Losing Weight Thanks to Laparoscopic LapBand Surgery

Hello everyone,
I just thought I would touch base and let you all know where I am now concerning my weight. I am battling with it everyday. It wasn't the surgery, it was me. I didn't use enough discipline and fell back into my old routine of eating all the wrong foods. I have gain some of the weight back and now I am considering having the Gastric Sleeve sugery. I found out that I could not digest certain foods anymore. I love steak but I have a hard time getting it to go down my throat, seems to get stuck in my chest area, and I was warned not to eat it. As a matter of fact, I was warned about several different foods, but I did not heed the warning. Some people want to blame the doctor, or the procedure, but if you are honest with yourself, you know it is probably you that was to blame. I know it was me. I felt that I could control the habit of eating what I want and failed. If you stick to the diet and excercise plan they give you, it will work. You have to learn self control, and I know it won't be easy. I am living proof it isn't. So stay tuned and I will let you know if and when I get this eating disorder under control. I am going to get one more refill and discuss other options with my doctor for losing weight. Yes, the surgery was worth it, because I am still not as big as I once was. Thanks for listening

I had my Laparoscopic LapBand Surgery on the 16th of Feb. 2010. I had a medical history of high blood pressure, edema, sleep apnea, arthritis, and 100lbs overweight. My BMI was 46. I was a ticking time bomb. So having this surgery hopefully has prolonged my life.I consulted with the anethesiologist and my doctor before the surgery about the operation, how they were going to put me asleep, and pain medication. Sleep apnea complicates things when they have to put you asleep. You might not wake up or you could have a hard time waking up. You just have to weigh your options.He explained to me how they were going to put a small camera attached to a tube, down my throat. That was how they were going to see where and how they were going to put the LapBand around my stomach. They also were going to cut small incisions in my abdominal area in order to enter through, to do the surgery.Anyway, the day of the surgery, I came in and my vitals were taken, I was given something to relax me and was prepped for surgery. I think I was in surgery for 1 to 2 hours. When I woke up, I had a small incision in my navel area and 3 small incisions in my abdominal wall under my breast. I had a few stitches at the site of my incision. I had to have oxygen due to complications from my sleep apnea. My doctor was alert to my condition and I was handled with care. The hardest part for me was trying to open my eyes and overcome the effects of the anesthesia. It was like coming out of a deep sleep and not being able to talk right away. I fought this sensation off and let the doctor and his staff know I was having difficulties breathing, not getting enough air to expand my lungs. After that was taking care of, I was own my way to recovery.I was put on a liquid diet immediately. At first, I could only hold down a half a cup of water. This graduallly increased as time went on. My stomach felt so full. Also I was given medication to combat a bad case of heartburn. That will subside as you heal.I stayed in the hospital for 2 days(an extra 600.00 dollars). They made sure I had a bowel movement and no other complications before letting me go home. The average healthy person, with no health issues other then being overweight, would have probably went home the same day.I am on a liquid diet for about six weeks. Mainly clear soups, lowfat milk, tea, real fruit juices, coffee, and water. I also get B-12 injections every other week and will be on vitamins soon. I was 247 lbs before the operation and I have lost 17 lbs now. I am more energetic now and I can walk without having to stop and catch my breath. The more exercise I get the more I lose. I am averaging about a pound and a half every 2 days.I am sleeping laying down, with one pillow now. Before I slept almost sitting up with several pillows and woke up with bad headaches from the sleep apnea. I sleep much better now and love the ideal of waking up smaller the next day.I went back to work on the 3rd day after my surgery.Special note: You will still crave what you use to eat, and the temptation will still be there until you get use to your new situation, but you will have a rude awakening if you try to overeat or overdrink! You will most likely throw up or feel too full. My stomach is much smaller now and I can only hold a small cup or 1/2 cup of liquid and the LapBand can be adjusted to suit my need for more weight loss.The Larparoscopic LapBand Surgery was affordable and worth it for me and I would recommend it and my doctor to anyone. Consider your health issues and the quality of life that you want with your family & friends and I am sure you will make the right decision for yourself.