I'm still trying to make the decision to have the surgery, I have fears, doubts, etc...

So, for all of you, knowing what you know now, with all the good and bad, the costs, etc... would you have the surgery again? would you do anything differently?

I know you probably want to hear from those who have been banded longer than I have - but yes...100% I would do it again. I feel much better already.

The only thing I would do differently - is exercise a little for awhile before surgery

:wink: Id go back to Mexico, Id do everything the same - no questions asked.

I've been banded three years this April and lost 132 lbs. and maintained goal for over one year. No regrets and thankful I picked Dr. Cobourn at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. Keep researching and asking questions and only have the surgery if and when you feel ready though.

Yes, without any doubt. Would do a better job of research on aftercare.

Totally, and I wouldnt change a thing.

Absolutely... even with my complications and no aftercare when I was done at all I would do it again in a heartbeat...

I look at it this way we can all lose weight, losing isn't that hard truthfully it is the expenditure of more calories than we eat... we have all lost a ton of weight over the years... the band is amazing and I mean amazing at helping you maintain that weight loss over the long term with relatively low effort... and this is where most of us fail in maintaining that jenny craig, weight watchers, atkins etc loss that we had... it is in keeping the weight off over years rather than months.. the band makes that simple easy peasy and that I would not give up for anything else in the world!

I have been banded just over 7 years now and at goal for over 5 1/2

Heather

I remind myself every single day to be thankful for this lapband.

If I didn't do it, I'd still be fat and miseralbe about it.

There are the odd moment when I don't like my band very much....but there are ~FAR~ more moments when I love it and am thankful for every healthy minute !!!

After over 2 years of living with it....I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Patricia

I have been banded just over 7 years now and at goal for over 5 1/2

Heather

Wow Heather, it is wonderful to hear from someone 7 years out. It gives me hope that this can be for a lifetime. There are moments, when I fear losing the band. Because as I said, were it not for the band, I'd still be fat, miserable and dieting.

Patricia, there are moments when I wish I could just eat a whole hamburger, therefore regretting momentarily I have this physical inability to do so. But I have said over and over, that feeling only lasts about 15 mintues, then I go put on my size 10 pants and I forget all about the hamburger.

It is such a wonderful feeling being thin and feeling vital and beautiful again.

This is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I would absolutely do it all over again, and again, and again.

Thank you for all your responses. I find your stories and the support of this site very encouraging.

Absolutely!!

In a heart beat. I can tell you it saved my life and increased the quality of my life. I can honestly say I am a better person on the inside because I feel so much better about myself.

Wow! I'm feeling so much more positive now after reading this thread, especially the post from Heather after 7 years banded. Thank you ladies, you are amazing!

My worst day postOp is far far better than the last 15 years best day preOp.

Well, isn't that the truth!

I love your posts Jack. Glad to see you are still posting.

hugs

Paula

I wouldn't change a thing either! I love my band and what it has helped me achieve so far.

No hamburger or sandwich (another thing I can't eat now) is worth those 55 pounds lost, or the rest that are going to go!

Mary