yellowroseaz

I have a BMI of 39 and I hope to get approved by my insurance. I am 5'3" and 221. I do have high blood pressure, diabetes, knee problems. I hope that is enough. It is enough for me to want to get a band. I have told no one but my husband who is very supportive. He's looking forward to me fixing our meals in a whole new healthier way so he can lose weight too. I also told both of my brothers. One is supportive and one is not. You've heard it all. Just quit eating so much and things like that. It's sad that so many people don't understand what it is like to be overweight. I wish I could say I didn't know how it feels to be really overweight. I found a lot of people here who feel the same way. I believe I am going to just do it for myself and to heck with the rest of the non believers. I get so much inspiration from this forum. I hope it doesn't take too long to get through all the hoops. Good luck to all of you pre banders and post banders.

How do you get invited to these meetings? I live about an hour and a half south and west of Phoenix near Casa Grande. I haven't been banded yet. But I am thinking that I want to be a bandster soon. I first have to see my PCP for a referral. But I would love to meet and talk with fellow Arizonans who have been through it. May I join you the next time?

I live half way in between Tucson and Phoenix near Arizona City. I have not been banded yet. I have yet to attend a seminar or meet with my PcP for a referral to a Bariatric Doc. I sure would like to meet some people who have gone through it. I've been pretty inspired by this forum but meeting folks in person would be great. I would be willing to drive to Tucson or to Phoenix.:thumbup:

I love your butterfly quote. Thanks for the input. The more I read these posts the better I feel. Isn't it great to know that you are not alone? I wish for you the best of success in your journey.

Surely I am not the only one who feels that soon you can eat very little and will have to be truly dedicated to losing weight and so in the meantime as I do my research I feel I want to eat just everything while I can. I feel very guilty. I do not eat everything in sight but I do feel like it. Is any of this normal or am I just crazy? I want to be thin. Up until about 25 I was thin and then the weight went on and on and has never come off for good. Many diets and have lost up to about 30 pounds before only to gain it back and then some. Right now at last weight I was at 221. I am 5'3" and BMI 39. I read the flip flopping thread tonight and it is some of how I feel. Yes I desperately want to succeed at losing and after quite a bit of research I feel banding is for me. I just can't seem to get over this wanting to eat it all like the last supper or something. I am afraid to talk to my PCP because he is against dieting and believes you only eat when you are hungry. I am going to a couple of seminars in the next week or so and then I hope to have the courage to talk to my PCP about a referral to a bariatric surgeon. Please let me know how you felt in these early stages of research and how long it took you to get an appt with your Doc once you had made up your mind to go for it. I'm from Arizona City Arizona and I'd sure like to talk with someone in Arizona who has been through this and is doing well with their band. I'd actually like to meet some fellow Arizona bandsters. Do you know of any support groups in Arizona that I could attend?:thumbup:

I am still in the research stage. I have been doing a lot of reading including this forum. I am attending a couple of seminars this next week. I wonder about how to deal with the afterlife as well. Can you eat veggies and things that cause gas or will that cause complications such as slippage? I like beans and broccoli and cucumbers and green peppers and all cause gas. Does anyone have any info on the gas factor? I wish I could do this without surgery too but I am convinced that I cannot. I have read a lot more positive than negative but I still feel quite a bit of fear at times. I am still pretty sure I am going to do it. I send you much luck in your decision. Know that you are not alone in the flip flopping.

Hi Neveragain! I see you had Dr. Simpson do your band. Are you happy with him? I am considering him to do mine if he is on my insurance. Tell me the good and the not so good if there is any. Yellowroseaz from near Casa Grande

Love the progress pics. Such inspiration to me and to others.

Hi! I am still in the research part of the whole thing but knowing you can do it without tons of exercise makes me feel even more inclined to just do it. I live in sunny Arizona and have no excuse not to walk but I still don't do it. I hope to attend a seminar this week and see my PCP in the next 2 weeks. Good Luck to you in reaching your goal weight.

Thank you all. Very helpful information.

Hi! I'm in Arizona too. Near Casa Grande. I am planning on attending a seminar this week. Where is your Doctor located? And where was the seminar that you attended?

My insurance is Secure Horizons by Pacificare. It is a Medicare Replacement.

Hi! I'm in sunny Arizona where they are playing the Superbowl this weekend. It's going to be in the sixties. Are you jealous? Anyway I am going to attend a seminar this next week. Then I plan on talking with my PCP. I checked with my insurance and their only req. is that my PCP proves that it is medically necessary. I have to pay $150.00. What a deal huh? I think this is a great site for feedback from many different people. I have learned much from reading different posts. I wish you luck in your journey. Becky

I'm sorry the Steelers aren't in The SB. Here it is I mean the Superbowl right here in Arizona where I live and I have to watch it on TV. My son is a big Steelers fan and we wish they would have made it but............... I'm looking into getting a lapband and any info positive or negative is helpful. I'm attending a seminar this comming week and then I hope to get in to see a Doc. Good luck to you.

Hi! I am still in the research process. I called my ins. on the phone and they said they would cover it. But know I think I will call them again and ask further questions. I am scared already. But after the research and this forum I believe I can and will do it soon. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Hi everyone! Has anyone heard of this Doc? RAMON MOURELO 440 N CAMINO MERCADO STE 2 CASA GRANDE, AZ 85222 . I was wondering about him because I live near Casa Grande. Do you have any Docs to recommend to me? Phoenix or Tucson area? I really like this forum. Very informative and fun and it's so great to talk with others who understand what you are going through.

Good for you Grace Utah. I am looking for positive stories.

No I haven't had it done yet. Have just recently begun to do research. I have to talk to my PCP and get a referral. There seem to be several Docs in the Phoenix area. And one in Casa Grande which is near where I live. If anyone has any Doc recommendations please let me know. I'm attending a seminar this next week and I want to make an appt. soon after. I am nervous but excited to find that so many have had great success with this and some of you really inspire me. thanks.

I haven't made an appointment with my Doctor yet. I have just started doing research. I am somewhat afraid of failing again as I have with past diets. But there is so much positive info about lap band that I feel I can do it. I'm planning on attending a seminar this comming week and then making that first Doctor appt. I have checked and my insurance will cover it so I have no excuse. Good luck to you.

Thanks to all of you for the advice and info. It will help me make my decision to just do it. I'm planning on attending a seminar probably in Phoenix or Tempe this next week.

I appreciate the info. I am looking for what kinds of foods you eat and how small do you have to cut them up. You still go out to eat? Cool! I also heard that soft breads are out. Toasted bread is ok? Thanks again for the response. I live near Arizona City which is about an hour south of Phoenix.

I am in the research process and have read much positive and very little negative. I know my insurance says they will cover it. I have a couple of posts on here but can't figure out how to find my post. Anyway good luck with your quest for weight loss. Let me know how you do. From near Casa Grande............Becky

I posted and received no responses at all. So let's try this again. I have read much about liquid diets. I want to know what the diet after the puree is like. Exactly what to eat and what you can no longer eat. I hear you can't have cinnamon or peanut butter. And if you are used to drinking soda pop what do you drink instead? I have never done this posting thing before. I am looking forward to talking with others here who have had a Lapband done or those like me who are considering it. Thanks peeps.:frown:

:confused:I am researching the lap band system and am considering having it done. Have read much positive and very little negative. I am very nervous about what the diet afterwards is like. Not the liquid diet but the foods I would be eating after that. The pureed stuff and then then regular food. Can anyone tell me of their experiences? Does anyone live in Arizona USA? Is it difficult to stick to this new diet and exercise program? And do you still feel hungry a lot of the time? Tell me about the foods you can no longer eat.