Hello Everyone!! :teeth_smile:

My name is Riane, and I am 23 years old. I am from southern NJ. I currently weigh 226lbs and am 5'3". Which makes my BMI 40.0 (morbid obesity). I have been battling my weight as long as i can remember. I have done, Atkins, Weight Watchers, Michael Thurman's Extreme Body Makeover, Grapefruit Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, you name it.. as well as I have been perscribed Phentermine (a diet pill, that made me grind my teeth constantly and have a VERY rapid HR. 116 resting). I lost weight on Phentermine but felt the side effects were too risky. When i went off of the Phentermine I gained the weight back. I was told 2 years ago i was a good canidate for Gastric Bypass. When I looked up the proceedure i felt it was too risky. I have since then met someone who had Lap Band done. She looks fantastic, and feels even better. She said she would recommend it to anyone. I think this may be key for me. I am only interested in losing like 91-106lbs. Do you think this could be the key for me? Oh yeah- I called my insurance company, they cover it. If I get it, it would be in Cherry Hill NJ-Dr. Gus J. Slotman.

I look forward to your response!

Thanks for taking the time to read my shortened life story!

Edited October 31, 200817 yr by Riane226
i must be a sloppy typer..

HI Riane,

I also have tried all those diets lost but then gained it all back. I have been in the process for 3 months and have a surgery date of November 10th.

I also looked at gastric, but was a little afraid of it, but did like the idea of fast weight loss!! But with the lap band they say the average is 2 lbs a week, which is the healthy way to lose weight. I also would like to lose 100 lbs. I've lost 27 lbs so far and am on my liquid diet for two weeks before surgery and can't wait to really get started.

Good luck and I'm sure you will be able to do it!

Thanks so much for your reply! It means a lot. How long is the process before the surgery? I know there are like psych consults and such... Like from the time your insurance accepts you? Is it a long wait because the surgeon is busy, or because there are many things that need to be done and addressed before hand?

How is the liquid diet going for you? Is it as difficult as it sounds? I can only assume you feel hungry all the time..

Good luck and God bless on your journey! I hope to be there too one day (sooner than later)!!

<3Riane

Wow girl its like my life right there i have done everything u can name even went to the gym 7 days a week everything works good in the first month second month goes down the drain and i would get frustared and eat even more so i feel what your going to.. I have been thinking about the lapband over 2 years now so i dunno how i finally got the nerves to do my upper gi test and abdomnal ultrasound and thank god everythinng was good so my surgury date is the 24th of november.. im excited yet scared.. like evryone else but yea u right gastric is a little more scary.. soo good luck in all u do your not alone im 24 years old so i know exactly how u feel :teeth_smile:

hyegirl, can you explain to me what the gi testing is? And can you tell me if the abdominal ultrasound is looking for a fatty liver or what? Just wondering, I have been researching but nothings like talking to someone who has been though it! :teeth_smile:) Thanks for your time and your reply!

Sure i can well u gotta do thoese two tests before u can even try to get a approval from your insurance .. the abdominal ultrasound basically yea to see how youur liveer is and if everything is normal or u got anything in it.. and the upper gi series its kinda harder cuase they make u drink this yuckie thing lol thats just to make sure everything u get in your stomach goes in good they take pics of it.. Just hold your nose and drink it dont think about how its gonna taste its not that bad just a little chalky not really that bad and after those are done and hopefully its good u can then try your insurance . :teeth_smile:

not all insurances require the ultrasound and upper GI. I didnt have either one of those so it just depends on your insurance and sometime your doctors requirments.

riane - have you gone to the seminar for your surgeon yet? most of the time they will tell you what they require and what is required by your insurance.

Good luck to all of you on the journey to being banded...its was the best decision I made!

Hey Riane, I'm a fellow SJ-ian! LOL! GO PHILS! Anyway I just got banded on 10/20 by another Dr.... Marc Neff in Cherry Hill ( went to Kennedy Stratford for the surgery and they were more then great!!!) For me, its the best decision I've ever made in my life... I'm already down 20 pounds with 106 more to go...if u qualify then it doesn't matter the amount of pounds... its more for ur health! So I wish u luck, keep us posted with how u make out :smile2: