My Reasons for Lap Band Surgery

by Mindy
(Texas)

My name is Mindy. I was not one of those people who decided to have WLS ( weight loss surgery ) because I had been over weight all my life.

In high school I was 110 pounds, I got pregnant at 16 and gained a lot of weight in my pregnancy, lost most of it and maintained about 130 pounds through most of my young adult life.

In 2000 I got married and 4 months later got pregnant and became a stay at home mom in the same month. Not a good combo for weight! I honestly have no idea how much weight I gained but it was A LOT!

After I had my youngest child I continued to be a stay at home mom. I was isolated in a community I was not used to, away from friends and family and was very depressed. My weight never came off and I probably put more back on. Again, I couldn't tell you how much I gained .

To add to my weight issues I have PCOS ( Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome ) Here is the definition of that: Polycystic ovary syndrome abbreviated PCOS or PCO (also known clinically as Stein-Leventhal syndrome, Sclerocystic ovary syndrome, Hyperthecosis, ovarian, Polycystic ovarian disease PCOD ) is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 10% of all women . It occurs amongst all races and nationalities, is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, and is a leading cause of infertility. The principal features are weight problems, lack of regular ovulation and/or menstruation, and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly between women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS.

So the PCOS Did not help the weight issues at ALL.

I will be honest and tell you I did not try every diet under the sun. However, I personally do not believe WLS should be a last resort... I think it should be an option. I tried weight watchers and did ok with that, but after being on it for a while and only losing 10 pounds I figured what is the point!

Finally in about 2006 I decided to start looking into lap band surgery. I always knew RNY gastric bypass surgery was never an option for me. But after checking into lap band and coming to the conclusion I COULD do this ( which BTW I think is the most important thing ) I decided to go ahead with the surgery. At the time of my surgery I was 250 pounds and had a BMI of 42.9 - "MORBIDLY Obese". Wow were those words hard to hear. I had not weighed myself in a long time.

My marriage was failing, I was in a deep depression, I never went out of the house .

After I had the surgery, as my husband puts it "He got his wife back." The old me came back. I got out of the house more often and our marriage has never been better! My kids got their mom back. I am actively involved in my kids schools.

Its a whole new world and was the best thing I ever did for myself! And that was the thing I put myself on the back burner for so very long. It was time for ME again !

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