Hi everyone i have been checking out this board for some time now and i'm seriously thinking about getting banded. Everyone tries to talk me out of it and tells me they love me just the way i am . The hardest part is loving myself at 255 lbs. :cryChristmas is the hardest because my family takes all these pictures while I'm unaware and then i cry afterwards when i see them. I am an emotional eater and i wonder if lap bad might work for me. I've studed on the internet and i am willing to take the risks. What scares me though is after you lose weight and get the band removed ...will i probably gain it all back and more? I'm wondering if maybe this time i could learn to eat correctly and by the time its removed stay to eating more healthy. I'm confused and don't know what to do. I have a doctors appointment this weds and would like to see what my doctor thinks and if UHC will pay for most or all the surgery. :help:what od you all think???

The band does not come off after you lose the weight. It is on you for life. Unless, someone makes a miracle pill or something. Then, that is your choice. But it is there for good.

I can feel your pain on the issue of the pics. While I never cried, I am a guy :bounce:, I hated to see them. At my church, we do a food drop to families every Christmas and I hate seeing my pics from the last couple of years. This year there is a huge difference from last year. It is worth it. Risks are minimal compared to full gastric.

Good luck in your decision. Remember, no one can tell you what is right for you. If you feel this is for you, then it is. It took me almost 5 months to convince my wife it was necessary. Now, she is proud of the progress I've made. Again, good luck.

my name is dave im doing it jan21 suellen im 42 and gained 75 pounds in 6 yrs no end in sight hoping it saves my life good luck with your decision

Hi and welcome! First of all, you are going to have to make the decision about whether Lap-Band surgery is right for you on your own (and with the help of your doctors). Randomly asking friends and family is probably not the best idea, because to them, it most likely sounds like a drastic idea that you are just thinking about. You really should do the research, talk to the doctors, check out the various Lap-Band boards, and get all your questions answered first.

At some point, you will have to call your insurance company, and see if they even cover Lap-Band surgery. Then, once you have made your decision to go ahead with the surgery (if it seems right for you), and you have gotten medically approved, then you can decide who is going to be supportive enough to tell. You need to do what feels right to you!

suellen most insurance companies make go on a diet four six months so youre probably talking may the earliest hun

I know i made a mistake by telling my mom and a couple of friends of what i was thinking about doing. My mom promtly told me (out of love i know) "Why don't you try counting your calories?" You know i have been there done that over the years and redone that again! I love her but my first thought was "hummmm ...wonder why i never thought of that?:guess "

I have been doing alot of reading and studing on the internet and i know i want to do this if the insurance and doctor will back me. But i also know that like Ceradad said about his wife my husband is going to be the one to give me problems. I know he wants me to lose and worries about my health but he will say this is too risky. I have other health problems that my weight doesn't help, i have fibromyalgia/ Rheumatoid arthritis, and i am borderline diabetic. I think for my health this is the answer and i'm willing to make the changes .I think my doctor will back me up 100% cause this man has seen me do Curves, weight watchers all the diet pills hes precribed with bad results. I figure i will call the insurnace after i see what my doctor says weds. Thanks all of u i feel some better about. But why did i think the band had to be removed? ???:cry

I know i made a mistake by telling my mom and a couple of friends of what i was thinking about doing. My mom promtly told me (out of love i know) "Why don't you try counting your calories?" You know i have been there done that over the years and redone that again! I love her but my first thought was "hummmm ...wonder why i never thought of that?:guess "

I have been doing alot of reading and studing on the internet and i know i want to do this if the insurance and doctor will back me. But i also know that like Ceradad said about his wife my husband is going to be the one to give me problems. I know he wants me to lose and worries about my health but he will say this is too risky. I have other health problems that my weight doesn't help, i have fibromyalgia/ Rheumatoid arthritis, and i am borderline diabetic. I think for my health this is the answer and i'm willing to make the changes .I think my doctor will back me up 100% cause this man has seen me do Curves, weight watchers all the diet pills hes precribed with bad results. I figure i will call the insurnace after i see what my doctor says weds. Thanks all of u i feel some better about. But why did i think the band had to be removed? ???:cry

Suellen, what I finally had to tell my wife was that I had to lose almost her entire weight to even be close to my "ideal" weight. I graduated hs at 250. I plan on getting to that again. I'm w/i 55 pounds of that as of this morning. Once I told her that, she stopped arguing. I think loved ones are as guilty of seeing us as they want to as we are/were. Talk it over with your physician. They should back you up. When I spoke with mine the first time, I was scared he would laugh at me. To my surprise, and a little shame, he agreed quickly it was a good idea.

Suellen, if you have been reading these posts you will notice many refer to this as a journey. There is a reason for this I believe. I, too, have been overweight a long time and thought I might choose the lap band but was sure my PCP would not agree. He has encouraged me to count calories and exercise for years. When I approached him with the idea at my physical this December he said quite sincerely that he thought I would be an ideal candidate. I couldn't believe my ears. I asked him to repeat it. I called my insurance company. They only approve two doctors. Both are about 7 hours from where I live so I contacted both. I am filling out papers for one and attending a seminar for the other, obtaining a referral from my PCP from both. What I am saying I guess is you just have to research, start checking out the possibilities. My family was more supportive than I thought they would be. My mother thinks I could go on a banana and egg diet and lose, she lost her 30 pounds that way back in the 40's- I have 130 to lose! oh well, not everyone understands. I like ceradad's technique to make it hit home. Visit the board often and get more ideas and don't give up IF the lapband is what you want and you really feel it is right for you.