Hello everyone -

My name is Jason and I'm 32 --though soon to be rolling over to the 33 year marker. I've been overweight for 24 years of my life and to this point, it's really all I can remember. My attempts at losing weight have been more than I can count on two hands and two feet and I can always succeed at losing 30-50 pounds. Anything beyond that has been a brick wall and it's been very frustrating. I work as an ICU nurse and I see so many patients that make me think "this really could be me in about 15-20 years" because of diseases that are secondary to chronic morbid obesity.

I've looked into the options over the past 10 years. My first wife had a Gastric Bypass and saw massive results. My second wife also had the gastric bypass before we were married. I've decided that the LapBand surgery would be ideal for me. I am so very thankful to have insurance that includes coverage for weight-loss surgery. I have completed the pre-op paperwork to start everything and I am really going forward with it. I will be faxing the paperwork in on January 2nd, following my appointment with my PCP to start the required 3-month medically-supervised diet. I am hopeful that I can have my surgery by July.

I am truly blessed to have the support of my wife. She is my rock and I know that with God's support and that of my wife, I will not fail. Though, I am doing this for myself. The comorbidies are starting to reveal themselves to me: I have obstructive sleep apnea, hypertention, knee and lower back pain... it's terrible. Weighing myself this morning, the screen told me I was a whopping 347lbs. Enough is enough.

I realize this will be a journey and I am pleased to see an online support group for people like us. I look forward in reaching out to new names, new friends, and share this experience.

All the best,

Jason "The Night Shift Nurse"

St. Louis, MO

Congrats Jason, I made my decision and had my completed last Thursday. You will love this decision. We will be here to support you. Do a lot of research to familiarize yourself with everything. It put my mind @ ease. Also it will increase your success with the band. Start changing how you eat in drink now. That will make your liquid diet phase that much easier. Also start working out.

Congratulations to your decisions!

I was watching a show on TV that patients were being amputated due to type II diabetes, which is a consequence of morbid obesity…

Jason...2012 is going to be our year! Let's go, 2012 Bandsters!!!