Hello Everyone!

I have been lurking around here for a couple of weeks now and am now ready to join the ranks here I am in the beginning stages of this journey, currently in the 6 month dietary program required by insurance. One month down almost. Tomorrow I have my first consult with whom I hope will be my surgeon. I am feeling excited/nervous about it. Its' almost like being excited for the first day of school as a kid. I haven't felt like that in a loooong time.

Two years ago I started researching the lapband. My weight at that time was 272 which is my current weight. I didn't have any co morbidities but did have a qualifying BMI. I went to a seminar and there were only 10 people there, which was nice because we all got to speak with the surgeon individually. He told me that I would have to under go a year long medically supervised diet (all out of pocket) required by my insurance at that time. I asked him what would happen if I lost weight to the point where I was not at a qualifying BMI. He gave me a smug look and said, "that's not going to happen." Whether he meant it or not I took it as a put down. I left the seminar determined to lose weight on my own and I did. I joined a Biggest loser competition at work lost 30 lbs and got an honorable mention. For the next year and a half I was up and down the same 40 lbs.

Fast forward to 3/5/11. I went and saw a podiatrist. I had been experiencing terrible pain in both feet for about six months, I am on my feet a lot at work. I just accepted that because I was so overweight that they would hurt. Turns out one of my toes on one foot had a stress fracture and I had plantar fasciitis in the other. I was given a cortisone injection for the PF and insoles for my shoes which helped a lot. That was a turning point for me. I realized how out of tune I was with my body and that all of these aches and pains were real and valid and that something needed to be done.

I have been overweight since childhood and have tried many diets, I was always successful in the short term but could never keep the weight off. I started thinking about WLS again. I was considering the band since that was covered by my insurance and seemed to be the safer option. At the seminar 2years ago the doctor talked about the Sleeve but said insurance companies considered it experimental and didn't cover it. Summer of last year a coworker got sleeved in Mexico since our insurance didn't cover it. She has had amazing results with it. I called my insurance to see what my benefits were and turns out they now cover it 95%! Since then I have enrolled in the insurance required 6 months of appointments with a nutritionist, went to a seminar with a different surgeon and have an appt for a consult tomorrow:)

Sorry for the long post. They will be shorter in the future. I just want to thank everyone who posts here. This forum has been an invaluable resource for me (I have done other research as well). I do appreciate the TMI things by the way. I feel confident, that I know what to expect and how to prepare myself for the steps ahead of me.

Thank you all!!!

Welcome! Good luck with the six month plan. It will go by very fast, I know my three months did.

Welcome! You will find a great group of supportive friends here.

Welcome, Gina! You will find a wealth of information here. I'm just 17 days out of surgery and can tell you the 6 months insurance deal passes very quickly. I used the time to learn A LOT about what to expect, nutrition, etc. Welcome!

Hello Everyone!

I have been lurking around here for a couple of weeks now and am now ready to join the ranks here I am in the beginning stages of this journey, currently in the 6 month dietary program required by insurance. One month down almost. Tomorrow I have my first consult with whom I hope will be my surgeon. I am feeling excited/nervous about it. Its' almost like being excited for the first day of school as a kid. I haven't felt like that in a loooong time.

Two years ago I started researching the lapband. My weight at that time was 272 which is my current weight. I didn't have any co morbidities but did have a qualifying BMI. I went to a seminar and there were only 10 people there, which was nice because we all got to speak with the surgeon individually. He told me that I would have to under go a year long medically supervised diet (all out of pocket) required by my insurance at that time. I asked him what would happen if I lost weight to the point where I was not at a qualifying BMI. He gave me a smug look and said, "that's not going to happen." Whether he meant it or not I took it as a put down. I left the seminar determined to lose weight on my own and I did. I joined a Biggest loser competition at work lost 30 lbs and got an honorable mention. For the next year and a half I was up and down the same 40 lbs.

Fast forward to 3/5/11. I went and saw a podiatrist. I had been experiencing terrible pain in both feet for about six months, I am on my feet a lot at work. I just accepted that because I was so overweight that they would hurt. Turns out one of my toes on one foot had a stress fracture and I had plantar fasciitis in the other. I was given a cortisone injection for the PF and insoles for my shoes which helped a lot. That was a turning point for me. I realized how out of tune I was with my body and that all of these aches and pains were real and valid and that something needed to be done.

I have been overweight since childhood and have tried many diets, I was always successful in the short term but could never keep the weight off. I started thinking about WLS again. I was considering the band since that was covered by my insurance and seemed to be the safer option. At the seminar 2years ago the doctor talked about the Sleeve but said insurance companies considered it experimental and didn't cover it. Summer of last year a coworker got sleeved in Mexico since our insurance didn't cover it. She has had amazing results with it. I called my insurance to see what my benefits were and turns out they now cover it 95%! Since then I have enrolled in the insurance required 6 months of appointments with a nutritionist, went to a seminar with a different surgeon and have an appt for a consult tomorrow:)

Sorry for the long post. They will be shorter in the future. I just want to thank everyone who posts here. This forum has been an invaluable resource for me (I have done other research as well). I do appreciate the TMI things by the way. I feel confident, that I know what to expect and how to prepare myself for the steps ahead of me.

Thank you all!!!

Welcome, Gina! You will find a wealth of information here. I'm just 17 days out of surgery and can tell you the 6 months insurance deal passes very quickly. I used the time to learn A LOT about what to expect, nutrition, etc. Welcome!

Thanks ladies for the warm welcome. It means a lotI met with the surgeon this morning and am feeling very optimistic.

Hi! I'm new too! I just finiished my 3 month physician supervised weight loss and exercise plan. It does go by fast! Good luck with everthing!