Hello All, I finally have a surgery date after 6 months of all the wonderful steps 5-8-2009. I'm very very very excited but now a nervous that I finally have a date. I've been overweight all my life and miss doing some of the things I did when I was younger. Glad to be on this site, IT IS AWESOME!!! Good luck to everyone and hope to share this wonderful journey with all of you.

Congratulations and welcome! :thumbup: I know exactly how you feel... excited and nervous all at the same time. I just got approved this week also, and will be going in the day before you!

Welcome to the journey, fellow Mayo Bandito!

Congrats Don..............

It is truly a start of a journey.........I think it will be a great journey for all of us.

Congratulations Don... It feels great to finally have a date doesn't it. I started my journey back in October and thought I would be banded by Feb at the latest. I keep thinking the Dr.'s office is going to call and say "I'm sorry we gave you the wrong date...."

Congratulations everybody !! My date is May 6th. Lot of emotion right now. Got thru all my phsycology work and counseling pretty fast, I'm ready to go

Welcome and congrats.......You are now an official Mayo Banditos:biggrin:

Congratulations! I am with you in regards to experiencing mixed emotions. Today I went to my class at my surgeon's office that gives you the what to expect during and right after surgery. As I was walking in, I realized I was starting to get nervous!! For the past six months I have been going to the monthly classes and doing the requirements for insurance but I think I kept myself from getting my hopes up and kept telling myself it probably would never happen. Now, it is officially scheduled May 4th!! IT is completely surreal!

I also had my pre-op appointment at the hospital today and the final obstacle was accomplisheed which was setting up a payment plan for my out of pocket! I just started my liquid diet this afternoon. I am a little worried about accomplishing this liquid diet for two weeks!! However, I had the realization today that today is the first day of the rest of my life. Here is my second chance to regain my health and find myself again! I am completely terrified of failure; however, I am going to embrace this fear and turn it into motivation! Good luck to us all!!

Skinnybyrd, I totally relate! It's finally real after the whole 6 month diet, and the waiting for ins approval, and now it's like a 3 week crash course in surgery prep. I've been holding back excitement waiting to get approval and now it's running wild!

I think they only thing I haven't really thought about is how I'm going to pay the out of pocket... yikes. Insurance covers 80% I think. Just another question to add to my list!

Yeah, how I was going to pay was the last obstacle to conquer! My insurance also covered 80/20 and I had a $3000.00 out of pocket. I ended up paying the surgeon $433.00 and the hospital let me do an 18 no-interest payment plan for the 3000.00. I would think that most hospitals have that available as they are making much more money from the insurance company!