We'll here I am... It’s been a big decision and something I have been thinking consciously about for the last 6 months, although it’s been sitting in the back of my mind since I first saw Mickey Robbins after he had it done a few years back... Wow... Mikey was always a big boy, and to see him now as a shadow of his former self it's very inspiring...
A lot of thoughts have gone round my mind about it though... Is it safe, am I cheating (diets and exercise), how will I cope, the list is endless...
I've always been a big boy ever since I was a child, and battled the bulge. I’ve tried everything, Weight Watchers, dieting, exercise and sports, pills, low GI. They've helped along the way and I'm sure if I hadn’t done them I'd be much worse off now... I've always been active in my work at Channel 7 when I was on the road, but in 2005 when I received a promotion which moved me back into the office which was great for my career, it also had its downside when it came to daily activity...
I'm about 135kg's today, which is almost 40kg's heavier than 10 years ago when I was on the road and on the diet pills... Life's good, but it could be a whole lot better... I'm slowing down, I get tired easily, finding it hard to get clothes to fit, and medical issues are starting creep in... Not to mention what I think of myself when I see my reflection in the mirror. I’m not suffering depression from my obesity yet, but if it leave it and get any bigger, that’s sure to come as well
The Lap Band was first suggested to my in December 2008 by my endocrinologist. On my next visit to my GP, I told him what he said, and he thought it was worth looking into. I also mentioned it to my mum, who had thought about suggesting it as well... One of her neighbours was preparing to go through it so lent me a book about it... Well I couldn’t put it down (until I left it on a plane). It explained everything... what is obesity, weight loss and options (and why others fail), before going into detail about the lapband, preparation for the procedure, the procedure and life afterwards... I had done some research on the net, but this was by far the most comprehensive I had read... I was getting there but still wasn’t 100% convinced...
My endocrinologist had recommended "Circle of Care", so I contacted them to ask about their information sessions. They aren’t holding these at the moment, so instead could have a 1 on 1 consultation with the surgeon...
I got my referral and went and saw him this week... When I arrived at the surgery and was sitting in the waiting room was almost enough to convince me... I always had in the back of my mind, I'm not that big, am I cheating by getting the band... after sitting in the waiting room I thought well if I'm cheating, so are a lot of others... there was one guy larger than me, but the other men and ladies were all around my size... I saw the surgeon and he was able to explain even more (and I thought I had read it all in the book). We went through everything and when we started discussing timeframes he said it could be done as early as next month... I didn’t commit there and then, as I had to look at my schedule, and still wanted to sound out a couple of people for their thoughts...
so yesterday I had coffee with my work colleague Dr John... I told him what I was thinking and he was really positive... Doc and I have been work colleagues for nearly 20 years and he is a great sounding board for all things medical... Thanks Doc...
After Doc, my last stop was another colleague who had had it done last year... I wanted to know from the point of view of someone who had had it done, what it will be like from my side... We chatted for half an hour about everything... I walked out of there feeling happy to have made the decision to go for it... and not only that, detail my experiences (warts and all) in this blog, so that others who may be like me can be helped know what its like from out side
This weekend I will workout the date and the schedule, and then on Monday I will confirm the date with the surgeon... Then begins the start of the next chapter in my life...
