Anndallei

Thanks for the helpful input! It's nice to know what to expect. I have three more days to go!!! My Optifast diet is going well...I weighed in at my pre-op appointment and found out that I had lost 12 pounds (in 8 days) I'm hoping to lose another 8 pounds by Tuesday. I'm getting really excited...not scared nor do I have any uncertainties. I am sooooo ready!!! Hey all you NW WA banders, keep me posted on how you're doing...we're all in this together...I honestly believe we've made one of the smartest moves in our lives!!! Life can only get better!!

It went great! My surgery will be on September 13th at 1:15 pm. Thankfully, I get to have it at NWWLS (instead of the hospital) as the doc doesn't feel I will have any problems what-so-ever!!! yea! I am so excited!!! I'm on Optifast until surgery day which is fine with me....I am sooo ready for this! They want me to try to lose 20 pounds by then if possible....I will try my darndest! Didn't you just have your surgery? I thought it was this week (Sept. 31st) How'd it go? How are you doing?

I'm having my LapBand surgery in Everett, WA. Will cost me about $17,000 for 13 months of care including pre-op, surgery, post-op and fills. After a year, I'll have to pay for additional fills. I paid way more for my SUV and it sure ain't gonna' save my life so I feel it's well worth the cost! Had to mortgage our house, but what better way to spend the money!!!

Dr. Watkins is doing my surgery. My appointment for the psych eval. is with Linda and it will be done on Fri. Sept 2nd before my appointment with Dr Watkins. Whoo Hoo!! I noticed several people have said "pre-op on Optifast"...is that something we have to go on before surgery? If so, for how long? Molly...wow, August 31st is almost here! Let us know how your surgery goes! I'm so excited for you!!! I can hardly wait until my surgery date gets here, and I don't even have one yet!!!! Thanks for the support all...much appreciated. I just can't fully express how excited I am about having this surgery done...I know you all can relate!!!!

For over 15 years now, I've been the Executive Director of a non-profit organization providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. I hope to retire in 6-8 years. My husband and I raised our three children (currently in their 20's and 30's) and recently started the process over again as we are helping raise our great-grand-daughter who is 5 months old and living with us! It's awesome...she is a joy!

It's sad but true...wiping the butt (for some of us) is one heck of a time consuming and awkward chore! Sorry...that's pretty gross albeit true. I am soooo looking forward to that not being one of life's little problems!!!! Got my appointment today with the NWWLS nurse for Aug. 30th and with the NWWL surgery doctor on Sept 2nd and am waiting to hear back from the psychologist. I'm ready to roll! pam

I just got back from a seminar at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery Center in Everett. I've decided that that is indeed where I'm going to have my LapBand done. I'm making my appointment tomorrow as soon as their office opens! Since I had already done lots of research, I already knew 99% of the information they provided. Hearing the doc and other lap banders speak just made my decision to do this even stronger. I have no qualms whatsoever. It will cost over $17,000 but well worth saving or adding several more years to my life expectancy. With my age (56) and a BMI of 61, I have a strong probability of dying (any time!) I'm goin' for it! I'll keep you posted... If I can get to 200 pounds I will be very happy....Ideally, I'd like to be about 155 (I don't feel I need to be bone thin.) I'm "supposed" to weigh about 120 but let me tell you...I'd be real happy...make that estatic if I could get down to 155! pam

Jabba the Hut must be my cousin...we look remarkably similiar!

That's good news....I was afraid it might be like the insurance requirement (having to show a history/record of dieting using an approved program before even considering approval.) I knew it made a difference when having the surgery but didn't understand why, other then getting to the stomach would be easier, as I didn't realize the first fat busting area is in the liver! Makes total sense now!

That's amazing to me!!!! OMG! Running (I can barely walk!) for the bus!! Run has not been in my vocabulary for about 20 years! I can't even imagine it!!! That's a huge stride...I'm truly impressed and psyched now!!! It sounds to me like you're doing great! I actually don't want to lose the weight too fast (one of my reasons for choosing the Lapband)...if I do, I'll have hanging skin everywhere! Not that I won't anyway, but at least I'll have time to exercise and tone up a bit so that it won't be quite so bad. Just being able to get around easier will be too cool; carrying this 200+ extra pounds is taking its toll. I hurt everywhere but mostly knees, ankles and back. I wish I could have the surgery tomorrow!!!! I got my loan approved yesterday for the surgery so I'm gonna' move this along as fast as I can. Did they make you lose weight before you could schedule surgery? If so, is there a time requirement for such or just an amount you have to lose (I've read its 10 pounds) which would be a breeze for me.) I'm hoping to have the surgery before the first of the year but don't know if that's even remotely possible. Maybe I'll find out at the orientation seminar I'm going to on Sept 1st. Not having to go through insurance should save some time...hopefully. I am so excited!!!!! Thanks so much for the information. pam

Hi folks! I too am sooo glad to see there are others close to my age here (I'm 56.) I have four grown children, one grand-child and five months ago became a great-grandmother! I'll be a self pay and plan to have the surgery as soon as they accept me. My first step is an orientation seminar on 9-1-05. My BMI is 61 so getting this done has become crucial. Like so many others, I want to be around to enjoy future grandbabies and great-grandbabies! I have several comorbidities but for the most part am relatively healthy so.....now is the time! pam

Hi Crystal! Yes indeedy, it is a small world we live in!!! I'm glad to hear from someone who has had the surgery. Can I ask how long your actual surgery took? How long before you went home? Cost? The upsides and downsides...I'm ready for any of it. Only answer what you feel comfortable sharing. I've made the decision to do this one way or another. I'm excited and a little apprehensive but ultimately know this is what I need and want to do. My BMI is 61...enough said. My husband did Atkins and lost over 80 pounds about a year ago and has kept it off. I have never had a truly successful dieting experience...and I've tried them all....blah, blah, blah....haven't we all! Thanks for the support everyone...it's truly appreciated! pam

Thank you for the advice! I made my appointment for 8-1-05 to attend the seminar. NWWLS wrote back today and said the surgery will cost me about $17,000 barring any complications. Since my insurance doesn't cover the surgery, we're going to finance it through our bank (hopefully) at a reasonable rate. Tacoma would cost me less (Surgical Weight Loss Clinic) but it would be a much longer drive and I do not feel as sure about them as I do NWWLS. Keep me posted on your visit and any additional information/comments you might have. Best regards, pam

I live in Sedro Woolley...so we're kinda' neighbors! I mentioned Mexico to my husband and he said no way! He'd rather we pay more and have it done locally. At around $18,000 the surgery will cost less than my car did and Lord knows, we're certainly used to making payments, so we'll just "buck up" and pay it. At my age (56) it means less for retirement but, to put it in perspective, what good will retirement be....if I'm dead! I e-mailed Northwest Weight Loss Surgery a few minutes ago to inquire about having the surgery through them. I'm also filling out the forms they had available on-line and will mail them tomorrow. I'm on vacation through next week so plan to get something started before I have to go back to work. As you can tell, I'm ready to do this! I'll give an update when I hear from them. Best regards, pam

Thank you! Sounds like that's the one for me! pam

I'm in Sedro Woolley. Looking for doctor to do my (self pay) Lap Band surgery. Anyone know of a very good, very experienced doctor in this area?...Everett would be fine. Any idea of what the cost would be to have the laproscopic surgery locally?