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Hi, my name is Stephanie, I am 22 years old, and live in Richmond, VA. I am happily engaged and hope to get married on 10/10/10, and am currently waiting to get accepted to a nursing program. Needless to say, I am trying to get my life on track. I moved to Richmond to be with my fiancé, and after 3 years here, I still don’t have many friends. My weight has been a battle since I was a child. I have seen everyone possible, and tried every diet. I manage to lose weight, and then its right back up the second I look at something like a soda. My weight plays a big part in me being miserable and I am ready to change my life, and get back to the happy, playful, fun person that I can be. I am starting to feel defeated, which is why I am interested in the Lap-Band. I have my first consultation set up for 2/25, I am horribly terrified that I will be told no, and I will feel even more defeated, and finally give up. I don’t want to give up, I want to reach my goal, I know I can do it; I just need the right tools to help! Wish me Luck!!!!!:cursing:

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Welcome ! I am also from the richmond area (not really, but I am there for my job at Ft. Lee). Do not be afraid of the appointment or process.

I started my process last year May or June and found out that I was pregnant so stopped pursuing it. Needless to say I had a miscarriage and kept gaining more weight. Anyway in December I started back again with the process and was approved with in 2 days of turning in my paperwork to the insurance. I have a surgery date 0f April 2nd. :cursing:

Do not give up and don't accept No for an answer if you think u desrve it. Good Luck and keep in touch

PS: Which surgeon r u using? I am going with Commonwealth Surgeons

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Hi, my name is Stephanie, I am 22 years old, and live in Richmond, VA. I am happily engaged and hope to get married on 10/10/10, and am currently waiting to get accepted to a nursing program. Needless to say, I am trying to get my life on track. I moved to Richmond to be with my fiancé, and after 3 years here, I still don’t have many friends. My weight has been a battle since I was a child. I have seen everyone possible, and tried every diet. I manage to lose weight, and then its right back up the second I look at something like a soda. My weight plays a big part in me being miserable and I am ready to change my life, and get back to the happy, playful, fun person that I can be. I am starting to feel defeated, which is why I am interested in the Lap-Band®. I have my first consultation set up for 2/25, I am horribly terrified that I will be told no, and I will feel even more defeated, and finally give up. I don’t want to give up, I want to reach my goal, I know I can do it; I just need the right tools to help! Wish me Luck!!!!!:rolleyes2:
Hi I am also new to Richmond, I have been here 2 years now and I am from up North. I have started the process and my surgeon will be Dr. Bregnman. My insurance has guildines that says I must see my primary dr. for 6 months and I must also see a nutrionist. I am hoping to have my surgery in the summer. I have been battleing my weight for a long time and I want my lfe back. Congratulations on being engaged I have been married for 20 years and have a set of twin teenage girls

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Stephanie, I think that we all feel/felt the same way. I'm in Staunton, VA (West of Richmond in the Shenandoah Valley). I have completed the orientation, meeting with surgeon, nutritionist and psychologist. I even met with my PCP before pursuing any of this. When I met with the nutritionist today, I freaked! Sure, I knew about the liquid diet and moving up to real food but something about seeing printed in papers made me literally freak out! I had to call my group of support people...all skinny people. They calmed me down and I feel more confident about my decision. We've all been where you are. Low self-esteem and dieting forever. I can't offer any magic pill because I haven't even had the surgery but hang in there. You ARE going to feel overwhelmed. But remember that just taking that first step is the hardest part.

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Hi Stephanie,

Like you I was afraid to go to my PCP and talk to him about the lap band and I have wanted this for years. Finally this past December I worked up the courage and had all my arguements ready for him (since I knew that he would say no) and to my surprise he immediatly agreed and I am now in my 3rd month of a medically surpervised weight loss plan as required by my insurance company. Hopefully I will have my surgery done this summer. I am kicking myself for not having gone to him sooner!!!LOL

Don't be afraid, nervous, or embarrased!!!! It will be the best decision you've have ever made!!

Good Luck!

Sara

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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