Questions, Questions, Questions!

[LPN2B 0]

Hi, Im Deana. Im new here because I have been looking into the Lapband, but I dont know very much about it. In fact my parents are the people that brought it up, and the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea. I take after my Dad A LOT, and with that comes many health problems. He has always been big, as have I. He weighs in at 350, and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure 2 years ago, have just went under surgery to have Kidney cancer removed, and also has devoloped type 2 Diabeties. Here are my questions about the Lapband:

*I am only 21. Im 5'5 and weigh 220. My BMI is 37. Will I qualify?

*Does Insurence cover the lapband?

*How much does it cost?

*How happy are you with your results? Was it worth it?

Any suggestions would help. Im just trying to gather some information about this. Ive tried many diets, and diet pills, but it just seems like genetics take over. If I lose, its not by very much. Thanks, Deana.

[coolcrystal 1]

*I am only 21. Im 5'5 and weigh 220. My BMI is 37. Will I qualify?

No. Not unless you have some co-morbidities like diabetes, etc. I do have a friend that found a doctor to perform her surgery when she was 226 pounds, but she went to about 5 doctors to find one.

*Does Insurence cover the lapband?

Yes and No. Some do and some don't. It depends on what company you have as your insurance and if the company you work for approves it. I think you would have a difficult time getting approved though.

*How much does it cost?

Depending on where you go - 7-8K in Mexico, 12-16k in america.

*How happy are you with your results? Was it worth it?

I'm newly banded, but so far, yes, I'm happy with it and my results so far

[maziemommy 8]

Hi, Im Deana. Im new here because I have been looking into the Lapband, but I dont know very much about it. In fact my parents are the people that brought it up, and the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea. I take after my Dad A LOT, and with that comes many health problems. He has always been big, as have I. He weighs in at 350, and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure 2 years ago, have just went under surgery to have Kidney cancer removed, and also has devoloped type 2 Diabeties. Here are my questions about the Lapband:

*I am only 21. Im 5'5 and weigh 220. My BMI is 37. Will I qualify?

*Does Insurence cover the lapband?

*How much does it cost?

*How happy are you with your results? Was it worth it?

Any suggestions would help. Im just trying to gather some information about this. Ive tried many diets, and diet pills, but it just seems like genetics take over. If I lose, its not by very much. Thanks, Deana.

Hi Deana,

My only experience is ... I wish when I was 21 and I did weight about 210 pounds, that I could/would have gotten a band. My Mother is BIG, and has lots of health issues. I saw this as my future. As I continued to age... I only grew larger, after every diet/effort to lose. At age 34 (seven days before 35).. I weighed 367 pounds and got my band (245# now) .

That was April 2-2007 (last year).. I have lost 120+ pounds and feel great. I still want to lose more, and think that I will. My only health problems combined with weight, were back pain and incontinence. But I know a heart attack was near. I wish I could have done this years ago.

For me this band has helped save my life, and make life easier to live. VERY WORTH IT TO ME.

I paid self pay($17,000) but, Mom is now approved through insurance ($0.00 -they are ALL diff.). Some docs have diff. rules to who they will band etc. Good luck and great health to you. Kimberly

[Jeni 85 0]

*I am only 21. Im 5'5 and weigh 220. My BMI is 37. Will I qualify?

You can qualify if you have co-morbitities associated with being over weight. Like diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, back pain, high cholesterol, ect. And age really doesn't matter. There are people banded from 16-70's here on this site. I was banded 12days before my 22nd birthday.

*Does Insurence cover the lapband?

Some do and some dont... But i know if your persistent enough (jumping through hoops) you may be able to appeal it.. And i know there has been lots of success with that (at least from what i read on here) there is also self pay.. If you are self pay there are a lot of places that offer payment plans, lower fee's ect.

*How much does it cost?

Again this really depends on place, state, and self pay vs. insurance

*How happy are you with your results? Was it worth it?

I am absolutely thrilled with my results so far.. I am a year post-op and have lost 87lbs to date... My health has greatly improved.. and food doesn't control me anymore.. My confidence is increased a lot and if i didn't lose another pound ever i would still be happy...

I would do this again in a heartbeat... No questions asked!!!

Feel free to ask any other questions that you may have we will answer them to the best of our ability.:Dancing_biggrin:

[shortgal 5]

The easiest way to find out if you have coverage is to call the number on the back of your ins card and ask if weight loss surgery is covered under your policy. If they say yes, most likely their requirements are a BMI of 35 with at least two co-morbidities, like the diabetes etc that have been mentioned or a BMI of 40 with no co-morbidities.

If you do not meet the requirments then self pay is your option.

[LPN2B 0]

Thanks so much for all the information. Im very worried that I will turn out like my dad, and I hate that. I think this is the reason I am seriously considering the lapband. I dont want my weight to rule my world, I want to control it. Thank you again for everything yall have said.

[scraig114@aol.com 0]

Hi shortgal,

I noticed you had your band removed 8/5. Would you mind sharing why? I'm one day away from my banding surgery and having second thoughts. The idea of having to pay to put it in and then again to have taken out makes me wonder if I should do this at all. Any words of encouragement?

[AnatolyM 0]

Hi shortgal,

I noticed you had your band removed 8/5. Would you mind sharing why?

According to the post here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f99/good-luck-shortgal-71747/ it is a sad story -- she had it removed because of a rare lapband complication. And it was not intended at all -- she actually planned to have band re-locked surgically, and found out that it had to be removed instead after waking up...

[shortgal 5]

According to the post here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f99/good-luck-shortgal-71747/ it is a sad story -- she had it removed because of a rare lapband complication. And it was not intended at all -- she actually planned to have band re-locked surgically, and found out that it had to be removed instead after waking up...

After having my band for a while and being filled, and filled and filled an x-ray was done and the Dr. told me he thought my band was unlocked.

It was never unlocked ( a diagnosis I now think was made to cover up an error he made). Anyway a second surgery was done to "fix" the problem but I woke up with no band. I now believe my band was never placed correctly and that he removed it either because he was unable to place it properly the second time ( adhesions perhaps) or because he did not want to admit it was incorrectly placed the first time. Of course I have no proof of this. How can we prove things when we are asleep during surgery?

Insist on an upper GI after your surgery to be sure the placement is correct. Never rely on an x-ray alone, if you ever have a problem with your band. I trusted my Dr.

If I had insisted on more tests, at least I would have a definitve answer to what happend.

Good Luck, I am not a band hater. I was just unlucky. Have your surgery and start enjoying life again!

I had originally posted that my band had eroded, because that is what I was told. I do not think it was ever eroded and that was another story to cover up. I was never placed on a post op diet after the second surgery, which if I was eroded, I would have been.

Another kind Dr. looked at my x-ray and told me the band was NOT unlocked. So I know something else went wrong. I think the Dr did not do an upper GI with the x-ray because he knew he screwed up and an upper GI would have proved it.

Edited September 16, 2008 by shortgal

[cheryl1952 0]

So have you been banded again or how are you losing weight? Where did you have this blotched up surgery? Do you feel like the realize band is better than the allergen lapband?

Cheryl

[shortgal 5]

If you are directing the above question to me ( not sure), I cannot offer advice on the different types of bands because I don;t know much about the realize band. I suspect they both have pros and cons. I had the Allergan APS band.

I have not been rebanded and won't be. I cannot afford to pay out of pocket again.

So far, I have been able to maintain the weight I lost by being very careful about what I eat and walking a lot!

My band never really worked and basically I lost the weight by following my Dr's instructions. I would always lose some weight after each fill because I had to be on liquids for two days. Fear of getting food stuck after each fill kept me eating "carefully". I never had restriction.