..... so I've really given this a lot of thought.

Greetings!

Will be getting banded sometime in March; have had consultation with the surgeons (it will be a "tag team") so I'm figuring with four eyes and four hands it should go pretty well.:w00t:

Have had weight issues since a hysterectomy in my early 30's. Been packing the pounds on, lose some, gain some more, the vicious cycle. Have some co-issues such as diabetes, HBP so do feel that I've made the right decision.

Doc's require that I see a psychologist and have a cardiac evaluation prior to the surgery so both these are coming up.

Have been reading the forum for about a month now and looking forward to learning, commisserating where needed and giving/providing support.

WElcome aboard!! I was banded 1/12/09 and thought about it for about 2 months.. Long enough to do some reading both in books and online. Felt it was the right thing for me. Since my insurance did not cover it, I had to self-pay, it went very fast.. I was rather glad as the time it took for me to get to surgery date, I was already wishing it was already done.. Good luck and look forward to talking to you as you prepare for your journey.. :w00t:

Welcom to LBT Jet9999. Your at the right website to find out all you can about the band.

Good luck with your journey!

Hello again...

Like you Macpa90 I am also self pay. The company I work for was acquired by another company in 2008 and I found out that if I had of made the decision earlier under our old insurance plan it would have been covered less a $1K deductible.:w00t: ARRRGH!!!! But can't look back on what might have been.

I'm paying about half from my own pocket and half using a financing company. I figure that with the money I save not eating and not smoking (yep, that's a pre-req for the surgery) I can get it paid off pretty quickly. Definitely put a newer used car on hold.

I'm not a big smoker but I sure do enjoy that first one in the morning with coffee. But as I understand it, coffee is also not recommended so..... Quit smoking on Jan 18th; still having withdrawals (Whine whine whine).

Wanted to relay what I thought was an amusing conversation with my doctor during first consultation. Going over the process, what happens during surgery, saw a video, pre and post op pictures of patients (from the waist down so no faces were shown). I had list of questions and he was very good about answering them all in detail.

As we were wrapping up the first visit, he said " do you have any questions about cosmetic surgery you might want to do later? Tummy tuck, facial work, breast reduction?"

Well I don't know why but the breast reduction question just highly amused me. I never considered myself overly endowed in that area, even when slimmer. Though now the excess fat I have in my upper body now does make them look bigger than they really are.

Without really thinking I said "honey, I'm not going to even think about my boobs right now; I'll just get a really good bra and stuff 'em in there!" His reply was "well, I really can't help you with bra shopping".

I was, and still am, amused by his reply because everything else was so very, very serious.

Oh I feel the pain.. One good thing that my doctor offered as a self pay was using a surgical center if I qualified and I did. cut $10K right off the top.. looking back would I have chosen a hospital. NOPE! For that kind of money I slept just fine at home.. It was the unknown that I was the most scared of. By the second and then third day, I was most happy about my decision for the cut rate.

Funny my docotr also does the tummy tuck etc if wanted at the end or when needed. Of course I have already began that plan!!! If it get this far and then that far, nothing will stop me from what I want to be. Right now I am just focusing on getting to the first fill. good Luck and keep talking.. Keeps me focused!! :confused: