Newbie From San Diego

[SoCalShannon 0]

Hello All,

I just found this site and I am so happy I did. I think this is just the support I need as I begin this journey.

I am 30 years old, 5'1" tall, and weight 210 pounds. My BMI is right at 40. Weight has just slowly crept up on me and no matter what I can't lose it, hunger always wins out. I am tired of feeling like I can't control my eating. I have three wonderful children and a husband that I want to be healthy for. They deserve it.

I have been seriously considering getting bariatric surgery. I have been looking at both the gastric bypass and the Lap Band. Is it just me, but I think the Lap Band is the obvious choice. Why do most people get the gastric bypass?

My appointment with my primary care physician is for April 7. I am hoping to get an easy referral. I know all insurances have different policies, so I'm not sure how having Medi-cal affects this. Since I am just starting this process I am really wondering what is the time line from first pcp appointment to actual surgery? I just want to have this surgery quickly. I know 100% that this is what I want and I want to do it ASAP.

Any thoughts...encouragement....advice would be helpful!

[losingjusme 12]

hi,

welcome to LBT.. :wub:

one possible reason people tend to get bypass instead of lap band is insurance... a lot of insurance companies consider lap band as 'experimental' and do not cover it...

another may be because the initial weight loss is faster, but long term its about the same.

best of luck to you!

Edited March 23, 2008 by losingjusme
typo

[shortgal 5]

Some surgeons that were trained for Gastric bypass have more experience with that procedure and might "gently nudge" patients in that direction instead of the band.

Each patient has personal preferences and so do Doctors, but as layman we go to the Dr for advise and we accept that they know more than we do, and therefore accept their advice.

There was not a DR. out there that would have convinced me to have the GBP, it just wasn't something I wanted to do. If that were my only choice, I'd still be sitting here at my starting weight of 216, instead of 35 pounds lighter.

Now this is just MY personal opinion. For people that feel comfortable with GBP, I say go for it. I just was not comfortable with re-routing my insides and malabsorption issues.

[*susan* 1,709]

Hi and welcome to LBT! I thought lapband was the obvious best choice for me as well.

As for how long the process will take, maybe you can find others on the local forums who have the same insurance as you and ask them how long the process will take. It varies with every insurance company based on what their specific requirements are.

Please let us know if you have any questions and keep us updated on your progress.

[Jess77 0]

Hi Shannon! I'm also in San Diego and am 30 years old and so ready to have this procedure :frown: My initial evaluation is next Friday and I'm so looking forward to it. I'm ready to get this whole process going! How did your appointment with your primary care physician go? Have you decided who you would like to do your surgery? I haven't gone through my primary care physician. I don't think my insurance will cover the surgery so I've opted to go straight to the doctor who will perform the surgery. I fully believe I'm a good candidate and I'm hoping to not be put on a medically observed diet before a surgery date can be placed. But I guess I'll know more next week. Ideally I would love to have the surgery within the next couple of months. I think I'm just as eager as you to get this done and be on the way to healthier, skinnier person!

[marathinner 1]

Hey fellow San Diegans.

I had my LapBand surgery in February here in San Diego and couldn't be happier!! Congrats on making a wonderful decision to take control of your health. Good luck!

[SoCalShannon 0]

Hi Jess77!

I went to my PCP twice already. She is supportive of me having it done, but says in her experience it is tough to get the referrals approved. She put the request in last week and said to make an appointment with her for a month later. She said then I will find out if the referral is approved. In the meantime, she has me seeing a nutritionist as a backup in case of a denial. That way my medical history will show more weight loss attempts. It is frustrating having to wait so long...actually it's torture! I am the kind of person that when I make up my mind I just do it, so this wait is killing me. I really want to have it done over the summer and begin the new healthier me, but at this point I have to go through the process and pray that it ends up in my favor. I will keep you all updated. Jess77 since you are going strait to the surgeon, does that mean you are self pay? Please let me know how your appointment goes.