Hi Everyone -

My name is John and I'm 51 yrs old. Have struggled with my weight for years.....Have been over 300 lbs for the last 10 yrs. Reached my highest weight this past January of 337 lbs. HAVE HAD ENOUGH..........Currently I'm 312 lbs with a BMI of 42. I'm tired of the yo-yo diets........

A resent untrasound shows I have alot of Gallstones so I will probably will have my Gallbladder removed at the same time.

Currently seeing all of the Doctors/Nutritionist required by Aetna as I'm involed in their 3 month pre-surgical program. It requires monthly visits to my Primary Doctor, Nutritionist, a Personal Trainer and the Psychologist.

I am seeing Dr. Fielding @ NYU . I see Dr. Fielding on 3/25/09 and hopefully will get a surgery date which should be early May.

Can't wait to get past the surgery...............

Congrats Bmooney!!!! How awesome does it feel to have a date? Don't fret the stress test, you will be fine, and pass with flying colors.

Bmooney- it's amazing how real everything becomes once your have a date. We are here for you!!!

meem- your almost there with the signature thing see if this link helps you at all.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker...ictures-41782/

Hello all! This is my first and definitely not my last post.....I got my surgery date last week for May 15th (God willing)!!! I'm in Chicago and going through Mercy Hospital, Dr. Rosett is my surgeon. Honestly, Im sick and tired of being overweight. I lose then gain then lose then gain 2x.

I have my psyche appt tomorrow and then the dr appt the week after. I've started my not so fun diet because I have to lose 8-10 lbs prior to the surgery and 2 wks before the surgery I have to do the liquid (slim fast) diet. Im so excited about finally being able to break out of this "jail"!!!!

Hi there Foxxy

I am been banded on May 14th and am really looking forward to it. I ma starting my not so fun liquad diet next week Ewwww but hey its all good in the long run when the weight starts to come off

Im with you, im sick and tired of being in this jail......CMON lets make a run for it

Tirsh

BOOOOOO the bariatric center called me this morning... they moved my surgery to May 7th... so an extra week added on, it was the 1st... oh well... good things are worth the wait

Hip, hip, hooray!!!

After 8 long months, I've FINALLY gotten approval to get the lap band!!!! I got the call today and called back like 5 times so I could schedule my surgery. May 12th is officially my "B-day" (band-day). Woohoo!

I've been in hurry-up-and-wait mode for so long, now it finally feels real and it's GAME ON!

I've gotten most of the pre-op appointments scheduled, now I want to go home and clean out any food that isn't band-friendly. Holy crap, in a little more than a week I'll be starting a liquid diet! My surgeon wants me to do two weeks of liquid before surgery, and the funny thing is that I'm excited to start it so I can start the weight-loss journey for real!

I can't wait to get to know all of you and go through this journey together!

I'm soooo ready! I'm at 280, with 48 BMI. Surgery date is May 15th here in Jacksonville. I too am tired of the yo-yo diet. I am looking forward to the full "feeling" people are talking about. This is where my life really begins for a lifetime. Let's do it! I've been obese all of my life and am ready to beat this food addiction once and for all. Hope you and the May Bandsters are readly for the greatest time of our lives!

NOW I WAIT............:eek:

All pre-certification requirements have been completed. My Doctor is filing all documents to Aetna today. I should hear from them by Friday. ( I hope).

Getting a jump on the pre-op diet. A Protein shake for breakfast and two for lunch followed by a nice dinner....Monday, I start the pre-op liquid diet, 7-8 protein drinks a day until surgery.

LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN...........:crying:

Nice, John!! Keep us updated! :crying:

John, good luck! My Aetna people told me they had up to 15 business days to review it... but I called every single day, finally got the name of the nurse that was reviewing my file, and even faxed her a letter pleading my case. Keep us updated!!

Greetings everyone! I'm getting banded on Friday at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC and I'm soooooooo excited. Originally I was going to have the single incision procedure but my surgeon's office called at the last minute and stated I would have to reschedule because that procedure is only available on certain surgery dates (I guess OR set-up is different). I'm not willing to delay, so I'm going with the regular procedure which my surgeon's nurse said is less painful in the long run because the single incision site is so manipulated during surgery and more painful afterwards.

It's funny to read about everyone's different pre-op diets. I didn't have to go on any special liquid diets. My surgeon only requested I go on an Adkin's diet (low carb, high protein) which I'm so used to doing. Today is the last day of solid food for several weeks.

Of course, I watched the biggest loser last night and that feeling of "I can do this on my own without surgery" made its way into my head. But my frame of mind this morning is that I am doing this on my own and surgery is a tool to aid in my success.

Good luck to everyone!

PRESSURE'S OFF - I JUST GOT MY AETNA APPROVAL :biggrin::thumbup::thumbup::smile2::thumbup::frown::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Now I can just concentrate on my pre-op diet and life after BANDing.......:thumbup:

John,

Fantastic...what a relief for you! Good luck with the preop diet...mine was bad for two days (headache, hungry) but now I am really in the groove! Cali

Greetings everyone! I'm getting banded on Friday at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC and I'm soooooooo excited. Originally I was going to have the single incision procedure but my surgeon's office called at the last minute and stated I would have to reschedule because that procedure is only available on certain surgery dates (I guess OR set-up is different). I'm not willing to delay, so I'm going with the regular procedure which my surgeon's nurse said is less painful in the long run because the single incision site is so manipulated during surgery and more painful afterwards.

It's funny to read about everyone's different pre-op diets. I didn't have to go on any special liquid diets. My surgeon only requested I go on an Adkin's diet (low carb, high protein) which I'm so used to doing. Today is the last day of solid food for several weeks.

Of course, I watched the biggest loser last night and that feeling of "I can do this on my own without surgery" made its way into my head. But my frame of mind this morning is that I am doing this on my own and surgery is a tool to aid in my success.

Good luck to everyone!

Doug, you're one of the first to go in!! How exciting! You will definitely have to come back to the board and tell us how it all went. John set up a thread for Surgery Stories. (Thx, John!)

I was reading about the Biggest Loser contestants in a magazine two days ago and had the same thought you did! But then I had to remind myself of all the times I have been successful at losing but just as successful at putting it all back on! The LapBand will definitely help us keep it off! Hooray! :ohmy:

PRESSURE'S OFF - I JUST GOT MY AETNA APPROVAL :ohmy::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::laugh::thumbup::laugh::thumbup::laugh::thumbup::laugh::thumbup:

Now I can just concentrate on my pre-op diet and life after BANDing.......

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! :w00t::thumbup::w00t::thumbup:

I am guessing a lot of those 'biggest losers' gain it all back. At least a lot greater percent than banders. But I have also had that thought...my preop diet is going well, I can do this, wait, I HAVE done this but always gained it back and more! Good luck to al, cant wait till the stories start rolling in! Cali