Decided on LapBand surgery. New! Day 1.

[calabresechic87 0]

Hey everyone! My name is Samantha, I'm 21 and have been overweight for a good chunk of my life. I've tried every pill, diet plan, and exercise equipment with no luck. I'm tired of this lifestyle! I can't do the quick fixes anymore, and I can't take pills for the rest of my life either. So, I'm doing my research on LapBand and I think it's the right option for me. My research on it began today, and I'll be calling my insurance company on Monday to see if it's covered. I'm truly scared about that, what am I suppose to say to them? Is it considered a cosmetic surgery? What do I not say? Is there anything I can say or do to up my chances of it being approved? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Very confused and overwhelmed.:wink:

[thinoneday 445]

Welcome Sam! I am on the same journey you are on. . .I'm only at the research and go to the seminar part. . .I'm afraid, but with this site you'll find alot of nice people who can share stories and their feelings too. You'll find your not the only one with the problem . . . everyone has the same or basically the same issues. . . i have my seminar on the 23rd of this month. . . i'm self pay and have been approved by the bank for the full amount with a payoff of only 3% . . i haven't signed for it yet. . . i've 90 days to do that. . . so after the seminar we'll see but like you this seems to be my only chance. I'm 48 years old and don't want to die a big fat woman with 10 pall bearers, the usual 6 will be nice. . . maybe we can continue to share stories and successes

[calabresechic87 0]

Thanks for the reply Erykah! I would love to keep in contact with our stories and such, I'm the type of person who succeeds when I have support behind me. I am so worried about contacting my insurance company though! As sad as it is, I'm most concerned about not being "fat" enough, lol. I feel that this is my last option before I'm doomed to a life of being overweight forever! My grandmother passed away when I was 5 from weight-related heart disease, she was over 400lbs. Weight issues run in my family but I refuse to except that as an excuse for continuing to stay plus size!

[vlmar55 0]

:sad:Hi, everyone. I am Vickie and am 53 years old. I too have tried every diet known to man and then invented some. Always same results...little or not long lasting. I am about to become a grandmother for the 3rd time and will be babysitting a newborn fulltime. I have a number of health issues that are only made worse by my weight. My BMI is 56!! I have always been terrified of the bypass, but I'm not as scared of the LapBand. I have done my 6 mos weight loss required by BC/BS of AL, and attended a seminar at Vanderbilt, but I live in Athens, AL and don't want to have to drive the Nashville all the time. I signed up for a seminar with dr. Mailapur, but had to cancel. I am now in the process of rescheduling with him. I am looking forward to discussing my and your progresses together. Has anyone used DR. Mailapur and if so, were they satisfied?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.:wink:

[calabresechic87 0]

My BMI is 38.3, so I actually might have to gain 10lbs to qualify! I'll find out at my physical next month if there's any underlying issues that would make me more eligible, like prediabetes or something like that.

[thinoneday 445]

My BMI is 38.3, so I actually might have to gain 10lbs to qualify! I'll find out at my physical next month if there's any underlying issues that would make me more eligible, like prediabetes or something like that.

this might be the dumbest question ever, but honey why in the world would you gain 10 pounds? just to get lapbanded? why not just try dieting if your not even big enough to qualify? you've probably tried everything in the world and feel like you've failed, but why not follow the lap band diet without the band like someone else on the site did? But to gain 10 lbs just to have surgery doesn't make sense to me. . .

[thinoneday 445]

:sad:Hi, everyone. I am Vickie and am 53 years old. I too have tried every diet known to man and then invented some. Always same results...little or not long lasting. I am about to become a grandmother for the 3rd time and will be babysitting a newborn fulltime. I have a number of health issues that are only made worse by my weight. My BMI is 56!! I have always been terrified of the bypass, but I'm not as scared of the LapBand. I have done my 6 mos weight loss required by BC/BS of AL, and attended a seminar at Vanderbilt, but I live in Athens, AL and don't want to have to drive the Nashville all the time. I signed up for a seminar with dr. Mailapur, but had to cancel. I am now in the process of rescheduling with him. I am looking forward to discussing my and your progresses together. Has anyone used DR. Mailapur and if so, were they satisfied?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.:wink:

is there not a doctor in athens who would help you? is nashville far? yes, i would never get the gastric bypass, but the lapband seems more safer to me as well. . . good luck to you and maybe you can research the doctor on line. . .

[calabresechic87 0]

this might be the dumbest question ever, but honey why in the world would you gain 10 pounds? just to get lapbanded? why not just try dieting if your not even big enough to qualify? you've probably tried everything in the world and feel like you've failed, but why not follow the lap band diet without the band like someone else on the site did? But to gain 10 lbs just to have surgery doesn't make sense to me. . .

I know it's stupid, and your right, I have tried everything. I'm so few up with being the funny fat friend and feeling like crap about myself. I have tried diet and exercise with no luck, I have no willpower because it is so hard. I think the only thing that will help me is an lifestyle change like the lapband.

[LarraineM 6]

Hey Girl, We both have alot in common both 53,both in Alabama and of course that haveing tried every diet known to modern man! Also I just finished my 6 month period also.Both Blondes!!!!!!!!!!!! Now just waiting to be approved by BIG BAD BCBS. I am in Mobile we need to stay in touch.

[dianne72896 0]

Hey everyone! My name is Samantha, I'm 21 and have been overweight for a good chunk of my life. I've tried every pill, diet plan, and exercise equipment with no luck. I'm tired of this lifestyle! I can't do the quick fixes anymore, and I can't take pills for the rest of my life either. So, I'm doing my research on LapBand and I think it's the right option for me. My research on it began today, and I'll be calling my insurance company on Monday to see if it's covered. I'm truly scared about that, what am I suppose to say to them? Is it considered a cosmetic surgery? What do I not say? Is there anything I can say or do to up my chances of it being approved? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Very confused and overwhelmed.:tongue2:

Hi Samantha,

I too am going to do this. I have been to the seminar and my insurance will not cover it. I do know that if your primary Dr. submits info stating all of your medical issues pertaining to your weight that carries a lot of weight( no pun intended) in getting approved. The total cost for mine is $17,000. If it were me I would go to the seminar first because the girls there can tell you if your insurance company normally pays for this. After that you can persue the other Drs. in helping you get approved. Hope this helps some and good luck.:wub:

[vlmar55 0]

is there not a doctor in athens who would help you? is nashville far? yes, i would never get the gastric bypass, but the lapband seems more safer to me as well. . . good luck to you and maybe you can research the doctor on line. . .

There is not a doctor in Athens that I would trust to put a bandaid on me. Nashville is about 100 miles.

[vlmar55 0]

Hey Girl, We both have alot in common both 53,both in Alabama and of course that haveing tried every diet known to modern man! Also I just finished my 6 month period also.Both Blondes!!!!!!!!!!!! Now just waiting to be approved by BIG BAD BCBS. I am in Mobile we need to stay in touch.

It would be nice to have someone to talk with who is at the same stage of the surgery.

[JennGA 0]

Athens GA? If so try Gainesville GA

[vlmar55 0]

No, I live in Athens, AL.

Thanks anyway