grmadeb01

hello everyone, i am just starting this process i have gone to the first free meeting at surgeons office, and now am waiting to get 5 years worth of medical records and letter from primary dr. office. my mother just got banded on dec. 13 in montana, i am down here in sunny florida. Is there anyone else out there that is here in florida over in brevard county? i would love to be able to have a banding buddy close by. I am looking for the Protein shakes that i will have to be drinking....that is what i am really not sure of. 2 weeks of just liquids? NOT!! how did you get thru that part of it? did you cheat? i was thinking of making fruit smoothies, would that be cheating? i am 49 years old and weigh 290, have been overweight most of my adult life. I am not going to do something for myself, i have 2 girls ages 29 and 21, 3 grandkids ages 10, 3, and 2, so I am going to take care of myself at this point in my life thanks and have a great day debby

i was just wondering of those that have lost ALOT of weight (100 lbs or more) what are you planning on doing with the extra skin if you have it? at first i was told that my insurance would cover skin removal, but now i am reading that most insurances do not cover that as iti s considered cosmetic not medically necessary. i am just starting the process, but this is a concern of mine, i carry my weight in my belly area, and of course "the GIRLS" have been heading south for quite a few years they are already defalted balloons, cant imagine if i am down 100 pounds what they will look like then. thanks for taking the time to answer and congrats on your weight loss

just thought i would see if there is anyone else out there in central florida just getting started with the process like me.

i live in rockledge also, but I have just started this process, no surgery yet. I have had my first inital meeting with the dr in orlando, i now have to get a letter from my dr at the base, and get my medical records. i would love to keep up with any of you that are in central florida, i would love to have a banding buddy. i am now looking for the protien drinks to sample before "I HAVE TO DRINK THEM" would like to start adding them now to get use to them. i did get the spiru-tein from the health food store, and was going to add them to a smoothie. i hope to keep in touch, email me if possible have a great day debby

i have no ideas on your matter at hand, but you and i are in about the same boat. ha ha, i just have gone to one seminar, i do not have to have the 6 months supervision, but the surgeon place that i went to the seminar handed out a sample letter that they want my dr to write to my insurance. this sample letter sounds very, very, very urgent to have the surgery as soon as possible in order to save life. i am going to take this letter to my dr tomorrow, i also have to have 5 years of past medical records to show my weight gain and medical problems i havel, so far that is all i have to do. if it is possible perhaps we can email back and forth, and maybe i can find a way to copy this sample letter to you and you can take it to your primary doctor. i know that this whole process is not going to happen with out your drs. help. so i would start with your primary, and perhaps they can fine some sort of supervised diet place that can help, like weigh watchers or something along those lines that would be ok to attend that is close to your house. I hate to say this, if we could all conntrol and loose weight in the 6 months, then we would not need the surgery..doesnt make sense to me with the insurance thought process....but you have to jump thru their hoops in order to get them to pay. i hope you well in your progress.. keep in touch i am a bit computer illertrate and how do to alot of things on the computer so email me and we can stay in touch

i am just in ther very beginning stages, i just got my referral from the base, but they sent me to orlando, which i think i want to change.. i would love to meet up with others just starting & would love to get to know others that are far beyond where i am an now...i am brevard county florida my mother just had her surgery up in montana on dec 13th..so far so good with her..she does not like the portein drinks...she cant drink them anylonger make her sick.. thanks hope to hear from you soon debby