Newby - thinking about lap banding

[vayiayia 1]

Greetings All!

I am happy to have found this site because all I had been finding is Lap Band sites with bad reviews and complaints :smile:. I am open to everyone's input, as I am in the decision stage of the process.

I'm in a rut. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I'm the heaviest I've ever been. My weight problems began with a sudden onset of weight gain 21 years ago. I had a two year bout of a mystery illness and packed on 40 pounds within three months. It's been a battle ever since.

My body hurts; my knees, my back, my stomach, my self esteem, my spirit. I hate having photos taken. I discard most of them. I’m depressed and have become unsocial. My worse fear is that I'll just get fatter and fatter.

I can't honestly say that diet and exercise doesn't work, because I just can't seem to muster up the will-power to actually stick with a Portion Control plan.

As far as exercise goes, my body just hurts too much to do the simplest of exercise routines. I tried walking several times last and this week and I was in agony. My knees were hurting and my back went into spasms.

I’m discouraged and disgusted with who and what I have become. :thumbup:

If anyone out there has Tricare Standard, I’d appreciate your commentary regarding insurance coverage for the Lap Band procedure and how easy or difficult it was to get approval.

Thanks!

[sfsugrl26 0]

Hi I just saw your post and wanted to respond I can certainly relate to your situation I have always been a little over weight about 20lbs or so but within the past 4 yrs I have packed on a ridiculous amount of weight and pretty much became a hermit in my home I was sick tired unhappy constantly hideing from the camera and shutting out everyone in my life friends and family I did do exercise occasionally but who wants to go to the gym and see a bunch of healthy people when you feel absolutely terrible inside and out and I also too had a problem with Portion Control. SO I looked in to the lap band and gastric and felt lap band would be my best option. I was banded Aug 21st of 08 and at first wanted the band removed immediatley but after 3 weeks almost 4 I have adjusted to it and have lost 13 lbs which is great becasue my doctor said right now isnt really the time I should be loseing weight its just time for healing. The band helps with portion control and also with the total weight lost of 30 lbs 17 pre op and now 13 post op I feel alot more energetic and willing to do more things so all I can say if you are considering the lap band surgery and you want to make a change for the better health wise I think it would be a great decision I do not regret it and am so glad I have gotten it done if ya want some more opinions check out you tube and search lap band before and after in addition to lap band journeys that is what motivated me to get the procedure done in addition to realizing I was not happy with my life good luck oh and I am not too sure about your paticular insurance but i know with mine after i jumped threw all the hoops the approval process was quick 3 maybe 4 days at most but took me 6 months to do all the things required of me by my insurance company which is aetna

Edited September 11, 2008 by sfsugrl26

[vayiayia 1]

Thank you so much for the response. It was very encouraging!

After all that I have read, I am every doctor involved in my general care for a letter of support.

I have arthritis in my knees, so I've asked the ortho doc.

I have reflux and GHRD, so I've asked my gastro doc.

I have sleep apnea, so I'm asking my sleep doc.

And with all of the above mentioned, I am asking my PCP for a letter as well.

I don't want to give my insurance company any excuse to say no.

Thanks again!!!