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Hey all!

My name is Kim and I'm in the initial stages of this crazy banding journey. I am 34, wife and mother of two young boys. I work full-time as a nurse. Obesity has been a life-long struggle. Like most here, I've dieted and gained it all back plus more. I contemplated gastric banding around 2003, but it was difficult to get insurance approval and I was scared and confident I could do it on my own. So here we are 8 years later and I'm going through with the band.

I attended a seminar on September 10th and had my initial consultation October 12th. I am required to complete a six month medically supervised weight loss prior to approval. My physician set weight loss goal of 13 pounds. My second weigh-in is scheduled for November 15th. I also have to attend six support seminars.

I've very excited about the journey, with a little hesitation because I know how my past performances have gone. I'm doing the best I can to be a healthier version of me. I look forward to sharing my journey with you and getting to know all of you!

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Congrats Kim on your decision, a year from now you will be so excited to see the progress you have made.

Any questions please feel free to ask.

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Where abouts in Indiana. I live in Indianapolis, but had my surgery in southern Indiana do to financial reasons. I am now seeing Dr. Clark at St. Francis on the southside of Indianapolis.

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Where abouts in Indiana. I live in Indianapolis, but had my surgery in southern Indiana do to financial reasons. I am now seeing Dr. Clark at St. Francis on the southside of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis! I'm in the IU system. Dr McKenna.

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Indianapolis! I'm in the IU system. Dr McKenna.

So will you be going to the lap band support group? It meets the second Monday of every month.

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I grabbed the schedule for the groups but hadn't figured out what I'm going to. You can go to the IU support groups even though you are through St F?

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I grabbed the schedule for the groups but hadn't figured out what I'm going to. You can go to the IU support groups even though you are through St F?

I went to the IU support group for awhile and it is pretty good, the only problem is that there are NO bandsters in the group, all R-Y. IU doesn't seem to push the band very much in fact when I first started considering weight loss surgery I went to a consultation and was told I was not a good candidate for band surgery because of my high BMI and age. I guess I proved them wrong.

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Having now been through the six months, I see what you are saying about them not pushing the band. Every person at support group is a RNY or sleeve patient. They're requirements are different than mine, so it makes this all very confusing, and it makes me not want to go to support groups, although they are all very nice people. I also find it difficult to speak my mind in a group setting. I think I prefer internet forum support. :)

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Hi, I'm in indy but i'm going to have surgery at st vincents in carmel. I'm just starting the journey, waiting for insurance approval. They have a band specific support group. I think they are open to anyone (you don't have to be banded at st Vincents to attend). I'll be going to my first one the beginning of April.

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Native Hoosier! I live in NJ now, but I saw the "greetings from IN" and had to look. Hope everyone is doing well!

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Im in Indiana and just starting to consider having the lap band done. The only place I have been able to find is in Carmel, I live about an hour west of there. I don't even know where to start. All I know, so far, is my insurance covers it.

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Hi Kim!

Welcome. :) I am in the beginning stages as well. Just completed my 6 month supervised diet and am now waiting for insurance approval. I know it can be daunting but the months will fly by! We can do this. All the best on your journey.

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I had my surgery in Illinois but I don't want to continue to drive up there for follow up visits. I am a self pay my insurance won't cover anything weight loss related. Can any of you recommend a doctor in Indy for fills and such that will take self pay and aren't crazy expensive or able to bill as just office visits so insurance will cover? Thanks!

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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.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

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        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.

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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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