Vala

We can compare notes after I get mine done tomorrow. I am doing the osmoprep right now and it is intense.

I am on for the 17th. Getting a bit nervous but hopeful. I have not lost the full 20 lbs, only 13. They didn't say much about it at the pre-op so I am hoping they will still do surgery. Will they weight me the morning of to see if I lost the full 20? That is my biggest fear right now.

I went to the seminar in Athens with Dr. Mejias this week. I really liked him and felt comfortable. I went to my PCP to get my referral and she is not terribly up on bariatric surgery since after some discussion she said gastric bypass and I told her no, that I was wanting to be banded. in the end she requested that I let her and to do her homework to make sure that she referred me to someone she felt was good. She was going to consult with some gastro docs that she works with alot and get their opinions. As alternative to Mejias, she mentioned a Dr. Proctor in Gainesville and someone else at Northside that she had heard of. In essence, she wanted someone who has done a lot of the procedures and has a good reputation. I really liked Mejias and appreciated the fact that he only does banding and uses the realize band. I checked Proctor and he seemed to be more focused on gastric bypass which I DO NOT WANT! Should I tell my PCP that if she wants me to go to someone else?

My doc has me taking 10mg of Provera for 5 days. I have not noticed anything except for some bloating and insomnia. What can I expect when it really "kicks in" so to speak? Have any of you taken this stuff before? He told me that I needed to take this to "cleanse" me even though I am waiting to try to conceive until after banding. I have not cycled for 3 months.

Hi everybody! My mother and I are both looking forward to being banded and are attending a seminar on the 21st. I have lots of questions and hope to learn a lot from everyone here. Reading people's stories as a lurker has been very inspiring. I look forward to getting to know all of you!

Thanks for the welcome guys! I am really really really hoping that I will be able to get banded. I have BCBS of GA (HMO). My bmi is 35.9 but when I looked at the metlife chart, I am around 100 pounds overweight if I look at the low end for my frame size. My cholesterol is slightly high and I have stopped cycling due to my weight. Is that enough to warrant banding? I might have sleep apnea since I snore like a fiend and my knees and heels hurt really bad but I have not been to the doctor about that since I know the only thing she will tell me is to lose weight. My mother has a whole host of health issues related to her weight and I am trying not to end up like her. Many of my co-workers have been banded and some of them have had to gain weight to do it. That seems a bit counter productive but if it is what you have to do???

My mother has Tricare and is hoping to be banded ASAP. She is 62 years old, 130 pounds overweight and has type II diabetes, bad knees, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and severe back problems (her back surgeon told her she should never weigh more than 120 because it is so bad). Do you guys think she will be able to get through the system without too much problem? She is so excited at the prospect of losing weight and getting healthier. She told me that she has been having dreams about being able to get out and enjoy life again. I think we will both be heartbroken if she is not approved. We are going to the seminar on October 21st.

I just saw my OB-GYN yesterday. I went in because I have not been cycling and was worried. He told me that I was anovulatory due to my weight. I told him that I was wanting to get banded and he was super supportive of it. He told me that I should wait until I am banded and get to my goal weight before trying to get pregnant. He felt that it would be safer for me and baby. He could give me drugs to make me ovulate but that does not set well with me. I was wanting to go ahead with the plans to start a family because of my age but I think that waiting will be better. Now I am just nervous that I will not be able to get banded or that the process will take years and my window for starting family will start to close.