Kahuna

I'm self employed and on call basically round the clock so getting even an afternoon off, let alone days off is very difficult and very risky. I have been considering a band for years and finally have insurance to do it. My first meeting with a surgeon and he tells me that with my BMI, I should really do a bypass. He went on to tell me (insist really) that outside of an extra day in the hospital that recovery is basically the same for both. I know a few people who had a band that have done well and were back to work very quickly. One had surgery Friday and was working (from home) on Monday. The only person I know that had a bypass was laid up for a long time and ended up getting a band a couple of years later. Obviously a small sample, but that and what what I've read, it hasn't sounded like the recovery times are very similar. I am considering the bypass as I know I have a better chance of getting the results I need, but am freaked out about how major surgery it is vs the band. And of course the risk of extra downtime could be a huge problem for me. Anyone care to share their thoughts on this?

Good points for sure. I have actually talked to different docs, but this is the first time I've been serious about it as I didn't have decent insurance before. My current doctor is one of only a couple in the area that my insurance will cover. The previous doctors were all about the band, we talked about other options but when I talked about recovery time issue they basically told me the band was the way to go. My reality is that if the recovery time appears too long, I may not end up doing anything as I just can't afford to take the risk. If I have to choose between surgery and keeping my house, the house is going to win. I know that's a very short term way to be looking at this, but that's the way it is right now for me.

Thanks for all the great comments! I should add that when I say I need to get back to work ASAP, the bulk of that is sitting in front of a computer in my own place. So generally speaking I can getaway without much moving around and can work as long as my head is clear and I can sit at my computer for a while. Not long after that there would be some visits to remote sites that include stairs. I have been considering this for quite some time, heck I joined this board in 2007! I have been to a number of meetings, talked to a number of docs and patients and I've read everything I could find online. Basically what I've come away with is that people who have the band, love it unless they have problems. And people who do a bypass or sleeve love it unless they have problems. Online I see a lot of people who have a bypass or sleeve saying that doctors are moving away from banding. At least in my area, that doesn't seem to be the case. There are docs that prefer one thing over another, but it still looks to me like banding is a growing in popularity and use among doctors and patients. Again, at least near me. In this thread I'm really not looking at which is better than the other long term and I'd just assume not get into one surgery vs another. I'm working that out separately. As part of that decision making process I really need to understand what is normal as far as recovery. Thanks again for everyone's thoughtful input.

Just wondering if anyone has had luck with Pacificare's PPO in CA? It looks like Bariatric procedures are excluded in the handbook but I’m not sure if this is a case of no means no or no unless you have a medical need. Thoughts?

I'll look him up. Thanks!

Hello, Would you mind sharing who your surgeon is? Thanks!

Hello I've been considering having one of these band thingys installed for some time. I'm self employed and will likely be self pay as my insurance blows. I recently found out that I need to have my Gallbladder removed. Any thoughts on if I can combine the two surgeries to minimize time off word and costs? Also, any DR recommendations in San Diego Thanks

No doubt the surgeons are skilled. Its more the Mexican bureaucracy I have issues with and the thought of having to deal with it if something goes wrong. Anyway, I didn't mean to get off on a tangent like that. Thanks

Well now that's not great. If nothing else, I'm just a plain wimp and going through two surgeries may make me chicken out. My GP MD had said that he thought it might be tough, mostly because one is elective and one isn’t. And they don’t want to mix the two for payment / insurance reasons mostly. I think its worth looking into more, but I really don’t know any DR’s to even talk to about it as most seem to want you to go through there seminar before even taking a phone call or answering an email. Boy it’d be tough to get myself to go to Mexico for surgery. I’m sure they are fantastic DR’s (maybe better than in the states?). I love Mexico, and live only about 15 min away. I’ve got friends that live all over the country. I’ve worked there and traveled there and I love the people. But it would be tough to do something that scares the hell out of me in a place, well …that can scare the hell out of me. Anyway that’s my own dumb problem I need to try to get over and topic for another day. Thanks