Hi
Do you come to First Saturday Support? I am the facilitator of the group and don't know if you've ever come...you mentioned you go to alot of support groups. We meet once a month on Sat at RWJ in Scotch Plains

I had RNY under HBCBS POS in Nov. 06 and was approved immediately, no out of pocket expenses required. I now have PPO but maybe things have changed. It could be your company's specific plan too.

Thanks for coming, Tim...I already registered for the event as did another one of our members. I am so excited about it. If you would like a list of vendors to contact for samples, etc. let me know. If I can be of any service to you in planning the event, I'd be glad to help out.

Everyone is invited to attend our monthly support group meeting - Saturday May 1 at the RWJ-Rahway Fitness & Wellness Center in Scotch Plains. We start about 10:30am. The center is conveniently located 4 min from GSP Exit 135 and just a few short miles from Trader Joe's in Westfield! Email me: [email protected]. Just put up our blog/discussion group. Follow this link: http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/BariatricLosers/tab,0/page,1/#my_groups_main:1

Hope to see you on May 1

Linda, thanks for clarifying that. We do usually meet the first Saturday unless the first Saturday is a holiday weekend.

Lisa:I don't think there is a person alive who enjoys exercising. However, it's a necessary evil and the real key to permanent and lasting weight loss. I am 3 1/2 years post op RNY and have successfully lost all my weight. I think one of the reasons I was successful was because of exercise. I still do it at least 5x a week. I cannot stress the importance of finding a type of exercise you enjoy. For some it's the treadmill or the elliptical, for some it's walking, for others it's cycling or swimming...I discovered dance after doing all of the above. I was bored to tears and almost quit the gym until I started taking zumba...from there I expanded my dance to include other dance classes offered in my gym and zumba taught by other teachers outside the gym. I encourage those lazy exercisers to try dance. You quickly get hooked. I had two left feet when I started but once I learned the basic steps the rest fell into place. I work in a high school, we have a weight room with ellipticals and a bike...do I go? NO! I like the classes better and never need to make excuses, I love dance and feel guilty when I miss out.

please email me at: firstsaturdaysupport@gmail as i often do not check the boards. i am off this week so i have a bit more time.

It is great that you are getting different points of view. I know people who are sorry they got banded and others who are sorry they had RNY and didn't lose their weight. Some people get bad advice from doctors who know nothing about their habits. I was fortunate to have an endocrinologist who knew that I was on the road to death with my out of control diabetes and told me that lapband was not restrictive enough for my eating habits. I needed to make food a lesser focus of my life and just have it as a path of survival. She was right...I don't see food the same way I did before. As for which to choose, if you have had abdominal surgeries, you may not have a choice in which procedure to use, however, both surgical procedures are similar (5 incisions) but in RNY you have your intestines cut and rerouted to your new "pouch" which is stapled shut. If you get a band, the band will be inserted to create a "pouch" with a tiny port in your abdomen creating a place for the tube to be attached for fills. the "pouch" can be expanded or contracted based on your needs. With RNY you have malabsorption which means that you absorb less calories than you consume and that's why you lose so quickly. Appetite and cravings (in most cases) disappear for 1 - 1 1/2 years so you don't desire or want the stuff that got you fat. By the time they return you are usually at goal weight and your mind has played catch up and you learn to maintain the weight loss with exercise and good eating habits. I understand that with the band you still have cravings and can manipulate the band to eat more and more often during the time of weight loss. I think it takes someone with strong willpower to have lapband and be successful. This is just my personal opinion. Again, you have to do what works for you and get several consultations with different surgeons before you decide. We are here for you. Good luck.

I have Horizon BCBS and my plan covers wls. I had POS at surgery time but I think all the plans cover it. Your doctor's office needs to fight this. And you need to appeal the decision and fight fight fight!

Good Luck.

Due to the Easter Holiday this weekend, the First Saturday Support Group will meet next Saturday, April 10 instead of this Saturday, April 3. Please join us at RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center, 2120 Lamberts Mill Rd., Scotch Plains at 10:30am. We will have a special guest speaker, Susan Greeley, a nutritionist, who will speak to the group about weight managment, label reading, controlling cravings and much more! Hope to see old and new faces. Email: [email protected]

Hi!
I am the facilitator of the First Saturday group that meets at RWJ in Scotch Plains. We are an active and vibrant group that has been meeting monthly for 3 years. If you send an email to: [email protected] I will put you on the routing list for all emails to the group. I hope you can join us on April 10.

Hello
I would like to add that I started a support group in Union County. We meet the first Saturday (usually) of every month in Scotch Plains at RWJ Fitness Center. The group was started 3 years ago and is wonderful and vibrant. Support groups are great and ours is not affiliated with any hospital or doctor.

I hear that Dr. JB is now in Watchung and will be doing surgery at Overlook. Overlook is a great hospital. Many doctors change hospitals for one reason or another.

As for the office staff at the Bariatric Center, they are there, Pat and Alison, and they will be able to transfer your records with a signed release or will keep them for the new doctor when he/she comes on board.