Cmasse64

I knew there would have to be one and I just stumbled on it but I think I have a solution. My surgeon's office sent me a letter stating that in order to get an appt with the surgeon I had to pay a balance from a previous surgery.... I had been paying a little bit at a time but there's no way I can pay the balance anytime in the near future (hubby's out of work, living on strick budget). I wanted to cry! Then I realized that there is another surgeon in the area who does lap band. Called the weight loss center and asked them if I could change surgeons. They told me yes but I have to attend the new surgeon's seminar and its not until next Thursday. I went ahead and signed up. This will set me back a little bit but not as much as having to wait until I paid the balance of my old bill. I'm a little bit bummed but I prayed and I think everything will work out. I will have this surgery if it takes me a year (hopefully it won't!)!!!

My husband and I both went on Chantix and we both hated it! Bad nausea and terrible, crazy dreams. I had to quit smoking because my surgeon won't operate on anyone who smokes so I used the patch. I only needed to wear it for a week and I forgot to put one on one day and I was fine. I want this surgery so bad that I have managed not to touch one in 3 months. Here in NC there is a quit line where you can sign up and they'll send free patches or gum.

After starting on a bumpy ride, I'm excited about my appointment on Wednesday. I started with one surgeon and I had to pay a huge bill I had from 3 years ago before he would see me. I made payment arrangements but that would have put me into next year to get my surgery so I opted to see a different surgeon. I had to go to his seminar (similar to the other surgeon's but MUCH more informative)and I was glad I did because I think I like him better than the other surgeon! I had already started my 3 month mandatory supervised diet and I see my PCP on Friday. It's been kind of hard to stick to a diet this time and I don't know why...I've done it many, many, many times before. But her expectations are good, she wants me to loose 4 pounds a month which adds up to 1 pound a week which should be doeable. I'll know what this month's numbers are on Friday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Wednesday that everything looks good and I can continue on my next phase...nutritionist. On a very interesting (and healthy) note, this surgeon will not do surgery if the patient smokes, the next day I put on a patch and quit smoking. I've tried a few times before and was successful but started up again. I am so determined to get this surgery that I ended up getting rid of a bad habit....pretty good don't you think?

Hi everyone! I'm so glad I found this website and became part of it. I'm 48 years old and have struggled with my weight my entire life. I've been on so many diets in the past 30 years, always losing and ALWAYS gaining it back and with a few extra pounds. Being only 5' tall is even harder because when I put on 5 pounds it's kind of noticeable. In April of 2011 I was at my all time high of 223 lbs. NEVER have I weighed that much in all my life. I was so depressed and disgusted with myself! So I decided to do Slimfast (once again) and practically starve myself and exercise my butt off (never quite did that...lol) and the weight came off...temporaily. I lost 30 lbs and was feeling pretty good about myself but once I got tired of drinking shakes and started to eat like a "normal person", noticed my clothes getting tight again. So come April as I weighed myself for work (manditory) I was back up to 210. So depressed. I had been considering lap band for a while but the bariatric consultant told me back in 2010 (when I weighed about 185-190) that I didn't meet the criteria even though I was in the 35+ BMI category and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. I decided to try again. Went to the seminar and made an appointment once again to see the bariatric consultant. Woo-hoo!!! This time, I qualify!!! I'm very excited and happy. But I'm at the very beginning of my journey and I have to wait until I finish my 3 month medically supervised diet (after I was told I qualified and got all my paperwork, I started making phone calls and setting up appt that same day...so excited!). So far I got my blood work done and saw my PCP and she started me on my 3 month diet. I'm waiting to hear from the surgeon's office so they can set me up on my surgical consult and then I can make appt. to see the nutritionist and get my psych consult. I am going to make sure I do EVERYTHING EXACTLY the way I have to so I can get approved by my insurance company (Medcost). I am praying that everything works out for me. Reading all the posts on this site is so incouraging for me, it gives me hope. And I LOVE the before and after photos. I look at them constantly to remind myself that I can be at my goal weight one day and look and feel wonderful!!!