Michee

I dont expect everyone to be Mr Right, but I wouldnt mind having some fun with a few Mr Not So Bads in the meantime.

I hear ya sista
I too am on plenty of fish, and only seem to be meeting duds! I am starting to believe that there are no decent men left!

I don't want to be too harsh, but SCREW anyone who can't be supportive of you. This is a disease that could KILL you if you don't have this surgery. How anyone cannot be supportive of our decision to get banded is beyond me. That said, how I dealt with it was to deal a pre-emptive strike. I researched and researched, found studies showing that diet and excercise alone has a 100 percent failure rate over time, and the benefits of the lap-band. Since I am going to Mexico, I also researched doctors. I put all of this research in an email and to my loved ones said simply:

"Thank you in advance for your love and support. This was not an easy decision, but in the end, it was a choice for living life to its fullest, living without disease or chronic conditions, and simply, just staying alive. If for some reason you have any concerns or negagtive judgments, please keep them to yourself. I have researched every aspect of this procedure and I am well aware of its benefits, risks, complications, and believe me, the success stories far outweigh any potential complication. Please respect that this is my decision and I hope I can count on you to support me and love me as I go through this process - which is going to take a lot of work on my end. Thank you all and remember I love you very much!"

So that is what I wrote and no one, no one, has since had anything but good things to say - and I am going to Mexico too. They know it is NOT an option to give me their negative opinion (if they have one). So it has been very empowering for me to speak up.

I wish you luck and hope you can find the strength to tell your loved ones to give you the space to make your own decision and I hope that that they will love you without condition and without judgment.

Angela

Heather do you know the name of the bill passed in December? I'd be interested in reviewing it. I have mixed feelings about potential coverage for the band - very few of us who are self-pay are wealthy and it has been a stretch for most. For the gov't to cover it would require an adjustment of available OR times that are currently used for Cancer surgeries and other more imminent life threatening procedures. While obesity will result in decreased longevity, death for most will be a result of illnesses as a result of obesity. I found a way to finance the band surgery and have a resolved committment to ensure this works. Would it be the same if I could have simply had the procedure covered? Not sure - but I would not have wanted to join a two to three year waiting list if that had been an option. Thank God I didn't have to make that decision - the only choice I had was to do it or not - no complications with trying to decide if I could afford it - I could not afford to not have the surgery. Just my thoughts.
Cindy