Justijna Ferreira

I've had my meeting with the intake nurse, therapist and nutritionist and so far so good. I have to go to an information meeting and meet an internal medicine doctor before everything is set. I hope to hear a yes or no by May/June. It was my hope for April/May but the information evening was supposed to be this week but was canceled and moved to next month. You can not have the surgery without first going to the information evening.

I had my first intake appointment. The nurse was nice and asked a lot of questions. She said a Lap-band would be best for my situation. Today was the nutritionist so I have had 2 out of the 4 meetings before they agree to belt/band me. The next two are a therapist and surgeon. In two weeks is a large meeting from the hospital where they explain all the different types of weight-loss surgeries with Q&A afterward.

I tried making an appointment with the local hospital for two days. Today I just decided to go there and actually make the appointment face to face since they were not picking up the phone. I found out the waiting list is 3-4 months long. I could go to another hospital with a shorter waiting time but that is too far in my opinion. Anybody else on a waiting list for their first appointment?

Today my in-laws today about my plans. They had questions but were supportive. I am happy because I thought they would be worried or disapprove.

Thank you so much Zil!

Why did I tell my friends about my plans for a lap-band? I guess I wanted the support but it doesn't seem to go that way. My husband also has doubts. Can't wait to see what family has to say. I think only my sisters would be supportive because we know the cold reality of being overweight. We saw our parents die of heart attacks due to being overweight. My mother died at home of a heart attack and from that moment on I've tried, struggled, to lose weight. My goal is to live long enough to actually retire unlike my parents. Strange goal but they never did it and I want to be able to see my child grow up, see him graduate, get married, have a family, go old with my husband. I want a full life.

There is a lot of misinformation out there and I think you hear more about the bad cases than those that have had success. A sensationalist TV show recently discusses WLS (all bypasses) and had more people talking about how they gained more wight afterwards. Or how people died from the surgery. The only one doctor was shown trying to defend WLS when the overwhelming majority of the program shows three women after their WLS eating junk food, KFC and candy. Not one success story was shown and nothing over lap-bands.

We have a waiting list for most things because healthcare is low cost or paid for by insurance here. No rich doctors here. No huge lawsuits. My operation and the year long follow-up are all paid by insurance. Each hospital gets a set amount of money from the government to pay for certain operations (not all of course) and when that money is up. You have to wait till next year. The good side is you can pick your hospital, doctor, and you have a huge hand in picking your treatments. You can also go to another country and have the operation and it'll be paid for by your insurance. Many go to Belgium but I find that too far for something that can wait a few months.

On the waiting list for a doctors appointment. 3-4 months

My home doctor has approved. I am not waiting to make an appointment with the specialist.

Good for you and it is good you were up front with your doctor. Nothing worse that being cut open for nothing. Then being stuck with a huge bill afterwards.

I have the backing of my sister and husband so that is great. I've viewed a few Youtube videos and I am so happy for all of those people.

Forget the support from some friends, it might be nice to have but this just scared me:Comic Patrice O'Neal Suffers Stroke This could be me in the future. Can't let that happen. Just can't.

I have been trying to lose weight for years. I don't do diets but working out, eating healthy and taking Alli. I was 200 lbs in elementary school and in my 30's now and 300lbs. Something has to change! My old doctor recommended Weight Watchers. So several years later I now have a new and more modern doctor. Wednesday I am going to ask her to forward me to a specialist. I hope she does it. If not then off to another doctor. I watched both of my parents die of a heart attack because they were overweight. I can't let that happen to me.