I am new!!

[THODIE55 0]

This is my first time doing this. I have not been banded yet. I have been to a seminar and will be going to orientation on March 7, 2007. My 1'st visit to the bariatric surgeon will be March 15, 2007. I am very excited and a little nervous. I guess I will have a long wait though because I have to do a 6 month supervised diet with my doctor before insurance will approve the surgery. The surgeon I chose was Ernest Rehnke in St. Petersburg, FL. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on. I've been obese for so long I can't even imagine what I will be able to do when I'm not. Well, I could go on and on but since this is my first message I guess I need to end this now.

[niecyrenee 2]

Welcome to LBT! Good luck with everything and if you have questions, ask away.

[ralheit 0]

Welcome and best of luck.

[THODIE55 0]

Thank you Niecyrenee and Ralheit. I appreciate you welcoming me to LBT. I'm sure I will have a million and one questions so thanks again for your kindness.

[JDru 0]

Welcome to LBT...ask away! Good luck with your seminar and consultation.

[Blessed_gemini 0]

I'm new to this also. This is my first posting and I'm nervous too. I've already gone to the seminar and had my initial visit on 2/13. I'm doing all my pre-op testing at the moment. They said that I have to get all my procedures done before they send my paperwork to the insurance company. Hopefully it will make it easier to get a quick approval. I hope to have my surgery within a month or two. I can't wait. I've always been overweight, and honestly I'm a bit scared of being thin. I don't know how it feels, but I'm looking forward to having a whole new life.

[jackal1209 1]

Stay focused, and don't be nervous. Its such a life changing experience, and soooo worth it! You will really like being thin! It changes everything.

2 years post op.

Totaly at my 3 times adjusted goal.

210 pounds lost!

Life is so good!

[THODIE55 0]

Thank You All So Much For Your Encouragement!! It Really Is Exciting To Hear From So Many People That Have Been In The Same Boat As You. It Has Been Exciting To Read The Different Threads On Here About All The Weight Loss Going On And Everybody So Eager To Give Their Advice When It Is Needed. I've Really Learned A Lot About Some Questions I've Had And They Were Answered On Here Already. I Wish The Surgery Was Not So Far Away But I'll Be Ready For It Anyway.

[vterry63 0]

This is my first posting. I went to a lecture about 1 1/2 yrs ago,but didn't proceed. But now, I am 30 pounds heavier regardless of the fact that I have been exercising as well as taking diet pills.Nothing has worked. Hopefully, I will be a candidate for surgery, as now I have high blood pressure and asthma as well as stress fractures of my left foot evertime I try any real aerobic exercise. Please pray for me and keep your fingers crossed!

[THODIE55 0]

I know where you are coming from. I checked on the lap band over a year ago myself and just put it on the back burner instead of proceeding with it and I too gained extra weight after that. I feel that this will be the tool to help me with my weight loss. Good luck to you and I hope you will be a candidate for the lap band also.

[Cheryl S. 0]

I am new to this also. I have asked a couple of questions on other threads, but have never been on this one. I go for my consult on March 21st. I am very nervous about it all, but looking forward to being thin again. I have been overweight for about 14 years and I vaguely remember what it was like to be thin.

I think what has me the most scared is reading the threads about slipping and eroding.

I'll be watching your progress. Good Luck on your journey.

Cheryl S.

[TerriDoodle 6]

Hi folks & welcome! :welcomeB:

Slipping and eroding are both very rare -- for my surgeon something like less than 1% and 0.2% respectively. IF you faithfully follow the post-op LB guidelines and way of life, there is no reason you should experience either of these complications. In addition, my doctor said there is little reason for slippage to occur in any case if the surgery is done correctly.

Certainly you should not only take my word for it. Keep asking and researching until YOU FEEL 100% CONFIDENT in your decision. I would suggest that you research the doctor very well and make sure he has a great deal of experience.

[stacy16 0]

I am new also. I am getting banded on March 16th. I have been overweight for about 15 years and I am kinda scared to be thin again. I am excited at the same time, but it will change my life forever. I am going with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. Seems like the right thing to do since I am only about 10 minutes from the clinic. I am also afraid I will fail at losing weight even with the band.

Stacy

[Cheryl S. 0]

Thanks TerriDoodle. I am confident in my decision to have the surgery, but just still a little afraid of being the one percent. That's why I have definitely decided to go local, so that my doctor is near me.

Good luck to you. I wish I had my date set already.

Cheryl S.

[Woofay 0]

Hi, this is my first post also. My seminar date is March 20th and they said they usually are able to perform surgery within 4 weeks of that. Little scary! I'm in Colorado and looking to have it done in Pueblo. Anyone from Colorado with good advice with doctors in this state? I'm self-pay, so I'm looking for best payment options. This surgery seems to range from $13,000 - $19,000 here. I'm not exactly looking for the best deal/price. This isn't something to give to the cheapest bidder. But if surgeons are equally quilified, I'm also willing to keep the extra $4,000 or so for myself. I'm glad that there are people like THODIE55 and others that I can go through this with. This is quite the adventure! I've pretty much been heavy my whole life. I managed to lose a hundred pounds my first two years of high school, but I did it so wrong...every bad thing in the world I could do to myself to lose weight I did. And slowly gained weight from there. 22 years of 7 pounds more really adds up. Well, here's to us and the decisions that are right for us!!! Look forward to getting to know you all!

Woofay