My New Doctor

I love my new doctor. She is a relatively new doctor. She just opened a new practice and has lots of time to spend with her patients. I like that she listens to me. However, in the five months since I've been seeing her, I am now taking three medications: one for high blood pressure, one for cholesterol and one for an underactive thyroid. This does not make me happy. But, then, it's all on me, isn't it? It's I who chose to ignore the weight I was gaining. It's I who didn't think it was necessary to exercise. So, here I am at age 57, well over 200 pounds, at 5 feet tall. I dare say that I resemble a weeble.

At my last visit to my old doctor, she briefly mentioned lap band surgery... had I considered it? Of course not! Elective surgery? Me? Get real. She suggested that it was covered by insurance right now, but may not be in the future. I left the office and couldn't stop thinking about lap band surgery. Could I consider something that drastic? The last surgery I had was in May of 1978. I had my appendix out and all I remember about that surgery was being absolutely hysterical just before I went out, under anesthesia. It was absolutely terrifying and I didn't think I'd want to duplicate that feeling ever again... at least not voluntarily.

But, I got home and began googling for information on lap band surgery. Could I do this? It's not a cure... it's a tool. All the information seemed to emphasize this fact. I found blogs from people who had the surgery. I read each one. I found hospitals, both near and far, that specialized in lap band surgery and offered extensive information on the topic. I read everything I could find on lap band surgery and was beginning to think that maybe I could at least consider it.