Hello I'm new here, started the journey towards LB surgery back in October and finally got my consult scheduled for next Thursday the 20th. If all goes well, I could have my surgery as early as April or as late as May. The sooner the better! I'm a bit nervous and scared while being excited at the same time!

I'm a single (widowed) mom to 2 boys, 10 and 8, and the last straw for me was when my 8 year old got into a fight because some kid on the bus said "Hey your mama is really fat." Being the mama's boy he is, he dove right into the kid, who was about twice his size. I decided then and there that I'd never be an embarrassment or cause for them to need to defend me ever again. My 8 y/o is rail thin, like his father was, can eat anything he wants to and never gains a pound. At 8 years old he barely tops the scale at 58 lbs and that's with heavy clothes and shoes on. My 10 y/o on the other hand, is autistic and bipolar, and the meds he was on for 2 years have given him a bit of a weight problem. So it's up to me to instill healthy habits in him now so he doesn't end up like me some day.

My surgeon is Dr. Scott at UT Southwestern in Dallas (3 hours to the west of me, I live near Longview/Tyler), and he's the "head surgeon" there from what I've heard. I met him at the seminar I went to back in October, and I was VERY impressed by how he took me to the side to discuss some of my more private medical issues, and stated that it wouldn't be a problem, and he'd love to have me as a patient. I was wondering if anyone else used/is using/is going to use UT Southwestern, and if you have, what was your experience? They all seem very nice, the ones I've spoken with so far.

I was told I'd be kept overnight, maybe 2 nights, due to other health conditions that might not allow me to heal as fast, and I'm ok with that. Dr. Scott seems extremely knowledgeable and kind.

Anyways, that's my short (?) intro and question of the day :banghead:

Melissa

welcome Melissa,

life's gotta be tough raising two boys alone, the extra weight cant help.

congrats on getting a consult.

i did not use UT Southwestern, but wanted to wish you luck.

hi, i am also new! i am going to attend the info session at ut southwestern next week. we'll see how that goes and what i think then, but currently i would prefer to go with them. ut southwestern is not as highly publicized as places like "true results" (i saw them last week and was NOT impressed), but has a lot of talented doctors. its also close, and i suspect my insurance would prefer to work with them. i'm not sure yet which surgeon i will pick, assuming of course that my insurance approves me. i'd love to know how things go for you, and also what you think of your experience at ut southwestern. good luck!

as an update, i am going to be having dr. scott at ut southwestern do my surgery. i'm scheduled for january 19th!!