Ok, after my first doctor consult in Huntsville at the beginning of March, I felt uncomfortable with them. They had me come in and pay $250 fee to answer my medical history questions, which were already on the form I turned in. It took less than 10 minutes, and I never even met the doctor. It seemed cold, and I thought.. they don't care about ME they care about my $$.

And it may seem like an excuse for my 2nd reason, but it wasn't. I was really bothered how they went about charging me $250 for something they could have done on the phone- and then didn't even introduce me to the doctor.

Reason #2, I am a smoker and they require 8 weeks no smoking with urine test. If you fail the urine test, day before operation, they will not operate and you forfeit your money. I can't guarantee I won't cheat in 8 weeks and not light up, and not have a stop smoking aid with nicotine.. eek. I'm ready for a lifestyle change in my eating habits. I don't think I can handle both right now.

So I found Dr. Freeman in Anniston, AL, who does not require you to stop smoking. It's a 2.5 hour drive from here (bummer), but I need this surgery before I kill myself, and I know my limits. Today was my first day at their office.

I went in for a group meeting and explination of roux-en-y gastric bypass, and lap-banding. He performs both, and prefers gastric bypass. He was SO friendly. He came in to our group, and he had somehow memorized all of our names, PLUS the people we came with, he welcomed us all individually with no charts in front of him or anything. I can't say enough about how nice he is, and caring. He prayed with us, and his staff is very nice too.

I felt so comfortable, and knew he cared about me, not just how quick he can get into my bank account. I am self pay. My insurance does not cover Lap Band.

So after hours in the meeting and getting every question answered that I had, we had an ultra-sound to check our liver size and for gallstones. Then a heart/lung test.. and a psychological evaluation. It took all day (I did not expect that), and after our 2.5 hour drive we got home around 7:45. We had started at 8am.

But, I am now scheduled for lap banding!!!!!! April 16th won't come quick enough. On the other side of that, my liver is 9.4cm, and 10cm+ is high risk for having to do open surgery instead of laproscopic. So I am having to cut out salt and sugar to shrink it down. I am starting that tomorrow. Also, he only requires a diet 1 week out from the surgery of soup,salad, and sandwhiches. And then 3 days prior something else (I'll update later, the paperwork is not in front of me), and then day before magnesium citrate which I hear is DELICIOUS (not!).

On April 11th I have my pre-op consultation where they do bloodwork, I meet with the surgeon again who is awesome, and then pay everything up front. I will try to keep this updated as often as I can, I have learned and valued other lap bander's journals so much in my research and decision to have it done myself, I'd like to be able to do my part in helping someone else

I am EXTREMELY tired after today, and going to go crash now. Tomorrow starts no sugar and salt!:help:

Hello, I see that it has been a while since you have posted I am also seeing Dr Freeman and I was wondering if you had any other updates.