Questions & Answers.

This decision is huge, but an even bigger challenge is helping others to understand what I will be going through and more importantly, why.

• What is the Lap Band surgery and what does it entail?
The placement of the band creates a stoma, or small pouch at the top of the stomach that holds approximately 110 to 220 grams of food each meal. This pouch fills with food quickly and the band slows the passage of food from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach. As the upper part of the stomach registers as full, the message to the brain is that the entire stomach is full and this sensation helps the person to be hungry less often, to feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time, to eat smaller portions, and lose weight over time.

The band is inflated/adjusted via a small access port placed just under the skin. Saline solution is introduced into the band via the port. A specialized non-coring needle is used to avoid damage to the port membrane. There are many port designs and they may be placed in varying positions based on the surgeon’s preference. The port is sutured or stapled, in case of the RealizeBand into place. When saline is introduced into the band it expands, placing pressure around the outside of the stomach. Gastric Bands usually can hold 8 to 10 cc of saline. This decreases the size of the passage between the pouch and the lower stomach, and further restricts the movement of food. (Wikipedia)


• What’s wrong with a normal diet?
There is nothing wrong with a normal diet, but dieting is different for everybody. For a person that has reached the weight that I am at, getting that jump start is not easy. It’s not easy to exercise and self control is not always the easiest thing to develop. I have lived this lifestyle my entire life, and getting this surgery will give me that not-so-gentle reminder and push the stick with my guns. And with this point, I have begun a work-out regime. I’ve been at it for two weeks now and hopefully by the time I get this surgery done, working out will be a habit and not a challenge.

• Do you really think that this is the answer?
This surgery is almost an answer to my prayers. I have always felt that God has led me in the life I live and that when the time was right, I would find what it took for me to lose the weight. In a way, being overweight has strengthened me. I could never depend on my looks to get me places, so I have worked hard to be successful in all my endeavors. This surgery and lifestyle change is what I need and I truly feel that this is what God wants me to do. It’s time for me to be me, not the me that includes all the extra pounds.

• Why now?
If you know me, you know that I want more than anything to be an ag teacher or to work for FFA. Both of these potential jobs require a lot of time and effort. I feel that if I don’t take care of my weight now, I may be jeopardizing my life later. I am currently healthy and able to live my life to the fullest, but if I continue my life on this path… I may not end so well. I do not want to lose this weight just to look good; I want it for health reasons. Not that I will complain about the added self-confidence!

This is all for now… if there are any more questions, let me know!