Well ~almost~ started! I havent actually got a surgery date yet....Last Friday I had my first appointment with Dr. Copp at Greenslopes. It all went well and I have all the instructions ready to carry out! For the rest of this year, I have a very full callendar, so asked for a date anytime from the beginning of January. Seems the books arent open yet for 2009, so I have to wait until November to actually get a date! November 1, I will be on that phone! As you can tell by my "name" I am one of the ~older~ people making the decision to have a lap band. For the last 20 years I have been stacking on the weight.....for probably my last 20 years, I want to get back to "normal". I dont need to get down to "bikini" size :thumbdown: but having a choice at the dress shops will be nice! Dr Copp thinks if I have the surgery in January, I should be almost down to what I should be by August!! (ready for my next overseas trip) That is unbelievable after all the times I have spent months and months ~trying~ to lose weight. I wish I could do it sooner, but just cant fit it in this year. Last year I had a heart attack and quad bypass, and although my health has been fine ever since, the weight loss will hopefully put off another bypass for many many years!

Granny, I am so very happy for you! I have to say, I don't have that kind of patience. I just found out Friday that I was approved and am anxious to talk to the doctor's office on Tuesday (Monday being a holiday, darn it!) and see if we can set a date. Partly, I am ready to go forward and partly I don't want to start all over in January with my insurance deductible! Best wishes!

CJ

Granny, well done on making the decision to proceed. Its a tough thing to do. I am also going through Dr Copp. I have a surgery date of 4 November 2008 and my first appointment with him and the dietician is on the same day - 17 October. I saw his nurse on my first visit. I am being done in the private hospital at Ipswich.