Sandra

Gastric banding has given me back my life!

I'm 55 years old and really have been somewhat over weight for most of those years, but became really obese in my thirties. I spent thousands of dollars at Weight Watches, Slim U, Jenny Craig, on joining and rejoining and then joining again, at dieticians and chemists on special food, encouragement tapes, diet drinks and wonder pills. I could manage to lose 10 to 15 kilos sometimes but within months it would be all back on with a few extra kilos each time. By now I was terrified to go on another diet because I would just fail again and gain more weight on this terrible merry go round. Eventually I weighed 118 kilos, was in size 24 to 26 clothes, had so much pain in my knees that I could hardly walk and my blood pressure was so high even after 5 tablets a day that I was in danger of having a stroke or heart attack.

I started hearing stories about this new idea of gastric banding. I saw a show on T.V. and so I sent for some literature. My daughter accessed the internet and printed me off heaps of information. I thought about it for 3 years. I moved out of Sydney and convinced myself that I could lose the weight once I changed my lifestyle and settled in to our new home at Lake Macquarie.

I gained 6 kilos!
I rang the Institute of Weight Control. I spoke with Laurita and I was treated with genuine interest and respect. My questions were answered and I made an appointment. She rang me before the appointment date to make sure that I was Ok about coming down from Newcastle. My first meeting with Dr Brancatisano was amazing, with both my husband and I asking questions that were answered honestly and easily. My husband was impressed with the fact that the operation was both reversible and adjustable. My obesity was being treated as a serious and legitemit problem and not a joke! I was really nervous and somewhat sceptical about the claims of success of the band, and so afraid of failing yet again, but I drew some inner strength from somewhere and went ahead with it.

I was operated on the 29th of August 2004. Everything went well and I was treated so well by all the staff. I found the notes provided by the Institute invaluable and I followed them word for word. I must say I hated the puree weeks and I had some trouble drinking as much as I was supposed to, but by Christmas 2004 I was 17 kilos lighter.

The best thing is that this is a liveable lifestyle, I feel that I don't miss out on anything. The band allows me to be successful at lifestyle changes that I could not cope with before. November 2005, and I have now lost 31 kilos and still losing. I walk 3 to 4 times a week for 45 minutes (first time in my life) because I'm able to do it. I still eat most my meals from a small plate, as this seems to help me realise what I eat. I still have to slow my eating down sometimes, as old habits die hard. I enjoy a glass of wine or 2, but now I always drink before I eat and I have 2 wine free days a week. An extra bonus for me was that I met a wonderful lady through this operation who happens to come from the Hunter as well and we have been great support for each other and travel down to Baulkham Hills together comparing notes all the way.

I must have been addicted to food....especially take away, salty food. I used to crave some foods, think about them all day, wait for the next meal. This has stopped.....I feel like Dr Brancatisano has operated on my head! I can't tolerate salty or oily food anymore. I don't finish a normal 'pub meal' anymore, but eat what I want and then push the plate away happy knowing that I have paid for the right to leave some on my plate! Food does not rule my life anymore...I do!

Many thanks to Dr Roy Brancatisano and staff for making this all possible for me.

Sandra Banister