. May start with Meridia. Not sure. I eat well, balanced diet, and exercising quite a lot. I don't know if BCBS of Mass will pay for a lap band, as I do not have other co-morbidities (labs all normal, no hypertension). I do have some arthritis in my left hip and right knee, but nothing else to speak of). I feel I need a push in the right direction......:help:

my bmi was 38, idid the band in march, and i am very glad i did.

good luck to you!

We have similar stats. I am 5'4" and went into surgery at 229. I tried the Meridia, heck I tried EVERYTHING, but couldnt stand the way it made me feel. I got sick and tired of losing and gaining the same 20lbs, and usually regaining a few extra to boot. I was frustrated watching my weight creep up 5-10 more pounds every year. For me, the band has been wonderful! I am actually losing the weight and feel 100% confident that I can make my goal weight and keep it off. I have been banded a little over 7 months and have lost 40lbs, which has already made a HUGE difference in how I look and feel. I hope to lose 30 more in the next five months and be down 70 lbs by one year post op. I know I could not have done this without the lapband, I tried.

I am still pretty nervous about the whole thing in general. I am a nurse, so a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Surgery always seemed like such a sell out for me, personally. My sister had gastric bypass and looks horrendous. Hair loss, skin sagging and generally unhealthy. On the flipside, my sister in law had the LB and looks phenomenal. I don't even know if my insurance will pay for this procedure, so that is another subject. The one thing that seems to bother me is the lump that you can feel just under the skin (the port?). My sister in law let me feel it, and I have to admit, it creeps me out a bit. I would be excited to put weight gain behind me once and for all. I am so frustrated with yo yo dieting, and all the strenuous psychological and physical work that I have put in over the years.

Good luck with your decision. I love my band, the port doesn't bother me at all. I can feel it and it does take some getting used to, but you do. I only wish the band had been available when I weighed 240, then maybe I would have never gotten to 366 (that was my all time high, I lost some of that before being banded).

I was banded 1/24/06 and have lost just over 30 pounds so far. Not phenomenal, but much better than I would have done without the band. The port doesn't bother me at all...in fact, I catch myself touching it occasionally almost like a good luck charm! The bypass wasn't an option for me at all...I am not interested in having my insides rearranged! In fact, people who know I have had LB surgery seem surprised that I look healthy and well. They are used to bypass patients who look sickly and ill, I guess.

Only you can decide if the band is the way to go for you. As for me, I have not regretted it for a second, once I got past the first week post surgery. Good luck with your decision.

Emily