I have thought about WLS for several years, I have been overweight as far back as I can remember. The last time I saw a number on the scale under 200 was in 2001 or so, and even before that I was still overweight. I am now 260, and my bmi is 39.5. I have tried it all, Weight Watchers, South Beach Diet, Eat to Live, vegan eating... nothing works long term and I just can't keep the weight off at all. I just have no real stop mechanism and overeat constantly. :shades_smile:

I kept hearing about the lapband a lot recently (someone my mom knows had it done and we ran into her a week or two ago, heard about it on Dr. Radio, etc) and it made me again look into info on the web. I realized I am obese, almost in the morbid category and it terrifies me. I also went on CPAP in Oct 2007 and I am sure Wed when I see the sleep dr I need another study due to putting on more weight (following another diet that failed, ugh). I feel like the band is so much safer than gastric bypass, and with two little girls (1.5 and 5) I definitely want to be careful and do what has the least risk. So I've thought aboiut it a lot.

My mom went with me to a seminar last Thursday night. On the way she said she would support me either way I chose to go. My husband thinks I just need more willpower. He has only 50lbs to lose, I have like 90, so I just don't want to hear that at all LOL. He can excercise and eat well and it will fall off. I just can't get mine off. Anyway, he said he would keep the kids so I coiuld go (my mom could have but oh well... anyway).

I came home from the seminar a bit scared and confused but as I've read through the information, and weighed pros and cons I really think the combination of the band plus us joining a gym will be the way I can finally do this. He doesn't agree. He thinks it's "the easy way" and that I just need to learn how to eat better and go excercise. :thumbs_up: I have arthritis, so excercise doesn't come easy, and losing the big amt of weight in the first month banded will go a long way to helping me be able to move more.

I guess I am just wanting someone to understand and support me better as I go through this. My mom keeps saying "you know he said you can defeat the band or the bypass, he said how people get around it and then they don't lose" then she says "I think you need to do weight watchers before this, but that is just MY opinion" in a snotty tone. :thumbup::teeth_smile: I told her "so the last 4 times I already did WW really worked so I might as well try again, huh?" :biggrin:

I cannot do the surgery if ins doesn'ty pay so there is still a chance I won't even do it... but I want to be evaluated... thing is I need THEIR support and help with my kids during recovery... ughhh... anyway, sorry for writing a book, I am just tired of it. My mom found the last pg of my dr forms that had my diet history and her comment was "see, this shows you CAN do it yourself" I said "oh really, look at me this is the biggest I have EVER been, so apparently not!!" :laugh::thumbs_up:

ending this now... sorry again for the book!

Leighann,

I am soooooo sorry that your husband and mom are not supprtive. As many has replyed you will find A LOT of suuport on Lapbandtalk.com. I know that just reading some of post are very hellpful and suportive. REMEMBER the lapband is a TOOL.

You can do this if you feel it is right for YOU!

I dxdo not know how long ago that you have posted this, but you will have all of us to support you! This is your life, and your body, and it looks like if you wait for everyone to give you premission to have the lap band, you may need to loose 100 pounds!!!!! do not wait, do not hesitate, and do not listen to anyone, especially family and friends that love you....often they are scared for you, and afraid that you will fail again at the weight loss, and sometimes there is jelousy...yes, even among family members!!!! You are an adult that deserves to live a better, healthier life...so you can do what ever you like when it comes to your own body, guess what? I finally realized this myself, i have lost almost 50 pounds, still loosing, and getting healthier everyday...for those around me, they no longer have one word to say about it, except WOW!!!!!!!!!

Good luck!

I am literally tearing up... you all have no idea how encouraging you are... and as I stated dh is not triyng to keep me down... he gave up a long time ago but he really is scared and he does see it as "the easy way out". Also even if approved we have not fully met our deductible so he is thinking money too :wink: but I told him it would likely be near the end of this year, so we could finance it and use the tax refund to fully pay it. He said he will go Tuesday and not begrudingly (sp?). He said he knows I need to lose it but he really believes if I want it bad enough I can just do it. I can't. I keep telling him and it will sink in. :thumbup:

The thought that my joints could stop hurting is an answer to prayer... I do have pain elsewhere but what really gets me down is the ankle pain. It is literally bad enough I cry when walking to the bathroom when its at the worst. :thumbup: Something has to give... and that something is this 90lbs... :thumbup:

Leighann, I also want to throw my hat into your ring of supporters. It's tough to not have support. I knew my mom would be supportive as she had gastric bypass about 5 years ago and has done really great with it. She's also seen/heard/felt my struggle with my weight for the last 20 years.

My husband, I wasn't so sure how he'd react. He's always been supportive of my WL efforts but surgery? I had no idea how he'd react. We talked and I told him the only way I knew I could do this was with insurance. There was/is just no way we could afford to be self-pay. Turned out he was willing to have me go through the process and see what would happen. I was approved by our insurance and he agreed that he would support me. He would also police me some too! LOL! He does that when I'm dieting. It helps, whether I like it or not and he's not mean about it, he just gives me a look!

I'm praying that your DH gets the reassurance that he needs on Tuesday. Encourage him to write down questions as he thinks of them in the next couple of days and take them with you so he can ask them if they don't get answered throughout the evening. Unfortunately, with my DH's schedule, the first thing he was able to attend with me was the pre-op appt. with my surgeon! That was after starting this journey in February and going to classes for 20 weeks! He's a fireman and when he was home, needed to stay with our DD so I could go to class. But he was there with me for surgery after managing to get the day off (miracle! it's fire season!) and has been taking good care of me and DD (2yrs old) when he's home.

Anyway, I'm pulling for you. Hang in there. Be proactive, whether that means with your DH, mom, doctors or insurance. I'd also suggest that you just ask you mom for her support whether she agrees with you or not, she CAN be there for you and your family!

Best wishes and keep us up to date!