Hi i'm Donna i'm 24 years old i'm from North Yorkshire in the UK and I weigh 25st,11bl im 5ft,9 and am a size 30-32 in clothes.

This is my first visit to any sort of forum and i am looking around for any sort of advice.

Iv been thinking about Lap/Gastric bands for a long time now but friends, family and doctors always try to put me off. I have had a quick look through some of your conversations and thought this would be the best place to help me along with my desition.

But if doctors wont listen to me how do i start the ball rolling?

u know do as much research as you can... Get the facts before u go and make an apt. with a Dr. so if you can go to a seminar or something to get info that would be great... people always are afraid of what they don't know. Everyone seems to think just put the damn fork down... back up from the freekin table and you will loose some weight.. or just workout and it will happen... that is true but if you are eating to supress other emotions and havent yet learned how to concour that it will be hard... so get as much info as you can then go to your mom and or primary dr. and give them the facts about the lap band not just your opinion....

I'm not sure how medical works in the UK. I did not have to have my primary care doc "approve" me to get the band. I found a surgery center, went to their seminar, and started the ball rolling that way.

So if I were you, I'd try to find a band surgeon and then work from there. i.e. if they require your primary care doctor to approve you or refer you, see if you can find a doctor who is pro-banding. Maybe by visiting a bandster support group in your area and finding out who their doctors are?