Mountaingal

At one time I had success with Sam-e. You just have to buy a decent brand (ebay). My body got used to it over the years and it no longer works but it did for quite some time. Antidepressants can help with the pain and also with letting you get some better sleep.

I found Lyrica worked very well for me except that it made me very hungry. Perhaps after banding I will try it again.

I asked this same question here a few weeks ago. Hope you get replies as it would interest me. We have a friend who lives in Costa Rica and he praises their medical care constantly.

Hi Christiep77, I've heard great things about your Dr. and the support groups in the area. I'm about an hour from you but if I get this done I'll have to go to Mexico..self pay. My Dr isn't keen on that option so I'm taking it one step at a time. He did say he'd look into follow up care for me as that is his greatest concern with out of country surgery.

Haven't heard anything about Costa Rica. My husband has a friend there and respects their medical system and thought we should try and find out about it since they do medical tourism.

My husband has great respect for Costa Rican medical care and wants me to investigate banding in that country. Anyone had it done there that would like to share their experience, Drs info and costs? Thanks, Mountaingal

Glammaw, Sorry you are having such a hard day. I am sure our age has something to so with the difficulties. Your weight loss to date is a great accomplishment. If you have any of your old clothes try a something on. It will be so big you will know it is so worth the effort. Maybe a treat of sugar free candy or low calorie hot chocolate will help. You can freeze that hot chocolate by the way and it doesn't taste bad! Hang in there. Liz

Charlene K..if shrimp is one of your favorite foods how about turning it into a spread of some kind with the food processor? As a child my mom used to buy a shrimp paste to put on sandwiches, good with a little salmon in there too. Liz

My place is like a restaurant as well. Hubby is very picky about what he eats and most of it plain unhealthy high calorie, high fat stuff. Makes life very hard. I hope your husband will learn about this option, go to the drs etc with you and support you. If not then do it for yourself and your girls and maybe he'll get on board as he sees your success and your complaints about pain lessen. Liz

Dridlen, I'm betting those people who say you took the easy way out either are not dealing with their weight issues or have no weight issue. Some of us just can't lose and/or maintain without a tool to help us. I have friends who eat 3-4 times what I do and don't weigh what I do. We eat together and exercise together. Our lives aren't different, our bodies are. My sister did lose her excess weight through diet and exercise but three years later she is in hell. She is so hungry all the time it is only a matter of time till she starts gaining. Perhaps a band would have been a better choice, perhaps she would be a mite less hungry! Let them walk in our/shoes before they tell us it's the easy way. Liz

Dottie, Joann and anyone else who is stay at home you are welcome to pm me. Don't want to hijack a thread and take it off topic. New here and I'm not sure if off topic chat is appropriate here or not. I'm still considering banding. Not only would I have to self pay, travel thousands of miles to get it done, but my ins would be of no help if I have any complications. Hence I am taking my time to figure out if this what I want to do. I am an early retiree who moved to a very rural area and am having some troubles building a new life. Good luck with all interests, your weight loss, schooling and other factors in your lives, Liz

Great question that I would like some help with as well!

Long2bThin, thanks for mentioning the tax deduction for medical bills. I had completely forgotten about that which would lessen the bill a bit.

Thanks for the info Long2bThin. I was going to check out Dr K and the cost of flights etc to Denver.Sounds as if you have had wonderful results. Congratulations to you. I am seeing my family Dr in mid July and will see if he has any recommendations as he was the one who first suggested this.

How long did it take you all to arrange your surgery with Dr G after your first contact? Trying to give some thought to timing etc. Do you have to go to Mexico for a presurgical consult or is the trip for surgery the only one you make? How long did you all stay in Mexico? Thanks.

No, I don't think I am too old in any way. Never too old unless your Dr tells you the surgery would be too dangerous. Looking in the US is not an option. I am not old enough for Medicare and my insurance won't pay a dime. I don't have a Dr or a date as I am still looking and learning.I admit to being worried about any complications after the surgery as again my ins won't pay if they can trace the problem back to the surgery in any "creative " way. You can tell I am not too fond of them. Thanks everyone for your encouraging replies.

I am finding some Drs won't band anyone over 56! Why they chose that age who knows.I will need to go to Mexico as my ins won't pay a dime. Anyone here over 56 been banded in Mexico and by whom? Thanks.

I will need to go to Mexico to be banded. Last night looking at various Drs info I discovered some Drs (seem to remember Dr Aceves is one) have age limits. I am 58. Anyone this age been banded in Mexico and by whom? Thanks.

Are you having surgery in the States or going to Mexico? If you are going to Mexico I'd love to hear about your experience and the costs involved if you don't mind sharing. Good Luck.

JRT from Christiansburg I am from your area and wonder where you had your banding done. Who do you go to for fills? I will probably end up in Mexico or some other foreign land as my ins doesn't cover anything to do with weight loss. How are doing? Mountaingal

What does Dr Brinkley charge for a fill? Thanks. Mountaingal

Hi Everyone, I'm so glad to have found this website. I have been thinking about and getting closer to making the decision for a while now. I am 58 yrs old, am a diabetic and have fibromyalgia. I have fought the weight battle all my life but age is making it much harder. Maybe some of you can help me with some questions or tell me where on the forum I can find the answers. My insurance will not cover anything to do with weight loss, though they would pay if I were a drug addict or alcoholic and needed help. So does anyone know of a good relatively low cost surgeon or clinic in the US to get this done: Has anyone been to Mexico or elsewhere and had it done? Good or bad experience and where? I am in VA but traveling to protect my life and health will be worth it. How do you feel about food after the surgery? I am wondering if cooking for family, at holidays etc will be a hateful chore when I can't eat much of anything. Does anyone know when the first bands were implanted and if over years any problems develop? I don't think we yet have grannies in nursing home with them, though maybe we do! I am looking forward to sharing and learning from you all, Mountaingal

Thanks for your reply Kristine. I know all about that catch 22. My Dr is all for the idea but my ins won't pay for anything to do with weight loss so it would probably need to be done out of the country. Where did you have your surgery? I think one of my daughter's would be very supportive not really sure about anyone else in my world. This is for my health though so I am past caring if others don't approve. Glad to hear of your mom's friend's long term success.Long term issues are of some concern to me. Mountaingal

Thank you so much for the links. You have done a wonderful job pulling together all that info about surgery choices many of which are just as valid in the US as in Mexico. I am sure it is highly valued and appreciated by many of us as we research and consider this life changing choice. Mountaingal