Was It Worth It?

[xavier 153]

Worth every penny and yes, I also self paid!

[honk 780]

I don't have any info on support groups. If you have insurance I would call and ask them for a list of therapists that specialize in eating disorders. Find one that specializes in overeating. You could also call your doctors office to see if they have a therapist that you could meet with. You may have to pay out of pocket but I these sessions were really really important for me to create a new relationship with food so very worth it.

[Cazzy 725]

I was self pay and it was worth every penny, i would do it all over again if i needed to. I only wish it had been possible when i was a lot younger but better late than never. Now i stand a chance of living to my old age years

[AWright 1]

Hi Didi,

For me, the band ended up being a "very pricey reminder," that I always had it in me to loose weight. I was banded in July 2011 and un-banded in March of 2012 (2 days ago). During this time, I lost very minimal weight. Actually, I lost the most weight the week before having my band removed (which was an emergency procedure) because I could "not" swallow solids for over a week.

Since the band is a foreign device to your body, it's hard to determine how they will react to the "alien visitor" known as the "band." During the short amount of time I was banded, I developed reflux and esophageal spasms and dysphagia (swallowing difficulties).

In my situation, the band was not worth it, but everyone's body is different.

[didixo 8]

Cocoabean and everybody else, how many fills/adjustments did you have the first year? My Dr. said about 3 to 4 is the normal thing but he does not think I will need all of them, what do you guys think?

[Cocoabean 430]

Cocoabean and everybody else, how many fills/adjustments did you have the first year? My Dr. said about 3 to 4 is the normal thing but he does not think I will need all of them, what do you guys think?

I am 4 years post-op and haven't kept track, I think I had 3 fills, 1 slight unfill, then 1 refill the first year. 3-4 sounds average, but it will depend on your surgeon (how much you get per fill), what band you have (how much it will hold), and how you react to fills (some people are very sensitive and need to go more slowly than others).

It is a lot to consider as self-pay. But just consider, if you are not willing to maintain your band, it is not worth considering at all. It's like having a fancy sports car with an empty gas tank or a blown engine. It won't get you anywhere. One won't cost you much to get you on the road, but the other will cost you quite a bit. Either way, you have to pay if you want to get moving.

[1shauna1 129]

Is this worth it....yes because I know if I didn't get the surgery I'd weigh more than I did when I started. But like some others, I guess my expectations were off. I thought I'd be to goal by now after 1.5 years....I'm only down 35 and have struggled with fills/de-fills. Don't let your doctor say how many fills you will need. Everyone is all over the place with the amount they have in their bands (and even the size of their bands). Only you can judge what is the right amount. Good luck!