Just curious about it
Does insurance cover it at all
Does your regular doctor have to agree that you need it?
Is it successful?
Any information is appreciated Thanks
Suzanne

Try ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. There is loads of info there for insurance and doctors in your area.
I had it 6 months ago. Insurance paid every penny of it. I think it all depends on the insurance you have, BMI and other health issues you may have.
I have had pretty good sucess, lost 40lbs in about 6 months. Others I know have lost a lot more in the same period of time. I am happy with the results so far. There is a lot more to this surgery than you may think . I miss diet coke! Although my skin and nails are much healthier. Some days trying to eat too much has a very negative results that can be painful.
I think the surgery is a very personal choice. But for me it was worth it.

Are you not allowed pop at all
I love diet pop
I am almost 29
5'3
240
BMI 42
Asthma
Depression
Kinda high blood pressure
I have pretty good insurance, such a major thing it scares me
I have never had any kind of surgery at all
But I am miserable the way I am currently and have been overweight since I was about 9
Thanks Suzanne

not lap band procedure, but a gastric bypass Sept. 2001. Lost a lot of lot of weight (ok, half my body size) and have kept every ounce of it off. Insurance paid for every bit. Recovery sucked for about ten days, then lots of time getting used to the new lifestyle. Would do it again tomorrow....

I know different doctors say different things about the soda issue. Mine said no for the first few months or so and then only diet. However, I cannot drink it as it makes me want to burp really bad. It just does not sit well. I have had a sip of coke that has gone flat but it wasn't the same so I just gave it up altogether. My skin is thankful for it and has never looked better.

I would think that you would qualify for the surgery. The next thing is to find a surgeon and attend an information seminar. I think all the doctors make you do that, You will more than likely have to list all the weight loss attempts you have done in the past. Get a bunch of blood work and do a swallow study. Also a psych profile, to make sure you are not crazy!

Insurance for some can be the hold up, so check to see if you plan covers the surgery. The doc I went to had a person who just dealt with the insurance and making sure you are approved. Check that web site for info on the insurance as well, others may have to say and listed what is covered.

My friend just had this done in April. Most doctors will make you lose 10% of the weight before they do the surgery so I don't want you to think it's an easy solution. You still have to work at it.

I definately don't think it will be easy
I was looking at the comparisons with gastric
I know lap band is slower but reversible
I am scared of any type of surgery since I have never had any
My husband really doesn't want me to have it
He says I will learn alot more about my self losing it on my own
I need a good start though
Hes also afraid that if I lose I might gain back and get really discouraged

I just know that I feel way older than 28 my knees creek when i go up or down stairs my feet hurt if i walk alot and on and on
It sucks
Thanks Suzanne

I had a gastric bypass 1 1/2 years ago and would do it again ! 300l bs and a size 26 to 139 and a size 6
a bypass has better long term results than lap band

__________________
Always be a first rate version of your self instead of a second rate version of someone else.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

I had gastric 13 years ago, Went from a 22 260 to size 8 139 and have stayed that way since

Actually the long term results are about the same. You will lose weight a lot quicker with the bypass than the lapband, however the studies say that 5 years from surgery the results are pretty much the same.

LAP-BAND® - WLO Comparison

Check the comparisons.

I looked at the comparisons and Lap Band definately seems like a better choice for me
Just wondering
what my next steps would be before having it
Thanks Suzanne

I would check with your insurance to see if they cover it. Ask them their proceedure.
If you need a referall with your insurance go and see your PCP
Find a surgeon
Go to a seminar
Schedule appointment with surgeon
Get blood work and EKG and swallow study done
Psych profile
Schedule surgery if approved,


Prepare to loose weight, give up soda and eat liquid and soft food for up to 5 weeks.

Let me know if there is anything else you need.

I would look on ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. for surgeons in your area. Read the reviews etc

Thanks I am going to contact my insurance and see what they say
I see some surgeons when I look
I live Close to Ann Arbor, MI and there seem to be a few there
I hope this will happen for me I need it
Thanks Suzanne
What about fills
Frequency, Costs?
Thanks soo much

this is taken from a scientific research
WEIGHT LOSS

MYTH:

LAP-BAND is “as effective for weight loss as Laparoscopic RNY Gastric Bypass”.

FACT:

Six of the best bariatric centers in the country doing Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass have demonstrated “excess body weight loss” (EBWL) of 69 to 84% at one year. We have averaged 82% EBWL at one year in almost 200 patients, and many of our patients reach “ideal body weight”.

Most reports of weight loss with LAP-BAND range from 45 to 55% EBWL, with one of the best reports coming from Australia at 57%—that took six years to attain. Many experts believe that almost 50% of LAP-BAND patients have less than 50% EBWL (generally regarded as a surgical failure).

With LAP-BAND “… weight loss was insufficient in slightly over 40% of the patients…”
-Suter, M., et al. Laparoscopic Gastric Banding: A prospective randomized study…
Annals of Surgery, January, 2005.

A comparison of weight loss with bypass and banding, respectively, in 1200 patients showed EBWL “… 74.6% versus 40.4% at 18 months…”.
-Gagner, M. Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass versus Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: A Comparative Study of 1200 Cases.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons, October, 2003.

__________________
Always be a first rate version of your self instead of a second rate version of someone else.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

remember one thing - you're not looking at one surgery - but two! the lap band has to come out at some point - normally prior to 10 years. I looked into both surgeries, and after reading and researching, i decided i didn't want a foreign object in my body for that long.

I opted for the R-NY gastric bypass. I had it Oct 30 2007, and have lost 116 pounds so far. Yes, there's lots of things I can't eat - but i've learned to definitely live without them. Not a big deal, especially when i look in the mirror. A life changing decision, either way. and definitely not the 'easy way out' like someone said to me when i decided to do it.

Consider the surgery carefully - chances are insurance may not cover taking the band back out when the time comes- unless you keep the exact same insurance company and policy. I very well could be wrong on that.

Good luck with your decision.

__________________
~Diane~

I had VGB (Vertical Gastic Banding) 2 years ago and this is simalar to Lap band only it's permanant. It never comes out not in 10 years or 20 years as said. The only other operation I had was the Tummy Tuck for the excess skin and my Ins Co paid for that in full too. And I would I do it again! I feel that if your that heavy that your thinking about it, you should do it. Providing it's affordable for you. Meaning your Ins pays for it, as mine did 100%. The down sides or cons of the operation are small compared to being fat the rest of your life -with added health problems and low self esteem most people have when over weight. I've been there- and unless your heavy you dont know the torment.

This has been wonderful. No I can't eat all I want--my stomach wont let me. But that's just what I needed was portion control. No I'm not hungry all the time. I eat small meals through out the day and feel fine. Good Luck to all who have the courage to take the step to go forward. OH and by the way my husband didnt want me to do it either( he had his fears for me) but now thats all changed he see's what it's done for me as a person and now I'm able to be myself and do things I couldn't do when I was heavier.

The lapband does not have to be taken out. I asked this question to my surgeon. However it can be taken out as it is not permenant. Also the fluid from the fills can be removed for a number of reasons. If you were to become pregnant and need to increase your calorie count, or if you were down the road to get a disease etc, the fluid can be removed and basicaly the stomach has the same opening. Nothing is cut, moved or is permenant.

As for the studies about the loss, I am losing slowly by some weight loss standards, but I have lost 40% of the weight I want to loose and it has only been 6 months.

I am going in for a fill soon which will tighten the band and boost the weight loss.