Over the past year I've researched/considered weight loss surgery. I've read everything I could find on the pros and cons and found the lapband to be the most compatible surgery for me. I am a 240 lb. 5'5" 50 year old woman who through yo-yo dieting and major life stresses, just gave up on trying to ever reach an ideal weight. However, with the lapband it appears "help is on the way". For the first time in my life I've decided to do something for myself without feeling guilty or worrying about what others are going to say i.e. only weak people do that or if you tried hard enough you'll lose the weight. Also, I know that with the weight loss I will forced to "deal" with my self image or body issues. Can anyone out there talk about the emotional changes as you lost weight and how you dealt with them when you could no longer use the "wall of fat" to protect you.

Angelsma,

Hi there, I can't speak to your questions on this post. I'm not banded yet. I saw that you had read and responded on another post regarding Anthem started by Dustout.

How far along are you in the process? Have you contacted your insurance company yet to see if you have coverage for the surgery? Have you selected a surgeon/facility?

I noticed you are from Columbus. I live about 45 minutes SE of Columbus. I'm 53 years old 5'3" with 40+ BMI. Will be going to Cincinnati to Dr. Curry.

Ellisa

Hi Elisa, thanks for the resonse. Yes, my insurance does cover the procedure, and so I've schedule my initial consultation here in Columbus at the McConnell Heart Center next week. I'm quite sure I'll have the procedure at Riverside Methodist once "the dust settles". I'm keeping the mindset that "whether I'm approved or not....I need to begin to at change my thinking about my weight so I'm not totally devastasted if declined for some reason. Lets stay in touch as we move through the process. Maybe we can organize a "buckeye-banding reunion"

Sounds like you've got a plan. One step at a time.

My husband feels like he has a new life. I don't think he misses his wall of fat. We aren't particularly concerned about being "beautiful" at this stage of our lives. I figure I'm trading a large less healthy unattractive body for a smaller more healthy unattractive body. But probably considerably more attractive with clothes on, LOL.

A few things to know about lap band surgery.

If you have severe allergies, know that it complicates everything. I threw up every day due to mucous covering my hole. I eventually had to have the band opened completely due to this problem. I was throwing up, not eating much and still not losing weight. Carbonated drinks helped. (they say you are not supposed to drink carbonated drinks, but it was the only thing that got me through)

Everyone is different; how your body reacts to the lap band will be an individual process. It is possible that you will lose your weight very quickly, then again it is also possible that you lose it very slowly.

You are still in control of how much you eat. The lap band is not magic, although it does help. The thing I could eat the easiest was ice cream. So I had to ask myself... Did I go through all this pain and money (I paid out of my own pocket) to fail because I at too much ice cream?

Wear a compression garment after surgery.(like a girdle) I had my surgery on a Wednesday and went back to work on Monday. (I had a sit down job) I would not have been able to do this without the compression garment.

If I had to do it over again, I would have done the by-pass.