Connie,

Thank you for your post! The Lap Band has changed many of our lives
and you are embarking on a wonderful journey!

My name is Patty Waldrop Smith and I started this group about 3 years
ago. I began a support group at our True Results facility in Ft
Worth, Texas and we wanted to have a place to talk in between our
monthly meetings. As you can see, we have grown from 50 participants
to almost 200 and we are all over Texas, Arizonia, and now Atlanta.
If you get a chance go to our website at www.trueresults.com for
great information about the Lap Band Procedure.

You have some really great questions! Medicare does cover the
procedure but they have some requirements you must meet. One of them
is that your procedure must be performed at a Center of Excellence
and will require and overnight stay. You will need to locate a
hospital in Atlanta with this accreditation as well as a surgeon that
will take Medicare. True Results does not accept Medicare.

As far as your medical condition, you will need to review that with
your surgeon as well. He/she will request tests if needed to make
sure you would be a good canidate for this procedure.

You definately will change your habits. Habits are hard to break! But
the Lap Band is a tool that will help you gain control of your weight
and health once and for all. Most surgeons follow a fairly simply pre-
op and post-op diet. It varies from surgeon to surgeon slightly, but
the purpose is the same. You are preparing for surgery so your diet
will need to be adjusted to help shrink your liver which sits just on
top of your stomach. After surgery, your are healing and learning
about your new stomach size. It is a diet of consistancy and
gradually changes over 4 weeks. In most cases, you will receive your
1st adjustment about the same time you are eating regular foods.

I had the lap band in 2003 and went from 240lbs to 125lbs in 18
months. I lost an average of 7.5lbs per month and have never gained
any of it back. It is the most wonderful I have felt about myself. I
have control now...and I always will! It is a great feeling! I work
for True Results and help others learn about how the Lap Band can
help them. It is the most rewarding experience and I love what I do.

You are on a wonderful new journey. I am proud for you and wish you
the very best!

Good Luck!

Patty