TinaM

I'm 26/28 getting banded Dec 15th. I have always actively dated and consider myself very sexy. I've found the men I date are attracted to my confidence in myself and my body.

I'd love to drop 150 and ultimately 180 Victoria Secrets is on my to do list as well as: horse back riding on the beach riding a roller coaster wearing shoes with higher than 1 inch heel wearing a swimsuit without a skirt on it!

Hello and welcome- join our site for the December bandsters LAP-BAND For information about what to expect head over to the FAQ lforum - it even lists what to take to the hospital!. Tina banding sch 12/15/09

Hooray for you! Don't forget to join our group LAP-BAND so we can keep up with the December Bandsters:w00t:

HI Everyone - should we still post here or should we move to the link that was created for us?

not too late at all - I'm DEc 15th with Dr. Anwar. I love having someone close by now!

hi slmsister- we are banding on the same date!

I'm in December 15, 2009

Put in that position I would feel the same way you do. I know you are just venting but let me give you what I would do next. I'd write a letter to the HR manager for that clinic & describe what happened, how you felt and that you feel no medical personnell should ever be condescending or judgemental about your decision and superimpose their own life history on to you. I would also add that if this Xray tech did this to you its been done others and will happen again. What goes on medically with your body is between you and your doctor - no comments needed from the peanut gallery thank you. I send letter for good and bad experiences I think its because I work in a position that is service oreinted and hate to just hear compliants so I make sure good service gets rewarded and bad service is noticed. You are paying for this, you probably think its all insuarnce but you pay premiums right? Get on it, it doesn't have to be a hateful letter/email just one of stating the facts. Think of what thos tech put others thru? There is a great deal of difference between a 16 yo and a 22 yo - one big one is legal age to make your own decisions. And what chaps my hide is that she asked your age when she had you chart either physically or elctronically - she was being a bully. Bad bully, bad-:cursing: whew -- t

Unless you are self pay if could very well be an insurance requirement - mine states psych eval no more than 180 days prior to surgery Aetna HMO

Hi Gizg- It really comes down to you, the doc and insurance. After having researched quite a bit here is what I know. Most PPO insurances require a 3 month supervised diet with psych eval - take on the original seminar and pre op visit/test you round out about 4 months if insurance is quick on the approval. Most HMO insurances require a 6 month supervised diet with psych eval so that ends up being close to 7 months. Each doc has different requires about having weight loss before surgery or not and if so how much. And of course each insurance policy is different. Good luck- t

Hi Jordan girl - I'm not far behind you at 354, I don't ahve a surgery date just working on getting insurance approved. Work on getting around and walking if you haven't already that's very important in the days just after surgery to help with the gas relief.

Welcome Carlos! What a great support you will be/are for your partner. Keeping checking out the posts and see what all of us are or have been going thru and that will help you tremendously. The biggest thing is to be supportive and know for the first month or so eating with other people will be a challenge in itself so don't add to that stress. Tina

Hi there- I've been on this site for a while. I reserached band for a year before I went to the doc and started the process and I'm at the point now where I am waiting for Insurance approval. I too have had mixed emotions and a 'flip out' but this site as well as my support team allowed me to work thru that. There are lots of us here for you - so check out preop question thread and ask a away. The important thing to remember is you have to be ready to make the change and only you know if you are ready for that.

I'm fortunate that the clinic I go to has support groups and shared medical appts. I love the SMAs as they have pre/post op patients of both bypass and band, the appt is overseen by a doctor and a therapist. I would suggest looking at support groups in your area - see if you can find a group on here that lives close to you. And of course we're always here :-) Hoping to be banded Dec09/Jan10 t

Thank you all for your posts - I'm sitting here crying tears of joy that I'm not alone. Not to mention via this internet connection I have a lot of support thru you guys. Today I had my psych eval and got the green light - its all up to insurance now. Come on give me a Dec date folks!

Thank you all for your words of encouragement - looks like we are headed to DC for a trip in 2 weeks to see a friend from grad school so I think I'm going to get my smooch in then! Big Tom - we both work for places with generous vacation plans - I earn 6 weeks a year and can bank up 4. We pooled our points from amex/spg and that paid for every single night we were out and about. I then sold 2 weeks of vacation time and took a little bit from savings. He did something similiar on selling vacation time. For the Thailand trip I already have enough points for 8 nights.

Good lord - almost 40 and I think I have a crush - oh strike that - I HAVE a crush. Some I have this great friend - let me tell ytou he is awesome. We went to grad school together and when I first walked in that class with him sitting in the back row I knew then how special a person he is - 7 years later I'm crushing still. In 2007 we took a trip well two actually one was a long weekend to my home town for a special festival/event. Then we took off for a month and travelled around the southern hemisphere. I came so close to telling him then on the last week but couldn't muster the words. Now we are talking about taking another month long trip. I should mention I've dated and had boyfriends during this time and he has dated and had girlfriends. Just so happens at this moment we are both single and not seeing anyone. I don't even know how to say the words to him "hey there I've been wondering for the past few years if your lips are as soft as they look - can I see for myself?" oh good grief I'll take any advice. I just know that we'll be in our 60's living in the same retirement community planning our trips - and be Single still. ughh!

Hi There- Hoping to get approved in the next couple of weeks just checking to see if there are any bandsters in my area. Tina

Hello - I've floated in and out of this website several times during my 6.5 month journey. I'm at the point where I have met all my requirements I'm just waiting on insurance approval. Over these months I've lost 24lbs that I'm quite proud of having done. Few people know what I'm doing parents, boss, HR manager and two very close friends. I dream of playing softball on the company team again, riding a roller coaster with my godsons, getting on a plane knowing I won't be imposing on some person stuck in the middle seat. Today solidified a part of why I'm doing this - I was promoted a few months a go and 'they' have decided to update the website with new VPs photos. I declined the meeting request but they sent the two other VPs down to my office today to round me up for a photo - I refused. Later, I was talking with the HR manager about it. You see I had to do a bit for an in house training video last week and when it was played back I had to fight the tears. I swear I looked like Jaba the Hut. Sure I had on nice clothes, makeup good hair do and all but still all I could see was the big full face with the fat neck, broad shoulders, arms that are so big that they hang out from my body - awful, disgusting. It was played at an all staff meeting this week. I kept thinking these people know me, know I'm nice friendly would do anything for them. They don't see me as a fat slob. Back to the picture on the internet/website that's public and people will see it that don't know me. I'm afraid and scared of what they will say or judge me by my cover. Yes I know don't judge a book by a cover but it happens people so don't hate on that okay? So, when I'm talking to the HR manager today explaining how I felt when the troops were sent in to force me to a picture for the web (which I refused) she said - Oh Tina but you have such a pretty face. I hate that comment - I've heard all my adult life. Nothing else about me matters apparently - I myself can't be pretty -just the face. Just like when I'm wearing a new dress I get "what a pretty dress" - really the dress is pretty? I wish I could be the pretty one, not my face or my clothes just me, plain ole me. I started at 378 down to 354 at 5'11" I also hear you don't weigh that much - really? hey could I give you about 200lbs of weights to haul around all day? let's see how your knees and back handle it and just for shits and grins - wear heels. I'm much more than a pretty face - watch out folks I hope to band in December!

I guess I've had the best experience from step 1. We have a WLS dept- the seminar covers bypass and band (both surgeries the doc does) i met with doc - he brought in those plastic models and showed me what both is on the organ models - with a real lap band I could hold look at etc.. In addition to 1 - 2- 1 nutrion visits we must attend shared medical appts that have pre op and post wls patients - the mix of both surgeries. I have found these groups very helpful. I have been thinking the band the entire time but a few days ago got worried and started considering bypass - but that faded fast. I believe you have to be an advocate for your own health and everyone should keep looking til they find teh doc that suits them

I think everyone needs to start out with a seminar then depaneidng on insurance you ahve 3 (PPO) additional or 6 (HMO). Self pay is deteremined by the program you are entering, I went to seminar in Marchm and have completed 2 one on one with RD and 2 shared medical/group appointments. I have one more with the RD. Then insurance aproval and THEN the psych visit finally the surgery will be scheduled. I too was like you in the beginning - hey folks I know what I want/need let's get this show on the road but now that I have been in the program for a while I'm grateful for the support and the clear understanding of what lap band is and how it works. Hang in there-

Nancy - thank you for the information I wasn't aware of the other site - I will check it out.

Thank you all for your information. Once thing is very clear - I need to do some additional research.

I'm waiting for one more meeting with the doc and insurance approval and then I'm moving forward. I'm 378 - I joined a YMCA with 2 pools and lots of Water walking classes. I go in the morning - I walkin with my swimsuit on, flip flops and my robe - I don't care what others think I'm there to get my health back. During water walking you just walk up and down the pool and since you are in water it doesn't ahve the impact of walking on hard surfaces. Before I did the pool I started out stretching in the morning before I got out of bed and again before I went to bed. It was little things that I really helped me get stronger nothing too strenuous. Good luck and hang in there.