*barbara*

Hello, Is anyone or has anyone had the LB done via Dartmouth Hitchcock in Manchester? Just curious...:tongue2:

Actually, I switched teams and decided get RNY Gastric Bypass. I had surgery on 12/21/09 and am down 60 lbs so far. Let me know if you have any questions.

just a quick update on this thread - I have been approved for WLS! actually, i just changed my mind and decided to move forward with RNY instead of the lapband. But i just wanted to let you all know that I was approved through Tricare's 200% policy so if you don't understand it, I am pretty sure someone else explained it in this thread. Good luck to all!

If you are consuming the correct amount of Protein, then that may not be the issue. I heard that hair loss also result from the trauma of the surgery to your body and it healing. My hair stylist also told me that the anesthesia can result in hair loss. I haven't had WLS yet but I did have my thyroid removed 7 months ago and I am still experiencing hair loss.

Curious - what did you eat (well actually I mean 'drink') during your pre-op liquid diet?

great, thanks! I got the list of allowed liquids but wasn't really sure how to apply them. thanks again!

Hello, Is anyone willing to share what was written is their letter of medical neccessity. The one my doctor wrote was really, really weak and definitely needs to be beefed up. So I was go to re-write it and ask them to sign it. I want to get this done right the first time! Thanks!

Ok - so I have completed all my pre-requisites and now all I need to do is send in my completed packet to the surgeon’s office and then wait for them to call me with a appointment. But before I even get to that, there is a section on their questionnaire that asks which procedure I would prefer: lap band or gastric bypass? When I started this journey I went into it thinking I absolutely wanted the lap band. I liked it for all of the obvious reasons (simple surgery,quick recovery time, adjustable, not permanent). But now as I have had time to think about and learn about everyone else's experiences...I am not so sure I want the lap band any more. I understand that both procedures come with risks but I feel like the lap band has more of a potential to have something go wrong down the road. I have a hard time believing that something I have installed in me at the age of 30 is going to last for the rest of my life with out any complications. I think about the lap band as a car...it needs maintenance (fills)...might need some repairs...what if it a lemon?!?!? So my other option is gastric bypass...and I know I am posting this on a pro-lapband message board so I am not sure I will get much support with this option. But I think my body chemistry might work better with the RNY. I am hypothyroid and although I am on medication for it...i still think my body suffers as a result of a synthetic metabolism. So I think the malabsorbtion of the RNY would actually help me lose the weight. Ugh, this is such a difficult decision...I have been obsessing over it for days!

Sorry - I should have said that it is not that I think the lap band won't work...I think it will work. I am really just concerned about the life span of the band. I am worried about all the things that could possiblly go wrong. And I wouldn't want to have it taken away from me and have to go through this whole process again. Thanks!

bump again...i love real ghost stories!!!

good post...bump!

Oh my god, thank YOU so much for letting me know this!!!!! This is the best news ! I decided to explore the possibility of getting surgery back in January and having been dragging my heals through the whole process because I have been in fear that I could be denied since I don't have any co-morbidities. I have read of Tricare's 200% policy before but never understood it and thought it was for people who were severely over weight. Finally the gray clouds have cleared and can almost see the sun!!! Thanks again!

Hello tkee99156 - can you explain the 200% route? I am curious if I could do the same although i don't know the criteria. You see, I don't have any co-morbities. My weight started at 250 lbs and I am 5' 4"...and according to a frame calculator i do have a small frame (some where under all this weight) and i do sometimes wear petite pants. According to the Met Life table a small frame should be 116-130 lbs (although I will be thrilled with 160).

Now that I think about it, I really like that pose too. I think it may be the most flattering (make my thighs look skinny and give me some clevage). Ugh, now I am so excited!

I am in the early phase of this whole process and my paperwork has not yet been submitted. I am really curious if I will be approved by tricare. My starting weight is 250 (5'4") and I don't have any co-morbities...but I have a history of diabeties in my family so I do run the risk if I continue on this path. I also had my thyroid removed a few months...and although that isn't a co-morbity, I am hoping that my lack luster metabolism will give them enough reason to approve. *fingers crossed*

You know…I must admit that I really frustrated with process I need to go through to get this done. The surgeon's office I chose to do the surgery requires me to jump through all of these hoops before I can event meet with the surgeon. So of coarse I need to attend the 1st intro session followed by 3 informational sessions (which are only offered once a month). I have completed the 1st intro session and 1 informational session…2 more to go. I need to get member services at my insurance company to tell me what is required on their end in order to qualify for the surgery (pysch eval, nutrition consult, etc)…anyone I spoke to says that they can't answer these questions and that my primary care physician or surgeon can only get that info. For the surgeon's office, I need to get a pysch evaluation and nutrional consult…but I don't know if I can go ahead and make these appointments without my insurance company's approval of surgery. My primary care physician did my physical and I went and got my lab work done today. I need them to write a letter of recommendation for me. I don't know if I made that clear to them so I was thinking of drafting my own letter explaining why I need this and giving it to them so they have something to start with. I need to lose 10 lbs on my own…I am working on it. Being more aware of what I eat and easing my self into exercise. So after I attend all of the informational sessions, lose 10 lbs, and then hand in a packet which documents everything I have done along with a questionnaire…they I will be able to finally meet with the surgeon. To make this all even more frustrating….per the terms of my insurance company's policy for surgery, I don't believe I technically qualify. Yes, I have a BMI over 40% but I do not have any co morbities. My only other medical issue is that I have had a long history of thyroid problems and have had it recently removed. I gain weight easily. My family does have history of weight issues and my mother has diabetes. So I certainly am at risk. I don't want to rush into this. I will wait a year if I need to. All I want right now is a yes or no answer so I can move forward with knowing whether or not this a real possibility for me.

Yes, I would love to see the letter you wrote. Right now I really don't have any other documented medical issues. The funny thing is that since I decided to explore the LB in January, I have found my knees hurting me. So I might mention that, however I don't have it documented any where. I don't want it to seem as though I am making reasons to have this done. As for the trouble I am having with getting some answers from my insurance company, I will try to talk to someone at the next informational session I attend on May 8th. I also did some looking around and think i found another surgeon. They have a informational session on May 7th so I was thinking about attending that to see what their program is like.

My hubby just got me a Wii Fit as a early Mother's Day gift! I have always loved video games so he thought that a Wii along with the Wii Fit board would be fun for me. I have experimented with it for the last 2 days and I do like it. Just wondering if there is anyone else out that has tried it and if you have any game recomendations. Right now we have some Jillian Michaels game and the some other Wii fit game.

Hello, I was just wondering if there was anyone out there who is hypothyroid and has the band? How are you doing?

Thanks for the reply! I am happy to hear that the LB has the potential to help me. I have been hypo since I was 16 years old and I am now 30 years old. I definitely have always felt that I am doomed to be fat forever because of my thyroid ( well, now lack there of since I have it entirely removed last month ).

Does anyone know how long the LB is intended to last? I am 30 years old and if I get the LB today, will it have to be swapped out for a new one in, lets say, 15 years? I know that the LB is relatively new in comparison to gastric bypass, so I wanted to know what the lifespan on the LB actually is. I've read that some people do have issues with the LB (leakage, etc) which requires them to have it replaced. But if I never have any issues with the LB, can it remain inside me for the next 40 years if I live until I am 70 years old? This question has me wondering if I should start to consider bypass instead.

I appreciate the replies. I was just curious since I have not seen any address this question before. Thanks!