Hi all!  Just thought I'd say "Hi" and introduce myself.  I started the WLS process back in August of 2011 when I first attended a WLS seminar to find out the different options. I just completed my 6 months of physician supervised diet and exercise visits, a sleep study (which showed sleep apnea - duh, I could have told them that before the test), an EGD (which showed gastritis) and my psych eval. Found out last week that my insurance has APPROVED my surgery and it's scheduled for 8:15am on Friday March 2, 2012!!! I can't believe it's finally happening - it seems unreal! I'm obviously scared but excited too!

I have opted to have the Realize Gastric Band. I spoke at length with my surgeon and he felt that because I am young, have no major health concerns (yet) and because I have not yet had children, I would do well with the band. I have gone back and forth in my mind, discussed it with my husband, and have done a LOT of research re: which type of WLS and for awhile wanted to have the gastic bypass. I am afraid the band will not give me as fast of a weight loss as I want, but the major deciding factor for staying with the band was because I haven't had children yet. My surgeon told me he has a lot of patients that become pregnant with the band and it is easy to manage, as he can remove or fill as needed. I feel more comfortable knowing that I will not have any malabsorption during pregnancy with the band as well.  

Anyway, good luck to all the other March surgeries out there!!

I HAVE MY FIRST PRE OP APPT TOMMORROW THEN MY SECOND ON THE 17TH THEN SURGERY ON MARCH 6TH. MY HIGHEST WEIGHT WAS 395 AND NOW AT 343 MOST OF MY WEIGHT LOSS WAS UNEXPLAINED. BUT NOW I WORK OUT EVERY OTHER DAY AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

 My date is March 20th

 March 6th also!  

My tentative date is March 6th as well! I'm just hoping all goes as planned and that date doesn't get changed. Have to start 2 weeks of Optifast Feb 21st so that will be interesting to say the least... lol
~tami