saw the surgeon

msknow · April 23, 2004

I went to my consultation yesterday and met, not with my doctor, but with one of the residents who will be assisting. I'm not sure why that was. In any case, she told me that the doctor I'd chosen doesn't do the lapband on anyone with a BMI over 45 (mine is 50), so I will be having the other surgeon at this practice do it. He only does them up to a BMI of 50, so I barely made it in with that. The resident discouraged me from having the lapband, as I knew would happen. I was prepared with all of my reasons for wanting to have the lapband and she said that I had obviously done my homework. She said she didn't see any problem with me having it done and that I needed to meet with the new surgeon. That is next Friday.

I wanted to make all of my appointments for the tests needed yesterday, but I couldn't. Apparently, Humana wants to approve up front for them all. I'm thinking, even though I really wanted to get the appointments set, that this will work out fine. The insurance person said Humana is the quickest and easiest to get approval. So, that's good, I suppose. I'm wanting to have the surgery done in late June, because I'm a teacher and would like to be used to the lifestyle before returning to school in late July. Once school begins again, my life consists of working my 3 jobs, sleeping, and eating. I'll have to figure it all out.

Thanks again to all of you for your support!

not2big42long · April 23, 2004

Your the second person in the last couple of weeks that has said that a surgeon wouldn't do your band because of a BMI>45. When I questioned my surgeon wondering why a surgeon would say that, he was surprised. We have done patients with BMI's in the 60's and they have been very successful. Makes you wonder if they really believe in the band or not??:mad:

msknow · April 23, 2004

The explanation I got was that the success rate with the band isn't as good as with the bypass. 50% excess weight off with the band as opposed to 78% excess weight off with the bypass. What I've found is that, if they looked at the data more than 2 years out from surgery, they would see that the success rate is really about the same. I don't know why they don't consider the long term important. I think it might be because gastric bypass is tried and true and the lapband is relatively new and they are afraid to make too many projections that sound like promises.

The resident I spoke with sounded as though she knew that what I was saying about the success I've seen with the band was true, but it seemed as though her job was to discourage people my size from it.

The bottom line is still that I have to change my life with either one. Though it's harder with the band in the first two years as opposed to bypass, in the long run it's really not. I know that with the bypass, once the insulin thing adjusts itself, the hunger returns. I'd rather have that from the beginning than have it happen after two years of it not happening. Then I'd go crazy. I know myself.

I know that I'm making the right decision for me.

quakergirl · April 26, 2004

msknow, as someone who was banded with a BMI of almost 60, I say good for you for standing up for what you wanted.

The band is not just about how much weight you lose, but also about quality of life. Maybe I would be thinner faster if I had gotten the bypass - but, then again, with the bypass I might have died or might be having nutritional deficiencies. I don't know how much weight I'll ultimately lose, but the band has definitely let me lose enough weight ot improve my quality of life, and that's really what's important.

Good luck to you. :mad:

msknow · April 28, 2004

Thanks not2big and quakergirl. I definately feel right about the choice I've made. I have the appointment with the new doctor on Friday. Hopefully, he will agree. All the tests are being run next week and I should have a surgery date soon. I really felt strongly that, no matter which surgery I chose, it would be all about what I put into it. That's where my success will be. The lapband is for me!

GeezerSue · April 28, 2004

Have you considered surgeons who are just a little father away, but who have experience and positive expectations?

Where I'm going here is that surgeons who start with this attitude would seem to be the most likely to throw up their hands at the fist plateau and say,"Well, see, we TOLD you it wouldn't work."

msknow · April 29, 2004

Sue,

I'm kind of stuck into it now. All of my appointments are set for next week and I assume I'll have a surgery date as soon as the test results are faxed over. I meet the actual doctor tomorrow and I'm sure it's not a problem, since the resident told me that he does lapbands for 50BMI. I feel pretty good about the choice of surgeon. We'll see if I feel the same tomorrow.

Thanks for the input, Sue and everyone.

I'll keep you updated.

Laura