Hi! Im new here, new to all of this actually. Have attended a few seminars, & going for my first consultation with my surgeon this upcoming week. Hopefully all goes well. Not sure what to expect at this point.

Hi there and welcome! Happy you found this site. It helped me so much to read lots of posts, ask questions, etc., so by the time I had my surgery I felt really ready. I was glad to finally meet the surgeon as that ongoing relationship is so important, the aftercare element. They had a long handout to read and I circled anything I wanted to learn more about and made a list of questions. Good luck -- let us know how it goes!

Hi, welcome aboard. This is a great way to start the new year. It is a big step, but remember that we all start with baby steps. And swimming is one stroke at a time! Best wishes, Karen..aka.kll724

Usually at the first visit the doctor will review your medical history. Check your BMI and let you know if you are a candidate for this type of surgery.

They will most likely let you know what if any requirements there are before you have the surgery including testing that must be done prior to scheduling the surgery.

For me there were pulmonary tests, cardiology testing, sleep apnea studies if applicable, x-rays, barium swallows, gastrology testing, as well as general physical and blood work.

Your insurance company may require you to do a supervised weight loss program prior to the surgery being scheduled. You can find out by contacting them if you are going through insurance. If your self pay you probably won't need to worry about that.

Do lots of research on the surgery and as Bandista advised write down and ask questions.

Best of luck to you!!!

Welcome! Just go with the flow - follow doctor's orders, attend any appointments they set for you and learn as much as you can from experienced bandsters. It's easy to say this because I've been through it, but there's nothing to worry about. Look forward to all of the positive changes you are about to experience. It's great on the other side!

Welcome! Do a lot of reading on here, experience is invaluable. Don't worry. I thought the surgery was a breeze. The worst part for me was the pre-op liquid diet! But you lose a ton of weight though and it prepares you for the post-op. Best of luck!

Exciting!

Thank you all for your kind words or encouragement! I'm feeling overwhelmed but really I think that stems from the not knowing. I'm sure my panic will calm down after my consultation. I'm so ready to feel healthy again.