Meeting at the Frank Jones Center 6/26/07 anyone else go?

Hi all!! I'm new and wanted to see if anyone else here had attended the seminar yesterday at the Frank jones Center in Portsmouth?   Have any of you actually started the process?

I was there!  what did you think of it?  I think I'm feeling a liite confused about some things...

yes I admit I am feeling a little confused by it but I'm more confused on which one is right for me. At first I was thinking I absolutley wanted the lap-band but from what they said I'm having second thoughts. I don't know how the insurance situation is going to work out but I guess I'll just have to called them again to make sure.

That's exactly what I am feeling!  I was SURE I wanted the band.  Now........I'm not sure.  They said for the band to work you have to be "highly motivated" and "disiplied". If I was all that, I probably wouldn't have been there to begin with!  LOL

Hi, I didn't attend the meeting because I was there over a year and a half ago. I had my surgery 5 1/2 months ago. I just want to say that it is all confusing. The Ports. Drs. are the greatest in my opnion. As far as Lap Band Or Gastric Bypass. That is your decision. I had the Gastric. I was a bad diabetic with a ton of other medical things wrong. I was told that if I was a carb addict and loved sweets that Lap Band was not for me. I was both of those so chose the Gastric. But you have to chose what is right for you. In any decision I know you will be happy.  I would do it all over in a second. Just do a lot of reading and become familiar with it all. Good Luck and if you have any questions feel free to ask me or anyone else on here. They are a great group of people on here. The first thing I would do is call your Insurance Company. Hugs, Roxanne

Hi Jesscap5 - I was at the meeting last night.  I am nervous about starting this process, but I am sooooooo ready to go - the wait is going to kill me.

well add me into the mix! i was there too........... there were alot of people there. i was happy to be sitting in the ac quite frankly. it has been waaaaaaay to hot for me!....... i think they were pushing the bypass myself. i went to the meeting knowing for MYSELF that i want the bypass....i did find it interesting how they definatly were more for the bypass than the lap... i also found it interesting that they have only done 200  bypass and 75? laps since they begain. i really thought that number would ahve been higher....... and my stomach sunk when they said outta the 200 that they did have 1 death. although it did not have anything to do with there expertice on the table to to speak... but came after from the blood clot thing........( don't quoate me tehre, but that's what i got from it) i was the fat blonde sitting in the front row......... i hanve't officailly started. but i did my weigh in. and i was sickened by what the number read..........that alone makes me want it that much more......... im so sick of ebing fat.. and being a human yoyo

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought they were pushing the bypass.  I thought maybe it was just me. I was the red head 2 or3 rows back.  I still don't know for sure what I want to do, although I am thinking more about the bypass then I was. I just know I want to do something!

I attended the seminar back in Sept and had my RNY 1/29.  The Portsmouth drs are just amazing!  I love them all.   The info at the seminar can be a bit overwhelming.  Though the seminar may appear to push RNY the drs are favorable to what YOUR choice is.  Though sometimes your choice is limited due to insurance reasons.  I know some people than wanted RNY and the surgeons will tell them they think that they are a better band candidate.  But in the end they will perform the procedure that YOU decide on.  And remember the bypass is considered the "gold standard" in WLS.  Make the decision you are comfortable with. My entire journey is documented in my profile blog if anybody is interested.  I have been very fortunate to have it go very smoothly.  Just one small bump at the beginning.  Five months out tomorrow and down 82 lbs post op 116 lbs including required pre op loss. Best wishes on your journeys. I am here to ask questions too.  Feel free :)

WOW - How on earth did you lose 34lbs pre-op?  That is SUPER!!! I am setting all the insurance wheels in motion and hopefully getting a weigh in this week  I'm excited and worried - it's weird.  I know the lap-band is for me - but all the other ladies are right - they pushed the bypass. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HUGE SUCCESS!