CTerry

I just received an e-mail from this discussion forum saying I have not been active on the site for awhile. This is only because I spend 18 months meeting a lot of requirements for my lap band surgery only to be told my insurance company, United Healthcare, they will not cover my procedure because "it hasn't been proven effective for my obesity". I have addressed the issue from the start that when I lost the 10% weight requirement that I would be around a 37 BMI and I wanted to make sure that I would still qualify, and I was assured I would be fine. I have spent close to $1000.00 in insurance co-pays, days off from work, cardiac testing, sleep apnea testing, education classes at the bariatric center and psycological testing only to be denied by insurance and I do not have the money to private pay. Once again, I feel like I have been taken advantage of because I am obese and looking for help. Your forum has been great in answering my questions but I get terribly sad when I am in there and think to myself I could of been one of those success stories if they had just given me a chance.

After 30 years of going up and down with my weight, trying everything to help me with losing weight, I looked into the lap band surgery. In January 2007, I had my first bariatric surgeon visit to begin the lap band qualifications. They said I was a perfect candidate. I weighed 234 lbs at 5'4 with high blood pressure. I have finished all my clearances and 10% weight loss requirement and I am presently 205 with a BMI of 35.2. When I had my 2nd surgeon consult in September, he questioned why I couldn't lose the rest on my own and told me to come back in three months. I was devastated. Well, that three months is up and I see him again on January 4. I thought I was a good candidate for the lap band and all my physicians also said I was a great candidate. Has anyone else had my present BMI (or around) and have been successsful with the band? Am I being unrealistic to think that the benefits of the lap band will far outweigh the risks of the surgery? Anyone that relates---please help!!

I received my pre-op appointments today and after one year of preparing for this and I am terrified. I think I am terrified because I do not want to fail again. I read all of the threads about bandsters still fighting like mad to lose weight and even gaining weight after banding and it scares me. Some bandsters are even eating as much as they used to before the band--how is that possible??? I started this process at 234 lbs. and I am 205 lbs. now and I would be very satisfied at 160. Will I have a harder time losing because I don't have a lot of weight to lose? I guess my main question is------How does trying to lose weight with the lap band differ from trying to lose weight without it? Thanks for all your input. It really helps me.

Thanks Julie & Kat---I love having the additional info.

After 30 years of losing and gaining back weight, I decided to make a permanent change. I started the lap band pre- certification process at 235 lbs, at 5"4 in January 2007. I am currently 203 with my 2nd surgeon appointment looming tomorrow. On 10/2/07, he told me to take a few months to see if I could lose more weight on my own and may-be I wouldn't need the surgery. I was stunned---I wouldn't be there if I could lose the weight on my own and most importantly--keep it off! I am afraid he is going to tell me I don't weigh enough to qualify. Wish me luck---

I have completed all of my clearances, lost my 10% which put me at about a 35.2 BMI. My consult appointment with the surgeon is 1/3/08. Everyone keeps telling me I don't have enough to lose to risk surgery, however, my physician is telling me different. I carry all of my weight in the middle. :help: