Good morning ladies~I am ...

GLAD I COULD HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY, MS SHAUNA. I'VE BEEN OFF THE BOARD FOR SO LONG I'M OUT OF THE LOOP AS TO HOW EVERYONE IS DOING, BUT I HOPE TO CATCH UP THESE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. DON'T GIVE UP, SWEETIE ... DON'T REMEMBER IF I TOLD YOU, BUT BE SURE TO ALWAYS SAY "MEDICALLY NECESSARY" WHEN ASKING ABOUT WLS ... MANY INSURANCE COMPANIES PLAY GAMES & SAY THEY DON'T COVER WLS, BUT WHEN YOU ASK IF IT'S COVERED IF IT'S "MEDICALLY NECESSARY", THEN THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY COVER IT. LIKE, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD HAVE THEIR STOMACH CUT IN HALF IF IT WEREN'T MEDICALLY NECESSARY ... RIGHT? I HAVE YOU ON OUR SC WEIGHT LOSS LIST AS "SHAUNA BAGWELL (LYMAN/SPARTANBURG) ... 2nd SEMINAR W/ SURGEON 2/15/2006 ... APPOINTMENT W/ PCP IN 2 WEEKS" ... LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO UPDATE THIS INFO ... OR, IF I FIND SOMETHING IN A NEWER POST, I'LL LET YOU KNOW I UPDATED YOUR INFO. GOD BLESS DAWN & NICK

hi and welcome Stephie

Hi Shauna, WELCOME ABOARD Glad you came on the website and the messageboard. I could not have made it through some hard times without all these people! Who is your doctor Shauna? MUSC just became a Center of Excellence and is a great hospital. You will love this surgery, it really did save my life. Take care and visit often Glad you came over, ask us anything God Bless, Deborah

WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF BECOMING A "CENTER OF EXCELLENCE", MS DEB? I SAW A LIST OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FROM ALL OVER THE USA ON bariatriceating.com. MUSC WASN'T LISTED, BUT I'LL LOOK NEXT TIME I GO THERE TO SEE IF IT HAS BEEN ADDED.

Hi Shauna! The man who invented the scale, and it HAD to have been a man because they don't seem to mind them as much, should have been tortured in some terrible way. I have feared them my whole life and they kept me from the doctor many many times when I should have been there. We all know the terror of the scales. One effect of the surgery is that you become addicted to them, because you love to watch the numbers slide down! Anyway, welcome to our message board . It is totally normal to be nervous, but you have a great attitude and commitment and you will see this through. Remember, we are only an e-mail away if you have a question or just need to talk. Nice to meet you! Love, B

Glad you found us! I know what you mean - I would never have weighed myself if my husband had not dragged us to the Laparoscopic weight loss surgery center to hear about gastric bypass. when i saw how much i weighed I cried, I had no idea and decided right then that I needed to have surgery. go into this with an open mind, expecting nothing. If the surgery is for you, you will have it. This is a great place to get support and meet new folks. Hope to keep seeing you around! Shannon 279/217/140