I am 65, and at high risk with a high BMI & co-morbidities. I have been studying wls for 10 years. I have Medicare now and can get the surgery. I'm going with the Lap Band. I'm on the pre-op diet, and have lost 25 pounds in 3 months.

I live in Dallas and have chosen the best surgeon in the Southwest, but I am thinking of changing because his office is quite far away. So now I'm looking for the 2nd best surgeon. I'm a member of at least 5 groups to get a balanced view. They range from gastric bypass to lap-band to hard core fanatics who hate the surgeries and have had horrible experiences. I have a lot of links and information for anyone who wants it.

I would love to hear from anyone who can relate to me.

Congratulations on your preop weight loss. I am 57 and had a bmi of 45 and a comorbitity. This is the best choice I ever made in my life. Good luck to you.

I understand how you feel, as close as I can anyways, I am 50 and started to diet thanks to my general dr. I was falling down alot so he did alot of test, mri and blood work, lupus. I have brain leisons and he fears that eventually I could get MS. So we discussed my options, I weighted 335 at the end of May, he scheduled me to see the lapband dr. I was not to thrilled until I had my consulation, what a difference that made

I have had my psy, exam, saw the dietian 5 times and lost between 35 and 39 lbs, it keeps flucuating. I am into my 4 month of waiting and will probably not hear from medicare for about 2 more months. It gets frusturating. the waiting.

If you are happy changing dr. then do so, I have changed regular dr. until I find one that I liked and really helped me. this is the longest I have been able to stay on a diet.

Check out the 2nd choice dr and if you dont care for him or her, then keep looking, this is a life changing situation, why be uncomforatable about it.

Glad you have checked things out, I have also.

Good luck. LaNell

Thanks, LaNell

I really appreciate your feedback. I love the doc, it's the PA and distance that's the problem. With a lap band I will be making frequent visits in the beginning. I could probably live with the distancel, but I dislike the PA and she does all the fills. The reason I picked this doc is because he is the best in the Southwest and certainly a top doc nationwide.I feel like I need the best surgeon because I am very high risk.

The "diet" I am on is my own. I decided to become more vigilant about what and how much I eat. Make a huge difference. Lost 12 pound the 1st month and 9 the second. And I'm still eating sweets, but in great moderation.

Congrats on your weight loss. That's quite an accomplishment. What diet are you on?

Kate