Hey guys and gals!  My name is Dawn.  I'm 30 years young.  I have a son who's 10 and a daughter who's 1 1/2.  I was first referred by my PCP for WLS in 2004.  I live in Panama City, Florida and attended the seminar for the only local surgeon doing WLS.  I don't know what it was, but I didn't feel right when I left there.  So I stepped back and did more research.  In November of 2007, my aunt had lap RNY and did and has done amazingly.  So with my renewed interest in WLS, I called my ins co and asked IF they would approve WLS and what I had to do.  With that info, they also gave me the names of 2 Centers for Bariatric Excellence and that's how I found my surgeon.  I drive 2 1/2 hours to Pensacola to use Dr. Lord at Sacred Heart Hospital.  I got my referral from my PCP, did my 6 months of physician supervised weight loss, physical, chest x-rays, etc. and received an approval for lap RNY within 24 hours of BCBS receiving the surgeon's request for approval.  I chose RNY because Dr. Lord made a comment that goes something like this, "If you are a cheater, lap-band is not for you."  Well, I AM a cheater.  I have a major sweet tooth.  I want to be as successful as I can be with this tool.  So I opted for lap RNY.  I'm so excited to share this journey with each of you.  The OH family has been an amazing source of information and encouragment for me.  I'll see you all on the loser's bench!

That is great! Mine is set for 4/7/09.

LapBand - I'm too chicken to have RNY!

Tami - I agree this board is too quiet!  Let's make some noise!

My name is Christy and I live in Iowa.   I'm 37 years old, married for 12 years and 3 children ages 17, 9, and 7.  I've been thinking about WLS for 5 years and finally took the next step of attending a seminar in July of 2008.  In contrast to Tami, I couldn't accept having my insides cut apart and rearranged and having malabsorption for the rest of my life.  I decided that LapBand was the only WLS that I could consider.  Don't get me wrong, I respect everyone's decision to have whichever procedure they feel is best for them.  It's good that we have a choice!  After 6 months of PCP visits, 1 dietitian visit, and a Psych eval my surgery was approved the day my insurance company received my info from the surgeon's office.  I start liquids 2 weeks pre-op and have surgery on April 8th.  I plan to be back at work on the 13th, barring all complications!

I live 90 minutes away from the hospital/surgical center so I don't see being able to attend support group on a regular basis post-op.  You will all be my support group!

I know exactly what you are talking about.  Found out about my surgery date last week and you would have thought this was my last weekend of life.  Strangely enough though as I ate different things that I was concerned about ever having again, I found that I really wasn't that thrilled over them after all.  I have been on a pretty strict diet since January 1 so I thought this was my chance before the 2-week liquid diet starting the 24th.