Hi All...this is a great site! I am so glad I found it! Anyway, I am 36, a mother of 2 great boys (one only 6 months old) and I have recently after pregnancies packed on more pounds than I ever thought possible. I am short, 5' 3", and weigh 240! While many people don't think I look "obese" the fact is, I am. Recently, the arthritis in one of my knees has been acting up horribly. Can't sleep, can't get on the floor with my boy, can't walk around the block. The doctor said, "loose weight or get a knee replacement!" Uggghhhh. I have dieted for the best part of 12 years, I have lost and regained the same 30 pounds over and over. My metabolism is very messed up. My doctor mentioned perhaps lapband. I am scared. Totally, scared - but, I am MORE scared of not being a good Mom to my kids.

I have no health issues except the arthritis and carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel. I have good bp, no diabetes, but diet and exercise are not working (especially since I can only swim for exercise and even that hurts!) I have to make the appointment to see the specialist - but I am looking for advice, suggestions, experiences. Please help - what should I do - I want to me be again!

Thanks!

I got the lap band put on Jan. 10, and I could not be happier with my decision. I have already lost about 21 #, and I feel wonderful. The recover from the surgery was not bad at all. Since you have been through childbirth, you can handle the lap band surgery :biggrin: , and the recovery. It is not a quick fix though. Your eating habits will change for life, and you will have to deal with your emotional eating (almost all of us have emotional eating issues here on this board). But..the lap band is an excellent tool to get started.

Of course, everyone gets scared at some point in the process of making this decision. I was fine until the day before my surgery when I completely freaked out. I just kept on reminding myself that if I didn't do the surgery, in one year from now, I would probably be 10 pounds heavier, but if I did the surgery, in one year, I would probably be close to my goal weight. That thought really helped me.

In the end, the decision is yours. Read through the boards, do the research, speak to the doctors, and your loved ones. For me, it is the best decision I ever made. It feels so good to see the scale finally go down, instead of up. PM me if you have any other questions. Good luck!

All I can say is I wish I would have had the surgery when I was your age! When I think of all the things I would have done and enjoyed and risked if I had gotten rid of this weight ten years ago!!! Good Luck!