Hi everyone

I haven't had a band fitted yet,saving hard and will have enough by the summer.

I have been a member of this site for almost a year, reading the success stories, the horror stories and admiring the before and after pic and of course the scar pics(NOT!!!!!!) it took me a long time to make the decision but I have finally made it.

I have told only a couple of close family members and of course my hubby and I don't intend on telling many more. A 'friend' of mine told me about her friends sisters having a band put in last summer and as I don't personally know anyone who has had it done I was keen to know how she was getting on. My 'friend' was extremely negative about the whole thing in the first place but now she appeared to be even more against the idea, saying that she was still eating the same foods and just as much and as far as she knew she had not lost any weight. She then went on to say how dangerous it was and that her friends sister had had a blood clot! I decided to tell her I was considering it myself and she looked at me like I was stupid! and then she blubbered on about excess skin.

She really annoyed me!!

So I replied "This is not a decision I have taken lightly and I am well aware that it is not an easy option and that if I work against the band I won't lose a thing. And the excess skin? well i would have that if I lost all of my weight no matter how I go about it!"

Fair enough, everyone is entitled to an opinion but she doesn't have a clue about the lapband and how it works.

I won't be talking to her about my plans anymore!

Sorry to moan everyone

X katie

I think we all have those nay-sayers. Who have horror stories about someone, all too often it's their housekeeper's cousin's sister's daycare worker's friend. And yes, bad things can and do happen, but being Morbidly Obese has it's own risks. I took what I felt was a calculated risk, that the surgery would make me healthier in the long run then what I was doing. SO far so good.

My 'friend' was extremely negative about the whole thing in the first place but now she appeared to be even more against the idea, saying that she was still eating the same foods and just as much and as far as she knew she had not lost any weight.

Then shame on her. If she sees that trend, it's her responsibility to follow up for aftercare, and what she eats and how much - again, only one person is making that decision. Don't think this applies to all people who are banded.

She then went on to say how dangerous it was and that her friends sister had had a blood clot!

Possible - but so what? Bumping into something can give you a blood clot. I got them from BCP. Of course if you're having surgery yuor risks go up. I'm not even at high risk and they gave me heparin.

I decided to tell her I was considering it myself and she looked at me like I was stupid! and then she blubbered on about excess skin.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is smile and walk away. Yeah, I'm going to have excess skin. But give me a choice between weighing nearly 400 pounds, or having a droopy body, and I'll give you the same answer every time!

Katie, this decision is yours and yours alone. There are a lot of bandsters that don't have success but its up to them to get the medical help to make it work. Just work with your doctor, follow the diet and make sure you gets your fills to have optimal restriction. You will succeed if you do these things. Good luck.

Hey Katie

for 90+ percent of the people - IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, IT WORKS.

Hopefully, you will be with the majority, and you will follow the rules.

Hugs and good luck!