Deborah: LAP-BAND Surgery
When I decided to have Lap Band surgery done, at a mere 5 ft 1 inch tall, I tipped the scales at a whopping 298 pounds. After getting off the scales that morning I wanted to scream at myself out of anger. My Grandmother had passed away from too much fat around her heart (she was 399 pounds when she passed and was only 4’11’’). I remember my Mom stating several times to me that she was so concerned about my weight, and I told my Mom I would never get that big, but I realized that morning that I almost was that big.
I tried every diet there was to try and I did have weight loss, but never kept it off and just like every other overweight person you try and fail and try again with every new fad there is on the market or anything someone would suggest you try. I had lost down to 225 pounds the year before and had gained it all back. My Mom was sick and I had spent almost all my time with her at the hospital or setting with her at her house and I did what my family does is eat and I ATE. I gained weight up to the 298 pounds I had become.
Over the years, the weight that I had gained caused me to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, and my knees and back were also getting bad. Looking back now, I realize how depressed I had become and how much I tried to hide it. I became an obsessive shopper and would try to find cloths to fit me just right, and of course that was a lost cause. I would talk about how fat I was and my friends and family would always say, “You have such a pretty face and your cloths look so good on you.” I think that was their way of trying to make me feel better about myself, and at times it would or I would try and pretend it did anyway. My husband and children were very supportive of me over past 10 years since the children are all grown up. But looking back, even my children were ashamed of their mom and it hurt them that I was so fat when they were small. I do remember one time when my daughter told me that she did not want me to come to a mother-daughter function at school because I was too fat. I was hurt so bad, but not bad enough to do anything about it and continued to gain weight.
This morning, December 23, 2010, when I got on the scales my weight is 165 pounds; this is a loss of 133 pounds since November of 2008. I was wearing size 24-26 clothes when I first got The Lap Band and I bought a size 12 pants as of this weekend. It is still hard to believe when I look in the mirror that it is really me standing there. Even though everyone knows that it’s wrong, people do look at you differently depending on your size. When people see me now they hardly recognize me. They make statements regarding my weight loss and tell me how good I look and at first I thought, “Oh my God, how bad did I really look before,” then I look back at what few pictures I have of me (because I used to run from the camera) and I know exactly what they were thinking. This holiday season, my family has been taking pictures and I have been in all of them and IT’S A GOOD FEELING! I get compliments now a lot and finally it feels great!!!!!
I still have not met my goal of 150 pounds, but I will be there within the next couple of months. This is the best decision I ever made for myself, I truly believe this has saved my life. I feel great and a lot of family and friends say I look years younger. I plan on starting and staying on an exercise program beginning after the holidays.
I have and will continue to recommend this Lap Band to everyone I know or that ask me about it. If I can help anyone else feel the way about their self as I do myself now, then I want to help them and not be ashamed that this has saved my life. I have come off High BP meds; diabetes meds has been reduced three times, and hopefully will come off of it soon.
I just want to thank Dr. Bagnato and especially his great staff for all their support and encouragement in my decision to have the Lap Band. He has a great staff.
Thanks,
Deborah Knight
