Hey guys. I am new here. I was considering Gastric Bypass, then, after plenty of research, the Lap-Band sounds more suitable for me. I am 19 years old, and have been overweight my whole life. I am in Kansas City Missouri, and looking at having Dr. Stephen Malley do my surgery.

I still have to get approved by my insurance. Do I send them a letter myself, or does my PCP have to do it?

I am going to attend a seminar after the first of the year and get started. I am very very excited, and very very motivated.

Any advice, pointers, etc that you guys can give me is greatly appreciated.

Research, research, research - no matter what you decide to do! How much weight are you realistically wanting to lose? Have you tried other forms of weight loss? This is not a quick fix, but a very serious solution. You have to be able to do the head work for this to work. If you continue bad eating habits, you can eat around the band and it will not work for you. Those type of continued habits could endanger your life. There really is so much to learn about any type of weight loss surgery BEFORE you do anything. Please be sure that you find out as much as you possibly can - about any procedure, any dr. that you're considering, the follow-up care available (absolutely vital for this to continue working), and of course -whether or not your health insurance company covers this procedure. Lots to learn!

Lots and lots of research being done day by day. I am going to go to plenty of seminars and whatnot. My insurance does cover this type of surgery because there are ladies in my department who have had the surgery, I just don't know how to get started towards getting them to approve me for the surgery.

I know the surgery is not a quick fix. I am ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make this work for me.

I have tried so many other forms of weight loss including but not limited to: weight watchers (numerous times), herbal life, xenadrine, zantrex, simple diet & exercise, i've been perscribed meridia, and I've tried many other things.

I weigh 340 lbs right now, and I am 5ft8. This is a BMI of 52. I am only 19. Realistically, I need to lose 140+ lbs. I am at risk for many diseases that are not only hereditary, but greatly increased by my morbid obesity (does anyone else hate this term??).

I'm not looking for a quick fix, but something to help me make the lifestyle changes I need to make for a better, healthier me.

Really, just find out everything that you possibly can - from forums like this, doctors, many other websites, asking questions, etc. Best of luck to you on your search for better health!

Hey Newbie I'm a newbie as of today. I am 27 years old and I have decided to have lap band surgery in the next couple of months.

After you go to seminar you will understand more about what to do first. They gave me a list of everything I needed to get and what steps would be next. Try not to get in a rush because getting everything lined up will take a while . I called my Ins. co. first and they told me I was covered and from there my doctors office has been wonderful to pass all the information to my In. Co. At this point I am waiting to see the Psychologist January 4, 2005 that is the only thing I have left to do, after that I wait to get approved for surgery and schedule last appt. with surgeon thats when they will schedule my surgery date! :laugh

Live life to the fullest.

Hi and welcome!!! My first step (after doing a lot of research) was to find a surgeon and attend his seminar. That is where I learned of the steps to take next. Basically, it was getting a letter recommending WLS from my PCP, getting copies of medical records that proved dr supervised weightloss program, documenting any and all attempts at weightloss, plus their was a questionaire supplied by the surgoen to be filled out. The surgeon wanted all of this to be done BEFORE my initial visit with him. So I took all of this info with me to my first appointment and his office turned it all into my insurance. Then the waiting began. It was the hardest part of the whole process!!!! Hang in there and follow all the dr's instructions and you will soon be a bandster too!!! Good luck!

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. I can see that the whole "waiting" part is going to be the worst part. But in the end, it will all pay off, I just know it. I am excited to get this whole things started, and I'm glad to have this site (and you guys) to help me through it.

Ashleigh, try to remember we didn't gain this weight overnight, so if it takes a little time to get a solution, that's o.k. My insurance originally denied me, I appealed, then 8 months later got my band. But it was definitely worth the wait! Meantime, study, study, study and ask ??