katsroom101

Hi Kelsey:

Havn't heard from you in a while. How is your pre-op diet going? Only 6 days until your surgery. I am so excited for you. It's cool how your mom is having it done also. That will be the best support for each of you by doing this together.

I noticed you live here in the PDX area. I have lived in the Portland area for a long time and do consider it home.

Hope to hear from you before your big day. If not you can post from "the other side"!!

hi i wjus wonderin have u had surgery done

My name is Kelsey, and i am 16 years old. i have been very heavy nearly all of my life, or at least, all of my life that i can remember. About a year ago, one of my doctors told me and my mom about an availability for teenagers to get the Lap-Band as an experimental trial. If insurance could not pay, then it would be payed for by the company performing the trial. There were only 25 spots available, and it was only open to teenagers, and teenagers in my area. naturally, at first, i was an emotional wreck. i didnt know if this was right for me, i was scared, depressed, and all over the place. 'Normal for a teenager' i kept telling myself. It took a lot for me to push past the point of shock and fear. In order to have the surgery, i was required to go to an informational meeting. Here, we were told that there were around 10 spots left. Near the end of the meeting, i gave them my forms with all the information needed. after the meeting, the people in charge told my mom and i that they would get back to us within two weeks. two weeks later, nothing had happened. no call, no email, nothing. weeks continued to pass by, when my mom started calling them. they continued to say that someone was going to call any day now. each time that she persisted to call, they told us this. One night, the phone rang, and my heart sunk before anyone even picked up the phone. after my mom took the call, all she had to do was look at me for me to know, and i couldnt think of anything to do but run to my room and cry. I had gone through a huge emotional toll just to build myself up to this point. Now, almost a year later, i have an appointment of August 8th for my surgery with Doctor Ortiz. I am so excited that i have this amazing chance. I am looking for other teenagers like me that have gone through this or are going to go through this. I admit, i am scared. But i want the advice and help from anyone i can get it from. I want to know about the pain involved (i am a wussy), and i also want to know about what i should be eating now, before the surgery. what would help me lose more? If there are teens out there that can help me out, PLEASE DO!! and for those that are not teens, i want your help as well!! i am sure that i will post more questions later, but this is about as much as i can put at a time. more and i am afraid that i will scare people off. Thank you all! i have been reading, and i am amazed at how much you all help each other out!

Thanks again, ~Kelsey