I'm scheduled to be banded 2 weeks from today and it's a roller coaster. One minute I'm excited and the next, I'm wondering if I'm crazy. I'd like to get some feedback from those of you who are on the other side of the procedure. Do you have any regrets? Would you make the same decision again? Thanks for your help!

IN A HEARTBEAT!! Most of the things I find myself missing are things that although tasty, are things I had NO business eating in the first place. It has helped me SOOOO MUCH!! Before being banded, I could eat so much that it was ridiculous. Even when I worked out, I would eat enough to totally erase any progress I made by working out in the first place. I constantly was hungry, and couldn't walk up a flight of stairs w/out getting winded. Now I do about 4 miles a day, and I can run 3 of 'em. I've gone from a 50" waist to a 38" waist, and I only had the surgery 8 mos ago. I have kinda plateaued with actual "weight loss" at 220lbs (down from 310) but my body fat keeps going down and I keep shrinking. Sorry for the long answer, holler at me if you have any more ?s good luck!!

No regrets... BUT I'm not a typical loser either and that has been very dissapointing! I'm eight months post op and have only lost about 20lbs. I am still glad I did it though.

Are there any self- pays that regret spending so much money on it??? I'm probably going to have to pay, and am having a REALLY hard time with the idea of spending that much $$. I keep telling myself I can just diet. But when I diet I get so down. I just can't stick to it. Same old story I'm sure. I'm just exhausted after 4 hours of Dr. appts. today. and it's the first day trying.

@ Liz1531 Did you have a hard time finding anyone to do your fills? Having done it in Mexico??

I am still pre op....lol sounds like I am having a sex change there.....I am on that excited and oh do I really want to go 17,000 in debt kinda thing too. To add to it I am hoping to be banding about the first of June but I haven't been able to taste or smell anything for over a month now because of a sinus infection from Hell. I told my doctor I would cancel if my sense of taste doesn't come back. I doubt I will have any regrets having the surgery if my taste does come back debt or not. Hell it costs less than my car did......and that thing costs me money every single day even if I don't drive it. Necessary evil and that is kinda the band for me necessary tool.

I only regret allowing my appetites to endanger my life with morbid obesity.

I do not regret getting the band.

IN A HEARTBEAT!! Most of the things I find myself missing are things that although tasty, are things I had NO business eating in the first place. It has helped me SOOOO MUCH!! Before being banded, I could eat so much that it was ridiculous. Even when I worked out, I would eat enough to totally erase any progress I made by working out in the first place. I constantly was hungry, and couldn't walk up a flight of stairs w/out getting winded. Now I do about 4 miles a day, and I can run 3 of 'em. I've gone from a 50" waist to a 38" waist, and I only had the surgery 8 mos ago. I have kinda plateaued with actual "weight loss" at 220lbs (down from 310) but my body fat keeps going down and I keep shrinking. Sorry for the long answer, holler at me if you have any more ?s good luck!!

Wow! That is amazing that in 8 months you have made so much progress! I am hoping to be able to run 3 miles again soon..I used to be able to about 4 years ago. Just wanted to say great job!

I am almost 2 months out and I have no regrets either. I have lost 20 pounds so far and I although I am loosing at a slower pace now....I am a lot better off than I was 3 months ago. My eating habits have changed and I will be healthy in the long run because of my band. Pre-op worries are normal....I was the same way! You will be fine! Good luck.

Dananah, I am self pay ($12.5K incl. 2 yrs. fills) with Dr. Curry, Cincinnati. Have not regretted one bit. I kept thinking I'd diet...that never happened.... not an expert, had surgery 4/8/08 so am just 3 weeks post op. One side effect has been that my husband has been super supportive and he's lost around 15 lbs. (even with occasional visits to McD's, Taco Bell, you get the idea). I've lost around 23 lbs. I don't have the exercise down yet but I'm trying. I think...i know it was $ well spent. Hope this helps.

After telling my kids for years that "This time I was really going to lose weight" they would give me a look and say "Yeah mom, o.k." It was a constant struggle to lose weight and I would give up on myself easily. Since I've been banded I don't find myself saying that anymore and the weight is coming off. I am excited about having the lap-band because now I can concentrate on eating healthy and exercising while the lap-band helps tames my hunger.

No regrets here! :thumbup:

I am self-pay - about $14,000. I have no regrets whatsoever. I thought about surgery off and on for years but kept thinking that I could lose weight by myself. I did lose a large amount of weight two different times - 50 lbs once and 85 lbs another time. But I could never keep it off. And then when I reached about age 40 I started to have health problems from obesity. I had high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, swollen legs and ankles, acid reflux, back pain and was starting to have liver problems. My husband and I talked about it a lot and we decided that it would be irresponsible for me not to have this surgery. I owe it to myself and my family to be healthy and to stick around for a long time. If I could have done it by myself, I would have. For whatever reason, I couldn't do it alone. I've only been banded a couple of days but I know this is going to change my entire life and I'm SO EXCITED!!!! What's $14,000 compared to that?

I had some complications and really didn't feel good about the band for about a month after surgery. But looking back, its still the best decision I have ever made for myself, and would do it all over again.

I'm a self pay, and i am also the type of person who feels guilty for spending money on myself, but this is one thing that i do not regret. I agree with those who say they wish they would have done it sooner.

But getting back to the money, we are not well off (military family), but hubby felt that it would make me the confident person i used to be as well as help me avoid later health issues that family members have. The money we save by me not eating enough for 4 people goes towards paying this off, it balances out.

Also, as my eating habits had to change, and i'm the grocery shopper, everyone's eating habits have changed. This provides my daughter a healthier life and hopefully a healthier future.

well lets see financial pro's of the band from my view

..you will eat CONSIDERABLY less possibly 1/3rd less, maybe more, somewhat offset by buying higher quality foods but junk can be equally as costly even so your eating alot less.

..reduction of or complete removal of co-morbidy medicines/treatments (for me this is over $1000 a month just in meds, not including the hours of heating pad/massager etc. use using electricity/batterys)

..Living longer Priceless

..reduction or loss of aches/pains priceless

..reduction or loss of being winded easilypriceless

..clothing costs halved (NORMAL sized clothing is typically cheaper to buy, and much more available in consignment or secondhand stores) may be offset by shopping sprees for the new you :wub:

..the changing of your eating choices flowing over to/affecting your family (if you have mate-kids etc.) Priceless

..Improved self esteem and more energy will lead to more productivity/activity so you might get that job promotion, less sick time, less missed work/activities.

and the list could go on forever. When thinking about the justification of spending that much money on this just think of anything you used to do, that you had to give up or was made unplesant because of the excess weight.

My only regret is that I did not do this a long time ago. I am very happy with my decision. Some of my favorite foods do not agree with me anymore, but thats ok I am fine with that. I was banded Feb 22, 2008 and lost a total of 31lbs. Sometimes it comes off fast and some days slow. Don't regret anything that you do, especially if it comes to your health.