Obesity Discussion Forums

[LadySaidy]

I talked to my insurance company yesterday and found out that they will cover Lap Band surgery! The last company I worked for wouldn't cover it, but this has me happy. There are only three conditions for getting it covered:
- BMI over 40 (got that)
- Over 21 (by lots)
- Doctor diagnosed obesity for at least 5 years.

The last one only requires that obesity be noted somewhere in your medical records. When I first started going to my doc 3 years ago, it was one of the things she wrote on my chart. So I have 18 months to think about it.
I'm considering the lap band primarily because it is reversible in a way. I've been trying for so long to lose weight doing the calorie, carb, protein, meal replacement, merry-go-round and I'm getting no where. I'll keep at it, maybe I'll get lucky, but it's an option I'm considering.

For those that have had the procedure done, what are some of the pros / cons? Advice? I have time to prepare myself, so that is good. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Violent]

havent had it, but what I hear is that you have to learn how to breath and drink all over again. Reason being is that we tend to suck in too much air from being overweight. So it causes air bubbles to form and they are harmless but painful. This is what I heard just thought I would give you a heads up.

[Twinkle]

Glad you have found a way of having it done- good luck on your journey xxx

[bigdaddy38]

I wouldn't do it, first of all it doesn't deal with the issue of why you gained weight in the first place, so a lot of people even with the lap band tend to gain weight back, I have even talked to some on this site. Also there have not been any long term studies done on the affects of this surgery either which I think is funny because doctors will tell you that starving your self is bad for you and your body and essentially that is what your doing with the lap band just because your stomach is smaller does not mean your body needs less calories to live, your bmi or base metabolism is what your body needs to survive and if you go below that which people on the lap band do then there are adverse affects. The problem is those affects might not show up for years. If you cut your calories to low your body burns muscle and bone so for women who are already prone to bone disease this will increase the odds of bone problems, I think that after a few more years when the lap band has been around for awhile we will see everybody that has gotten it start to get arthritis, not to mention you burn muscle also which in the end slows your metabolism and helps to gain weight back, I think that lap band is just another step in the diet yo yo. just my opinion but the facts about how the human body works are the facts I think the doctors are just to greedy to share this with anybody.

[nes2124]

i'm scared to even to think of the lap band, but that's just me, afraid i would blow my stomach apart if i eat to much. i heard you have to drink liquids after the procedure is done, and that you tend to through up. maybe i heard wrong.

[melissagrace]

honestly, i would say go with gastric bypass.
I had it in feb 08 and in the last 5/6 months i have lost 90 pounds.
i am 40 from my goal
with lap band, yes it is not permanent, but it is also much more difficult to keep the weight off

you can eat all the food you do now. just in smaller amounts.
the people i almost had surgery with said they will make the band loser if you want so you can eat more food if you are at like a birthday/wedding whatever, which i think is crap. right out of surgery with lap band you can eat anything until they tighten the band. the band can slip out of place.

with gastric bypass for the first week or longer you are on water, soup broth, jello and sugar free popsicles. you do have to relearn to breath, not because when we are over weight we take in too much air its because when you are overweight you take in more air, its because of the surgery and you have to teach yourself to do everything a little slower and more carefully, because you are healing from a MAJOR surgery.

congrats on everything, i would love to hear stories about how you all are doing.
good luck!

[chubbymommaNdallas]

A good friend of mine had this done 18 months ago. She has lost weight but her health is awful now. Once a beautiful woman with gorgeous, healthy features, she now is walking with a cane, humped over with thinning hair. But yes, she is a size 10 rather than a 22. IMO, she looked much better prior to the surgery and definitely felt much better.

[chubbymommaNdallas]

BTW, I completly understand why the option is attractive to you. It was once attractive to me too and I probably would have done it if insurance would have agreed. Good luck no matter your decision. This is a battle that is very personal for each of us and I know it's not an easy one for any of us to wage.