My name is Jamie and I am 28. I currently weigh 255lbs. I have been overweight my whole life. I have been able to lose some weight with weight watchers, but never keep it off. Then I quit going and gain it all back. I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and an almost 6 month old son. With each child has also come more pounds. My husband is also overweight and we both want to get the band. It was my idea originally. I am a nurse (I guess there are a lot of nurses who have the band) and I work in the mother-baby unit and work 12 hour nights (which doesn't help for weight gain either). I don't have any issues (yet) with blood pressure or blood sugars, but my body is starting to get a little sore. I recently had to go to a chiropractor for the first time and he took xrays. He said my discs are getting a little thin and allowing the bone to pinch the nerves. He adjusted me and it's been a lot better but I know that this would improve with weight loss too. I have suffered depression for a long time (treated by medication). I also know that I would feel better about myself and feel better in general if I lost weight.

I have been researching the lap band and watching some vlogs on you tube of people going through the process, especially lapbandchick2010 (Whitney). I really relate to her and she has inspired me. The amount of information I have gained from watching her vlog is enourmous. I do understand that it will not be a fix all solution and that I am still going to have to work at it, but this might just be the tool I need to get the weight off and keep it off. I would love to weight 160, but still that is "overweight" for my height, which is 5-6. I am supposedly supposed to weigh less than 143 or something like that...I can't even imagine. I mean, I was 224 in high school. I never remember weighing anything close to 140.

Ok, for those out there that also have to wear scrubs to work. They do not stretch. Ugh. As I gain weight, my scrubs get so tight and it just does not look or feel good. I get chaffing on my thighs because my legs are held so tightly together by my scrub pants (TMI?). I can't wait to wear all my "small" scrubs again. I have so many!

Ok, so here is where I am in the process. I called my insurance company and they do cover it, but I have to go through the authorization process. I asked if there was a 6 month waiting period or anything like that since I have heard of others that had to diet for 6 months prior to getting authorized. They said that there isn't a set waiting period, but usually it's 3-6 months by the time people get all the required testing done. I hope to find out soon exactally what is required. I called the surgeon's office and they said I need to attend the seminar. That is TOMORROW! I know it's just an info meeting, but I am excited because that's one step closer for me. I hope to get my appointments and tests going soon.

My husband called his insurance and they do not cover anything obesity related. So we have decided to add him to my insurance. It is open enrollment right now for next year, so that's perfect timing to get him on my insurance. We are hoping to get ours done in the same year so we only have to pay our out of pocket max and get both surgeries done.

So far I have only told my husband and my best friend. I also plan on telling my mom, eventually. I will probably wait until the surgery is a for sure thing. I don't plan on telling other people, but we will see what I decide later on. I do not want to be people's science experiment and I don't want them to judge me or think I took the easy way out. I also don't want them monitoring what I eat or how much weight I am losing. I think that when people start asking me how I am losing weight, I will tell them that I am exercising and eating right (which will be true). I don't think that this is lying and it's really none of their business.

Ok, I think I have rambled on long enough. I will update after the seminar and let you all know how it goes.