I HAVE BEEN TRING TO GET APPROVED FOR MY SURGERY SINCE AUGUST 2003. MY SURGERY IS OCT 6 2004. I FINALLY WAS APPROVED SEPTEMBER 8 2004. THEY DECLINED ME ONCE. YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE SO SEVERE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE THE SURGERY. I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HYPOGLYCEMIA,( OF COURSE-MORBID OBESITY),HEADACHES,NAUSEA,VOMITING,LEG AND FEET PAIN. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF. I JUST COULD NOT NAME THEM ALL. I WENT TO TALK TO A PSHYCOLOGIST SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE APPROVED FOR THE SURGERY. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BEING HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND NOT JUST WANTING TO LOSE THE WEIGHT TO LOOK GOOD ONLY. IN MY OPINION I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO BE COUNSELING MY PHYCHIATRIST BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME MORE ABOUT HER PROBLEMS MORE THAN I. I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY AND TIME TRING TO GET THE SURGERY APPROVED. SOMETIMES IT MADE ME CRY BECAUSE I LET MYSELF GET SO BIG. EVERYONE THINKS IT IS SO EASY TO LOOSE WEIGHT BUT IT IS NOT. I HAVE TRIED ALL THE WEIGHT LOSS pills OUT THERE. I HAVE EVEN TRIED TO STARVE MY SELF BY EATING 1 BITE OF food. I TRIED EXCERSIZING UNTIL I WAS EXHAUSTED. NONE OF IT WORKED FOR ME. THIS IS ONE REASON WHY I AM HAVING THE SURGERY. I AM ALSO TIRED OF WALKING TO THE BACK OF THE STORES JUST TO LOOK AT PLUS SIZE CLOTHES. (AS IF WE NEED TO WALK ANY FURTHER . I'M READY FOR THE CHANGE. I READY FOR A HEALTHER LIFE. I READY TO LIVE LONGER AND BE A STRONGER AND HAPPIER PERSON.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

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OCT 6TH IS MY LAP BAND

Congratulations!!!! Glad you finally successfully got a band date! All of your co-morbidities should improve substantially once you get the band and start losing a few pounds. Best wishes to you, Teresa:) :Bunny

Amen to everything you've said! Hang in there! It will be worth it. My insurance initially denied me, appealed, then eight months later - hurry up and get ready for surgery. My prescription RXs and health problems have been cut in half. It's saving me and the insurance company boo-koos of $$. I feel so much better and am out doing more than I have in YEARS. There is an end in sight, believe it or not. You've already taken a big step - decided you want to live healthier. Things are moving forward. It just seems to take so long, but it will pass. Best of luck to you!

Losing weight should make you healthier and better able to have a healthy, successful pregnancy. But you might check how long you're supposed to wait to get pregnant after banding. Just do all your research about the Lapband.

Hi Love,

Congratulations! You must be SOOOOOOOO excited with October being just around the corner! I know you are going to love your band!

I was banded the end of June and with the weight-loss I've had so far... Foot pain... gone... hip pain... much decreased... back pain... gone... shortness of breath with exertion... minimal... energy levels... climbing daily... self-esteem... growing... and the list goes on and on.

Wishing you wonderful things on your lapband journey!

Darcy

Congratulations! Please come and post your story after banding. Good Luck!

Betty

I WILL KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED ON THE SURGERY. I WILL ALSO TRY AND DOWNLOAD SOME PICTURES SO YOU ALL CAN SEE ME. BUT FIRST I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW!

I would love to see your pictures!

Betty