My First Visit!

Well i had my first visit with Nancy today and i weighed in and so far have lost 2.5 pounds of the 12 I need to lose before surgery, I also have made my appt. with the nutritionist and have left messages for  the other 2 appts. So I am on my way! I just hope my insurance company doesn't try to get in my way,but I met with my PCP and she was awesome so detailed and is going to do quite the write up for me! So I am hopeful! Its going to be a long but busy couple of months but I am looking forward to it! Because the end result will be getting my life back!  I will keep you all posted and would love to hear other stories of people out there just beginning your journeys as well!

That's great news. You are on your way. Once your mind is made up there's no stopping you.
Good luck.

Rosemary

Whoohooo! Way to go. You are on your way now. It'll go faster than you think.

As Diane 333 said, it WILL go much faster than you think.  I had my first appointment with Nancy in June and got the call today that my insurance has approved my surgery!  Hopefully it will be in the middle of October.  Just waiting for the scheduling call now.
With the visits to the nutritionist, physical therapist, and behavior modification classes with Jeff, the time literally flies.  I had my pre op testing done before I even finished the classes.
Wish you all the best!

Thank you all for your comments! Deedz56 congrats! I am so happy you have been given your approval! I am still nervous that I won't get it but I am not going to let that stop me!  I am going ahead as scheduled I have all my appts. and start classes with Jeff tomorrow and am looking forward to it! I will also be attending the suppport group on the 28th of september! maybe I will see some of you there? Next week I have my physical therapy ! I am taking it one day at a time but have been very active lately more than I have been in a long time! hoping to see a good weight loss this week! hoping to lose my 9.5lbs by the end of October! I feel that is a realistic time frame! Deedz56 I am surprised they did your pre op testing before getting insurance approval they must have been confident in your insurance! Good luck and keep me posted when you get your surgery date! Take care everyone and have a great week!

I will definitely be there on Monday the 28th.  It's my understanding that in addition to having both a by-pass and lap-bander speak to us, there will be plastic surgeon there to discuss the issue of excess skin.
I feel very blessed to have the insurance I do.  Someone in my behavior modification class has to meet with their PCP once a month for six months to discuss nutrition and exercise before they can be approved.  
Don't sweat the physical therapy session.  It's merely an eval to see where you are.  I walked for seven minutes, did some wall push ups and some chair squats.  I was given an exercise guideline, and returned in a month.  I redid everything I did prior, was declared more fit and passed back to Nancy.  The best thing that came out of the meeting was getting the name of someone who could evaluate my gait and fit me appropriately for shoes.  No blisters, no rubbing, no aching toes.  It's wonderful!
Enjoy class tonight - Jeff's a hoot.

HI! Well I had my first support group with Jeff and he is great! I am looking forward to my one on one with him next week! I also look forward to meeting you Deedz at the support group on the 28th! It is regarding plastic surgery which I am hoping with the lap band I will not need! I also have my physical therapy weds. too i will bring my sneakers! I am excited and have been exercising more every day! I have lost 6 pounds so far! only 6 more for surgery but I am going to keep going on even past that number! Like the person in your class my insurance requires me to do 6 months with my doctor too but luckily I have been working with her since last December!
I was told it was something the hospital I work for added as a stipulation! go figure...
see you the 28th!
Rose

Very smart move on your part to get ahead of the game with meeting with your PCP well in advance!  Sounds like you got your homework done.
Like you, once I made the decision to do this and had met with the nutritionist, I've been maintaining a steady course of weight loss.  I've lost more than the 18 pounds required for my surgery; I'm not sure where I am now, as I wait to get weighed by Dr. Gens or Nancy.  I've stayed true to the program Jackie (the nutritionist) gave me.  Since I'm doing Lap Band, I've also eliminated drinking with meals (oddly, that's been very tough) and after, as well as chewing my food a lot.  My DH says I'm in training!
I'm in my early 50's, have been overweight most of my adult life, so I'm going to assume that either way I go, I will have a lot of skin to account for.  But I'm fine with that.  Rather have skin than the weight.
You really will take away a lot from Jeff's classes (including lots of info about donuts and coffee coolatas).  I think this piece, along with the support groups, is so integral to the whole program working. 
I look pretty similar to my photo, so I should be easy to spot.  Look forward to meeting you.  Oh - tentative date for surgery is Tuesday, October 13!  Not confirmed yet, so I'm not officially posting it.

This is fantastic!   Totally wonderful...