Angelsma

Since my last entry I changed from Riverside Hospital to Ohio State University Hospital for a variety of reasons. However, the most pressing was financial. The Riverside program fee was $2500 ($1000 more than I expected even on the high end). Secondly, the OSU doctor has done nearly 9 times the lapband than the Riverside doctor who primarily did gastric bypass surgery until last year. So, I feel pretty confident with all my research, talking to other OSU patients, and reading and reading some more on Lapband Talk.com to find answers to questions I would never think to ask i.e. what should I have in the house before I leave for the hospital? 2. What is the best exercise etc. I've learned a lot from this site. THANKS EVERBODY. Last Friday 1/9, OSU called and said I should hear something via mail about my appointment with the nutrionist within the next two weeks.

Thank you Mrs Peace for your post. I too was wresting a bit with what my family and friends would/might say. However, I believe with all of my heart the lapband surgery is a God-send. Only individuals who have struggled with weight issues can truly understand that it isn't always about our will. "Willing" to lose (and subseqently gaining it all back and more) is what got me (and I'm sure many others) to this point. The LB is simply a God-given tool to aid us as we trust Him....as we "walk it out" Thank you again.

Yes, I've joined a gym (local YMCA) and have promised to go at least 3 x's a week. My reasoning is that I want to ward off as much of the "bat arms" as possible post surgery. Throughout my 20's (when I was about 140 lbs) I ran 3 or 4 times a week and my body stayed toned. However, with the amount of weight I've gained over the years I began swimming again for the first time in many years and love it. There are countless benefits to swimming (check it out). In addition to being an overall toning workout; it raises your heart rate, there isn't any pounding on your knees or back, your body is weightless in the pool, it increases h2o in the lungs, all the while it feels great! I also really enjoy water aerobics. I usually sleep really well after swimming.

You are an inspriation to me. I want to run again...it is one of my goals/my dream! I ran thrughout my 20's to my mid-30's and then something happened that I just gave up on myself after a few physical, emotional, and spiritual set-backs resulting in a nearly 90 lb weight gain. I am in the pro-app phase at the Ohio State Unversity program. Once I begin to lose weight after getting banded I look forward to running again again

CONGRATS JAZZYWOMAN!! I'm still the app/waiting mode.

Hello, please count me in to the "Ohio Banders" group. I have just applied to the OSU medical bariatric program. From what I can tell waiting is the most difficult part.

How are things going with your app/process? I just applied to OSU and hope the process goes quickly. What insurance do you have? Mine is Anthem BC/BS.

Got a call my from dr's office last Thursday. They're ready to schedule my pre-op appt. but I want to get my finances in order before I go in. The last thing I need is to worry about paying the program fees (approx $2650 at Riverside Hospital). I was very confused because I thought it was going to be $1500 max but the lady threw out several figures that I was under the impression was included in the $1500. I'm going to call back and get it in writing so I'm not confused further. Hopefully, I'll know something next week.

Got a call my from dr's office last Thursday. They're ready to schedule my pre-op appt. but I want to get my finances in order before I go in. The last thing I need is to worry about paying the program fees (approx $2650 at Riverside Hospital). I was very confused because I thought it was going to be $1500 max but the lady threw out several figures that I was under the impression was included in the $1500. I'm going to call back and get it in writing so I'm not confused further. Hopefully, I'll know something next week.

Hello, and welcome to the site/this thread. If you're looking for a local certified surgeon maybe you could check on the American Society of Matobolic and Surgeon's Society site. In addition to doing my research, I wanted to find a certified surgeon. May God abundantly with knowledge as you move ahead in your decision. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Hello, please add me to your distribution list (if there is such a thing). I believe the LB is a God-send for me as I am sure for most who will take the time to think that maintaining our bodies is our "reasonable service" unto The Lord. Thanks fo rstarting the thread. I promise to be an active poster Angelsma

I have "fresh start" meeting with the dr and his team at the heart hospital here in Columbus, Ohio. I'm excited and a tad bid emotional because I believe this will be the beginning of a whole new life for me. From reading other posts I know my life will never be the same. So many things come to mind. It is my prayer that my back and knees will no longer ache; I won't have to look for clothes that aren't going to "hurt" or have elastic waist bands; I will no longer need to be embarassed when the airplane seat belt doesn't fit; I will no longer "pretend" that my weight doesn't bother me; As I begin to lose weight and continue my exercise I will no longer fear of having a stroke or heart attack; I won't have to fear that people are judging me as a just another fat person (especially people who have known me a long time and feel comfortable saying "oh, my god what happened? You have gained so much weight. All the while my heart is aching and the thought is running through my "I really don't want to be this way...I didn't wake up with the thought I will make myself 240 lbs by the time I'm 50. Oh well, I'd better get on with my day. It's so therapuetic just writing on here. I'll be on my way to the dr's office tonight. More tomorrow.

I have "fresh start" meeting with the dr and his team at the heart hospital here in Columbus, Ohio. I'm excited and a tad bid emotional because I believe this will be the beginning of a whole new life for me. From reading other posts I know my life will never be the same. So many things come to mind. It is my prayer that my back and knees will no longer ache; I won't have to look for clothes that aren't going to "hurt" or have elastic waist bands; I will no longer need to be embarassed when the airplane seat belt doesn't fit; I will no longer "pretend" that my weight doesn't bother me; As I begin to lose weight and continue my exercise I will no longer fear of having a stroke or heart attack; I won't have to fear that people are judging me as a just another fat person (especially people who have known me a long time and feel comfortable saying "oh, my god what happened? You have gained so much weight. All the while my heart is aching and the thought is running through my "I really don't want to be this way...I didn't wake up with the thought I will make myself 240 lbs by the time I'm 50. Oh well, I'd better get on with my day. It's so therapuetic just writing on here. I'll be on my way to the dr's office tonight. More tomorrow.

I am looking at Riverside's program - my initial visit will be at the McConnell Heart Hospital. I am soooo looking forward to getting banded. It seems like that as I go through peri-menopause I want to eat everything in my path. It's like having constant pms munchies. Not good, not good at all. Stay in touch.

Hello, from one buckeye to another. I'm here in Columbus, Ohio as well and looking forward to my initial consult next week. Let me know how things are going for you and where you are in the process. Take care.

Hello, I am just at the beginning of looking at Riverside/Dr. Myers to have my banding. Dr. Myers is fully accredited and board certified so I feel very confident he would be the only person here that I would want to do it. My Fresh Start seminar is on 12/3 and hope that I won't have to wait too long after that to have the surgery. I can't freakin tie my shoes without groaning. When did that happen? Besides being peri-menopausal I'm overweight too. Lord, I need a break Please let me know where you are now in the process. Stay in touch.

It was back to work after the holiday's and the day went fast. I'm counting down to my initial consultation. I'm not sure how long it take to find out if my insurance company will approve the procedure. I am praying it won't take too long. Gee my knees, back, cholesterol can't take much more "pressure". Well not much to write about today. I'm so glad I found this site.:hungry:

It was back to work after the holiday's and the day went fast. I'm counting down to my initial consultation. I'm not sure how long it take to find out if my insurance company will approve the procedure. I am praying it won't take too long. Gee my knees, back, cholesterol can't take much more "pressure". Well not much to write about today. I'm so glad I found this site.:hungry:

I beginning to actually believe this is the beginning of the rest/best part of my life. My weight issues have been with me for as long as I can remember. Looking back over the last thirty years, I have always thought I was fat when actually I was a normal kid who was a little on the hefty side (5' 5" @ 110 - 115lbs. in jr high....I know isn't that freakin crazy) but then I had a sister who was always less than 100 lbs who made me look like a giant. So, my yo-yo dieting began at all costs. I would lose 20 on diet pills (back then they were called black beautifies) and gain 30; lose 30 and gain 40 lbs. It seemed like I could never gain control of the vicious cycle of eating, self loathing, dieting/exercising with equal amounts of joy and excitement with the short lived weight loss. As late as 2001, I lost 30 lbs on a no/low carb plan only to gain 50 lbs. when I didn't think anyone else was looking. Where were they looking - I was self destructing in their faces. I could see the disgust and dissapointment in my family eyes when I would walked into a room. I had a high school friend (who has always been thin) come up to me on the street and asked "what happend? how did you gain all that weight?" AND THAT WAS BEFORE I GAINED THE LAST 50 LBS!!!! So, when I researched my options, the lap band was the only logical. I know that with the support groups and online support, I'll work through all the other issues tha have plagued me along with the weight. It's not always just about eating. I belive it also means that I will begin to believe that I'm worth being healthy and putting myself first for a change.

I beginning to actually believe this is the beginning of the rest/best part of my life. My weight issues have been with me for as long as I can remember. Looking back over the last thirty years, I have always thought I was fat when actually I was a normal kid who was a little on the hefty side (5' 5" @ 110 - 115lbs. in jr high....I know isn't that freakin crazy) but then I had a sister who was always less than 100 lbs who made me look like a giant. So, my yo-yo dieting began at all costs. I would lose 20 on diet pills (back then they were called black beautifies) and gain 30; lose 30 and gain 40 lbs. It seemed like I could never gain control of the vicious cycle of eating, self loathing, dieting/exercising with equal amounts of joy and excitement with the short lived weight loss. As late as 2001, I lost 30 lbs on a no/low carb plan only to gain 50 lbs. when I didn't think anyone else was looking. Where were they looking - I was self destructing in their faces. I could see the disgust and dissapointment in my family eyes when I would walked into a room. I had a high school friend (who has always been thin) come up to me on the street and asked "what happend? how did you gain all that weight?" AND THAT WAS BEFORE I GAINED THE LAST 50 LBS!!!! So, when I researched my options, the lap band was the only logical. I know that with the support groups and online support, I'll work through all the other issues tha have plagued me along with the weight. It's not always just about eating. I belive it also means that I will begin to believe that I'm worth being healthy and putting myself first for a change.

Hi Elisa, thanks for the resonse. Yes, my insurance does cover the procedure, and so I've schedule my initial consultation here in Columbus at the McConnell Heart Center next week. I'm quite sure I'll have the procedure at Riverside Methodist once "the dust settles". I'm keeping the mindset that "whether I'm approved or not....I need to begin to at change my thinking about my weight so I'm not totally devastasted if declined for some reason. Lets stay in touch as we move through the process. Maybe we can organize a "buckeye-banding reunion"

CONGRATULATIONS! And yes, it helps me a great deal. I have the same insurer.

YOU GO GIRL!!! I can't wait to pick out my kini Angelsma

Over the past year I've researched/considered weight loss surgery. I've read everything I could find on the pros and cons and found the lapband to be the most compatible surgery for me. I am a 240 lb. 5'5" 50 year old woman who through yo-yo dieting and major life stresses, just gave up on trying to ever reach an ideal weight. However, with the lapband it appears "help is on the way". For the first time in my life I've decided to do something for myself without feeling guilty or worrying about what others are going to say i.e. only weak people do that or if you tried hard enough you'll lose the weight. Also, I know that with the weight loss I will forced to "deal" with my self image or body issues. Can anyone out there talk about the emotional changes as you lost weight and how you dealt with them when you could no longer use the "wall of fat" to protect you.