Getting to Know You... Or Rather, Me

Hi. Cathie here.

So, I started a blog about my lap band journey.

I'm pretty sure many other people have done this same thing. I'm pretty sure I don't care. Why not? I suspect that there are people out there who have a lap band now, are considering it for the future, or know someone who fits into those first two categories, and who could really use more information, or at least a first-person account, of how this band-thing works.

Here's how it went down for me:

Tried to get the banding done about three years ago. I was turned down by my insurance and the company I was working with went belly-up. So much for that.

Fast-forward to 2008. The banding thing had rattled around in my brain - and the brains of my family - since the initial failure. I ran out of excuses and piled on more weight after graduate school. After a little gentle prodding from my family - and no small amount of promised assistance with payment - I made another appointment with a different company. I attended a consult at True Results in Scottsdale. I liked what I heard. I went on a two-week liquid diet that I hated. I pushed back the surgery fears and underwent surgery on March 27, 2008. Dr. Gowen Nirmul performed the open laproscopic procedure, a short little surgery that resulted in four small incisions held together by little staples.

The first few days after surgery were painful. The largest incision - the port incision - hurt the most. I couldn't even think of eating for the first three days. Now I am eight days post-surgery and can finally bend over without clobbering myself.

So, as I start this blog, I'm still in the early learning stages. I will post what I learn. Maybe it will help someone. I'd like that.

Why rock the band? There are some things in life you can't do halfway. If you're going to drink a chocolate martini, make it a Godiva. Half-hearted sex is boring and can result in cramps in unfortunate places. Aerosmith wouldn't be nearly as much fun if they didn't flaunt and strut across the stage. If you're gonna get the band, you better rock it. Make the most of it. That's what I hope to do.