I used to think surgery was a lazy person's alternative, but I no longer feel that way. After many ups and downs--the most recent struggle being Weight Watchers--I have carefully weighed the options and scheduled a date for Lap Band surgery.

I have explored the pros and cons, talked to people in person who have had the procedure done, and decided at this point in my life that I'm going to take the chance and have this done. No amount of hard core dieting and exercise on Weight Watchers would get my weight to budge permanently. I started Weight Watchers in early 2012 and after about 1.75 years, I had lost 30 lbs. Not bad, but not spectacular. I had one difficult semester recently where I ate a moderate amount of food (still turning down a lot of things), and didn't log my points as closely, and I gained it all back. I have been struggling with my weight, in some form or another, since I was 14, and I'm just tired now.

I have sleep apnea, I'm fatigued a lot, my cholesterol has been elevated for a while (high LDL's and triclycerides and low HDL's), and I have been hypothyroid (treated with medication) for several years. My BMI is about 38.8. Not to mention the fact that this extra weight just makes me feel horrible in my own skin--I have a suspicion that it's keeping me from getting a job, and I don't have that many more employable years to start a career, as I'm in my late 30's.

Insurance won't be paying for this, so I've secured an out of pocket loan for the procedure. I've booked it for April, because if it works like it's supposed to, at about 10 lbs per month, I should actually be able to wear some decent T shirts by summer and not still be hiding behind sweaters.

I've weighed the risks and the benefits. So can anyone give me advice or share their story? I hope I'm making the right decision.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it is this: You are young now, but as you get older, losing will be harder and harder. Eventually you'll see physical deterioration like arthritis, sleep apnea, and maybe diabetes if you don't turn your life around. I've had one hip and two knees replaced due to arthritis and, yes, many thin people suffer from arthritis also, but I firmly believe if I hadn't beat up my body for so long with all the extra pounds, I wouldn't have suffered so much. I hope you will have the determination to go down this journey and succeed!

I totally know what you are saying. I'm only 36 and already have: sleep apnea, hypothyroid, high cholesterol, acne, coughing. It's a safe bet to say that the extra weight is tearing me up. It wasn't that long ago--5 years--that I was really in pretty good shape at 180 or so, but a bunch of things have happened and now I'm almost 100 lbs heavier than my goal weigh--somewhere I thought I'd never be. I have the urge to get my act together quickly, or I fear all these problems (like cholesterol, sleep apnea, back pain, etc.) will work together to cause even more major problems.

I was thinking about it the other week, and came to the conclusion that I've effectively been 9 months pregnant for the last several years or so. How have any of us felt towards the end of our pregnancies? Tired? Bloated? Moody? Backpain? Just wanting it to be over? Voluminous breasts that are putting pressure on our back? That is the constant state for a person who is around 250 or heavier--just like being pregnant all the time.

GoWalking, thanks for the encouraging words. I hope you are recovering well from your hip replacements. Despite the ordeal of physical therapy and recovery entailed in joint replacement, it's such a great relief to be free of the constant pain. I know excess weight makes it much worse and it looks as if you have done wonders so far in recovering your health.

Skywalker, it's hard to be certain the decision to have wls is right for you, but I hope you will be encouraged by the members here to do it while you have decades of healthy living ahead of you.

I noticed that you mentioned hypothyroidism (I have this as well)....does anyone know the answer to this question--does hypothyroidism cause obesity, or does obesity cause hypothyroidism? I had thought this was something I'd have to live with the rest of my life, but my friend (a nurse who had the lap band done) said I might be able to get off both my thyroid meds and my cholesterol meds when this was all done.

My doctor said my hypothyroidsm may go away after I lose weight which is something I never thought of either.