Hi Everyone I am new here And Look forward to sharing with you all!

[Guest guest]

Hi All:

I joined this group a month or 2 ago and have just been reading

emails and researching. I have been researching for a long time now.

I was planning on getting the surgery for the Lap-Band but things

didnt go as I planned and prayerd for as my insurance didnt cover any

part of it. I am now on Medicade and the suregery will be covered.

ooooo for that part. I am still checking to see if it will be

covered for Mexico but I am having trouble doing that. I live in

texas so there are plenty of drs that do the surgery here also.

I have an appointment with a Dr here that does the surgery completely

non invasive. So that is very appealing to me. I am 41 years old and

have been heavy all my life. I am not a large eater and I dont over

eat. I really survive on Coffee and salads. Yet diets fail for me

because I cannot consume enough of calories to lose weight. And I

have tried them all countless times alone and with friends. They lose

the weight and I stay the same. Well, Im tired of that life and

disappointment. I have young kids and If I dont take care of myself

now im not going to be walking around to be with them. No I am not

600 pounds but I was in a car wreck 8 years ago and received massive

neck, back and spinal cord injuries by the grace of God and great

surgeons I am walking. If I Continue to stay at the weight i am I

wont be walking in a few years because my spine cannot support my

weight. Unfortunately my old insurance company and employer didnt

care about this. I am already disabled I dont want to spend the next

20 or 30 years in a wheel chair helpless and paralyzed. I was there

already its not fun for anyone.

I have read alot of posts on this site some helpful some worry some

to me. As right now i am 290 pounds and a size 24. And I dont want to

be a size 4 at any time in my life. Its not who i am and not what I

want to be. So my biggest fear with the surgery is will I get to thin

where I look sick and I have lost every part of me that I love and

everyone else loves about me. I know the amount of weight loss goes n

how the band is adjuted. But Still I have questions over and over

again. I want this surgery and I want a new life. However, I dont

want to be twiggy either. When do we make the decision that enough is

enough. One woman posted lately she was banded in 2006 and she is now

a size 4. I never want to be a size 4 and i dont want to see myself

as a size 4. It might be great for her, and I pray for her happiness,

for me it would be like a death sentenance. Im to small framed to be

that thin. Im short, and small boned I woul dlike like a sick dying

barbie doll. And that isnt who I am. Is there a way for me to get to

a size 10 or 12 and stop. Say I am where I am happy now I dont want

to lose more. What do I do to slow down the weight loss.

Like I stated earlier in this email. I am not a large eater and I

dont over eat. I eat enough food to survive. So what do I do first.

Thank for you help and concern guys. Any and all information you can

give me is appreciated.

Fran