The Decision....

It was the summer of 2011 when I was fed up with my weight. I have always been a "big" girl, but my weight was at an all time high and I just didn't have the motivation/determination to make lifestyle choices that would lead to a healthier me. I began researching bariatric surgery. I was elated to find out that our insurance company would cover procedures such as gastric bypass, lapband, etc. I was ready to go forward and learn more about weight loss surgery.

I went online and used resources from my insurance company to research different weight loss surgery options. After lots of reading and reflection, I chose the Lapband. My reasons were:
1) it's reversible
2) it's adjustable
3) it's the safest form of bariatric surgery available
4) it's the least invasive.

That's it! My mind was made up! I was on the hunt for a doctor! AND.... that's where I hit a roadblock. There weren't any doctors in the Macon area that performed the surgery. My closest options were Atlanta and Albany... both of which are over an hour away and would be VERY hard to get to the pre and post operation obligations. It was like someone took the wind out of my sails... maybe bariatiric surgery wouldn't be an option for me.

In January of 2012 a friend called me and told me she heard a commercial on the radio about a new doctor in our area who was conducting seminars on the Lapband at Coliseum Northside Hospital. I went online to look further and found out that Dr. Bagnato (who used to be located in Albany) was coming to Macon and was starting to see patients. I went to the seminar on January 9, 2012 and that day I made my decision... I was going to do this!!!

I started out by going to my primary doctor and talking with her. We discussed the Lapband procedure and if I would be a good candidate. We talked about my options, my history and my goals and together we decided that this was a good road for me to take.

Thus began the "6 month wait...." (Or as the insurance company would like to call it... my 6 month physicial supervised nutrition and weight loss period)