****Shelli R****

Hi Shelli, I was reading your reply to Nadene and saw that you have an appt with Dr. Roye on Friday...I do too. I have my initial consult (I believe Helen does the first appt.) Do you have any tips/suggestions on the initial appointment?? I am a little nervous. I want to have the lap band done and was told to gain 3-5 lbs before my initial appt so I can qualify...I did, that is for sure...first time in my life I was told I was "under weight" LOL!! I have some severe medical conditions that make this a necessity and I hope everything goes smoothly during the appointment. I also read your profile...what a journey you have been on. You are such a strong person and your real journey is just beginning. This time the journey is all about you and I am so happy to hear what a wonderful family you have and you now have all the support for YOU!! Best of luck to you...I hope all of your testing goes well and your date will be just around the corner Kristen D

Hi Kristen.................thanks so much for the very kind words. I really appreciate that more than you know. Yes, it's been a tough road sometimes, but I'm doing fantastic now. I'm very happy with my family and my new role as grandma (even tho I'm WAY too young to be a grandma....LOL) I love it. And I'm hoping that surgery gives me the physical energy that I need to keep up with all my babies.......my body can't keep up with my mind right now, so I'm hoping Dr. Roye's genius abilities can help me out with that problem. As far as your first appt.....don't be nervous at all. You'll get weighed and then you'll wait in one of the exam rooms for Helen. She is SO nice. She's not intimidating or anything so relax. She explains EVERYTHING that you need to know...and even draws pictures to help explain the procedures. You can ask her anything you need to ask. Really.....I'm a big goober when it comes to new people, but she's very nice and makes you feel at ease. So just go in with any questions you may have and she'll do the rest...it's that easy. My appt is at 10am. Annette called today and everything is a go for tomorrow morning. I have to say I'm a bit nervous cause if I get a date, it'll be REAL. So I'm a little anxious about that,...maybe it's more excitement than anything. But don't worry about tomorrow. Helen will lead you through everything and she'll tell you that the first thing they'll do is put the request through your insurance company for approval....it takes 2-4 weeks to get your package in the mail, that has a list of tests. Most of them you can schedule at your own convenience and there was only one on my sheet that she already had scheduled for me. So it's all very simple and easy and all should go well for you tomorrow. Best of luck to you tomorrow and come back and tell us how everything went. We're right here behind you all the way. Talk to ya soon! Shel

aw, too bad...my appt is not until 2pm. Thanks so much for the info. I called my insurance company and asked them if it is covered. With my medical conditions it definitely is. I need to get my sugars down and cholesterol...my heart disease will always be there, but I want to get pregnant and they will not give me the green light until my weight it down and sugars are down. the only risk they want me to have during pregnancy is my heart...they said that it is easiest for them to only have one thing to deal with. I am no spring chicken and my clock is ticking....so I need to get this done soon. there are restrictions on when because I had heart surgery last October so I have to wait until one year has passed since my surgery. I figure that after doing all the tests, it will be fall by then anyway. Good luck tomorrow...I hope you get a date scheduled...you deserve the best!!! enjoy those grandbabies!!!!

Hi Kristen: I almost did not qualify for surgery also, when I filled out the online form I put that I was 5'9 and at 263 I did not qualify, so I told Helen to measure me, and low and behold, I was 5'8!! Thank god!! That was feb 1 and I have gone up to 272 since then (they can't say I don't qualify now!!) BTW I am having LAP RNY with Dr. Ryder 6-7-06!!!! HUGS Kristin