Randi

Does anyone have Dr. Nancy Marquez as their lap-band surgeon. If so, I'd love to hear about any and all negative or positive experiences to include comments about the surgeon, the office staff, and or hospital used for the actual surgery.

I know that the weight loss is great and means the band is doing its job. But, I would like to hear bandsters sound off their true feelings about having a foreign object in your belly for the rest of your life.

Does anyone have Dr. Nancy Marquez as their lap-band surgeon. If so, I'd love to hear about any and all negative or positive experiences to include comments about the surgeon, the office staff, and or hospital used for the actual surgery.

Ouch, MaryB!

Chabutter, Cremation -- ashes and a melted lump of "I wonder what that was?"

Morsaille, I'm ROTFLMAO (rolling on the floor laughing my ass off).

Morsaille, I'm freaked as well. I keep imaging myself lying in the casket with nothing left of me but bones and the lap-band lying against by backbone attached to nothing. Kinda morbid, huh?

Victoriana, I think my curiosity would have gotten the best of me. And, SOMEBODY would have had give me an explanation of each cirlce on the x-ray.

Kabeerah, I'm with you on that one. I don't want to trade one problem for another. I went out and read a little of you journal. Like you, I've tried to pick the best surgeon available in my area.

gentlespirit, I'm definitley glad it's an available option. I've been through years of waiting for something that would work for me. I'm hoping the band will be exactly what I've been waiting for.

Victoriana, That's a very interesting photo. If one ring is the band, maybe the other two rings are part of the port. I wonder why the port cord doesn't show.

Yep, I can see it thanks!

You're right, NewSho. My goal is to get rid of fat and I've experienced no long-term success on my own. So, it's definitely time to try something else.

GeezerSue, Did you trade your band in for a bypass?

Victoriana, Where's the picture link?

Thanks, Folks, I'm catching on . . . now that I reflect, the material used to fill teeth is a foreign object as well. So, I guess my band will be a friend to my dental work.

Good point, DonnaB. Thinking about it like that will help me get mentally settled with eventyally being banded.

The Best Me, That's sounding off to me! I go back and forth every day -- I want the band, I don't want the band . . . I know the gastric bypass is not an option for me, but I want to make sure that if my final decision is to be banded that I have considered as much information as possible from the people who know.

I too feel trapped in a fat body. I'm currently going through the process of insurance of approval to be banded, but was still kinda on the fence about being banded. You guys hit me where I live today with this thread. Thanks!

First of all, I applaud you. There are overweight people who still can't pinpoint why they wear their protective covering. At least you've identified the most important hurdle in overcoming your weight. The thing to remember is that your transformation will not occur overnight. You have time to readjust mentally to both home and workplace challenges. You won't neglect your family, but make sure that you don't neglect yourself. If you're going through the trouble of having surgery, you're gonna have to put yourself first AND not feel guilty about it. As far as the workplace bozos, remain professional, stoic, and unapproachable. For the ones still bold enough to approach you on a sexual level remind them that when you were fat you were off limits and now that you're thin you're still off limits -- nothing has changed. For the newbies not smart enough not to approach you, tell them that you're not interested in pursuing anything other than professional relationships in the workplace. What I've listed here may sound simplistic, but think about what I've said and then brainstorm ways to deal with the various situations that may occur both at home and in the workplace. When one of the situations does occur, you'll already be well-rehearsed and more than prepared.

Alexandra, Leatha was right! I think your appeal letter will definitely help me put together my case and I can't wait to read your entire letter. Thank you indeed!

I'm trying to justify to my insurance company why the lap-band is the better option for me over the bypass. If anyone knows of strong medical reasons for choosing the lap-band, I would appreciate you sharing them with me.

Thanks, Jack, My Mom is a borderline diabetic and the doctor just ran some blood tests on me the other day. So, hopefully there's something in the results that will prove useful.

leatha g, I don't take a blood thinner such as coumadin, but I do take a daily aspirin for that purpose. You guys are really helping me think outside the box. Whatever information I gather, I'll present to my PCM and then based on his knowledge and training, he can assimilate all the information to make the best case for me.

Alexanda, Those are all my issues too. I have a friend who had the bypass and I could tell his mind wasn't keeping pace with his weight loss because it was too quick. I don't want that or to have to explain how I took off the weight. I think gradual is the only way to do it!