Tsquared

I'm April 13th too! I don't know if I'm relieved or concerned that I don't have to do a pre-op diet. My surgeon doesn't require one! Hmmm....

I attended the mandatory informational meeting last Monday -- took my Mom because she is the one who is the most oppositional to this whole thing. Lots of developments....1) I was relieved to learn that my surgeon's practice is a center of excellence...apparently that is a big deal. 2) Mom ended up promising her support and declaring that she wanted only the best for me and my health! Yeah!!! :confused: 3) Actually found myself debating between being banded and having the bypass....I was so positive before that I wanted the band...now I'm waffling. :confused2: 4) Was reassured that everything the doctor talked about, I already knew from visiting this site!! :crying: 5) Have been officially declared a "candidate" by the surgeon:blush: Now the frustrating part....my insurance makes me complete SIX months of a physician supervised diet! And....drum roll....my first appointment with my surgeon is October 29!! :w00t: That was his first available!! So not only do I have to wait two and a half months to see him, I have to do six months of dieting after that before I even GET to the band. :laugh: I feel like I've tried and tried and tried to get the weight off and been unsuccessful and now I'm at an all-time high for weight. I've faced the reality of the health concerns and researched and made a major commitment to this and I can't move forward...like I'm circling above the airport but I can't land. Ugh!

Mac, Thanks for that suggestion! I actually thought of that last night and made an appt w/ my PCP for next week....I'm back in forward!!

I attended the mandatory informational meeting last Monday -- took my Mom because she is the one who is the most oppositional to this whole thing. Lots of developments....1) I was relieved to learn that my surgeon's practice is a center of excellence...apparently that is a big deal. 2) Mom ended up promising her support and declaring that she wanted only the best for me and my health! Yeah!!! :tongue2: 3) Actually found myself debating between being banded and having the bypass....I was so positive before that I wanted the band...now I'm waffling. :confused2: 4) Was reassured that everything the doctor talked about, I already knew from visiting this site!! :thumbup: 5) Have been officially declared a "candidate" by the surgeon:blush: Now the frustrating part....my insurance makes me complete SIX months of a physician supervised diet! And....drum roll....my first appointment with my surgeon is October 29!! :smile2: That was his first available!! So not only do I have to wait two and a half months to see him, I have to do six months of dieting after that before I even GET to the band. :laugh: I feel like I've tried and tried and tried to get the weight off and been unsuccessful and now I'm at an all-time high for weight. I've faced the reality of the health concerns and researched and made a major commitment to this and I can't move forward...like I'm circling above the airport but I can't land. Ugh!

I had an appointment Tuesday, 8-5-08, with my PCP to discuss my weight, my blood pressure (which is high...duh) and what options he recommended. I liked that he said that I obviously had been thinking about my own options and what did *I* think...I said lap band...he said absolutely. :thumbup: So, I got my referral...called the surgeon and am scheduled for the "mandatory" informational meeting...it's Monday, 8-11. In the meanwhile, my parents, specifically my mother, are very upset/disappointed that I have chosen this route. I invited my mom to come with me to the informational meeting and she is, which makes me happy. But, still....I know that they think I'm a failure because I can't be more self-disciplined and lose the weight myself. That's very frustrating. At the same time, I've been battling this weight in one way or another since I was a freshman in college. Once away from my parents' watchful eyes, I started putting it on. A few times I was successful at losing it myself, but it always came back...my mom keeps bringing up how skinny I was when my brother got married...yeah, I was 25, working out 3 hours a day, five days a week. Now, I'm 45, am on the tail end of raising four boys, have had a hysterectomy....need I say life is different? Anyway...I'm glad to have this place to put down my feelings (scared :thumbup:, excited :w00t:, nervous ) and document my progress (made the appointments! :thumbup:) Stepping off the dock...and into the water....

Ell...thanks for the encouragement. The info meeting is tonight and both mom and dad are going with me. I will look forward to hearing about your progress....good luck!!

I had an appointment Tuesday, 8-5-08, with my PCP to discuss my weight, my blood pressure (which is high...duh) and what options he recommended. I liked that he said that I obviously had been thinking about my own options and what did *I* think...I said lap band...he said absolutely. So, I got my referral...called the surgeon and am scheduled for the "mandatory" informational meeting...it's Monday, 8-11. In the meanwhile, my parents, specifically my mother, are very upset/disappointed that I have chosen this route. I invited my mom to come with me to the informational meeting and she is, which makes me happy. But, still....I know that they think I'm a failure because I can't be more self-disciplined and lose the weight myself. That's very frustrating. At the same time, I've been battling this weight in one way or another since I was a freshman in college. Once away from my parents' watchful eyes, I started putting it on. A few times I was successful at losing it myself, but it always came back...my mom keeps bringing up how skinny I was when my brother got married...yeah, I was 25, working out 3 hours a day, five days a week. Now, I'm 45, am on the tail end of raising four boys, have had a hysterectomy....need I say life is different? Anyway...I'm glad to have this place to put down my feelings (scared :frown:, excited :w00t:, nervous ) and document my progress (made the appointments! :ohmy:) Stepping off the dock...and into the water....

Hi there! This is a great site and I'm hoping to get a lot of my questions answered here....I'm considering a lap band since I have a BMI of 41 and high blood pressure. I have an appointment with my PCP on Tuesday to discuss it and hopefully get a referral. He's really cool, so I'm not too worried about that. I am worried about getting insurance approval and then the whole surgery thing. But, I am here because I know you all have the story behind the story...you know....all the things they DON'T tell you in the doctor's office. I'm from Pittsburgh and would appreciate hearing from anyone else who's been banded here in the 'burgh.

Yes...apparently I have a few to choose from...checking with my PCP tomorrow about his recommendations....good luck with going to Mexico! Will that be a big trip for you?