NYC1992

March 27 for me!!! 10 days left...

I seem to have regained my confidence and logic again... each day is a new day; I have taken responsibility for the past and now I am moving on to better things. Like I said, it's not so much a food thing (even though it doesn't feel normal having SO much less than I'm used to after my whole life being used to eating a certain amount/way). Throughout this entire process, I have been my own motivation because my family doesn't have the desire/time/sympathy to care about what I'm going through. The average person my age would've given up a long time ago. If I happen to have ONE moment of weakness, I shouldn't freak out and reconsider the purpose in everything. I respect what each person has to say as you've all had the surgery already, but I think you may forget your early journey as you associate it with a time where you weren't happy at all with yourself. Just makes me see this forum a little differently.

I wouldn't say it's that I'm obsessed with food at all because I was never a binge eater before... I just feel like I'm all alone with this and extra-sensitive. I don't know anyone my age going through this so it's bringing on all these new feelings I didn't have before. Telling me I'm may not be ready is just making me more upset. I should be proud of myself of all the hard work I did put into this (6 months diet/being weighed, blood work, psych evals, seminar, consultations) and now that I'm thinking clearer, I feel more empowered.

I was approved on Monday and chose my surgery date on Tuesday. Was SO excited and happy that my time was finally coming... had been in the process since July and put in so much work to achieve the approval all on my own without much support from family/friends. I wanted a March date badly so that I could lose a proud amount for my 21st birthday in early May, so I chose March 27 - only having 1 day to say goodbye to eating how I did my whole life. So Wednesday (yesterday) I kinda loat it and could only think about food. My sleep cycle has been off for non-related reasons, so I did not know when to start the Protein shakes. I ended up slipping up when an issue with insurance came about (fixed now but it upset me) and ate some food. Today I had one out of the five Protein Shakes I'm supposed to have... but I find myself only focusing on the food I crave. I wanted to change everything so badly but I literally feel like a wild animal out of control. I'm so hungry both physically and mentally that I am losing confidence in myself every hour

Nevermind seems like my mom will help out with it.. sorry for the alarm!

Well, I guess no more lap band for me. Insurance didn't tell me $2000 would have to be self-paid... what a let down after all these months.

March 27! Starting the pre-op diet today!

Thanks all!!

Got my insurance approval yesterday (Monday the 11th)... cried tears of joy when I found out over the phone! I was adament to NYU where the surgery will take place that a March date was important to me... so my official date is March 27 which means I start the pre-op diet TOMORROW! Did not expect to start so soon but I feel so happy and motivated that I know this was meant to be. YAY!!! ~Mark

APPROVED!!!!!! I had tears when insurance called and told me the awesome news

Still waiting for the call... or will it be in the mail?? So nervous but excited!

Thanks @Donna yes it will be at NYU.

Should say in my profile --- Dr. Fielding

FINALLY the psych eval was sent to my hospital and now my case is opened for approval by insurance! So nervous but excited... apparently I will find out within the week.

I have Dr Fielding and so far he's been nothing short of great

I have UHC through my mom's work... all gets sent to them on Monday... so nervous!

I have him too! I was told Lap band is better than Realize by a nurse there...

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome! @MysticalSoulss so awesome you did NYU as well!

Hey everyone, My name is Mark and I am 20 years old (21 in May) from New York City; very excited to be a member here I have been overweight my entire childhood and adolescenthood and have taken it upon myself as my responsibility to better my health and overall worth of self via getting the lap band and the life journey that accompanies it. I have been researching being banded for a few years now but officially started the process in July 2012 by attending a seminar at NYU Medical Center where I met and chose my surgeon. After completing the six months diet required by insurance and some blood tests, I was finally able to get my psychological evaluation done this past Friday and now everything is going to be sent to my insurance company in hopes of approval. The nurse I've been corresponding with from insurance has been incredibly helpful and optimistic so for now I am in the waiting phase. I am nervous about the actual surgery and recovery above everything else, having never had any type of anesthesia before. I have a long way to go but I'm very motivated and excited to begin everything

October 17 if my insurance gets approved... all I need is my psych evaluation done.

More info on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! My mom has United Healthcare Choice Plus and I am on her insurance/would be the one getting the surgery.

Went to a seminar and have an appointment with him this coming week Very excited!

So my new doctor (who is my mom's doctor too; I'm 20 and recently changed from my pediatrician) is all for me doing the lap band but wants me to go on a no-carb diet to see what it does for me. I've tried to stick to it but have slipped up several times since Wednesday and feel like this could either come across two ways to others -- that I can't control myself on a regular diet and the lap band would force it upon me OR I wouldn't be able to do the lap band diet. I feel guilty about not following it perfectly but want the lap band so much I still feel like it is the right decision and woulld be able to fully switch over to the lifestyle. Hope this makes sense?

I'm very much hoping to be banded before September since that's when I start school, but I haven't had any appointments yet aside from consulting with my pediatrician (I'm 20) and my mom's physician (I assume I will go to both doctors depending).

Hey all, I met with my doctor today regarding my going ahead with the lap band process and he was all for it. I was referred to get a Stress Echo test, Carotid Intima-media thickness, and CT Chest Screening. Have any of you gotten these done and what was the experience like? Thank you! Mark