:) I'm being banded on November 10th next week I start two week liquid diet. I'm self pay so this has all happened quickly, but I've done hours and hours probably days upon days of research. Here's the thing, though, tonight I laid by my son who's five...I adopted him from birth and I was thinking of the promise I made to his biological mother to take care of him forever. At first, I thought this surgery is sure the way to extend my life and be there longer for him (despite reading an article in a magazine yesterday that bariatric surgery should be done only for cosmetic reasons that they had proven it gives you no more than two extra years) ... then my mind went to the idea that maybe I'm not going to be there like I promised because I'm having elective surgery that could take my life.

I feel like I'm making the right choice, but sometimes my mind drifts to the other side...others experience this? how did u get through it? does anyone regret getting the band? help please! surgery soon

Dear Full of Grace...where is your surgery? By the way complication rates are VERY low with this surgery....

I know exactly what you mean.....i've got an 11 year old and 7 year old twin boys. They freak out if I'm a second late getting them off of the bus after school. And if I'm not here and their dad is they are full of hugs and kisses all night long as if I've been gone forever!

I'm not banded yet, but, from what I understand, the risks are so minimal that it's not worth mentioning. You will have a hard time finding "bad" things happening during surgery. The worst I've heard for the most part is complications afterwards with the actual band to make a person remove it. If it means that I can sit on an airplane seat or take the kids to Disneyworld and know I can fit in any seat there, plus add an extra 2 years to my life then I'm all for it. Just my opinion but I feel like the good outways the bad.

Don't even put yourself through all of that. This is so very minimally invasive and my doctor has done 7000 and never lost anyone, that's some dang good odds. After one week you'll be up doing everything you did before and I promise you you'll feel soooo much better for your son and will be able to do everything with him again. I bet if he was older he would tell you he'd gladly miss one week of your feeling normal in exchange for the rest of his life feeling good. You'll be just fine. Don't put yourself through all of that negative stuff it will get you nowhere. Just think on the positive and how great your going to feel and look.

Good luck and I"ll be thinking good thoughts for you.

The fear can nearly paralyze you. I was afraid until I set foot in my surgeon's office. A complete calm feeling came over me that I was doing the right thing. I have never looked back. You have done your research. Now have peace and faith in your feeling that it is the "right thing to do."

As mothers, we all want utmost quantity of life to care for our children and be part of their lives. I had this surgery for a higher QUALITY of life. If I am happier and healthier, then I will create a better life for my family. Now my life has improved immensely! Also, I was surprised at how quick and minimal the procedure really is.

Good luck!

Maybe 2 years for just the weight loss but is everything calculated in there. The quality of time spent with your family will better. You can set a better example. You will be much more active and less depreseed too. I couldnt see how any scientist could even specualate the years added. Too many things to consider. Different strokes for different folks.

Since the band I have exercised for 3 years running. My resting heart rate is 57 now. Down 23 BPM. How many beats you figure Ive added in the last 2 years.???

Many benefits and I swear I'd rather have done this than a root canal or crown!

They would have to fight me to get my band Back!

I would be SHOCKED if it only prolonged a person's life by 2 years! That's like saying that being morbidly obese only shortens a person's life by 2 years, and I don't think you would find a study/physician anywhere that would agree with that.

At the very least, as someone already pointed out, your remaining years are SO much better thin than morbidly obese.

I'm not banded yet (should be end of November), but I don't understand the hesitation. I'll take surgery, recovery, completely modified eating habits, and weighing a hundred pounds less over living one more DAY like this anytime! I'm not hesitating, second guessing myself, or looking back. Let's get this over with so I can start my REAL life!

Last week, I read a recently released research study in Australia on 10,000 subjects that showed that people who had the gastric band had a reduced mortality rate of 75% when compared to matched controls that had not had the surgery. That is an enormous and wonderful outcome.

I will try to find the link to the study and post it for all to say.

The results were much more significant than the researchers had expected.

Here it is:

http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=14068

Recent research has shown that the procedure can reduce death rates in the obese by as much as 75 per cent.

Associate Professor John Dixon, from the Centre of Obesity Research and Education at Monash University said, ‘This is the first time that any form of weight loss treatment has been able to show that weight loss therapy saves lives.’

In three studies, 10,000 obese people who had the surgery were compared with another 10,000 obese patients.

It was found that those who had the surgery were actually living substantially longer. In addition they were found to be less likely to die than those who were in the general community who were the same age and weight problems.

6 September 2006

I hope this will make all banders smile.

2 days before being banded I was catching up on laundry so everything would be in order while I was out of commission. So I sat down to fold about 6 loads of laundry and tried to find a good, mindless movie on TV to help pass the time. Beaches was on, and I thought perfect, this will get me through my laundry task. How stupid could I be!!!! It's not like I haven't seen it (many times) before. I know how it is going to end. I ended up crying for an hour afterwards and second guessing having surgery.

In the end I got over my panic attack by thinking logically. Having this surgery is not only for me, but a gift of life to my kids. It should extend my life, and significantly improve the quality of my life.

Hang in there, use logic when your emotions take over, and everything will be great.

Don't panic!

What you are feeling is normal and healthy. You are going to radically change your life, and these nagging worries are just proof that you understand how serious this is. In order for the band to work, you have to change and change is scarry, especially when you are changing something that has defined you for a long time. If you were saying you had no worries, doubts, concerns, fears then I'd say you were in for a HUGE shock when you get the band, but as it is, it sounds like you get that you are charting new territory. It's strange and different but you will adapt, overcome and beat obesity.

As for extending the length of your life, I don't know about that, but I do know lossing weight will vastly improve the qualty of your life. I have a 2 and 1/2 year old and almost 4 year old. I did not understand how much enegry the weight was taking from me and them. I can do so much more with them and for them and i have the enegry to enjoy them even more than before.

It's o.k. to have doubts, just keep your eye on the prize. The road is bumpy, but it is so worth it!

Good Luck!

-Nora

When I had my band done, I was self-pay also so I only had to wait about 2 weeks from the time I finally decided to 'get er done'. I researched and thought about it previous to that for a couple years though. Anyways it felt like it just came so fast!

I too have a 5 year old, and at the time of my surgery I also had a 2 1/2 month old (she's now 6 months). I had the same feelings as you, I was so worried something would happen to me! But what really helped me through was the thought that I would hinder them from staying overweight. I didn't want them to grow up with the 'fat mom' who never wore a swim suit in public, never took them to Water parks, wasn't able to participate/help in their school sports. I want to be the 'chic' mom who wears shnazzy clothes and has FUN with them physically. I want them to have a good example to follow and to see me living life to the fullest.

Being alive is one thing, but living is another. I chose to live it up. For my sake and for my kids' sakes.

Hi,

I had my lap banding done 5 months ago and with me being 21 i was quiet worried about going through with it.

I was quiet ill for about a week after having the lap banding put in,

But once i got over that initial stage i felt great.

Now 5 months on ive only lost 1 stone but im very happy with that.

I must admit i dont stick to a strict diet but i have cut out many things that are hard to digest like Bread, Red meat and try and eat things i dont have a problem with.

My food intake has gone down dramatically.

i dont feel deprived of food and im very glad i went through with it.

I would suggest it to anyone, I feel great!

If anyone wants to ask me anything about the lap banding please dont hesitate to ask.

Shelley x

I didn't feel this until I was laying in the OR hallway waiting to be pulled into the OR.

I broke down and cried. I don't know that I'd ever been more scared in my life.

Am I glad I did it? Heck yeah.

My life has forever been changed for the better.