My name is Brenda and I am currently in the process of getting the lapband surgery. I live in Ohio and my surgeon is Dr. Trace Curry. I have not had the surgery as of yet, although I am going through all of the pre-surgery stuff right now. I have to have an Endiscope done of my stomach on the 7th of June and then I have to undergo a psch evaluation (most insurance companies require this). Once that is done, they can submit everything to my insurance company. Once approved, and I pray I will get approved, they can then set me up for the surgery.

I have been researching the lapband for quite some time and so far, it is the only FDA approved weight-loss surgery in the country. It is by far the safest proceedure and I honestly feel that it is my chance to get me back on the path to a healthy lifestyle. I checked into gastric-bypass, but this was not an option for me due to all of its high risks and complications.

I am 40 years old and have been overweight for most of my life. I have a BMI of 42.2 right now and I have found that the bigger I get, the more hungry I seem to be and that terrifys me. I am so afraid that if I don't get this surgery, that I will not be here for my family. My life means more to me than the food. However, I need this tool to help me win my battle.

Please pray for me that I will get the approval of my insurance company and that I will be another success story. I want to live again and with this surgery, I might just get to do it.

bseeley! Prayers to you! I'm going tomorrow for a consult! Since I'm paying cash I'm sure it won't be AS intensive as having your insurance approve......but I guess I'll find out soon enough!

You sound good and ready. Good for you. Just finish jumping through those hoops and you'll be a bandster soon! Congrats and welcome. (Dontcha just hate all those people on TV who say that all you have to do is eat right and exercise...or you must be lazy? There are lots of naive people about obesity.) Welcome to the journey.