Jim1967

Hi Tabby, A very similar thread was posted yesterday here. It might be helpful to you. Good luck

I know this thread is a little old but I would like to thank everyone who contributed. I went to the initial seminar Sept 6 and have my first appt Oct 12. I was worried that maybe I was too big for the lapband. I am 5'7 and weigh 480. Thankfully no health issues other than sleep apnea and a touch of arthritis in the knees. Hopefully I can get some weight off before the rest of me falls apart at 44 years old. thanks

I love this site and I am glad it exists and I don't mean to complain but I find it so frustrating that I read a post I am interested in and then I find the thread is from like 2009 or 2008. Isn't there any way to archive old outdated threads and posts? There are entire groups that have no posts at all and some that haven't had posts in years. Is there only one Admin/Moderator?

I went back and re-read some of the posts on the other forum and followed up on some of the people and I found that a lot of them who complained the most and the loudest did not use a 'Total Care' facility. Now again I have not been banded so I admit I do lack experience with the band but one thing I am certain of is I will not use a non total care facility. There are so many benefits to using a total care. Practice I am using is total care and here are some of the key items I thought were important 1. Multiple surgeons/nurse practitioners so if an emergency comes up someone will be available if not my own surgeon. 2. Nutritionists on site 3. Psyche Counselors 4. Insurance specialist to assist in getting over those approval hurdles And the big one: 4. Support Groups for both Preop and Postop that meet a couple of times a month. They also have a Men's only round table that meets once a month. Just thought I would throw this out there.....

Hi All, I am still in the early stages of prepping for the procedure and I have been doing a lot of reading from all sorts of different sources. I was on obesityhelp.org last night and was surpised to see so much negative stuff surrounding the band. A lot of people stating if they had to do over they would not get the band. I am trying not to let that discourage me and influence my decision but it's tough. Question if you could do it over would you get the band or go in a different direction? thanks, Jim

Hi... I started a post here asking others if they were to go back would they choose to be banded again because I also came across a large amount of negative feedback on obesityhelp.com which put me on a path of questioning my decision to get banded. I am still at the very beginning of the process having only attended the initial seminar. I have my first appointment scheduled Oct 12. What I have decided personally for me is that I can lose weight without the band but I can't keep it off. I am hoping with the band I will have more success keeping it off along with attending a lot of support groups. To be banded or not to be banded is such an individual personal decision that only you can make. Good luck with your journey Jim

Hi Floridays, You have hit the nail on the head for me and how I feel. I have a significant amount to lose as I weigh 480 but losing has never been a problem. Like you I have tried many diets and had much success. I started Atkins in 2003 and 19 months later I was down 174 pounds. I was 220 pounds and felt great and then because I felt so good and people (not blaming others of course) were pumping my confidence up I allowed myself to get sloppy. Now fast forward to 2011 where I gained all my weight back plus an additional 87 pounds. I have already been down the road of being angry and depressed that I allowed myself to fall apart. Now it's time to pick myself back up. "I was tired of all the issues in life we deal with because we are fat.... seatbelts on airplanes, chairs instead of booths in restaurants, not being able to walk any distance without sweating or being out of breath,,,,eyeing a chair to make sure its wide enough" The above says it all. When I lost all the weight those issues were behind me but now they are back in full force. Nothing worse then wanting to try a new restauraunt and you have to go in and see if they have chairs and not just booths. Thank you all for your encouragement and opinions/advice. Jim

I am new here and not yet banded so I cannot speak on personal experience but what I will say is regardless of where the surgery took place Kat is now here and in this situation and needs to find answers. Criticism is counter-productive to her situation. And based on Kat's signature she has given the band a chance. She was banded in 2008 but that is not even the issue here. I think Nitrun has offered some very sound advice. Set aside where the surgery was performed and focus purely on the symptoms and find a new Doctor now who is willing to invest time and perform the needed testing/x-rays to help you.

Hi Nicky, I have no personal experiences to speak from as I am just beginning this process. My Wifes friend had it done a year ago in Boston and she has Dr Daniel Jones out of Beth Israel. She swears by him and has nothing but high praises. He made her feel very comfortable and was not judgmental at all. I live in the northeast on MA, NH border and work in Chelmsford. I am planning to attend my first seminar at the Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery in North Chelmsford. Good luck you on your journey. Jim

Hi All, I am new to the board as of yesterday. I am still at the beginning stages of all this and have not even yet met with a Doctor. One of my concerns is that a Surgeon will deny me because of high bmi or very high risk. I am 480lbs and i am only 5'7 which puts my BMI in the mid 70's. Thankfully at this time I have no health issues other than sleep apnea and arthritis. I am concerned the Doc is going to want me to drop a lot of weight before will to do the Surgery. If I could drop the weight then I wouldn't need the surgery. Thanks, Jim

Hi All, Thank you for the advice and the warm words of support. As with Jen above my biggest problem is keeping weight off. If the Doc says I need to lose a significant amount before a surgery then so be it. It will be done. It has to be done or I am going to die a young. My Story In early 2003 I stepped on the scale and it topped out at 393. It was at the time the most I have ever weighed in my life. It was also at a time where I was 'depressed' (really hate the word) a lot and at times didn't care much for life. I hated my job although I did it well and was well like by my boss. It was just a dead end job in my eyes. I was 36 years old and single with no love interest. I was at a pretty low point in my life. I considered weight loss surgery many times and this was well before the Lap Band was really known about or popular. Only surgical weight loss surgery I knew about was hardcore surgery where they re-route your plumbing. This was not something I wanted. I heard to many horror stories surrounding this type surgery. My PCP had asked me if I had considered the surgery. He said he would back me all the way with documentation to get insurance approval. I decided to take a different route... Two friends I worked with approached me one day and dropped an Atkins low carb book on my desk and they convinced me to read it. I read it and didn't think it would work for me but I agreed to give it a try with them and we would form our own little support group. It was not easy but from 5/2003 to 12/2004 I had dropped 174 pounds. I got on a plane for the first time in my life on 12/20/04 for a Disney World Christmas vacation with my family. I had never flown before but was told that the seating was very cramped....ya that was not a problem for this kid who weighed in at 219. I was not skinny given my height but damn I felt like I was on top of the world at the time. So if your still reading this you must be saying 'OK what is so sad or pathetic about that story'. Well like the old saying goes when you lose weight on a diet and don't keep it in check you gain it all back and then some. Well for me that is very true and my then some turned out to be 87lbs. If you did your math right you will figure out that I am now tipping the scale at 480lbs. In 6 years I managed to gain 261lbs. My 'depression' has not fully returned and that is mostly due to my very supportive and beautiful wife of 3 years. She deserves more, she deserves better. I often feel at times I cheated her by marrying her and then gaining all my weight back. I have tried several times to get back on Atkins and get back the same motivation I had before but for some reason or another I just cannot seem to get it going or at least for any long period of time. I guess the reason I want the lap band is to help motivate me and give me the edge I once had. Sorry for rambling on....

Hi alicab, You are right and once I re-read my post I understand your response. I am in no way seeking just any doctor who is willing to swing a scalpel at me. I found an actual weight management facility in my area which covers Soup to nuts. Meaning they hold information seminars. They have in house nutritionist, Psyche counselor as well as insurance specialist who can work direct with the surgeons and insurance companies. One of the other main attractions is the Support groups they have for before, and after surgery. I can lose weight without the surgery but it will take forever especially if we're talking a 100 or more. I am not looking for the lapband to be the "answer to my weight issues" I am simply looking at it as a tool to help give me a head start in the right direction and in combination with a good diet I should be able to get back down to a healthier weight. thanks, Jim

Hi Tia, I would definitely keep after your insurance company. They must have an appeal process. I admit I am just beginning myself but I am already gearing up for a fight with my insurance company. I have Cigna Open Access Plus and I found a document (buried deep) on their website stating they would pay if certain criteria was met and it being medically necessary. I am attending an initial seminar and plan to follow up with the Surgeon's people. I am hoping they will get behind me and help push the insurance company.... I would keep pressing all the while following up on pre-op stuff. Good Luck, Jim

Hello All, In case you couldn't tell from my username my name is Jim. I have been lurking about off and on for the past few weeks. I am set to attend a seminar on the lap band on Sept 6. Unfortunately I missed the one for August. So I am really at the very beginning of all this. I have read a lot of information and I believe this is what I want to do. I know the lap band is not the answer to it all but I believe if you choose a good surgeon with a good supporting practice behind him and get involved in the support groups this can be successful. Like most people my biggest fear is my insurance will not cover it. I have Cigna and from what I understand they're tough to get approval from. My situation is this: I am 5'7 480 lbs. I have arthritis in both my knees, severe sleep apena and lympedema in my legs. So far (thankfully) I do not have diabetes or a heart condition although it is in my immediate family history. I have been over weight all my life and have tried several different diets over the years. I have had some success losing but the problem is I reach a comfort zone and before I know it the weight is piling right back on. I think doing this and joining a support group is key to success. Being able to sit among people who struggle with the same thing and being able to openly talk will go a long way. Peace...Jim

Hi abqann, I have already looked at a practice I want to get involved with although I really have not met the surgeons yet. They have required meetings you have to attend but also have support groups for long term post op. Good part is this place is 10 minutes from my office so attending these meetings will gel well with my schedule. Their website contains a lot of useful information. Good luck to you and I look forward to reading on your progress. Best, Jim