Possible barrier to surgery

I had my initial appointment with True Results regarding the lap band procedure. I am really excited about the surgery and weight loss. My problem is that I have no family in the state and I do not want to tell the few friends I have about the surgery. I was told that unless I have someone with me at the hospital they will not do the surgery, but I have no one. Has anyone been in this position before? What did u do? Thanks

Number 1 No hospital will accept you for surgery unless you have someone to drive you there and pick you up. Sometimes they will let you arrive and leave by taxi but most want to make sure you have someone with you because you can't be alone for 24 hours after anesthesia.

Number 2 Please I beg you don't get a lap band they are the least effective weight loss surgery and even the few that do lose with them usually end up having to have them removed within 3-5 years because of slips, erosions and esophageal damage. The only 2 people I know personally that haven't had to revise to another surgery are Bette and Kate on this site. Even the Mayo clinic no longer uses them because of their dismal failure. You can follow every single rule your doc gives you and still not succeed with a band. I  did everything I was supposed to and lost only 20 lbs total, then I ended up with permanent esophageal damage so that it feels like hot lava gurgling in my throat 24/7!

The band is not what we were told it was but now there is enough info to know and warn people about them. I know many people don't want invasive surgery but it is invasive eventually when you have to go back in and have them removed. Then you end up having to revise and revision surgeries are usually slower weight loss yet again. Not to mention many insurance companies are going to once in a lifetime coverage of bariatric surgeries. I ended up having to self pay for my removal because my insurance changed and didn't cover it, that can easily happen without you being ok with it. So please get a surgery that will last you a lifetime not one that will end up making you sick and not working on top of it.

Sorry you had a bad experience with the band, but ive done my research and this is the right thing for me. This is also why I don't want to tell people about the surgery because everyone has their opinion and having surgery is already stressful enough. I knew about the anesthesia, but it never clicked until today that I needed someone with me.

I've got the sleeve and everyone that I've told has been super supportive.  Your friends might be better than you judge them to be.  

And here's a good article about the lap band -- http://center4research.org/child-teen-health/diet-weight-and -physical-activity/not-quite-everything-you-need-to-know-abo ut-lap-bands/ -- it's not the best option out there.  

If you've done your Research then you've seen this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25066440

and perhaps this: http://blog.dssurgery.com/2014/11/adjustable-gastric-band-easily.html?m=1

and last but not least this:http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/lap-band-side-effects-additional-surgery-17088/

I agree Surgery is Stressful and it's best to be prepared and Forewarned. Your correct our opinion's are just that But statistics and Facts area another thing.

Good luck