Margo

I was at my "required" seminar last night, too!! I checked to see what city you live in hoping it was the same as mine....but, no luck! We are rivers and mountains from one another....too bad.... Anyway, I experienced the same thing you did, but from the doctors and staff...they kind of poop-pooped the lap-band. But, the audience was either well educated on the lap-band or could see through what the "statastics" said! I would bet that the majority of people in the room were considering banding over RNY. I am so excited (AND STICKING) with the lap-band....bottom line who gives a #$#& what the rest think....this is your life. M

I am on my way as of today.....met with my surgeon, set up all my appointments, spoke with my PCP (he is wonderful!!) about diet history/letter....so by May 27th all the tests, etc. will be done and all the paperwork can be submitted to my insurance. I am so excited I could pee my pants! My surgeon says I will be able to have the sugery this summer....I am hoping early summer. I want to thank everyone on is board as I have been "lurking" for some time and I feel so blessed to have found all of you....I have learned so very much! I can't wait to be an official "bandster".... Margo

Sorry to hear about your medical issues, but glad to hear there is silver lining....good luck....hopefully, we both can scream and dance soon with a surgery date!!! Margo

Thanks everyone....I knew I could count on you guys to "open up my eyes". I was a tad surprise at the surgeon's assistant who I dealt with. After she looked at the chart and wrote down 150 she next got out her calulator and proceed to tell me that I had 182.5 pounds to loss and just stared at me. I liked the surgeon, but this assistant was kind of odd. Oh well....the surgeon is the guy with the knife! I feel so much better after reading your responses....and I had told myself everything you guys had said, but that assistant just kind of through me off. BUT, I am back on track now!!!!!!!! And, yes, thank you Alexandra, I have decided not to call it "goal" weight instead I will call it my "comfort zone". As I will be much more comfortable between 170 - 190 pounds. You guys rock....thanks again. Margo

O.K. this may be a silly question, but it has some "background", if you will....today I had my consultation and the nurse looked at a chart and said ,"o.k., your goal weight should be 150 pounds". End of discussion.... Well, now I have been thinking about this...hey, not that I won't want to weight 150, but I want to be realistic this time. I had lost (over 20 years ago) 75 pounds and I was very, very happy with my weight, but the Weight Watcher leader told me that I could not be on maintanence until I lost 5 more pounds. I got pissed....stopped going to the meetings. I was successful, BUT never hit my "goal" according to Weight Watchers. I was able to keep the weight off for a while, but obivously, it's back (and then some...). So, here is my dilemia....I know it is just a number, but do you guys think I should have my charts changed to reflect what I want to weight and what I think is realistic for me? It is a difference of about 40 pounds...this is a lot of weight and I don't want to sabatoge myself....this is serious "stuff" this time!!! What would you do? Margo

Thanks everyone for the wonderful support!!! I had to read Jamie's message twice....wow, I can't imagine a smaller size by Christmas. That is what I call the best Christmas present in the world!!!! I will keep everyone up-to-date. Margo

j.s. 3-6 months isn't bad....keep your fingers crossed for me! I am so glad that I do not have to battle the cigarette addiction right now....I can thank my daughter for that since she was the reason I quit. I went "cold turkey" (from 3 packs to zero) over night once I found out I was pregnant. I have never been a coffee drinker, so I can thank my lucky stars for that, too. But, trust me I have plenty of other bad habits I will have to deal with in my "new life".....BUT, I am so ready for the challenge. Sorry again for all the questions, but I have another one (and will probably have more)....at what point in the process did you pick a surgery date? Margo

j.s. Again, thanks for all the information.....what insurance do you have? So, minus the smoking thing (I applaud you....it is hard to stop....I quit 10 years ago after smoking for 22 years) I could be looking at maybe around October if not earlier?! I am just so excited....can't stop thinking about it! Were you that way too? Margo

j.s. OMG, you live in Hartland!!! We are neighbors!!!!!! It is such a small world...we probably know one another?! Margo

j.s. Thanks so much for all the information....especially the picture thing!!! Sounds like a fairly easy, but lenghty appointment. At the consult do they give you any idea if your insurance covers things? Or do you have to wait until all the paperwork is submitted to the insurance company? Sorry if I repeat a question....I have been talking to a lot of people - how long was it from your first consult to the date of your surgery? Did you pick a surgery date after or before the insurance approval? j.s., I can't thank you enough for taking the time to ask my questions... Margo

js Wow, that is good news.....I spoke with Dr. Prewitt in Menomonee Falls...very, very nice man, but has not done a band yet, only RNY. He suggested I talk to Drs. Chiang and Burhop. My appointment is Tuesday....what can you tell me about the first consult visit? (so, your in-laws live in Sussex...small world isn't?! What area do you live in?) Margo

Char... Good luck tomorrow in Madison.... We live fairly close....I live in Sussex...do you know where at is? Margo

How long did you have to wait for approval? Margo

j.s. and Char.... I am very close to both of you also..... I have my first consult with Dr. Burhop on Tuesday.... j.s. what can you tell me about your experience with Dr. Chaing? Margo

I don't understand insurance companies....actually, I don't think they understand themselves and that might be half the problem!!! Christina...Above your name it says "I'LL SUCCEED"! I say go for that 2nd appeal..... Good Luck.. Margo

I called for an appointment (my first), they took my insurance information, they sent me a packet with a long list of questions, etc., and a cover letter that says "There is a program fee of $300.00 which is non-refundable. This payment must be make prior to our submitting any paperwork to your insurance company." That is it in a nutshell.... Margo

Hi... Just wondering if your doctor had you pay a consultation fee? Actually, my letter from the doctor called it a "Program fee". If so, what was the fee and was it non-refundable? One more question, sorry...did you send in the fee charge to your insurance for coverage? Thanks.....love this board....I have learned so very much from everyone.... Margo

Thanks for all the great information.... Simply put the letter says that "a program fee of $300.00 must be paid prior to submitting paperwork to your insurance cover" Any comments? Margo

Paula.... Did you set your surgery date right away with your doctor or did you have to wait for the insurance people to O.K. it? Margo

I have my first consultation on May 10, 2005 with my chosen surgeon....I had one other consultation, but we realized we were not on the same page....he was a really nice doctor, but had never done a lap-band, only RNY. He referred me to the surgeon I had already called for the May 10th appointment. I will consider that a stroke of luck!! I will think of you on May11th...good luck Margo

When did your surgeon set your surgery date for you? Was it after all other appointments (psych, dietian, etc.) or was it after your insurance company let you know whether or not you were covered? Margo

Was this in the U.S. or Mexico? Margo

I am just beginning all the appointments, etc., but I am nervous about having surgery too. I had a C-section and lasik eye surgery, so it will not be my first surgery, but still scary. BUT, just like when I had the C-section, you just do as the doctor says, remembering that they do surgery for a living and everyday, plus that stuff (like the tube down your throat) really is not an issue since you will be asleep at that point, right? Just think how exciting it will be for you after this surgery.....that's what I had to keep saying to myself when the doctor told me I had to have a C-section after 24 hours of labor and 4 hours of pushing...I just thought of my little baby girl!!! Margo

You're starting a new lifestyle with all kinds of great possibilities...I would include a NEW boyfriend in that list of great possibilities.....Say good-bye now before you have to do it after spending years married...good luck Margo

No enchiladeas for Steph....I wanted her to win too!!! Margo