Wow !! What a great forum.I have wanted to have banding done for a while now a this has sooo helped me make a move and choose a doctor.I am going to the seminar with Dr Spivak in Houston on March 3rd.My BMI is 36.9 and do not have any heath problems yet(besides bad knee joints)But I have a family history of diabetes and heart disease.I have been "fluffy" for a while now a have done so many different diets only to gain twice as much back.I do not look at my reflextion ever! I fill like I am missing out on my kids lives.I want to run and play with them in the yard.I want to go eat lunch with my daughter(I do not like to sit in those little chairs).I want to feel confident when I go out with my husband.I want to buy regular size clothes(I am only 32 and there is NOTHING cute in the big sizes unless you spend a fortune at Lane Bryant)I just need some HELP!!! I am praying he will do it even though my BMI is not 40...YET!!

I had to read your post twice, could have sworn I had written it! I haven't weighed myself in a while but guessed 260 on the BMI calculator so I'm 49 BMI. Soooooo tired of always being the biggest person in the room(weight wise-only 5' 1", so you can imagine how I look since circumference is greater than my height!) I love looking at pictures of my family over the years. I really hope that someday I can let myself be in some of them and enjoy the happy memory instead of feeling like crying because I look so awful. At 37 you're supposed to be energetic and active but I just count down the hours til I can go back to bed! I really hope this is the tool for me and I learn to use it to its fullest ability.

I should get scheduled for my initial consult today or Mon. I scheduled my psych eval for 3/1/07. They said it will be a total of 4 hours-1 first meeting, 2 for the testing & 1 to write the report. My WLS clinic said if I'm able to provide the report at the consult that will make the process that much faster. Here's to finally getting started-let's hope we all have nothing but forward steps from now on!

Welcome to LBT, Amy. I'm glad you found us. I hope your plans go smoothly and that you get a date soon.

Hi ,

This is my 1st reply.And it's more of a statement.I didn't have to have a sphy.eval. Am I the only one?

I did not have to have any pre-testing or evals done.Of course I am self-pay so I think that makes a HUGE difference.

I had to have a psych evaluation plus 3 months seeing my doctor and dieting, seeing a nutritionist, seeing a physical therapist once a week and exercising at a gym 3 times a week, and a 5 years of medical records from my doctor. All of this had to be documented and submitted to the ins before they would approve the procedure. I started in September and finished on Dec 21. I got my approval on Feb 1 and had my surgery on Feb 16. I have lost a total of 53 lbs. I weighed 266 lb to start and now weigh 213.

I have a friend who was self-pay and she didn't have to do any of the above. I hated doing all that stuff while I was doing it but I think I am glad now because I was in much better health when I actually had the surgery and I think I recovered much more quickly than I would have otherwise.

I think I am getting my first fill on March 12. :clap2:

My doctor is Dr. Wilkenfeld in Conroe, TX and he and his office are great. I'm really glad I chose to use him

Peggy

My insurance is covering my procedure. I am scheduled to be banded March 28. I didn't have to have a pych. evaluation either. At my initial visit, my doctor, Barry Greene (Washington, DC area) had me fill out a questionaire. I believe that is how he determines whether you get the psych. evaluation. Maybe that is what happened to you.

Thanks,I'm private pay too.So that's probably it.And your right also.Maybe in talking to the Dr.he decided I didn't need one.

Hi,

I have been to both offices here in Des Moines that does bariatric surgery and they both have everyone have a psych eval. I think it is a great idea. I'm sure emotions play a big part in how we eat. Our desire for food will still be affected by anger, guilt, loneliness, sadness, and stress and other things. We don't want to keep eating the way we have in the past and if we don't deal with some of those emotions we may not lose as well and keep it off. Just my opinion. Our heads can really get in the way!

Hugs, Deb

I'm self pay (not yet banded). I had to have a consult with my sugeon, dietician, psyc.evaluation, exercise rehab., a seminar and a behavior class,written tests, and a questionair, before my final visit to set date for surgery. All this and no co-morbitities. Only thing about self-pay for me is all this started mid-Feb.2007, and I should be banded late March 2007.

My insurance requires the psych eval for everyone. There is a whole list of requirements from them and that is just one of them. The doctor might require it also but in this case it was the ins. However, as I said before, I didn't like doing all that stuff while I was doing it but now I'm glad I did it.:confused: