tonya66

I just went thru the Medicaid procedure for my Grandmother. I am her power of attorney and I live in Oklahoma. I'm sure every State is different, but here, her income could not be more than $1700.00, she makes $1500 per month, so she qualified for Medicaid. She had a massive stroke and needs 24/7 care so my mom was unable to lift her and take care of her, so we had to put her in a nursing home. The way Medicaid does it, you continue getting the ss checks, and your payment to the nursing home is due, they allow the family to keep $50 per month to cover expenses (diapers, etc). We take the $50 and pay toward a pre-arranged funeral that we are paying for. My Grandmother sold her house 20 years ago and depleted all her money so she did not have any assets. I do know to get approved on medicaid without going in a nursing home you have to make only like $600 per month, but the qualifications are much different if the person is going into a home. Also, they did go back 3 years on my grandmothers finances. The cost of nursing homes vary, depending on how much care is needed/ also if they want private room, they can go all the way up to 10,000 per month. My grandmothers runs about $4,000 per month, although we only pay $1450.00.

Good Question! I'm attending my seminar on 11/11 and plan on making my appointment right away. I would like to know the answer to your question too since I am in the same boat as you.

I feel the same way as you, I'm not telling anyone in my family either, or anyone at work. The only person I am now telling is my husband, but only after the seminar I'm attending. I am hoping he will be supportive, but not sure how he will react yet. I hear a lot of people find another addiction after WLS. Good luck with your journey. You will find so much support here.

Hello Brad! I've had the same worries as you regarding the lap band. I find this forum so supportive and brutally honest about everything! Congrats on your weight loss without the band! That is great!

Well, I've decided to tell my husband, AFTER I go the seminar and gather as much info as I can. He will be the only one I tell. I just want to make sure I have all the facts before I sit him down and tell him. He is just so against WLS because of all the deaths he has heard about, but he doesn't understand anything about LB, so I think he will be okay. Thank you all for your advice. PS - my seminar is this Saturday, I can't wait!

Hi Janet, I go to my first seminar on 11/11. I am hoping to have my surgery in January, but not sure how long it will take to get into seeing the doc after the seminar. I called my insurance company and asked what qualifications are needed in order to get approved, (I have UHC) and they said a BMI of 40, thats it. So, I'm happy with that. They pay 90% and I'll be responsible for 10%, with a maximum out of pocket of $1000. I am waiting until January so I can put the funds in my payflex (an IRS provsion for medical expenses). I just hope I can have the surgery in January and not have to wait so long. By this time next year, I want to say, I lost XXX amount of weight (hopefully at least 50lbs). Well, Good-luck with your journey!

Paulaax, WOW, your doing so great! I am not banded yet, I'm going to my first seminar on 11/11 and I'm so excited. I am doing the entire thing in secret from everyone that is close to me, except I will be telling my DH (when the time is right). I think one reason I don't want to tell anyone is I wonder "will this really work for me?". I've been on so many diets, and yes, lost a lot of weight, only to gain it back again. Your loss has really inspired me and has made a believer out of me!

I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Randi, I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't told anyone about my decision, not even my husband. I don't want everyone looking at me and asking questions. I will probably come clean later, but for now, I'm closed mouth. I began researching it about a month ago, and have scheduled to go to a seminar on the 11th of this month. I have researched enough that I know this is the surgery for me. I too know several that have had the GB surgery and they look wonderful and lost the weight so fast, my cousin is having it on the 9th of November. However, for me the risk just weren't worth it. i have two children and didn't want to chance it. A friend of a friend had the GB 60 days ago, she is still in the hospital and for some time they didn't think she was going to make it, she is just now waking up and she will have to go thru months of rehab. It is a scary thing when you actually know someone who has had this kind of complications, she is also on complete dyalisis because her kidneys were shutting down, but I think they are making a come back now. I think she is going to survive, but not without some serious problems. Again, another reason I'm chosing Lap Band Vs. Gastric Bypass. But that is just me, others feel the GB is the way to go, like my cousin. Welcome.

Well, we are all glad you were able to leave us that post. It means you are ALIVE. That is a life changing event for sure. I'm so happy that you pulled thru, even though it sounds like you have a long road ahead of you to complete recovery, the fact is you are alive and that is wonderful!

Oh yes I've heard of Duncan, matter of fact, DH & I went camping at a lake not too far from Duncan a few years ago, even went to the wal-mart in Duncan for some supplies. My late Grandfather's brother lived in Duncan too. Anyhow, I know what you mean about being anxious. I am on the border line of being able to be approved for lap band. My insurance requires you to be 40 BMI and that is the only qualification. I am at 38.5, but if I wear some heavy clothes, and a little change in my pocket, I'm at a 40 BMI. . I'm just so ready to get the ball rolling but have to go to my seminar first which is 11/11.

Hi Deb, I'm from Oklahoma too. What doctor are you using? I live in Tulsa and have my seminar on 11/11 - I'm hoping to be banded in January. I'm going to Doctor Gorospe.

Oh, I'm so sorry. We had to put our best friend down 3 years ago, and it still pains me to think about it. As I was standing there with my DH, both of us crying our hearts out, the vet was so kind and passionate, I'll tell you what he told me - he placed his hands around me and said "He would have done it for you". And I think he would have, I didn't want to see my precious dog, my friend in pain any longer, and the fact is, we put them down because of our love we have for them. Its never easy saying good-bye so my thoughts and prayers are with you & hubby today.

Okay - I was a travel agent and guess what - the average weight gain on a cruise is 10 pounds!!!! So, you didn't do bad at all. I love cruises too. I once went on a strictly scrapbooking cruise, it was so much fun! So I totally know you had a great time. Don't sweat the 5 lbs, now is the time to get back to the basic bandster rules.

Congratulations! That is truly a victory! 100 lbs gone forever!

I agree StephC - I know what your saying, I know I will have to fess up at some time - but I plan on doing it "after".

Hello, I'm just getting started too. Did you find a doctor? I'm using Dr. Luis Gorspe, he come highly recommended out of Southcrest. He only does WLS.

Well, I am not banded yet, but I've begun the process. I go to my seminar on 11/11/06 and I'm hoping to have my consultation soon afterward and schedule the surgery in January. I am not telling anyone, not even DH right now. Still haven't got the kinks worked out yet but I plan on not telling anyone. I just don't want all the eyes on me, watching every move I make. So, I'll be in the closet for awhile.

Thank you all for the welcomes and all the information - it is so encouraging to see everyone's progress!!!!!! I am so proud of each and everyone of you and you should be too! I hate when people say, "Oh, they had WLS thats how they lost all their weight", they seem to down play the success people have when they have WLS. Anyhow, I'm looking so forward to my seminar next month.

Carlene, your cracking me up. Yes, I still have some thinking to do. I have all this stuff in my head on what I'm going to say. I might even tell him because of my hernia, they had to put a band on my stomach, and not sure how he will deal with that. But like you said, I am a grown adult and capable of my own decisions. I can see what you are talking about with your DH, but only because you pointed it out. Thanks for sharing.

You guys are too funny - I love the description about the PB's. Okay, here is the story......I hope everyone doesn't think bad of me......but anyhow, here is my story. Last year I had horrible stomach problems and found out I had over 50 gallstones and my gall bladder was removed. I've still been having horrible acid reflux, so I've started telling my DH that I'm going to need my esophagus stretched in January. Anyhow, I might tell my sister in law, who will die with a ton of secrets, she is the most closed mouth person there is, she will not tell a soul if you ask her not to, anyhow, she can pick me up for the hospital. I'm telling my husband its not big deal when I go the hospital, and tell him no need to take off work (he doesn't get much time anyhow - so he'll be okay with that) then when I get home and a little sore, I can tell him it was a much bigger deal than I thought. I guess the whole reason I haven't told him is he is so against it, he just fears the worst, I tried to talk him into it and he won't even discuss it. So, I'm to the point that I feel I need to do it and thats that. I've made my mind up. I might tell him after the surgery, but haven't decided yet. Yes, I know its not good to lie, especially to my DH - I just see no way out of it right now. I'm really a very honest person, I hope everyone on the board doesn't think i'm some crazy chick now, its just not worth it to me to have these long out discussions with DH when he is so closed minded about it. I hope everyone understand where I'm coming from, you don't have to agree with me, but just know that I am determined to get this done, with or without DH's approval. Anyhow, I will keep everyone informed on how it goes.

Hello, I'm doing my surgery in complete secretcy. Not telling a soul, not even my husband. I have my reasons and thats an entire different thread, so I won't go there. I do know you will need someone to drive you home - I haven't figured out what I'm going to do on that one yet, but my surgery is not until January, not sure of a date yet. Anyhow, the biggest supporter you need is yourself! And, someone to drive you home.

Thank you Cocakk - I know it will be slow, but I know it works if you follow the program. At least from everything I've read - it looks like it works. lol. Congratulations on 70 lbs!!!! That is GREAT! When were you banded?

I wanted the gastric bypass, I'll be honest. But, I've chosen the lap band because of the less mortality rate during surgery. I have children at home and I don't want to risk losing my life and leaving them motherless. I have 3 very close friends that have had the GB and are doing great, however, one of thier friends is in the ICU now for 30 days since her GB surgery. Her family was informed her kidneys are now shutting down, the chances of her survival now are very slim, and they are doing a 24 hour vigil around her bedside. It really hits home when you know someone that is dying because of WLS. I am determined to lose the weight and I look at lap band as a tool, not a cure for my weight loss. I have about 80 lbs to lose. I weigh 225 lbs, 5'6", so not quite a 100, so I think the lap band will give me that extra help I need. I go to my seminar next month, and then will schedule the consultation with the doctor and file my insurance papers. The only thing I'm scared of is the erosion of the band, I will make sure I make all my doc appointments. I am not against anyone having the GB, like I said, I really wanted it, but decided it wasn't the right choice for me. I have friends that would recommend it in a heartbeat but they will tell you its not a piece of cake. I am going into the Lap Band with the idea that it is not a piece of cake either, and I know there might be some side effects, but to me I'm ready for anything in order to get these 80 lbs off. I'm hoping to get lots of support here while I go thru my journey, I'm trying to read everything I can to be well prepared. I'm keeping my surgery a secret from my family, most probably won't agree with that, but I have my reasons and I know I can't tell them. I agree with most everyone here regarding why they made thier choice. I was a little freaked out about having the "foreign" object as well, but the post here explained it well, so I'm over that.

Hello all, I'm new to the thread and was out searching the internet for any and all information regarding lap band surgery. And stumbled accross this thread and the great and wonderful story by Lisa. I was trying to find some success stories because I'm a little worried the Lap Band won't work for me. I think Lisa has proven it does work. I go to my seminar next month and then I will have to set up an appointment to file to the insurance to get the approval. I've already called my insurance company and the only qualification I need is a BMI of 40, and I'm there. I'm exactly 40. I'm so happy I stumbled accross this forum and I'm looking forward to reading more success stories.