ttny007

I am 52 and working to be banded begining of June. Your advise was right on target, the only thing I would add is talk to your primary care dr also. Mine new what my insurance company would want (6 months of documented discussions re weight and other options that I am trying) and she pulled copies of all of my testing to date so that I didn't have to repeat some of the stuff that is needed, she even went to the seminar with me to interview the surgeon! This is a great site for research but always talk to your Dr and follow what he says. It is not a magic wand it is work and you get what you put into it. Good Luck Theresa

I am going Thursday to go over everything with Dr Yoo, I met him at a seminar and I liked him I am decided to have the same surgery you had. I will keep you posted on what he says on Thursday Theresa

Found out that a friend has cancer and its terminal so sad. Thinking about all of this just makes me want to get my surgery even more. This makes me so sure that I want to change my life and enjoy the second half as a healthy person. If your reading this and your on the fence about the surgery, all I can say is look back at the life that you have lived so far and be honest with yourself. What have you missed because of your weight? Food might have ruled my life in the past but I am determine to come out on top and I will rule food! Have a blessed Easter Peace T

Good Morning I am having mine done at Duke Raleigh, they have a group of surgeons and I am very happy with them. I went to a dr in cary and I felt like I was at a used car lot they were only concerned with how the insurance was going to pay them. Just remember who ever you choose you must be happy with not just the surgon but the whole staff. My Dr. said to look at this as a marriage you must love the staff cause they will be supporting you thru this. I also liked Raleigh Center for weight loss, but they are not on my insurance yet. If you have any more questions just let me know I am more than happy to help ttny007@aol.com T

Hi Gina First have you gone to a seminar? I spoke to my primary dr about it first then I went to a seminar and then another seminar (wanted to see if they were all the same) Then I found out what my insurance needs to cover the surgery cost. 6 months of documented weight management (every insurance is different). From there I got a book called before and after by Susan Maria Leach, loaded with information. Just remember there are many opinions and tons of information out there always follow what your dr. tells you to do. If you have any questions feel free to email me at ttny007@aol.com Theresa

Hi My name is Theresa and I am also 52 so It's nice to talk to someone the same age as me, finding people are younger than me. I am going thru the process right now and I am hoping to get banded the first week of June. I am having it done at Duke, I live in NC now but from NY. Glad to do this together. Theresa

First I will tell you your not a failure its called Life. My son always tells me life gets in the way of living and boy is he right! we are right about the same height and weight, dont think your insurance won't cover you, if you have a BMI of 35 with a "co-morbitity" if your policy cover WLS then they will cover it. You have 2 co-morbities listed. When you go to the seminar they will check for you. If your going thru insurance then you usually need 6 months of dr. documented weight loss. In other words go to your primary dr every month talk about your weight and all you have done to help yourself, the gym and diet. That will help speed things up. You will need to meet with a nutritionist and a psychologist. Some dr's will want a sleep study for sleep apnea and blood work, chest xray and endoscope. If your insurance will pay you will want to get started on this stuff right away so that the process moves along quickly. Look for a support group you can go to and go. You don't have to have the surgery to go, they are also there to answer questions of people thinking about WLS. If you have any more questions please ask that's what we are here for. I am going thru this too so don't sell yourself short. Theresa

Also from Bkyn Advise most insurance companies want 6 months of dr documented weight visits, discuss what you have tried including exercise and diet, sleep study, chest xray, blood work, etc. Start the 6 month dr stuff now so that you wont have to wait as long other wise you wont have surgery till jan. Once you make the decision the time just creeps by.. good luck and keep posting Theresa

So this afternoon my husband and I took the dogs to the park and walked once around the lake. I thought I was going to die! I had foot surgery and could only wear flip flops (cyst removed on top of the foot) so I really didn't have any support, but it wasn't even the foot it was feeling like I was draging a dead body around that dam lake. That just cemented my decision to go ahead with the WLS. In case anyone is wondering about the title of my blog, I lived the first half of my life and now I am 52 and living the second half and I want to feel better. I think this will end up being a very emotional journey not just a physical one. Life continued....... Peace

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/5338/entry-20311-the-start-of-the-journey/ I also started a Blog lets all keep in touch

Good Morning So I decided to start this blog after reading so much on this site from so many people my head is spinning!!! First here is some details about me: I am 52 Married for 30 years great husband (Professional Chef) I have a 27 yr old son who is a research chemist and a great guy (not just cause I'm his mom). He also makes homemade wine and vinegar's. I have two wonderful and crazy dogs that keep me laughing all the time. I am a full time college student Criminal Justice. I volunteer with senior citizens and abused children. I am a cancer survivor and a host of other crap. I have been on disability since 1996 and my goal is to become whole again. That being said lets get to the meat of it all: I am a classic YOYO dieter, I have tried every new or old thing I find. I always seem to lose but gain back more. I finally realized I needed help, so I turned to the internet and looked at information on WLS. My cousin whom I am close to had RNY lost it all and gained it back, she then got the lap band and does not lose, so I was aprehensive about the whole thing. I went to my Dr. (who is also a good friend) loaded with all the information I found, and asked her if she thought I would be a candidate for WLS, she said yes. From there her and I went to a seminar. I already had so much of the pretesting that is required done, so I scheduled a consult with the surgeon from the seminar. I felt like I was in a used car lot, all he cared about was how he was going to get paid from the insurance company. He had good reviews on the interent however that did not sway me, I ran from his office second guessing myself. I then went to another seminar at Duke University, and another at a private Dr.'s office. What a difference from the first dr. I learned there are so many different procedures available and not everyone can have the lap band. I have decided to go with Duke and Dr. Yoo for a lap band with plication (they stitch the stomach into a sleeve and it is reversable). I am going for my consult with Dr. Yoo on april 28th, I only need two more months of documented weight consult with my dr. I am trying to have my surgery the first week of June. I have only told a limited amount of people what I plan on doing, I found the less people know right now the better. I don't want anyone to try and influence me. The best advise I can give to anyone just starting this journey is find out what your insurance company requires and start doing it now! The wheels move slowly and as the time gets closer you want to know you won't miss anything that would cause a delay. Be totally in love with your Dr and the staff cause this is a marriage. Keep a book with you at all times and write down questions nothing is a stupid question. So many of the postings I have read are questions people should have asked their doctor. Start experimenting with protein powders and drinks now, cause you want to be somewhat prepared when the time comes. Remember this is a tool not a magic pill. I will post as often as I can or when something happens good or bad cause we are all in this together. Peace T

The more walking you do the faster the gas will go, so just remember walk walk walk T

My appointment is April 28th and I will give you the skinny on what he says. At the seminar he said they stitch the stomach and shape it like the sleeve and then the band goes in the usual place. He said the stomach is swollen for about a week and that was it. I will post when I find out more. T

Did you get this done yet or are you waiting to do this? I have an appointment at Duke the end of this month to schedule my surgery and Dr Yoo suggests this surgery. I will post more info I find out after the appointment. Theresa

Has anyone used Dr. Yoo at Duke, I am comparing two dr.'s and not sure which one to use the other is Dr. Moran. Thanks for the imput T

Fear of the unknown is what can sometimes drive people to say stupid things, I have to believe that otherwise it would just be stupidity that drives them and I would like to try and think a little better of the people out there lol. You all will be fine, just remember why your doing this and on't second guess yourselves. We have tried it all and sometimes it's just out of our hands. PamR You need to remember this is a tool that we will use to help us on this journey, will we sometimes fall yes will we pick ourselves up and try again yes its called being human. Remember there are all kinds of victory's and if you find you slip a little remember every day is a new day to start again. If she is doing all of these mean things to you then hold your head high and smile cause you will know your a better person than that, and she will not suceed in her long term weight journey. A good friend always tells me "God doesn't like ugly". Good Luck to everyone Hugs TT

Has anyone used Dr. Joseph Moran in Raleigh?

I have not had mine done yet, I was undecided between RNY and the Lap band, leaning towards the Lapband. I have most of my pretesting done and only have 2months left of my documented weight sessions with my dr. for insurance purposes. I am looking at having this done the first week of June. I already met with his staff and they seem nice. I went to another surgeon and he was so cocky and I felt like I was at a used car lot. How was your experience with Moran? If you want to we can talk private let me know, I have lots more questions lol! Theresa

My bmi is 36.9 what happens if I do the liquid before surgery and it drops below 35? I would think it wouldn't matter because I would have my insurance approval already but thought I would ask. thanks TT

Hi I just went to a seminar at Duke and I'm thinking of doing the same WLS, how are you doing? I was going to just do the band but then the surgeon talked about plication with the band and it sounded interesting. Did you swell up alot? thanks Theresa