Hello everyone!

I've been lurking around this website for months now and found it EXTREMELY helpful in assisting me with my decision to go the surgical route that would end my battle with obesity.

Background: I'm a 30 year mother with a 12 year old daughter and a wonderful husband. I have been obesed my entire life with the exception of a few years. Like many of you here, I've attempted every diet under the sun. The only diet that I was every successful on was the Sugar Buster diet. I lost 70 lbs. and kept it off for a year. Once I graduated from college, the weight gradually returned to my current weight of 230.

Last straw: I came to the realization that my weight was out of control when my clothes began to fit EXTREMELY tight. I was down to like 4 outfits that rotated from week to week. A friend of mine had lap band surgery last year and has done remarkably well. She got off to a REALLY slow start but I seen her a couple of weeks ago and she looks TERRIFIC.

My journey: My surgery journey began in February when I ran into a friend of my sister's who had LB surgery in May of '06. She has lost approx. 90 lbs. She was a little larger than I am today but she looks FANTASTIC now. She mentioned all the extra energy and joy she has in her life. It was at that moment that I decided I needed to take control of my weight.

I kept wondering why I was so exhausted day after day. I could literally sleep 24 hours a day and STILL be exhausted when I awoke. (it was later determined that I had a severe case of sleep apnea which explained A LOT) After seeing my sister's friend, I decided to get her surgeon's information. It must be fate because I called his office on a Tuesday and their next seminar was on Saturday (3 days later). Talk about timing, I was so thrilled!

My journey began on Saturday, February 24th and the anticipation ended today. I received a call from Lap Band Solutions who notified me that my insurance company APPROVED me for surgery. Initially, I was worried about my cost for the surgery, BUT they informed me that my out of pocket expense would be....$200! You CANT imagine how thankful I was when I heard that number. GOD IS GREAT, and I praise him and give him all the glory for all he's done in my life. I need to contact Dr. Marsden tomorrow morning to schedule my surgery. I hope to share more good news.

I look forward to sharing my experience with you all.

Make it a great day!

WOW. What a great first post!!! Everything anyone would want to ask you is right there.

I say good luck to you and I'll bet your girl is really excited/apprehensive (mine was) until afterwards. Then it's exciting.

Welcome!

Congratulations...that is great...I wish that everyone could have approval from their insurance company...I was denied, but did the self pay and I would do it again...I feel it is worth every penny...it is the best thing I have ever done for myself....

Good luck to you...please let us know how you are doing...and when your surgery will be....we will all be cheering you on....

Di/Texas

:clap2: CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did they let you schedule the surgery or are they making you come to your pre-op appointment first? I have my pre-op next Thursday!

Hi everyone:

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. I will have my pre-op appointment on May 8th @ 1:15. I would like to schedule my surgery for May 23rd or 25th, but we'll see what the doc's schedule looks like on Tuesday. Did anyone have to do a pre-op diet? Glad to be here and look forward to sharing success with you all.

Hi Weighting!

My surgery date is May 23rd. My pre-op diet will begin a week from today, May 9th (for 2 weeks prior to surgery). Best of luck to you!

Rachel

Wow... that's great!! I can't wait to have my surgery on the 15th (hopefully).. I am paying for it myself.. we can heal together.

Mya-out