Hey there

I had a sweet friend ask me if I had "Any Regrets"....I thought I would share part of the email with you all and see what you think too.

I really try hard not to tell about the litenay of problems that I have had since being banded 3 years ago. Regrets...there are days that I regret the banding, but I NEVER regret the loss. I would do it again to lose the weight. Later in this message I am going to list the problems that I have had....I think then you will understand my point.

Here goes the list...brace yourself!

Port distention - my port has surfaced due to the weight loss....very common.

Gallbladder Attacks - Again very common with hight weightloss

Malnutrition - Due to overtightened band and unable to take in enough calories and nutrition

Enemia - Due to inability to take in enough Protein

Hysterectomy - Bleeding and Enemia worsened after the weight loss although it was a preexisting problem before.

Pannus Infection - Due to the loss I have had many infections under my hangy tummy, hopefully to be removed, but that is to be seen.

Excess Skin in Abundance - Now that I have lost the weight that I have there is an obscene amount of skin that needs to be removed, bearing in mind I am not very tall and the skin hangs significantly beyond where it should.

I know that some of these things are due to the weight loss, but they are to be considered, if you are young and your skin is nice and tight and has not have 3 C sections, my complications may not be yours. On the other hand....

I run

I bike

I ran a triathalon

I wear a 38 pants and used to wear a 52

I sunbathe in the backyard mind you with a bikini top on

I sit crosslegged on the floor

I skip

I am in love

I love me....I didn't for a long time, but now I think I am learning how to again.

I love my gorgeous honey

I promote exercise and healthy eating in my home and to anyone who will listen

I have helped people who struggled with the decision, some did, some didn't

I love the tool that I chose to use

So regrets, yes there are regrets, but mostly the good outweighs all those....hope I didn't scare you.

I can honestly say I dont have ANY regrets apart from the fact that it was necessary in the first place.

By the way anaemia is caused by lack of Iron, not lack of Protein. Of course there's a lot of iron in some protein foods such as red meat, but there's also iron in fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, fortified cereals and such.

I just had my surgery last week...4/5/07....and I had regrets the second day, but only because it finally hit me that I would have to make this change. Food is so addictive. I just pray and ask for the strength to make the right decisions.

Do I have regrets I dont know.. I am scared of the unknown. I have not have any problems so far with the band, I was banded on march 1st first fill on april 27th. I read ever post here and I think that some of them scared me to death ..... some of the post are really scary...should I believe half of what I read?

I have no regrets. I am working this tool and praying for the result that most speak of. I have more hope and confidence and that is worth it alone. I was just banded 3/1/07. I have not had any complications yet so we shall see what the future holds.

NO REGRETS!!!!

I was banded March 25,2006. I used to be a 40DDD bra. Now I'm a 36DD. Used to be a size 20, now a 12.Used to weight 250lbs now160lbs.

Before I suffered from asthma,kneepain,backpain,shortness of breath and irregular heartbeats. And the well know syndrome: "WHAT THE HECK SHOULD I WEAR IF NOTHING FITS!!!!" every morning.

Yep I too have some skin and boob "loseness" Oh but all of this is sooooo not important. Now I know my chances of "NOT" having a heart attack are better then before.

Thank you Lord for second chances,for supportive people,for this new life!!!! Thank you for having a job and a roof over my head !!!!!!

Well as you can see...no, no regrets here.

tracy:

Maybe regret is not the right word for me, as I would do it again in a heart beat, but yes, there are those factors that should be considered when having WLS.

sagy loose skin, hanging boobs- I had a tt & bl and the difference made the world, I was honestly at the point I looked in the mirror and it was atleast "full" when I was fat and my back didnt hurt from the weight of the breasts. Now 100% happy but the tt & bl did make such a difference.

my port is very noticable, and yes, it is an issue when wearing snugger shirts as it looks like a pouge in an otherwise flat tummy.

constintly thinking, i wanna try this - food type but will it get stuck, make me pb ect. yes those thoughts still happen not daily but on ocassion. especially eating new place or at peoples homes that dont know. like chicken doesnt work for me, so at family that had bbq chicken and potatoe salad. neither works for me so I starved instead of risking more explaining and then ordered room service from the hotel at midnight- I was starving!!!

so yes, issues, but regrets no! just issue to address but much less of an issue then the heart attach or stroke I was headed for.

By the way anaemia is caused by lack of Iron, not lack of Protein. Of course there's a lot of iron in some protein foods such as red meat, but there's also iron in fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, fortified cereals and such.

Actually, anemia can be caused by any number of issues. Microcytic anemia, an iron deficiency anemia is the most common. The red blood cells are smaller (micro) and paler (hypochromic) than normal. Iron deficiency anemia can be caused by insufficient intake or absorption of iron to replace natural losses (your period for instance) or through illness (say, a gastric bleed or parasite infestation).

A normal healthy adult has enough B-12 stores to keep you out of the anemic zone for many, many years and it would take probably 4 years of an iron deficient diet alone to create iron deficiency anemia from diet alone.

Iron (Fe on the table of elements) is best absorbed when taken with sources of Vitamin C. So, if you are worried about your iron levels, have a few slices of an orange or tomato with your meals. There are foods that inhibit Fe absorption; coffee, tea, chocolate (not fair!), and red wine, just to name a few...

DollyRose

Can you tell I'm a nursing student?

The only regret I have had is that I didn't start exercising soon enough. I am sure I would have lost 70-80 lbs by now instead of 52. I also don't drink my water. Julie

I run

I bike

I ran a triathalon

I wear a 38 pants and used to wear a 52

I sunbathe in the backyard mind you with a bikini top on

I sit crosslegged on the floor

I skip

I am in love

I love me....I didn't for a long time, but now I think I am learning how to again.

I love my gorgeous honey

I promote exercise and healthy eating in my home and to anyone who will listen

I have helped people who struggled with the decision, some did, some didn't

I love the tool that I chose to use

So regrets, yes there are regrets, but mostly the good outweighs all those....hope I didn't scare you.-trace

.........................................

Didn't scare me.

I want to run. I want to walk without pain. I want to talk and stand without losing my breath and getting winded.

Right now I cannot see how staying in my present state is benefiting me.

Thanks for sharing.

My one regret.............. I didn't do this sooner.

I agree maybe regret isn't the right word, complicated, work intensive, lax, maybe those are the words that I should have chosen. I love the fact that I have only 30 lbs to lose in total, including LBL, 30 lbs, I mean holy shit! Its a far cry from 150...thanks for the eyeopener everyone...you guys rock! POPT