The Mighty Julie

I've previously done a bit of research on Lap-Band after my doctor brought it up earlier in the year, but this time I'm actually seriously considering it. In fact, I'm signed up to go to an information session at one of the local hospitals tomorrow night with a surgeon who I've heard lots of good things about. Before, it was sort of a "well, ok, maybe I'll think about it as a vague possibility" situation, but now I'm in a spot where I could actually see myself going through with it. Scary, but good! I'm going to be a fun patient because I'm a data geek by trade-- I've got an MA in sociology (no fear of PubMed here!) and I work in healthcare outcomes reporting. Success stories are fun and exciting, but I definitely want to see as many numbers as I can, particularly regarding long-term complication/removal rates. I'm open to banding because I'd personally rather not have my insides rearranged, but I'd like to see what the average patient experience is 10 years down the road. If I do end up doing this, it'll be quite a way out; due to work schedules and such, I think my best shot would be in early December or mid-February. And if my research makes me nervous, I can wait longer, or not do it at all. That's why I'm here, doing my homework. Looking forward to "meeting" everyone and reading as much as I can!

Turns out you're right, Anna, ha! I went to the seminar anyway and talked to the lady who handles their insurance stuff. Apparently, if I was 35+ 5 years ago, and have a co morbidity now, then insurance should approve me. So apparently I'll be making an appointment for a one-on-one with the doc, crazy!

Hi all, Thanks for the responses! Unfortunately, I took a closer look at my insurance... and it looks like I'm actually a no-go. They require a diagnosis of "morbid obesity," not just "obesity," for the past 5 consecutive years. That would be BMI of 35+ with co-morbidity... and from what I can mentally recollect of my medical records, I don't qualify. I've been BMI of 35, but I only actually started BP meds and CPAP within the past 18 months. So I guess no seminar, and a hold on the homework, though I'm kind of tempted to go anyway and call the insurance for clarification, I don't know. It's probably a good thing, long-term, that I don't qualify, but emotionally a bit frustrating.

Sending good thoughts your way for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!

Hi all, I have bipolar, and my meds have screwed up my weight badly since the first time I was put on psych meds at 18 (I'm 30 now). After many years, I'm pretty stable on the mental health front, but the cost has been pretty severe, weight-wise. As a teenager, I gained 40lb in 6 months, and I fought to get half of that off. I went off meds, and now that I've been back on, I've gained an additional 80 in the past 4 years. The only time I've been anything approaching "normal" weight was after six months of intense mania (exercising like mad and being OCD about not eating), and I was down to a BMI of 30 and size 8 pants. Each time I adjust my meds, there's a definite spike on the weight chart, and no matter how hard I fight,and track, and do what feels like everything I can, I end up going nowhere. I brought this up with my psychiatrist at my monthly med-checkup, and ended up nearly breaking down. I'm on Seroquel now, and while it works very well on my brain (I sleep like a charm, and that's a rare thing), I've gained at least 30 pounds from this one. In the morning (I take the pills at night), I am absolutely ravenous, and even when I fight to keep to a schedule and write down everything I eat, I still end up failing. Though I'm now going off the Seroquel and trying something else, my pdoc (also certified in internal medicine) brought up that I would be a good candidate for lap-band, which he's mentioned in the past. He says I'm mentally prepared for it, it often works well for those with serious weight problems tied to psych meds/issues, and the fact that I'm on CPAP and blood pressure pills are additional reasons. At this point, if it would work, I could get it through insurance, and figure out how to swing the time off at work, I would honestly go for it. So now it's time for research, both medical and financial. I'll still keep working "the old fashioned way" while I try out the new pills, but I think my resistance is caving on this one. While I have no idea what my husband will think (he, too, is working on weight loss) I figure I should at least consider it. The big thing I need to look into is insurance-related. I have BCBS of Arizona, and they pay 80%. I meet the other requirements, though I'm not sure how to document that I've been at a BMI of 35+ for 5 years (I've kinda skipped between doctors). I'm clueless about this one: "Individual must provide written documentation of participation in a weight loss program for 8 weeks or longer within 12 months preceding weight loss surgery. Weight loss programs include recognized commercial weight loss programs, nutritional counseling or hospital based weight loss programs." So I guess I need to give Weight Watchers or something a go before they'll approve it? Anyway, there's me in a nutshell, I'm looking forward to researching and reading here. Thanks for reading