I am going to paste below the body of the letter I wrote to my surgeon outlining why I need to have the Lap Band. I hope this can help some of you who might have to write a similar letter.

If any of you have suggestions, please let me know as I have not sent the letter yet.

Here it is....

I am writing to let you know why I need to have weight loss surgery. I say need and not want deliberately. At my weight I know I am at an increased risk for several serious health problems. The blood work I had done this summer shows that I am dangerously close to having diabetes. My obesity also puts me at risk for heart disease and sleep apnea. The excess weight puts a strain on my lungs, joints, and bones. I have to lose weight if I hope to live a long life.

Having weight loss surgery is not something I take lightly, nor will it be my first attempt at serious weight loss. In the past, I have tried a variety of weight loss methods. These methods have even been met with temporary success. The problem with that success is that it was not lasting. I need to control my weight for good. I have researched various weight loss programs and different surgical weight loss procedures. I feel that having the Lap Band surgery will allow me to not only lose the weight but to also maintain the weight loss. I do not expect it to be a miracle. I realize that it will require hard work and determination on my part. It will require a life long change, and I am ready to make that change.

While I would be lying to say that the aesthetic appeal of losing weight doesn’t motivate me, I will say that it is not my primary motivation. I do not want to be a new me; I want to be a healthier me. I do not expect to drop pounds overnight, nor do I expect to become skinny. I do expect to become a healthier person and live a healthier lifestyle for the remainder of what I hope will be a long life. Thank you for considering me for this life changing procedure.

I did not have to write one, but ur letter sounds really good! very professional too! Best of luck to u!

Thank you. As I read my instructions again this am, I think I may need to add a little more about what I've tried and my willingness to comply with surgical guidelines. Thanks for the compliment though! (I'm a writing teacher, so that helps a little.)

Hi aivey,

Although I did not have to write a letter, I really like yours. If I were a doctor I'd sign off on it for ya.

Best of everything....