Banded Together

A lot of our new advertising and marketing materials talk a lot about the moments our patients decide it’s time to move forward with a proven, lasting solution for weight loss.

What was your moment? What made you realize it was time to stop researching and considering and make the first call to make an appointment?

I started researching the lap band in March 2007, even though I had been thinking about it since the summer before.  Then a friend of mine had the surgery in April 2007.  I decided to watch him for a while and see what kind of success he had.  In November of 2007 I was over at his house and started asking him questions about his experience as this was the first he knew that I might be considering it.  His statement of, “my only regret is that I did not do it sooner,” made me realize that this was exactly what I was going to do and I scheduled my consultation the next day.

I had literally been overweight all of my life.  My mother had problems finding cute age appropriate clothes for me back when I as in kindergarten, so she resorted to sewing many of my clothes.  I found out a few months ago that when I was about a year old my grandmother told my mom that I was fat and she needed to do something about it.  That made my mom pretty mad, but it was true.  My parents and doctor put me on my first diet when I was in kindergarten.

The reason I decided to start researching the lap band was because of my family.  My aunt and grandmother both are insulin dependant diabetics.  My aunt has lost numerous toes and one leg to the disease.  My dad is pre-diabetic.  My aunt, grandma and dad have all had heart bypass surgeries as well.  I realized that I was headed down the exact same road that they all were on.  Even though I was obese I was still very healthy when I made my decision, I told my doctors that I had no intention of waiting until I had problems, I wanted to head off the problems that would be coming.

I also have two wonderful nephews and I wanted to be around to enjoy them and healthy enough to keep up with them.  It really made my day when five and a half months after my surgery my five year old nephew leaned over and said “Aunt Andrea, you have lost weight.”  His seven year old brother also told me at one point that the stomach surgery I had had really worked.  Can you guess which two little boys got extra Christmas gifts this year?

I had been researching the band for about 6 months or so before I decided that I was going to have it done. I started making small changes like cutting my hair short, wearing make up more often, changing the clothes I was wearing, etc. because I decided that I wanted a change in my life. When I saw the difference that all this made I knew that the last step in my transformation was to lose weight, so I decided that I was going to have the surgery done. My family does have health problems due to obesity and my mom has always been on me about my weight, but other than a few problems here and there I was/am perfectly healthy otherwise. The final straw and nail in the coffin for me to have the surgery was when my family and I applied for private health insurance and I was denied strictly on my weight. I knew then that it was time to do something about my problem. I made my appointment within days, and I haven’t looked back since.

I can not handle the yo-yo dieting anymore.  I lose and then gain (usually more).  Last June I started a diet and lost 56 lbs by Thanksgiving.  I am now back to where I was and even a little bit more.  I let it slip and have fallen into a dark abyss.  I am tired of the abyss’.  I need something to help me stay once I am down.  I want to be around for my children and hopefully grandchildren.  My family has a background of high blood pressure, high cholesteral, diebetes, and heart problems.  I know my weight does not help that.  Plus I have had ACL reconstruction (knee surgery) and have restless leg syndrome.  I have to get the weight off of my knees.  I just don’t feel like moving anymore.  ANd that is not fair to my sons.  Who just want to play with mom.  My mom had had Gastric Bypass done and she has done fabulous.  I want to try something, but not necessarily as drastic of a surgery as she so that is why I have chosen to go with Lap Band.

Congratultions!  I believe you have made the right decision for not only yourself, but also for your family. 

What you said about yo-yo dieting is so true.  I was talking to someone who stopped at my garage sale this weekend about that exact same thing.  She was buying some of my old clothes that are now way too big for me - YEAH!!!

Please keep us updated as you progress thru your lap band journey.