Hello everyone -- AF vet here

[lisacaron 5,075]

Whoa there everyone. We're just here to support each other.

My husband's blood thinners are actually a null point; I have decided to get the Lap Band surgery and I have no such conditions.

I was mentioning him in passing because I thought in the future Lap Band might be a good option for him, if he was open to it. Its just the thought of surgery, on blood thinners, kind of scares him or something. But really, that's something him and his doctor should hammer out. I'm sure they wouldn't recommend the surgery if they couldn't control the clotting and the costs outweighed the benefits.

My Lap Band surgeon highly encouraged me to do it and said I was a perfect candidate. I hope he's not just upselling the procedure/strictly trying to make money, because he seemed to think it would do me a lot of good and was highly optimistic.

Many on the site have had great success with the band. Myself and hubby included, I'm sure you are going to learn how to work your band and be a great success as well.

What I have found is that it takes that mental mind set to learn and understand yourself, your eating habits and once you have the band how it works best for you. It does not happen over night. It is a process, for me and the hubby we have taken that process slowly and not rushed it through. That is the way our Dr. works, we are evaluated once every 4-6 weeks and go from there to determine if we need/want a fill or not.

The first 8 weeks we were in our healing phase after surgery and no fills were done. For as many people and as many doctors and surgeons you will find on the site you will find different ways to work the band.

No one way is all right or all wrong, it's subjective to each and every person and the best judge of it is your own doctor who will be caring for you and your band post op.

I love being banded it was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself and I know my hubby echos that for himself. Congrats on your decision, and we are all here to be supportive each other even when we agree to disagree.

[Skywalker 170]

I came to the conclusion that this was really the best time to get the surgery for a couple reasons.

1. I'm supposed to graduate college next summer, and I'd really like to be able to wear something nice and not look like **** for pictures and such. The pictures taken at my last graduation, I was too embarrassed to post because I was so heavy (even though I was proud of the accomplishment)

2. I'd like to be fertile again and have another kid before I'm 40.

3. Around the time I graduate, I'd also like to look decent in some interview suits.

And just the general desire to get out there and live again.

Really my only hesitance for the surgery was dying under anesthesia, but the Dr. told me not to worry about it, and I probably shouldn't. There's probably a greater chance I'd be in a car accident driving to the grocery store or something. *shrug*

Edited February 18, 2014 by Skywalker

[LeeB1946 261]

AF vet here too, but a long time ago. Have friends that had weight loss surgery at military hospital. Spouses and retired vets were eligible. No active duty because of the recovery time. Might check there. B Best of luck.