momlambert

Oh, there are just so many ups and downs in these chats--as in life! I'm sorry about your insurance disappointment, Fenton. Hope you can work things out and continue on your weight-loss journey. I just got good news--my application "looks good" but has to go through final dr. approval (I'm self-paying so no insurance woes--just other $$ woes :omg:!). But I'm scheduled for the pre-op seminar on Wednesday and have a tentative surgery date for Monday, March 19! Woohoo! A question for you all: my dr. doesn't require a pre-surgery diet. Should I be worried about that? Also, they do the surgery in their clinic on an outpatient basis. Another reason for concern? I don't know. Sounds like they are just making it easy on us but maybe they aren't as careful? No sure. I'll continue to investigate (until they put that needle in my vein!) but any help is always appreciated. Good luck, all!

Hi all! Thanks for your candid thoughts, hopes, wishes, disappointments, and committments--you are truly inspiring. I went to my first seminar Tuesday night and was really excited (well, mostly excited:phanvan) about what I heard. Since I will be a self-payer, they said I could have the surgery within 1 month from the time I submitted my papers (which DH is doing as I type this). SO, I may be part of this great March group--if all goes well. I've been on a roller coaster about this--so many thoughts and fears. When I research the data and look at this discussion group, it seems that many people never reach their goal. I wonder if their goals are unrealistic or if this really isn't the answer. I know the you can learn to "cheat" and maybe that is what is happening but why would you if you go through all this and spend all these $$$s only to end up cheating your way back? Of course, why would we regain weight time and time again without the band? Is it the same thing? I dunno. I'm 57, been married 38 years, and have 10 amazing children (all boys but 9, lol). Now I have three incredible little grandsons and three more due this year. I want to play with my grandkids! I want to see them grow up and be at their birthdays and special occasions and not worry that I am an embarrassment to them--as well as to me and my family. I want all that enough that I think I can do the diet after the band but then I have self-doubts and wonder why I can't stick to something and lose weight without the band. I'm such a yo-yo-er. But when I commit to something, I really do it--not one "illegal" bite--until I get sick of it and go off the diet and regain all I lost and more. Will I do that again? Why or why not? Ramble, ramble. Sorry folks. I AM hopeful but nervous and scared. I'm spending a big chunk of our retirement on this and have to wonder if it will be worth it. Will I be successful (and what IS success???)? Along with other's who have posted, I am a religious person and believe God hears and answers our prayers. When I pray about this I do feel peace and the scripture in Timothy comes to my mind: God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (I'm probably paraphrasing). So I need to put the fear behind me and use my mostly sound mind to muster the power and love I have in my soul. That is my decision--to approach this with power and to feel love from my support system (DH--won't tell anyone else for now) and you-- and I'm going to do my best to stick with it. Thanks for your great insights! If anyone has any info that would help me with my concerns (success rate, band failure, ability to maintain long-term results, etc.) I would LOVE to hear from you. Good luck everyone!

Sorry, I'm a newbie. What is PB? :confused:I'm just starting the process and going to a seminar tonight so this is all very new to me but I'm feeling SO desperate and am hoping this is just the tool I need. How long did it take you all to go from the first stages (like attending the serminar or researching the Internet) to being banded? I want to do it TODAY!

Ditto! I hear you--I'm going to my first seminar tonight and I'm SO nervous. I had this discussion with my husband this morning: what will change? can I do it? why can't I do it without the band if I can do it with? are we gambling all this money on another potential failure? how will I know if I can do it or not? Why am I so ashamed to mention the possibility to anyone (let alone the fact I am going to do it, if I decide to, or that I did do it, if I eventually end up there)? This morning I was looking at Al Roker on TV and remember how heavy he was and then how thin he got but now he seems to be heavier than he was. I wonder why and if that will happen to me. It scares me. Thanks for your honestly. I'm feeling everything you expressed. I often think that I can't live without that stuff and that I'm willing to sacrifice it so I can live better and healthier, but if I'm willing to do that, why can't I do it without the surgery??? That is the question I can't answer. Good luck!

Hi everyone. I'm just beginning to consider this procedure but having trouble finding a surgeon near me. I've searched on the Internet and have gotten some good info but I'd love to hear from others who have had this procedure. Any regrets? suggestions? direction? Also, how much should I expect to pay (no insurance for this). What is the recovery time? When can I go back to work? I'm not even sure I qualify but would love to find out more. I'm desperate now. I'm SICK of being so fat. Help!:help:

Thanks so much--I appreciate the link. Good luck to you, too. I'm so nervous about it all--I need to find out a lot more. Thanks!