I have had a weight problem for the past 30 years and have put a lot of weight on over the past 12 years.

Two years ago a disc in my spine prolapsed and I had some pretty major surgery to correct things. I also have a very painful frozen shoulder, sleep apnea, suffer from panic attacks and a host of other minor health problems. So I was pretty much at the end of my tether and was frightened I might not wake up one morning.

I had been to a endocrinologist and was told that I had major hormonal, metabolic and genetic problems that prevented me from losing weight and I was finding it very difficult to even stay put at the same weight.

My life as a morbidly obese person had begun to have very little quality and I felt constantly unwell and exhausted. I wanted to be able to enjoy my young grandchildren and get my life back again. Without realising it, I was making concessions all the time for being obese. For example, when I used to go up the one flight of stairs at work I would hide in the lunchroom until I could get my breath back from the exertion of climbing the stairs. Only then would I be able to hold a conversation with anyone.

I had seen a TV programme about the lapband operation and had been sent some info from my GP brother-in-law, so I decided I would investigate things. Most of the preconceived fears I had about the surgery were allayed after I talked to Mr Fris and after careful consideration and much talking with my family and support network, I decided that this was my only option left and I was determined to make it work for me. Once I made up my mind I started to feel optimistic immediately.

I was pretty anxious about the surgery because I had many previous operations and am allergic to many medications.

The first day and night I was in quite a lot of pain and felt pretty unwell but by the next morning I was feeling decidedly better. Because I had back and shoulder pain before the operation my discomfort was probably more than most would feel - but it was much less painful than any other operation I have had.

I came home on the 4th day and took a further two weeks off work - which for me was about the right amount of time to recuperate. I had a few minor problems afterward but on the whole recovered very well and was grateful that things had gone relatively smoothly for me.

I am extremely happy with the progress I have made. Because I made my mind up that it was going to work for me I have really tried hard to do things right. I eat a lot less than I used to pre-op, but it's great because you feel so full after eating so little. Eating slowly is quite hard to adjust to after a lifetime of eating fast and the other old habit that is difficult for me to break is not drinking water with my meals - but it's getting easier the longer I practice. The band hasn't done it all but it sure helps a lot - I still have to exercise self control in the food choices I make.

I can't eat bread at all unless is toasted or very dry and I have trouble eating any kind of fruit unless it is pureed. I also find it hard to get down enough fluid on some days. But these things don't bother me - they are a small price to pay for the results I am getting and for how much better I feel.

The only problem I have experienced is being over-inflated a few times which gave me terrible reflux and meant I was unable to keep anything down. But the problem has been quickly fixed with a small deflation and then gradual reinflation.

My sleep apnoea has been cured (it's so good to get off that CPAP machine) and my back pain has gone, as has my frozen shoulder pain. I can get into clothes I haven't worn for a long time including my first pair of trousers in about 15 years and I can get out of bed now in one move instead of ten. I am walking almost 3 kilometres a day compared to the few metres I could walk pre-op and I have so much more energy. I don't need to sleep during the day anymore, my panic attacks have almost disappeared and I feel like a new woman. I can even fit in normal sized chairs again and am starting to feel "normal" again after so many years of feeling and looking different. I now run up stairs at work. No more hiding in the lunchroom for me! I am so excited about how well I feel and only somebody who has been morbidly obese would understand how it feels to have little triumphs every day that make your life more enjoyable. Having the Lapband has totally changed my life and it is one of the best things I've ever done. I'm very grateful that I live in a day and age when such marvellous procedures are available.

A recent triumph was when I managed to get into a size 16 blouse. It was such a buzz to have my arms fit into the sleeve of something that size.