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Just starting my journey...so lost :(



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I'm 23 and just starting my Lap-Band journey but I have no idea where to begin. I need to switch doctors because the one I have has no knowledge of the procedure, how do I find that doctor? Or should I directly go to a surgeon? I'm attending a lap band seminar the end of next month, but other than that all I have is the reasearch Ive done and no where to go because I dont know what steps to take. Can someone help?

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I started with my insurance company they gave a list of doctors and I visited one and liked him so much I went with him. I also knew people who had had the surgery and talked to them. If you look on this site there is a place where people talk about the docs in their area. That would be good to. Make sure that whoever you go to will help educate you and support you and not just do the surgery. The best surgeons have a staff that supports and educates you. If you can talk to people who have had surgery with your doc before you choose and not just the people at the seminar.

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I'm 23 and just starting my Lap-Band journey but I have no idea where to begin. I need to switch doctors because the one I have has no knowledge of the procedure, how do I find that doctor? Or should I directly go to a surgeon? I'm attending a lap band seminar the end of next month, but other than that all I have is the reasearch Ive done and no where to go because I dont know what steps to take. Can someone help?

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You will get so much information at the seminar. Maybe someone who has had the surgery will speak. If they do, they'll tell you about their experience, and show you a "before" picture. the doctor in charge of the seminar will give a general overview of the procedure, and what to expect. They gave out questionnaires before the seminar. I completed my questionnaire before the evening was over, and they scheduled an appointment with the doctor within the next week or two. All of the people in the doctors office were so nice and helpful. I never did anything, but follow the directions they gave me. I could call them at any time with questions or problems. I went to the seminar the first week in February. My surgery is scheduled for Monday. I never even had to deal with the insurance company. They did everything. Good luck to you. There is much information, and very helpful and enthusiastic people on the site. Best of luck to you. Take care. Let us know how you are doing!

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I got my surgeons name from the LaBand website. It has drs listed that have previous experience doing he surgery.

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I got my surgeons name from the LaBand website. It has drs listed that have previous experience doing he surgery.

You might even want to work backwards. After your seminar - ask the surgeon' office for recommendations for a primary doctor that is familiar with them. I needed my doc to arrange tests, etc before I was approved.

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You might even want to work backwards. After your seminar - ask the surgeon' office for recommendations for a primary doctor that is familiar with them. I needed my doc to arrange tests, etc before I was approved.

I havent found a surgeon yet though either. Are you meaning the surgeon who is presenting the seminar? I should ask their office for doctors that are in their network? Im sorry Im just anxious to get the ball rolling I just dont know where to begin...

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On this site, you can scroll down on the main page and there's a place where you can find surgeons in your area. Google them and find all the information on them you can find. Make an appointment with them and bring a list of questions to your first appointment. Thats exactly what I did. What city do you live in? My surgeon's office had me call my insurance first to make sure weight loss surgery was covered. Once I had my first appointment everything was a breeze. Try to find a doctor that has support groups for their patients. That will be extremely helpful. Also, I've spent TONS of time on this site and found answers to all of my questions... Even answers to questions I didn't even know I had. Good luck!

I'm 23 and just starting my Lap-Band journey but I have no idea where to begin. I need to switch doctors because the one I have has no knowledge of the procedure, how do I find that doctor? Or should I directly go to a surgeon? I'm attending a lap band seminar the end of next month, but other than that all I have is the reasearch Ive done and no where to go because I dont know what steps to take. Can someone help?

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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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

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

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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