I have always been a big girl all my life and after having 3 daughters found myself at 271 lbs at age 26. At one point in my life, in 2003, something happened and I worked as hard as I could and lost 100 lbs. 3 years later my husband was diagnosed with kidney failure and was put on dialysis immediately. Five months later we found out I was a match for him and I then donated my kidney to him. Life was going good, when I suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and Tethered Cord Syndrome in 2008. I put back on 30 pounds of what I had previously lost. I could no longer find that inner strength to lose the weight, much less maintain what I had already lost. The weight was coming on faster than I could handle. That is when I knew I had to do something, and that something was to get the Lap- Band surgery. Because I was "only" at 197 lbs. I knew my insurance would not cover me because my BMI was not that high, but there was NO WAY I would let myself stare 300 pounds straight in the eye ever again, so I decided to go down to Mexico and get the procedure done there. It was such a great experience, and they were extremely personable, knowledgeable, and professional. Anyway, that is where the Lap-Band started. They trained our doctors. Anyways. I am excited to see where this journey will take me, and can not wait to start melting away to a healthy weight.

I am excited to meet some friends on here and I would love any advice you can give me. I am down 11.2 pounds and am exactly 2 weeks post-op. I really think I need a fill sometime in the very near future,because as I have read on here already, I too am starting to want to eat anything and everything now that the swelling has almost gone away. I want to be skinny for the first time in my life. :thumbup: AHHH!

Michelle

Welcome! And congrats on your band. You might have to wait a little for that fill. My Dr. did my first at 6wks, It's really hard at first but it gets better just hang in there. I also had mine done in Mexico. I had no problems and it was a good experiance. Hope it's a great journey for you. There is a lot of ups and downs but well worth the ride.

Edited November 27, 200916 yr by kimaly

Welcome and tahnks for sharing!