diane-south fla

I want food put in perspective and not be so darn important! I want to be able to enjoy life, love and my future. I want to feel good......not pain. I want to participate in life, relish in every moment and learn to explore again. I want to hop, skip and jump through my retirement!

Thanks TNT! We are not far from you in Pembroke Pines. Good luck with your surgery! Mine is 1-29-07. Just can't wait. Please post and let me know how everything went for you and your husband. Chichigirl: Fantastic progress. I only hope that I can do as well in the next year. You give me hope that it can be done. I am doing my surgery with Dr. Szomstein at Cleveland Clinic and have been pleased so far with their thoroughness and professionalism. I start my 2 week diet on the 14th........just in time for my husband and I to go away on a long planned for, long overdue, long weekend in the Keys! I will just take my Protein drinks and a good book! I suppose I will attend the support groups at Cleveland Clinic since it is so close to my home. Thanks for answering! Keep in touch! diane

Congratulations! Can't say that I am much further along, having not yet been banded so I can't share any "what's it like" info. But I have gotten through all of the seminars, testing and have a surgery date set. First thing you need to do is call your insurance company and make sure they cover the surgery. I found that mine (BC/BS) covered the surgery without approval if done on an outpatient basis. However, my Dr. requires at least an overnight stay so I had to wait for approval. After your seminar - where they will answer all your questions - your will likely schedule an appt with the Dr. Then a whole series of testing to make sure you are good to have the surgery. The testing can take several weeks to get through depending on scheduling. Once done, your Dr. will do the submission to your insurance company for approval. Mine only took a few days. I was lucky, some wait a long time. Once approved you will get a surgery date set and probably another meeting with your Dr. several weeks before. You may or may not need a special diet for several weeks before surgery. Depends on the Dr. Hope this helps. This was my experience so far on the journey! Good luck with yours. Just keep going and put one foot in front of the other....makes it all easier to take if it seems overwhelming now. diane

Thanks Carol! How was your surgery?? Recovery?? I am looking to take about a week off work and I have a sedentary job so I am hoping to be back after a week. Since I work, I am usually on in the evenings, but sometimes get a moment at lunch. This site is great - it helped me make my decisions!

Thanks for reply - good to know that it all went well for you. I am getting excited about this and looking forward to any easy surgery!

Rose Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4 UPDATED LIST: Dec 31- Chrisann (honorary member of the Jan 08 bandsters) Jan 1- HAPPY NEW YEARS! Starting the year off right! Jan 2- phowell, Megmarie21, Gingerbug(Victoria), jengland Jan 3-WOWOX7, Woodsy Jan 4- KUgirl, steviegene Jan 5 Jan 6 Jan 7- CallmeJim, comepickmeup, NukeChik, mamato3, kintime, Shell, destined2befree, babedoe4 Jan 8 - Fat&thrifty(and husband Joe), itz me Jan 9 – Redtulips3, FLMan, TachaBaby505!!! Jan 10- luvsrocks, Hilary, Jen25bl, jtag10_4 Jan 11- brez1015, Tmusicmaker123 Jan 12 Jan 13 Jan 14- CoreynVA, acalpn, srbanker(Suzanne), grayl Jan 15 Jan 16 Kathy-CA. Saleel --Australia Jan 17- SJK, Alfie, L.A., lwood Jan 18- RuthE?, shanarene Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21- Jan 22- purplegoddess Jan 23- min, Ang1982 (Angela) Tigger_Shorty (Rose) Jan 24- holleyhobby Jan 25 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 28-kawanabear(Kalonda) Jan 29 - diane-south fla Jan 30 - PortuguesePrincess(Stephanie),Amberwaves(Amber

I have been silently watching many posts here as I have gone through the decision making process, all of the testing, time, and roller coaster emotions. This website has given me so much information that I could easily say that it was largely instrumental in assisting me in my decision. I was just approved by insurance and have a banding date of January 29. I am excited about the possibilities and yet somewhat fearful that this may be just an expensive disappointment. I am, however, very optimistic and hopefully realistic due to all of the information I have been able to get through this website. Glad to be able to join the January group. Looking forward to giving and getting lots of support here.

I did take the plunge and went for the seminar. I was so impressed that I stayed for the mandatory psycological seminar! Got all paperwork and made appointment with Dr. for next week. Hopefully insurance will approve since mine does cover it. Still a little concerned about the lap band and it's effectiveness. They seemed to be more into doing the Gastric Bypass, touting that it was more effective but also warning it was more risky. That scares me even more than the band. It is a lot of information to digest (pardon the pun) in one sitting, but I did feel that they answered most of my questions. Glad I did not back out.............it was touch and go up to the time I walked through the Hospital doors. Bottom line seems to be and common sense says that the band is only step one.........the rest is up to me. All in all, very positive experience. I will wait to talk to Dr. next Monday, but I just feel more comfortable with the lap band alternative. :omg:

I too am researching the lap band option. BMI of 39 with health issues. Have been very excited about this option as I have been so heavy for way too many years. Am attending a seminar tomorrow morning and suddenly feel a bit scared. Keep thinking I "should" be able to do this myself. I can lose weight - just can't keep it off! My biggest fear is how to get through the period of food "loss". Since food is always there - good time, bad time, bored times, stressful times. This forum seems to be a good method of getting help. Sure hope so since I am going to the seminar tomorrow, scared or not. :omg: