Good morning ladies~I am ...

Hi Heather. Nice to meet you. I will have to check my work schedule and let you know if i can make it. Sounds like loads of fun. And im not far from Columbia at all...Are these all ladies that have had the surgery?? or waiting?? or is there a criteria...If i do come i will be coming alone....unless that is....any of you ladies know some rich rich men in the area....haha...just kidding

LOL- Hi girl. No criteria..Anyone who is considering surgery, already had surgery, or just interested in learning more..IS WELCOME! And this Thur....in Columbia at 630pm we have our Midlands monthly support group====at applebees on Broad River Rd. Check if you can make that one too..

Hi, Shauna!! I'm from Spartanburg, too!! (Well, Moore, actually - but don't blink or you'll miss it! ) Are you going to Dr. Ross? I had my surgery done about 1-1/2 years ago but I went to Dr. Strickland in Lexington. I go to Dr. Ross's support group for the people 1 or more years out. Your feelings are all perfectly normal - but you will be SO glad you did this!! I've lost 128 pounds and I feel great!!! Best of luck!! Hugs, Connie

WELL HELLO MS CONNIE ... HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE ... YOU'VE LOST 3 MORE POUNDS SINCE I LAST UPDATED ... TOOOOO COOOL!

Hi connie nice to meet you! Yes i am going to Dr.Ross. Ive also checked into Dr.Bour in greenville but they charge like a $3000.00 fee up front. With Dr. Ross his fees will be covered under my insurance. And he seems so kind and really seems to have a passion for Obesity. Thats important to me in finding a surgeon. The thing i am also getting scared about it I have Cigna insurance...and some people at work are talking about our policy not covering WLS....Ive called twice and talked to different agents...and they have both said that ill have to be medically approved. So the nurse said that means they do cover.....keep your fingers crossed!! Nice to meet you once again!!

Hey Shauna!! I'm glad that you are here....Welcome!! Dr. Ross just did my surgery almost 3 weeks ago. He is really great!! Please feel free to ask any questions that may come up. Your profile says that your mom had wls surgery. Did Dr. Ross do her surgery, too?? Since you haven't been to the doc in a year, you will probably have to get the 6-month dr supervised diet documentation (Cigna requires this, too). But just remember, even after surgery, you are still on a diet!! Good luck with everything....and be sure to let us know if you have any questions!! Hugs, Dianne

Hi Dianne.....Nice to meet you as well. You arent far from me...Im in Lyman. WooT WooT...Yes I am seeing Dr.Ross...my mother had her surgery in Charlotte NC...she recently had some plastic surgery and looks great!! I was glad to see that you have Cigna..thats what i have...i work for sptbg county..and some people at work are saying that our policy doesnt cover WLS. Ive called twice and spoken with 2 different agents...and they are both telling me that it does not say it IS NOT covered but my dr will have to send in a letter of medical necessity. Diane(his nurse) and I talked about the 6 month diet history in the last 2 years...and i did the bariatric clinic for 6 months...but it was a little over 2 years ago.she said to go ahead and get my records together and come in and we will submit....see what happens...wish me luck!! even if i have to go through 6 months of diet again...whats 6 months to a lifetime of living free?? So im geared up and ready!! once again...nice to meet you!

Hi, welcome aboard!

WE ALL KNOW ABOUT DREADING WEIGH-INS ... I USED TO DREAM UP ALL SORTS OF EXCUSES WHY I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WEIGH IN ... NEVER WORKED, BUT I HATED STEPPING ON THOSE SCALES. NOW, I'M ON THEM BEFORE THE NURSE CAN EVEN GET NEAR THEM & I'M TELLING HER WHAT I WEIGH! THAT WILL BE YOU AS WELL, MS SHAUNA! YOU DO WHATEVER IT TAKES & MORE TO GET THIS SURGERY FOR YOURSELF! IT IS SO WORTH ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU. I HAVE A LIST OF CO-MORBS THAT I'LL SEND YOU ... YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT THEY CONSIDER MEDICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO OBESITY. ALSO, SINCE YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY IS VERY SPARCE RECENTLY, LET ME MAKE A SUGGESTION. SIT DOWN & WRITE 2 VERY DETAILED DOCUMENTS ... THE 1st RELATING EVERY MEDICAL ISSUE YOU HAVE THAT CAN EVEN REMOTELY BE CONSIDERED OBESITY-RELATED OR AGGRAVATED BY YOUR OBESITY & DESCRIBE WHAT YOU GO THROUGH PHYSICALLY & EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE OF THESE CONDITIONS. THE 2nd DOCUMENT MAY BE SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSING, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO RELAY IN IT ... HOW YOUR LIFESTYLE IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY YOUR OBESITY. BE SURE TO RELAY HOW YOU HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM THE DOCTOR BECAUSE OF THE HUMILIATION OF HAVING TO BE WEIGHED. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE PUTTING ON YOUR SHOES & SOCKS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BEND OVER WITHOUT LOSING YOUR BREATH ... OR, IF YOU CAN'T DRESS YOURSELF EASILY ... OR, FIND IT HARD TO GET IN & OUT OF THE SHOWER/TUB ... OR, OFF THE COUCH ... OR, IN & OUT OF THE CAR ... WHATEVER ... CAN'T WALK AROUND WAL*MART GROCERY SHOPPING WITHOUT SITTING DOWN, WRITE IT DOWN. &, BE SURE TO TELL HOW YOU ARE LIMITED IN BEING ACTIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY (CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY). MENTION YOUR EFFORTS & FAILURES TO LOSE WEIGHT & THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING WLSurgery ONLINE & ON OBESITYHELP.COM & WHEREVER ELSE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR INFO SUCH AS THE SEMINARS YOU'VE ATTENDED. THEN, HAVE YOUR SURGEON ADD THESE 2 DOCUMENTS IN WITH THE MEDICAL PACKET HE SUBMITS TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, MS SHAUNA ... BE PROACTIVE & FIGHT FOR YOURSELF! GOD BLESS & GLAD YOU'RE WITH US! DAWN & NICK

Hi dawn..talk about those dreaded weigh ins......geeezzzz.i had to weigh yesterday because i have strep throat.. yes it was embarrassing..but its kinda like when you have a baby you know...haha...youre so miserable you dont care who sees or knows what. Youre just a lady full of knowledge...ive wrote down all these things you are telling me to write...and i was surprised you mention all these things,dawn, because i feel like for the first time in my life..someone understands me!!! Im not that good at writing letters...so im going to use some of these things as a guideline. I am getting excited.... I just hope this can be a reality for me!!!