First--Hello LBT Ive been reading forums and blogs for a few days now and I feel like I know all of you already, a feeling that I love. My nerves have been a wreck lately so I was extremely grateful to find this site and even more relieved that I can blog about my experience(I love to write!) Sighhh. Ok so lets get started.

I was born without a thyroid gland. I have been fat since birth lol. Although I think this 'worked' for me as a baby and toddler(I think I am the cutest baby since sliced bread) When I was about 5 I remember starting to hear relatives comments about my weight and they never seemed to stop. I have been what I consider 'skinny' for 3 times in my life. In 8th grade, In 12th grade and then again at age 25. Each time seems to last a little under 6 months. The weight always comes back with a vengeance.

Im now at age 29, my big 3-0 is right around the corner and I do not want to enter my 30s with the same problem. I really want to be able to be 'free' of diets, even though I know this upcoming diet will be the queen of all diets but thats ok, because I think the LapBand will really help me. I know its not a quick fix and I believe in myself that I can follow the diet afterwards. I notice something I always wish is that I could have a do-over with my body.

I started considering weight loss surgery approximately 6 months ago, at the urging of my endocrinologist and even an urgent care doctor, who took the time to talk to me about my weight and seeming like he genuinely cared about me. One thing I will say is that I have been blessed with awesome doctors so far, and they have often moved me to tears. So I considered gastric bypass, the sleeve and the lapband. All 3 have about the equal amount of terror for me.

I had my seminar Thursday and I was hoping that it would ease my fears and it did a little but not as much as I had hoped. I think what Im most afraid of is that I am going to get a bad band. I seem to have bad luck in every area of my life, and thats ok, but this bad luck will be in my body and wont be so easy to fix. If I could get a good band, I think I will be ok.

Soooo...tomorrow is my consult. Im so nervous. I know I will probably have to lose 10% of my body weight but how on earth will I do this? Its going to take forever. Also, how long does the pre-auth take, how many times do I have see a counselor, do they recommend a counselor for you? How long does the process take, from the consult to the day of surgery?

So here I go...wish me luck :)