stlheather
Jan 15, 2007 - After researching my options and thinking about it for almost a year, I've decided to pursue lab band surgery. I have a cousin who had the procedure in April of last year and she's lost almost 80 pounds now. She is thrilled with her surgery and she has had almost no bad side effects.
I've been overweight since I was a teenager. I've lost and "found" hundreds of pounds in the last twenty years. Optifast, Jenny Craig, phen-fen, Atkins, etc. They all worked - each and every one of them. For a while - and then it all came bounding back, with a few friends.
Feb 8, 2007 - Chose a doctor and went this his seminar. Dr. Van Wagner is a very serious-minded physician and I like that. He has done hundreds of these surgeries - and that also reassures me. He is also straigh-forward, but humble and downright shy.
April 19, 2007 - I've jumped through all the hoops my insurance company requires - psych eval, medical history, nutritionist, etc. My biggest concern is that they require proof of supervised diet lasting at least six months in the last two years. I've done that, several times - but not in the last two years. I've been going it on my own for the last three or so. So I submitted the last info (from three years ago) from Curves and I'm crossing my fingers. I have a feeling I'll be denied and told to do a six month supervised diet and apply again. Sigh. Dr. Wagner's office is submitting my claim today.
April 23, 2007 - Holy crap!!! I'm approved!!! And I have a surgery date already - May 7. Now I'm nervous - it's suddenly moving so quickly.
May 11, 2007 - I'm four days out of surgery now and I don't think I regret it - but I was just not prepared for the pain. I've never had surgery or been in the hospital or anyhing like that - so I just had unrealistic expectations of the pain. It freaking hurt. I still have gas pain - and that sucks. And my port site is still painful, but every day is better than the last. I'm down 13 pounds from the week prior to surgery (when I had to start my liquid diet).
