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My wife just agreed for me to have the banding surgery!! She's going with me on Sept. 7 to my Pre-Op Meeting!!!! WHOOPIEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

In my mind, I've made up my mind over the past couple of days to be banded. Preferrably, as soon as possible. My wife has been really on the fence, which, it turns out, is probably a good thing. The past couple of days, I find I've found feelings coming out that I haven't had in recent and not so recent memory. I've dealt with depression for a couple of years now, but the past couple of days, I've really hit a new low. Like I'm in purgatory, waiting on St. Peter to make a decision on me. I've finally gotten the chance to see the rest of my life, but there's a big "PLEASE STAND BY..." before I get there. There's been quite a bit of stress in my life lately. I'm a computer technician for an understaffed school district. There are 900 computers and three of us - all trying to get everything working immediately. The stress is enormous. I find very little satisfaction in my life right now. The only thing that gets me through the day (my 4 year old and wife notwithstanding) are my trips to the fast-food restaurants for Breakfast, lunch and sometimes even dinner. When I'm banded, what replaces that? I realize that my depression will gradually get better, I'll have more energy, I'll feel better - but what happens when life becomes a dog-eat-dog world, and you're wearing milk-bone underwear? Do many of you seek counseling or therapy in addition to your fills? What replaces eating when you get stressed out? I think I'm probably going to start seeing a therapist before officially signing on the dotted line - just to see what his/her plan is for when I can no longer wallow in mysery with my best friend, Ronald McDonald. Suggestions??:paranoid:paranoid

Thanks so very much for the encouragement. Had a crappy day (day 2 without soda... only water...) horrible headaches and then I get home only for my 4 year old to say he wants McDonalds for dinner. Well... I did soemthing I haven't done in a LONG time. Gone through the drive-through and only ordered a bottle of water!!! ...doesn't help the headaches, but it's one of those quiet battles I've won...

I had my initial consultation at the WLSC yesterday. I wasn't aware of other clinics although I have read about Dr. Malley on the boards. My impressions of the WLSC was that it was very clean, nice, professional. The counselor/nurse that I met with was also a bander and she was very gracious with her time. She talked with me for almost an hour answering all of my questions. The finance lady is named Jackie, she is also very nice and even called me that afternoon to check in. Since I'm going to need to self-pay, I'd also like to hear from other KC'ers on their impressions. What have you heard about Dr. Augustin and Nigro? I don't know who my doctor would be, but am eager to hear more.

Good luck!! Some more Kansas City love heading your way!!

Tracy, who did you go to? I went to the Weight Loss Surgical Center - the one that's blasting on the ads on TV right now. I am normally against doing something because of a TV ad, but the clinic was very clean, nice and the nurses and folks were really friendly. I just didn't get a chance to meet the doctors yet. I hope to do that soon. I live in KC North and work in Excelsior Springs, but maybe I can meet up with ya some time and buy you a bottle of Water and you can tell me the real skinny on how you're so skinny!! Keep up the awesome work. Your pictures look fantastic!!

My wife is... what I would say, heavier, but I guess not super-overweight. It's not a problem for her at this time and I guess we love each other to see through the fat and really love each other for who we are. All that's great. Mushy, mushy, right? But I really think that by pursuing this, she thinks she's getting hurt. We constantly look at each other after a hard day at work and the look in our eyes automatically dials the pizza Hut. Neither of us cook very well, so we have the Applebee's to go on speed dial. We have a "tradition" where on Sunday morning's I'll go to Hardees and get whatever crap food of the day for Breakfast so she'll have it when she gets up. We're romantic, but when I stop and look at it, we're romantic WITH CRAP FOOD. So, I think that's got a lot to do with it as well. I've never had a problem going on a 4-month diet. And I'm not about to say she railroaded any of them. I did that. But she did start to chip away at the good habit foundation that I had laid. Anyway, I think she's got some worries and my entire life is about making her and my little boy happy. It's just going to have to be by living until I'm 80 and eating less rather than eating crap food on Sunday mornings and dying when I'm 41. I'm just afraid that she might want the latter because it's easier. Dunno. Thanks, by the way for the messages. I got approved for the loan yesterday and I haven't called the place back yet to set my appointment. Still have a few more questions... but I'm on my way... Oh... and I stopped drinking soda today. Not really a pre-op diet because I'm still eating crap, but I had no soda, only Water - and lots of it. The headache tells me that something is working... No pain, no gain, right?

Hello everyone, I'm Chris from Kansas City. I just met with my nurses today at the Weight Loss Surgical Center in Overland Park, KS. Not sure who my doctor would be. Still not 100% on getting the surgery. The wife is VERY on the fence about it. I'm about 95% for. I lost about 60 pounds about 18 months ago and put back all of it PLUS 20 more. I'm at 342 as of this morning with a BMI of 44.2. That's bad, right? Can't be good. I'm a fast food fatty. I can't drive by one of them places without stopping in. If I told you how often I ate there you'd flip your lid. My wife wants me to try "everything else but that" including acupuncture and hypnosis before agreeing to the surgery. This seems to me to be throwing good money after bad. I've tried the dieting. Not once, not twice, but dozens of times over the past 20 years. And look where it's gotten me. The lap band seems to be an acceptible risk with a very acceptible reward. I don't know. It just seems like the time is now. I've got a 4 year old son and I want to be around to see him hit 14. Advice?