Before you have surgery, you should check the web and make sure your surgeon is board certified to do the surgery you select. You can also check with the state medical association to see if any suits have been filed against him/her. I have had 15 major surgeries, the last being laproscopic RNY dec 9. I selected my surgeon because of his training, yearly updated bariatric training, and certifications. I drove 1 1/2 hours to get to him, and was happy with my results. I am down 108 lbs in 7 1/2 mo, and he was able to do it laproscopically, which was a challenge with a bmi of almost 56!! He is board certified in bariatric and laproscopic surgery, and belongs to ama, and sages( for gi laproscopic surgeries) many surgeons I checked out were not board certified in bariatric surgery, but were just surgeons. I only wanted someone with great credentials!

Have you considered trying to take in a renter?- that way your expenses would decrease and your money would last a little longer. Many young people just want out of the house and haven't much money themselves, so it might help you both. CONTACT THE DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DISABILITY OFFICE AND ASK THEIR ADVICE.

Darla - I applied for Social Security disability (Maryland) and was approved. The reason was a combination of morbid obesity and two bad knees (need knee replacements). Please apply - all they can say is no, and what if they say yes! The process didn't take too long - about 4 to 5 months, which I know is a lot longer than you have before money is gone. In the meantime, perhaps you can help from a local church group or other similar agency in your area. I wish you the very best of luck, and hope your surgery goes great. Take care.

Rachel - you are so right to do this research. I am a very happy lapband patient, just 7 weeks out, losing well and with excellent restriction. For the first time in my life, food has ceased to be at the centre of my life. I eat when I am genuinely hungry, not just because I see food! And a very small amount fills me. I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I had an easy surgery, quick recovery, early restriction, excellent post-op care from the medical team. I think one of your other posters gave the right message when she said that she felt unsupported by her doctors and therefore was not a successful bandster. You need a doctor that understands and supports you. I am sure you will have done all your research and mine is a biased view anyway, but for what it is worth - I never considered any other form of WLS (I did do research into bypass and other surgeries) because i was not prepared to take the higher risk of complication. You will see that some older studies do not find much difference in the complication rate but from my reading, it seemed that the difference was that the band complications were very rarely as serious. Having said that, many RNY patients are more overweight and may have poorer health BEFORE surgery so be more likely to have complciations anyway. I wanted to be a "normal" person as far as food is concerned. I eat out with friends and eat WHAT they eat, just less of it. Unless someone peers at my plate all evening and counts my calories, no-one who does not know i am banded would realise there was anything different about me! Whatever you decide - good luck, Kate

Oops this was supposed to be on the lap band board.... I guess it can be informative though Naomi--