jennifer1

Thanks for the encouraging words. As the days tick by I'm getting more and more excited and not second guessing if i should do it! Jennifer

Congrats on getting banded. I have the same concern and I think that's one of the reasons I dont want to tell a lot of people. What if this doesnt work, then I'm doomed to be fat all my life! Gasrtic bypass is not an option!

Thanks so much Carrie. I am still excited about getting banded. I told one of my friends that I am obsessed with this forum. Everyday I learn something new. Thanks for your support. I'm sure once I actually get banded I will have more questions. It's still so surreal that I'm actually getting it done. I cant wait to start thge next phase of my journey. This support group is awesome. I'm also thinking about going to the support groups offered by the facility i'm getting my surgery. All in all I'm full steam ahead!! Jennifer

Welcome Darah. I am scheduled to be banded on May 20th! Wow I still cant believe it's finally happening. I live in Chicago. I researched the band for about 5 years. I decided on the band cuz oddly enough before it was even invented I used to say if i had something that would make me sick if i ate too much I'd lose weight! Bam! Lap Band! LOL! So as of right now I dont really have any advice to share other then research, research, research and ask your doctor as many questions as you need the answers to. I actually carried a little note pad with me in the days leading up to my consultation so i could write down questions as they came to me. Best wishes on your choice to be banded! Jennifer

Congrats on getting your date. I too got my date today, May 20th, so you will beat me to it! LOL! My pre-op diet is 2 weeks liquids only. I'm praying I do well, I looking at those two weeks as sort of a test run before the band. They say two weeks to shrink the liver, but I guess every doc is different. Follow what your doc says though, after all he is doing the surgery! LOL! Jennifer

I got my surgery date of May20th (pre-op testing May 6th). I AM SO EXCITED THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING, IT ALMOST SEEM SURREAL! I have waited 5 years for this. I'm also saddend cuz my familly doesnt support me. I can tell my sister is jealous. She wants to get the surgery too, but her husband wont allow her! WTH! how can you tell someone that wants to do something to improve their health, no! Hmph! maybe that's why I'm single, cuz i would have it anyway! LOL! anyway, cant wait to join the bandsters!!!!! How are other single people dealing with not having family support them? I have a few supportive friends, but I'm only sharing this with a few. Ok gotta go figure out how to get me a ticker now!!!!!

Wow Meekie I love this post. I'm almost in tears over here reading all the things you dont regret! Those are exactly the things I want on my dont regret list. I havent been banded yet, but just got approved for the finance(i'm a self pay), so now just gotta do my pre-op testing. I am sooooooooooooo excited and cant wait to be banded. Thanks for the inspiration! Jennifer

Hi my name is Jennifer and I am in the process of getting banded at Day One Health in downtown Chicago. My doctor is Dr. Elli. Just wanted to get others feedback about their experience with this facility and doc. Thanks in advance. Jennifer

I am in the process of getting my tests done to be banded, but I have met with my surgeon. Dr Elli in chicago actually teaches other surgeons how to do the lap band surgery, which I'm so happy about. He also does the single incision. He said the only real difference is the surgery itself takes a little longer, but the recovery time is the same. I'm still not clear on why one would be done over the other. Me I go back and forth. One one hand just having one incision sounds great , then I think that's more time under anesthesia..so I'll just let him decide which is better for me, but i'm leaning toward the two incisions. Jennifer

OMG thank you thank you thank you!!!! This was one of the best posts I have read since I was on here! I have been researching this for about 5 years. Single with no kids. You answered so many questions. I went for my initial consultation on this past friday and left feeling totally at peace with my decision. I have never considered any other surgery(well i researched them) and lapband is what's best for me! I am self pay so i'm working on getting some place to finance the surgery as soon as I get my finaly cost and EKG done I'm setting my date. I'm praying for early May.! You look amazing, thank you for your honesty.( oh and thanks for clearing up what PB meant!) i'm like what the hell everyone keeps saying that and i had no idea. also DH( is that darling husband, cuz yeah I aint got one of those) LOL! thanks again and i wish you continued success. Jennifer

I will be a self pay since my company has excluded all WLS from our policy. My surgeon is willing to adjust the price for that reason, however I still will need to finance the surgery. I was wondering who people have gone through that offers good low finance rates? I live in Illinois, not sure if that makes a difference. Thanks for any help offered.

I really wish people would mind their own business!!! I too have decided to only share that I had WLS with only a select few. People assume its the easy way out and it's so not the case. I've only had my consulation and hope to be banded in May. I work in health care and those nurses she be reported!!! That is totally unacceptable and just plain ignorant. Congrats on your decision to take charge of your health and dont ever let someone feel bad about a decision you made for YOUR life!!! Best wishes hun. Jennifer

First let me say congrats on being banded tomorrow! I am soooo jealous! LOL! Your friend is probably just jealous(for real). We all make life choices and this is ours, so dont give her another thought! Best wishes on your surgery tomorrow!

Thank you sooooo much for you encouraging words. This isnt the first time my family hasnt supported me in major decisions I have made. About 5 years ago(i'm a therapist) I decided to become a traveling therapist where I would take different assignment for 13 weeks throughout the country and all i had to do was pack my bags and go.. My companies paid for my lodging. My family had a fit. I did that for 2 years and have never regretted it. I'm like the black sheep though, I'm the youngest, but most adventurous! So it really is no surprize they arent supporting me. ASK ME IF I CARE ANYMORE! I have the 2 friends that i've decided to share this with and they support me 100%. They have seen all the times i've tried and failed at losing weight, and yet love me inspite of it. I am getting to the point where I can admit that I use food for comfort, when i'm bored or just cuz i see it! So I'm looking forward to my first consultation on april 7th and looking forward to moving full steam ahead. I hope to be banded by late spring, since I dont have to go through the insurance hoops. Thanks a million. Jennifer

I'm with you the bypass seems way to drastic for me. I think the band is right for me. I am self pay as well. I have my consultation of Friday april 7th so i pray to return with good news. Jennifer

Thanks so much for the encouraging words. I agree that since diabetes runs in my family it's a preventitive maintence type of thing as well. Best wishes on your journey!

Congrats on the weight you have lost so far. I have my first consultation next friday april 7th. I am super excited. I've wanted this for over 4 years. My insurance doesnt cover any weight loss surgeries and my family is no supportive at all. Since I'm paying for it myself I 'm assuming I dont have to jump through the hoops of the whole 6 month diet. I wish I could get banded next friday. I'm hoping to get lots of support from this group. I'm finding that i'm obsessed with reading the blogs! LOL Jennifer

Hi, My name is Jennifer. I have actually been researching the band for about 4 years. I went toa seminar and everything. My insurance has opted out of covering any WLS. I have my consultation on April 7th. I was wondering if anyone has had a doctor say they dont recommend the surgery? I only have hypothyroidism, no high blood pressure, diabeties or any of the "usual" co-morbitities associated with being over weight. I am 5'2" and currenlty weigh 237lbs. My highest weight was 258lbs? Looking for some support as well as my family is TOTALY against me doing this! Ok let me stop rambling! LOL!