GreenChrysalis

Hi! My surgery date is February 15 and I am very excited about it. I first heard about lapband a little over two years ago and have been researching it ever since. I always knew that I would not be interested in gastric bypass, but after countless diets and being obese my entire life, I knew I had to do something permanent and drastic. I went through a few jobs and different insurance companies, had surgery scheduled once then quit my job and had to start over again. Finally a few weeks ago I decided that yes, THIS is the time. I am at my highest weight ever, 302 lbs at 5'10". I need to lose a person!

:cross-eyeHi Everyone! I have my first physical exam next Tuesday (yes, at the age of 28, I have never had a physical other than annual gyn visits) with a GP that Rhonda63 recommended. I think that I have never gone because I figured that a doctor would just tell me to lose weight and I wasn't in the mood to hear it, because I know it already. But I know now that I need to do this to assess my health, because that will obviously affect how I proceed with getting the lap band. I need to write up some medical history and stuff to make it easier to fill out the forms when I get there. My insurance company excludes coverage of all WLS. All they offer in the way of assistance is two visits to a nutritionist. Not much help at all. My husband's insurance is about to change at the first of the year, so then I'll see what it covers and will possibly make a switch. Unfortunately that can't happen until summer and I'm very impatient to get this show on the road. If his insurance won't cover it either, I guess I'll have to start looking at self-paying. I don't know how that will be possible -- we're not wealthy and we have enough debt already. I recently got Dr. Ortiz's book Lapband For Life. It's a really great book and basically answers every lap band question I ever had and some I didn't even think of. More than ever it convinced me that this is the way to go. I just want to get going. I am so depressed with my weight lately. So few of my clothes fit and I put on four pairs of pants (or attempted to) this morning before leaving the house in disgust. Argh. Why are insurance companies willing to pay for aspects of conditions related to obesity, but not WLS? Especially why not lapband? I'm just frustrated. Thanks for reading...

Hi everyone, I just joined this site. I am just exploring my options and figuring out what would be right for me (and what my insurance would cover), but I think that I would prefer lapband. I'm 28 years old, 5'10" and 265 lbs. I live in Georgia (I've already posted a newbie post in that forum). My husband of ten years is very supportive of whatever I want to do because he says he just wants me to finally feel good. I'm starting to have some of those things that I thought I never would -- things I associate with obese people. Oh wait, I am obese! When did that happen? Ha. You know the, "at least I'm not..." type of things. I used to say that if I hit 200 lbs then I would do something. Well, I've done a lot of somethings and have a long list of diets in my past. I lost weight but always gained it back, plus some. This is my highest weight right now. Glad that this forum exists and hope to learn more about banding experiences!

Nice to meet you, Rhonda. I've been through Villa Rica many times on my way to Carrollton (I graduated from West Georgia). It would be great if we could find more people on the West side. I'm very shy around big groups but I know that talking to banders will be benificial. May I ask you why you ended up going with Dr. Lopez in Mexico? I'm still learning about lapband and everything, so your experiences would be helpful. Also, since you live close to me, could you recommend a good primary care/family doctor in the area? I'd like one closeby who is fat and WLS-friendly. Glad to have found you.

Hi everyone, I just joined this site. I am just exploring my options and figuring out what would be right for me (and what my insurance would cover), but I think that I would prefer lapband. I've read on ObesityHelp.com that Blue Cross Blue Shield of GA (PPO) has stopped covering all WLS...I haven't gotten in touch with them yet but does anyone here know if this is true? If it is then I'll have to look into what my husband's insurance will cover and switch during open enrollment... I also would appreciate if anyone can recommend a fat-friendly, WLS-supportive GP in my area -- I'm in Lithia Springs, Douglas county. Thanks!