kathystrick

Wow, that stinks! Did they give you any idea why you have to go back? Sorry for your disappointment, but don't give up!!

Thanks Ashley. You are really doing great. Over half way to your goal...Woo Hoo!! You go girl! Hopefully that will be me by this time next year.

I am from Sumter, SC but moved to Atlanta in July. We get back home at least once a month. I am still in the starting stages of the banding process.

Thanks for understanding. I guess we've all been there at one time or another. I just wish we could have realize when we were young how ignorant those boys were before they had such a negative impact on our self esteem. I know mine surely suffered. I shrank a little more everytime he said it. And now, over 20 years later, I am still suffering because of his ignorance. I have been to my seminar, but that's as far as I've gone. I haven't been able to find a job since moving to Georgia, which I am also blaming at least in part on my size, so we just don't have the money for all of the pre-testing and co-pays and stuff right now. Looks like I am going to have to wait a bit, but I'm not giving up!! Good luck with your surgery and keep me posted on how it goes. I will be thinking about you!!! Kathy

We have a fitness center at our apartment complex, so I checked at home, but technically, not IN my home.

DH and I had issues with his ex because of her clothing choices for their daughter when she was younger. She is almost 15 now and it seems to have gotten better since she started making her own clothing choices. When she was younger, I finally told her mother not to bother sending clothes with her when she came to stay with us because we were ashamed to take her on public dressed in what she brought form home! We bought more conservative clothes and kept them for her at our house. DD never seemed to mind, but boy her mother sure did, let me tell ya!! But we stuck to our guns and eventually she found something else to complain about and wearing non-provocative clothing while at our house didn't kill DD. Go figure... Kathy

BJean - You didn't sound preachy! You are saying the things I have been thinking and in a way fearing I guess. I have been to my seminar and all I need to do to get the ball rolling is call my insurance and verify coverage, then make my first appointment. But you know what? I am scared to death to do that. :help: I keep finding reason after reason not to. I am so afraid I will once again not have the willpower to succeed, after putting myself through surgery and all that entails, to still look in the mirror and see this fat person. I want to lose the weight, I really do. But how does one go about dealing with the head issues that got you where you are in the first place? Personally, I know a lot of mine is self esteem issues. Growing up being bigger than most of the boys in my class. There was one who even called me "Big Momma" who lived in my neighborhood, so I heard it all the time from him and his friends, who would always laugh it up when he said it. :cry I see him around town sometimes now and I still remember him saying that and wonder if he recognizes me and thinks that name still. Getting the weight off always takes care of the self esteem part of the problem, at least until it starts creeping back on. :faint:I read and read these forums and the success stories are awesome and very motivational, especially the pictures. I just have to decide that the fear of what might happen isn't as strong as my deisre to make it not happen, if that makes any sense. The skinny woman in me is ready to be set free!!!! :clap2:

Wow Vikki...thanks for being so honest. You hear so many people only saying in a lot of the threads how great the band is but not talking about their continued struggles with and because of it. Thank you for opening up. Kathy

The doctor I am consulting with said he only requires a 2 day liquid diet, but most I have seen on here say 2 weeks. Don't know why he doesn't require that, but I plan to find out.

Sometimes I feel like the only difference between me and a drug addict is that they usually lose weight and I just seem to keep packing on more and more. :faint: I agree with what you said about genetics and body chemistry. I was watching a show on tv the other day and they said children of obese parents are ____% more likely to be obese. Well DUH!! I know my parents have both struggled with weight. But could it also be that everyone in a household is most likely eating the same things and practicing the same sedentary lifestyle? I am just ready for my fight with my body to be over. I have been losing this battle since I was a teenager and have all but given up doing it on my own at this point. :cry Hoping the band will be just the kick in the butt I need to regain control of myself. Kathy

I have Anthem BCBS and from what I have read on here, they seem to be pretty lenient with their requirements compared to some others. I don't have any comorbidities, so I am hoping to get by without having to have a lot of extra testing done. Just with what I already know is required I am anticipating having to wait until I find a job so I can pay for the tests, but I am attributing not being able to find a job in part to my size, so I am in a real catch 22 here. But I keep looking and going to interviews, so maybe something will come along soon. Thanks for responding! Kathy

Thanks for the info. Wow, there is a lot to do! I don't have to have a referral from my PCP because I have PPO insurance. I will be calling my insurance company tomorrow to verify coverage, then Monday calling the office to set that first appointment. Dr. Steinberg was in surgery for most of our seminar, so I really didn't get a feel for him as I would like to in order to make my choice between the two, so looks like I will be going with Dr. Menachery.

My name is Kathy and I live in Alpharetta. I have my seminar today with Dr. Steinberg and am so excited!! I have heard a lot of wonderful things about him and really loook forward to meeting him.

Living in Alpharetta, Georgia (just outside Atlanta) since 7/07 Born and raised in Sumter, SC

I think a cookbook and/or website would be AWESOME!! As someone just starting out on the journey to Bandland, I know I would find it very helpful. I keep reading through the posts and think the food changes are going to be the most intimidating thing about the change.

Thanks Rumar. I had trouble sleeping last night just anticipating the seminar. I can't imagine what I will be like as I get further into the process!!

if you had to have a psych evaluation, did he refer you to a specific doctor? What was the evaluation like? What did it consist of? I am attending my seminar with him 10/18 and I am just trying to get in mind everything to expect. Thanks! Kathy

I am going to Dr. Steinberg's seminar tomorrow (10/18) at Dekalb and plan to have him do my surgery if everything goes ok and I am approved and everything. Kathy

I am in Alpharetta and new to the site. I just called and scheduled my seminar for tomorrow (10/18) at Dekalb with Dr. Steinberg. Woo hoo!!! Getting the ball rolling! Kathy

I did and it helps to know a lot of people share the fear but are still grateful they had it done. Good for you finding a different hospital!! I have been looking around myself hoping to find a seminar on a weekend, but they are all well over an hour away! When there are perfectly good, reputable hospitals and doctors very near my house that have seminars during the week, I can't justify planning surgery at a location that far from home. Good luck to you and keep me upated!! Kathy

<p>Hi Ginny!</p> <p>I am in the thinking stages too. I fear complications most of all, but also failure. I hate to go through all of this and end up fat again because I am weak!! Do I really believe that or is it just easier to believe that than to fight the battle? I think I'm just a scaredy cat!! Anyway, good luck on your journey. The 28th will be here before you know it!</p>

Hi Charise! I know where Buckhead is! :Banane35: Not far at all! This site has provided some wonderful information and I am really enjoying all of the great people here. I have Anthem BCBS through my husband's work and from what I have read here and on other sites, it's pretty easy to get approved by them if your BMI is over 40, which mine is. I hope that is the case. Now I just have to take that first step and get the ball rolling. I wish I weren't such a chicken!!:rolleyes I do clerical/secretarial work. I have been on countless interviews in the past 2 months and honestly the discrimination I have felt because of my size is one of the reasons I have begun seriously considering the surgery. I have always tried to "lie" to myself and think that because I am so tall and just big, that I could carry 300+ pounds and no one would notice. Ha! Then I started going to interviews around here where everyone else in the office is in their 20's and looks like they just stepped off of tv. Talk about a reality check! Anyway, thanks for the welcome and it's nice to meet you. Look forward to chatting more! Kathy

Thanks for the welcome Amy. You are seem to be doing well to have just had surgery!! Congratulations on that and good luck!! Kathy

Hi Brandy! I was actually looking at your pics on another post of yours before I started this thread and admiring your success. I had never seriously considered WLS until I found out about the band because of fear of complications and regaining the weight. Hubby's ex-wife had RenY a little over a year ago and is already putting it back on. Hubby is from coastal NC, but we LOVE the mountains, so I am with ya there!! Kathy

I haven't even been to a consult yet Shirley! I'm chicken!! But my goal is to do that before 11/1 and I am going to DeKalb as well. Not too far from where I live. Do you go to any of their support meetings?