Hello,

I am here near Fort Worth Texas. I have been overweight for most of my adult life. There are so many things that I felt I was missing out on in my life because of my obesity. I was banded on June 23, 2003 and I have lost 28 pounds in the last 6 weeks. I will be getting my first fill next week and I am looking forward to this since I have had no restriction and I have been losing solely based on will power, a low carb diet, daily exercise at the gym and swimming. I am happy that I am banded and my goal is to lose 100 pounds in the next 10 months. Pretty ambitious, but I feel that I can do it!!!!!

Hi Babs--welcome! You sound like you're doing great and have a level head on your shoulders. I look forward to staying in touch and watching your (our) progress!

Hi Babs!

Congrats on your weight loss! Wooo Hoooo!!!

I am also in Texas, which doctor did you go to? I am new to this and am just now getting the ball rolling. I have so many questions and dont know where to start!

Thanks, Sunni

Sunni,

I used Dr. Richard Carter in Arlington TX. He accepted my insurance and he is an extremely kind person. His office is a little chaotic due to quick growth and sometimes it is hard to get through to them because they are busy, but they always find time to talk with me about anything and everything I have for concerns.

I started my journey with another doctor. His office is tied to a University hospital. Too many politics! I think they are looking for "Stepford candidates", perfect people to prove the band works! Maybe something to do with funding. After two months, March/April, I still did not have an approval because they did not file anything. They were waiting on the psych testing. They also forced me to see one of their shrinks instead of letting me select my own. Their shrink thought I should go to three months of pre op therapy, even though she had never met me personally and had a student at the University interview me. She felt I had anger management issues ( of course I did, since I waited months) and doctor compliance issues, (what the heck is that?) all based on a Minnesota personality profile that was done in office, so I went to a second shrink on my own who wrote me a letter saying there was nothing mentally wrong with me ( drugs, personality disorder, alcoholism etc.) and I was conscious of the decision I was making. I brought everything with me for my first visit to Dr. C. Letter from PCP, shrink report, dietician report etc. THey sent the info on a Wed to my insurance and I was approved and pre certed in 24 hours. Radical difference, I would say. Its really important when you start the procedure for insurance approval, that you find out early on what the insurance requires and most important that you feel comfortable with the doctor and his staff. Anyway, I am now happily banded and almost 30 pounds lighter in 6 weeks and I know I will be successful longterm.

Long answer to a short question!!!!

Hi Babs,

Welcome to our little world!

Your determination is extremely infectious...makes me want to take the bull by the horns and give it a swift kick in the patootie!

Keep up the great work!