New to the forum

[toyrenee 0]

Hello everyone

I have been researching the lap bad for quite sometime now. my BMI is 41 and I weigh 237. I suffer with Gerd, Asthsma and Hypertension and thyroid problems. I have researched that alot of people symptoms have went away or medicines have been drastically reduced. I hope to lose weigh reduce medicines and live a healthier life. I have lost weighed and gain back and nothing over 15pounds. I lost 20 once when I was lupron shots that cause me to lose my appetite ad I only drunk Water for 1 month. I have found this website very informative. Looking forward to sharing my status.

My insurace is United Healtcare so I'm hoping not having any problems gettig approved. I'm at the very begining stage. The hospital where I would have the surgery requires you to see if you insurace approves the surgery. My do, the I had to review a package they sent. I will be calling to schedule my appointment tommorrow.

[Astrasmom 1]

Hello everyone

I have been researching the lap bad for quite sometime now. my BMI is 41 and I weigh 237. I suffer with Gerd, Asthsma and Hypertension and thyroid problems. I have researched that alot of people symptoms have went away or medicines have been drastically reduced. I hope to lose weigh reduce medicines and live a healthier life. I have lost weighed and gain back and nothing over 15pounds. I lost 20 once when I was lupron shots that cause me to lose my appetite ad I only drunk Water for 1 month. I have found this website very informative. Looking forward to sharing my status.

My insurace is United Healtcare so I'm hoping not having any problems gettig approved. I'm at the very begining stage. The hospital where I would have the surgery requires you to see if you insurace approves the surgery. My do, the I had to review a package they sent. I will be calling to schedule my appointment tommorrow.

Congratulations on the start of your journey. My names Dawn. :thumbup: I was banded in Oct. 2009. You are correct that things go away after you are banded. Luckly I wasn't on any medication before surgery but I was borderline everything and I had sleep apnea (used a CPAP machine for 5 years). My BMI was 49 when I started and I weighed 304lbs. I am no longer borderline anything. All of my bloodwork is normal. I no longer have sleep Apnea. I am 19lbs from goal (204) and have lost 101lbs so far. My BMI right now is 32. I went from a size 26 to a 14. I can walk long distances now without having to stop and breath. My chest doesn't tighten anymore. I don't have to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes or worry about having an uncontrolable accident from not being able to hold my urine due to being too heavy anymore.

I also had open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm in 2001 and a valve replacement. At the time I chose a porcine valve (pigs valve) because I was only 34 at the time and I didn't like the fact of having to take blood thinner for the rest of my life. Downfall is that this type of valve only lasts for about 10 years. Needless to say I am reaching my 10 years and I am hoping that with the weightloss I have prolonged my next surgery. My cardiologist told me that if I didn't lose the weight I could die on the table. So that was my major shove in the right direction to get this surgery done. Next heart surgery I will get a mechanical valve because I honestly don't want to be (sorry to be graphic) cracked open again.

I have no regrets about the surgery except that I didn't get it done sooner. I haven't weighed this much since 1987 so it's been many years. As I tell everyone, I have lost a total person on the outside but I have gained a person on the inside. I have found ME again. Myself esteem is no longer in the crapper and I feel very good about myself.

I wish you much success and hope that things go very smoothly for you with the approval process. You have come to the right place for support. Everyone here is very wonderful. I would also recommend a local support group in your area if there is one. Please keep us posted.

[Amaris 0]

Hey Dawn! Thanks so much for your encouraging story! I am much heavier than you were and I'm on all kinds of meds for co-morbidities. Even so, your story really encouraged me. I'm looking forward to being off my meds -- or at least having them drastically reduced.

Thanks again for sharing your story!

[Astrasmom 1]

Hey Dawn! Thanks so much for your encouraging story! I am much heavier than you were and I'm on all kinds of meds for co-morbidities. Even so, your story really encouraged me. I'm looking forward to being off my meds -- or at least having them drastically reduced.

Thanks again for sharing your story!

So glad that I could help you. Good luck on your journey and I wish you lost of luck. Keep us posted.

Here a new site that might help you also. Please check it out and tell all of your friends. Be sure to use my name Astrasmom when you sign up.

bandedliving.com

[toyrenee 0]

Thanks so much for the replies. I'm really getting excited. I'm awaiting my seminar to get this ball rolling.