hi i just joined this forum today. i'm trying to decide whether or not to have lap band surgery. :scared2: my pcp has been trying to get me to do this for over 2 years. i'm a type 2 diabetic on insulin and my blood sugars fluctuate, sometimes good, sometimes not. :w00t:

i've been reading, no devouring, this site most of the day :biggrin:. but i keep going back and forth in my mind as to whether i should start yet another fateful diet (i've been on so many i've lost count, medifast worked for awhile but was so expensive, so i've been on my own "mock medifast" diet since then (not very sucessfully, in the long run, anyway))

so, finally, i'm leaning a little more toward the lap band...scared to death, though...

any thoughts on my situation would be appreciated.:smile:

thanks,

angela

Well Angela, I think you need to think of the long term effects that type 2 diabetes can have on you. Sooner or later you'll probably have more and more medical problems. From what I've heard on this site, the success rates of this surgery sure beats continuing with diabetes. Many that I've read actually get off insulin after taking off some or all of their excess weight. I've started the process....I've done the hardest part .... making that first call for initial doctor appointment. Good luck with your decision. It sounds like your dad would be supportive of you in this, so I say Go For It!!

Oh and also, I would try not to think of it as a "diet". From what I hear here, this will be your new way of life.

thx jodi, like i said my pcp (md) has been encouraging me...you've given me something to think about

Sorry about the pcp....I guess I need my eyes checked in addition to the lap band....lol

:biggrin: A response from another Jodi...

I have done all the diets too and I can say for sure that for me the Lap band can not be compared to those diets. I don't consider it a diet either it is a permanent lifestyle change. Diets leave you deprived, hungry, frustrated and because of that, most people can only stick to them short term then gain it all back--and then some. With the lap band, you get to eat normal food you just physically can't eat a lot of it and you are satisfied with that until your next meal. The band will not let you go back to your old ways. It is a big decision and scary but in the end you will find that it is worth it...esepcially with the diabetes which as the other Jodi said, could very well be put in remission with lap band surgery.

I have also been on every diet since I was 9 yr old. I am working on being approved. My regular Dr. and my pulmonary Dr. want me to get it done for health reasons. Losing the weight hasn't always been the problem for me its keeping it off thats almost impossible for me to do. I focus for a while and then I lose focus. I'm hoping the Lap Band will remind me to stay focused when I'm about to lose it.

Puju10, You are not alone and in my opinion the Lap Band is just for those of us like you...those of us who have been able to successfully lose weight in the past but just couldn't keep it off. The lap band will do more than remind you to stay focused it will make you stay focused. And although I am new to the band, so far it truly has not been a huge struggle compared to all of those diets.

Good luck!

Sorry about the pcp....I guess I need my eyes checked in addition to the lap band....lol

it's ok jodi i had to read it a couple times to figure it out :scared2:.... no worries, tho, please :biggrin:

Hello welcome, I am from Philly too, born and raised, now livinn in delaware. I have had my band for over 5 monhs and have lost 55 pounds. I am considered a low bmi bander. I made the best decision of my life. I had no problem losing weight, just keeping it off. I lost 80 punds on Atkins 2 years ago. There are some really good doctors in Philly. I met a coupe on my journey, but for insurance reasons had surgery in Delaware With CHRIAS. One doctor I met worked out of Fitzgerald Mercy in darby, he was really good and thorough. You can find a list of doctors on lapband.com. I am a nurse and I just recently did a research paper on weight loss surgery and Type 2 diabetes, in oner 90% of cases, type 2 diabetes goes into remission. Good luck on your decision.

thank you all for your replies. i'm definately leaning much further toward emailing my doc and telling him to "get the ball rolling", so to speak.

my main scare, still, is the throwing up, PBing, i think it's called. not worried at all about eating minimal food. that's no prob. right now i've got multiple browzers up researching about the different kinds of bariatric surgery. just in case gastric bypass may be better for me.:eek: i guess i have to read up alot more on this, huh.