Just another new guy in town....

Welcome to the Locker Room!  Good luck with your journey.

Jim

Jim, I see you're from Balston spa.  I was raised in Brooklyn and Hudson.

Great to have you joining our club.  Welcome. Sometimes, I feel like Chicago is a neighbor, but I guess 5 hours northwest doesn't count?

Five hours is nothing these days.  Wisconsin's a lot closer than New York; that's where I was raised.

Howdy do and welcome to the Locker Room, Mr. Green Jeans. How bout' dem Cubs?

Best of luck in your WLS journey.

Boner

I have one question for you. Sox or Cubs?

Mars

I live in the southwest suburbs and am a White Sox fan (Southsider).  My son and I have been going to Sox games since he was about 7 or 8 years old.  On a friday or saturday night, I'd give him a choice:  the movies or the bleachers at Comisky.  Needles to say, we spent a lot of time at the park. 

We arrived at one monday game in time to catch batting practice.  The Boys were playing the Yankees and Dave Winfield was at bat.  My son & I, along with several others, stood by the the 3rd base fence hoping to catch a ball.  One of the balls rolled toward us.  Without saying a word, he dove over the fence, head first (it was a short fence).  As he went over, I grabbed both ankles, and he snatched the practice ball before it stopped rolling.  I pulled him back and we shared a huge belly laugh at his good fortune.  He still has that ball and it always brings a smile to my face when I see it.  He's 35 now, and we still try to catch as many games as we can every year.  It's about 40% watching the game and 60% father & son bonding.  We really enjoy these visits to Sox park.  We don't refer to the park by its commercial name (Cellular Field).  Normally, it's either Comisky or Sox Park. 

Regarding the Cubs.  We went to a game at Wrigley once.  It's a nice place, but we prefer Comisky.  If they win their division or the World Series, that'd be nice; let the north siders have their glory.     

 Welcome to our happy home, MrGreen(jeans?) ..   &:-)

   So how many lbs. do you have to lose?   Have you also checked out the V.S.G. or DS surgeries and those forums on OH?   what kind of insurance do you have?

I'm 330 right now and would like to get down to 180 or so.  Have aetna Pos II insurance and was told the insurance co. will approve the surgery if I participate in a 12 week supervised diet and lose 20 or 30 pounds.  I'm looking at Lap-band surgery but will consider all recommendations.

 Yes, with 150 lbs. to lose I'd defintiely look at the DS ... and try to get your ins. to cover it ..  If nothing else, you could have the V.S.G. portion now (if covered) and then when your BMI is down low enough (typically 50 or so) have the 2nd part of the DS performed to help get a bit lower and to keep it off ..

  You have two very good DS surgeons in IL, both in Chicago near you, actually:

    John C. Alverdy, MD
E-mail: [email protected]
Professor of Surgery, University of Chicago
Phone: 773-834-2710
Fax: 773-834-0201
Center for Advanced Medicine
5758 S. Maryland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/john-alverdy.html

* Vivek N. Prachand MD
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 773-834-8360
Fax: 773-834-0201
Assistant Professor of Surgery
University of Chicago Medical Center
Department of Surgery
5841 S. Maryland Ave. MC 5036
Chicago, IL 60637
http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/vivek-prachand.html
http://www.uchospitals.edu/minisurgery/bariatric/

  I'd contact their offices for more info, maybe a seminar ..  and see if their offices can help you get approval from your ins. co., if needed ...