?'s about Lap Band Cost, etc.

[patsal]

I post here most so I turned here first! Anyway I am considering Lap band and am in the early stages of looking into it, made appt. researched on line and still have a few questions. Has anyone here done this? How did it work for you and how do you feel about it after the weight loss? Will I ever be able to at least "taste" my favorites or is it all high protien high fiber, no "foodie" stuff ever again for so long as I live? I just don't want to have regrets if I make the decision. Sure I have no issue never eating a whole dole whip again but to never taste one might be an issue! Is it all OOP or will insurance play any role?

 

[MG61218]

I had Gastric bypass surgery 4 years ago and my insurance paid for it all. It just depends on your insurance.

 

[momof1princess]

when i had my gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago, insurance companies were not paying for lap band. even if they had been, it wouldn't have worked for me. i NEED the restrictions of GBS, because i'm a compulsive eater. i suggest learning about both surgeries and honestly looking at your own eating patterns to determine which would be best. i know some people are afraid of GBS, but frankly, i'd be more afraid of the lap band port. not sure how it works exactly, but the band has to be filled and reduced somehow. good luck if you have any questions about GBS, feel free to ask.

 

[Singleminnie]

I had the lap band surgery 1 1/2 years ago, I love it! I was health at the time so I was able to have mine do outpatient, so it only cost me $50 out of pocket. I was required to spend the whole day at the surgical center and then return to his office early the next morning. I have tons of energy and I hardly have those hunger pains anymore. A lot time, my stomach will growl and then I notice that I am hungry. I know this is not good, but I forgot to eat this morning! did not get hungry until 11:30 am. Yes you have to push the proteins, but you can still have a bite of the old favorites. Just mix in a lot of exercise too. If you want more info pm me and I will try to answer all your questions. My surgeon asked me last summer to speak to a class of people thinking about the surgery, so I did, and he said I was a real sucess story. I did the lap band b/c it was the most economical for me. It was my birthday present to my self!

 

[thelionqueen]

I am 7 months post-op from Lap Band surgery and cannot speak highly enough about my experience.

I would suggest you study, study, study about all the options before deciding. I don't know much about it, but the "Sleeve" is gaining very fast in popularity; you may want to research that as well.

A PP who had GBS said they need the restriction of that surgery. I have way more restriction than my boss who had GBS. The differences between the 2 restrictions is quite substantial, I just didn't want OP to think that by having Lap band they will not be restricted; quite the contrary, you can choose the exact restriction that works for you. And, unlike GBS where the stomach can and does stretch out to normal size and larger, you can adjust the band for eternity. So if you start gaining with the band, go to the doctor and he'll up the restriction for you; you cannot do that with GBS.

As far as eating the foods you love, YES you WILL be able to eat everything you love in moderation of course. I was SCARED TO DEATH that I would forever give up my favorite foods, and I haven't had to at all. OF COURSE you need to COMPLETELY RETRAIN yourself with your eating habits, and I'm certainly not advocating to eat the way you used to pre WLS, but don't let anyone tell you, that with the lap band at least, you will not be limited to high proteins only. You need to completely learn how to eat correctly, which WLS helps immensely for you to do. You also need to completely change you life, literally, you do. You MUST workout and eat healthy to get results. It is NOT the "magic surgery" that you have and POOF you lose weight. It takes a LOT of hard work and sacrifice.

The ONE thing I would stress with LBS is that you lose at a much slower pace than GBS (which I personally love-no flabby skin, etc). And you will not see major results with the band for a few months after surgery which gets many people who have had LBS discouraged about.

I personally chose the band over RNY because of the surgery (less invasive and not cutting out my stomach), recovery time and overall results. My SIL had GBS 3 years ago and lost 110lbs, she has since gained 89 of it back. With GBS you must take tons of pills everyday for the rest of your life due to malapsorbtion as well as dumping episodes and weight gain.

As far as cash cost, my Dr. does LBS for under $8,000 and he is EXCELLENT! Please don't go to Mexico for this surgery, there are plenty of GREAT surgeons in the US who have great cash rates (like my Dr. above). Most insurances cover WLS. I have Anthem BC/BS and they paid 100%


Another great resource is www.lapbandtalk.com

I LOVE the band, and have lost nearly 45lbs since Jan 19, 2009. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[momof1princess]

i agree with the PP who said PLEASE don't go to mexico to have this done...i can't even begin to describe the wls horror stories i've read from people who went to mexico for their surgery. i'm sure there are some good doctors there doing great work, but the savings isn't worth it, and you can't get proper follow-up care from a mexican doctor unless you're willing to travel back and forth. most american surgeons won't do another doctor's follow-up care. now about the weight gain from GBS...i'm 5 years postop, and haven't regained any weight, so the PP and i part ways on that point. it DOES happen, but it is because people don't use their tool correctly. wls requires a change in eating habits. yes, you will need to give up certain foods, but they are foods that weren't good for you to start with. i am not on "tons of pills" each day either. i take 2 vitamins and 4 calcium pills a day, which i would likely need anyway, b/c osteoporosis runs in my family. as i said before, please take the time to research each method thoroughly. what works for one person may not work for another.

 

[MDTerrapin]

Please don't take this the wrong way but there are other alternatives to surgery. I started losing weight in February 2009, at that time I weighed 263lbs. Thanks to a 1500 calorie diet and time at the gym I now weigh 215lbs. I have 70 more pounds to lose but I realized that I can do it. I have done this completly on my own. No diet center or trainer. Do I always stick to this diet? No. I have cheated but the next day I got back on track.
I hope this helps and you explore all options for your lifestyle.

Karen

 

[patsal]

Please don't take this the wrong way but there are other alternatives to surgery. I started losing weight in February 2009, at that time I weighed 263lbs. Thanks to a 1500 calorie diet and time at the gym I now weigh 215lbs. I have 70 more pounds to lose but I realized that I can do it. I have done this completly on my own. No diet center or trainer. Do I always stick to this diet? No. I have cheated but the next day I got back on track.
I hope this helps and you explore all options for your lifestyle.

Karen

Thanks, and I do know this. I have struggled with many a diet and weight loss plan in my lifetime. I would not be even looking at this unless I felt it was the last resort for me. My Dr. was not one to even discuss weight loss stuff with me I had to bring it up. His answer has always been eat a low fat diet and exercise, when I showed him what I had been doing for the past 4 years he said that it is not a magic cure all, but he thought I would be a good candidate to learn more about it and make a decision based on that. I know it is drastic, but for me to lose weight and keep it off we are talking 2 times per day at the gym and about 490 calories--not the way I want to live my life forever. I don't mind exercise and I love healthy food. I am currently 150 pounds overweight and I am tired of it. I get winded easily, have trouble keeping up with the kids, etc. Weightloss is the only thing I have worked on unsuccessfully in my life. I have been on some sort of diet since I was 11! You would think in 31 years I would have learned something, but at 42 I know what is supposed to work, just not what works for me.

 

[patsal]

i agree with the PP who said PLEASE don't go to mexico to have this done...i can't even begin to describe the wls horror stories i've read from people who went to mexico for their surgery. i'm sure there are some good doctors there doing great work, but the savings isn't worth it, and you can't get proper follow-up care from a mexican doctor unless you're willing to travel back and forth. most american surgeons won't do another doctor's follow-up care. now about the weight gain from GBS...i'm 5 years postop, and haven't regained any weight, so the PP and i part ways on that point. it DOES happen, but it is because people don't use their tool correctly. wls requires a change in eating habits. yes, you will need to give up certain foods, but they are foods that weren't good for you to start with. i am not on "tons of pills" each day either. i take 2 vitamins and 4 calcium pills a day, which i would likely need anyway, b/c osteoporosis runs in my family. as i said before, please take the time to research each method thoroughly. what works for one person may not work for another.

While I entertained the "mexico" thing, I was quickly shut dodwn my my DH. He said go for it, but it must be done local and with all the appropriate consults. I have been saving a bit in case my insurance doesn't pick it up, but it looks like it might pick it all up. I will learn more at the consult once I complete my paperwork. I did the pre-consult on line with the tutorial and passed the test the first time with a 100, so I guess I understoood what they were telling me! I just got to thinking if I could only eat like a tablespoon of fish for the rest of my life I might be thin but I would be a totally unhappy person.

 

[lucy200683]

I agree with what everybody ahs said. I had the lapband done last summer and i really am happy with my progress. You are going to loose it alot slower than people who has GBS, but just don't get discouraged. You gained it over many years and even if it takes you many years to loose it, IT WILL COME OFF.

go to your doctors local support group meeting and talk to people who have had it done, research it and decide if it is the best option for you.

Good Luck with whatever you decide!

 

[thelionqueen]

Please don't take this the wrong way but there are other alternatives to surgery. I started losing weight in February 2009, at that time I weighed 263lbs. Thanks to a 1500 calorie diet and time at the gym I now weigh 215lbs. I have 70 more pounds to lose but I realized that I can do it. I have done this completly on my own. No diet center or trainer. Do I always stick to this diet? No. I have cheated but the next day I got back on track.
I hope this helps and you explore all options for your lifestyle.

Karen

I think this is a valid point and should be considered. But honestly, for those who are even considering the surgery, this has likely been tried and tried with no results.

I personally have lost a substantial amount of weight 2 times in my life (over 60lbs each time) ONLY to put it back on and then some.

IMHO, those of us who consider and/or have the surgery are at a point where it literally is their last chance and have tried and failed every other weight loss attempt. So while I understand and agree with trying to do it on your own, most of us have "been there done that"

 

[aestapa]

DH has eating issues that run in the family. His mom had GBP several years ago, and unfortunately, he inherited her emotional eating...and the past few years have been very, very stressful for him.

We were forced to change insurance at work last year and I chose UHC specifically because I had read that they covered lapband...well that turned out not to be the case!

So, he has tried, but hasn't lost anything this year, so during open enrollment, we are switching to a plan that will allow the surgery. Hopefully 2010 will be the year!!

 

[bettyann29]

I had lapband surgery on March 17th, 2008.. so its been a little less than 1 1/2 years and I am down about 100 pounds.. I would love to lose another 20 but I am totally happy where I am!

I was very fortunate that my insurance paid for all of the surgery except I had a $200 copay.. I do have to pay for my fills which are $125 each.. I have had 4 so far if I remember right and I just called today to get 1 more as I have noticed that Im eating a little more than I should be and I am not getting full as I should be..

There are a few foods that I cant eat anymore just because they seem to get "stuck" going down such as rice, some pasta, bread, etc.. I am able to eat pretty much everything else, I just eat it in moderation..

Definitely do as much research as you can! check to see if there are any free seminars in your area and go to one.. thats what I did and my dr discussed it in detail.. he passed around one of the bands to show everyone what it was and answered all questions.. it was very informative..

I am going on my first cruise since I had the surgery next month, so we'll see how this goes.. I went on a cruise about 3 weeks before I had my surgery and my dr told me to have fun and eat what I wanted because that was all going to change and he was right!! I have been to WDW several times since the band surgery and I have done just fine.. It does take some work to learn to eat the way you need to eat once you have it done, but its worth it..

There are some days that I struggle, but overall I would say that I would do it again in a heartbeat.. if you have any questions, just pm me.. I would be happy to talk about any other specific questions you have....

 

[RyJMom]

My Hubby had the lapband 3 1/2 yrs ago and lost 120 lbs. He has kept about 105-110 of it off. It was about $17000 and our insurance didn't cover any of it. We took a loan from our 401k to pay for it.
I'm so proud of him. He has really changed his lifestyle. Plays tennis and racketball several times a week now. Rice and certain breads still give him trouble. He pretty much eats what he wants just smaller portions. He still even after all this time has to remind himself to slow down when he eats. I guess old habits die hard!

 

[MDTerrapin]

I think this is a valid point and should be considered. But honestly, for those who are even considering the surgery, this has likely been tried and tried with no results.

I personally have lost a substantial amount of weight 2 times in my life (over 60lbs each time) ONLY to put it back on and then some.

IMHO, those of us who consider and/or have the surgery are at a point where it literally is their last chance and have tried and failed every other weight loss attempt. So while I understand and agree with trying to do it on your own, most of us have "been there done that"

I totally undertsand where you are coming from. I have had a weight problem since childhood. Heck I was born weighing 10lbs! I have decided that this is it and I am never going back. My mother has diabetes, my father died from cancer at age 49 and my aunt died from a heart attack at age 42. I am doing this work for my kids.I wish everyone the best of luck on their journey!

Karen

 

[mjantz]

I was banded about a year ago. I've lost over 60lbs & have about 20-30 more to lose. It has been a great decision. I can eat just about anything as long as I am careful although I eat a lot less of everything I eat. I have given up on white bread as its just not worth it. Its a ton of chewing tiny bites to eat it. I'd rather pass.
I chose the band over bypass because I liked that you lose weight more slowly & it is reversible. Keep in mind its not meant to be reversible but it can be removed. There's also no cutting on your stomach, which I liked.

I'm going to give you some very honest insight into my experience with the surgery & afterwards.

Surgery: It wasn't that bad. I have 6 incisions & only 1 is really still visible. The rest have pretty much faded away. I'm not looking to wear a bikini any time soon so the scars are not an issue. Food & energy wise the first 2 weeks were pretty rough. I'm a teacher so I scheduled the surgery for the summer which was a very good idea. Now I have a lot more energy & feel so much better.
AFA the port & fills its not that big of a deal. Occasionally when I bend over at the waist it will feel like its 'catching' but not in a painful way. Filling the port feels a bit like drinking a cold drink & feeling it going down your throat to your stomach but in reverse.
Also, you need to learn about getting 'stuck'. Because your stomach opening is much smaller, if you take too big of a bite or don't chew enough you can 'block' that opening. Its very painful & a bit scary. I keep small cans of pineapple juice in my purse, at work & in our pantry (other people prefer meat tenderizer mixed in some water). You may also have it come back up along with some slimy stuff. Its not like throwing up, more like productive coughing involving your stomach instead of lungs.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[patsal]

You guys are all great! Thanks so much for the information from your experiences and words of advice. I am in the very early stages. I have completed the on line seminar from the Dr. I have filled out all the paperwork, I will drop stuff off at my Primary care physician today, and check for a psych that is covered by my insurance and make an appointment. Once that is done I can go for the Lap Band consult and make a decision from thre. I am pretty certain that with all the information that I have been given and learned that the band is the way for me to go, but if the Dr. makes other suggestions I will be open to that as well. My insurance may or may not cover the procedure so I will know more when I go for my consult as the office will have checked all of that for me.
I know this is drastic, but I have failed so very many times at weight loss (seems like the only thing I have ever tried so very hard to do and always fail at) and I look towards finally being successful.

 

[rflorek]

I have been overweight since 3rd grade and am now 40. I have tried the diet thing on my own and lost 60 pounds about 6 years ago - only to gain it back & then some. I was morbidly obese - and still am if you go by pounds & BMI.

I realized I was an emotional eater - no amount of surgery can help that until you straighten out your head.

I joined Weight Watchers on April 22, 2009. I have totally changed my diet & outlook on food, and I began walking 30 minutes each day. As of this week, I am down 33 pounds and 2 sizes so far and feel great! I do not feel deprived or hungry at all & am much healthier - cholesterol is down, no longer borderline diabetic/hypertensive. I still have about 80 pounds to go before I will be at a comfortable weight for me (a bit higher than what WW suggests as a goal for me as they suggest 1-2 pounds a week to a BMI that is not considered obese - I think it's too low for my frame).

I also wanted to point out that I sufer ffrom hypothyroidism and have taken brand-name Synthroid for a number of years in increasing dosages until my thyroid levels regulated - no weight loss at all even with the Synthroid, but my thyroid levels were maintained in the normal ranges. Hopefully, with my weight loss, the Synthroid dosage can be gradually decreased - if not stopped althogether.

Good luck everyone on your journey to better health!

 

[Lisa_M]

For those of you that have had the surgery, do you have hypothyroidism? My sister does, is obese and even when she exercises a ton, does not lose weight. Her diet is alot better than mine, but still no success with weight loss. She has also been on the generic Synthroid for a long time. Dr. refuses to write brand only, but she thinks she had better weight loss success on the brand. If you have thyroid problems, how does that effect your weight loss after the surgery? My sister is only 24 and has about 200lbs to lose, overweight her whole life, multiple diets, exercise plans etc. I wonder if she might be a candidate for this procedure.

 

[hugabearjo]

I had Lap band surgery in Oct. of 2008. I am down 85 lbs and 10 lbs from goal. yeah!!! that is something I haven't been able to say in 25+ years and I have tried every diet known to man. Very very dedicated when I did try other diets. I did them all, Weight watchers, atkins, south beach, low fat, exercise, etc. I would lose some then gain back more. ugh.

This is a very personal decision, but for me I am thrilled with my choice. It isn't easy and it is a new way of living. As I sit and sip my water this morning because I am very very tight today but, was a good tightness yesterday. It is a strange thing we live with this band. I love it. I too keep pineapple juice everywhere, just in case. I have only had to use it twice and it was because I took too big a bite and didn't chew really well. It is a new way to eat.

Far as feeling better, wow!!! I never new how much energy I could have. I wake up feeling rested now, where before I woke up exhausted. I exercise now often, because I want to not because I force myself. It is amazing.

Cost, some insurances pay (my friends) some don't (mine) I paid out of pocket for it. My insurance paid for all my pre tests (except copays) but, I had to pay $17,500 and it was the best investment in my health I could have done. I have paid an additional $1000 ish for fills. I agree with previous posters who say don't go to Mexico. I really considered it. However, I found that a huge peice of long term success is the training before and follow-up after surgery. You don't get that in Mexico.

Lastly, I do have a few foods I can't eat, pasta, bread, rice and carbonated drinks. But, for the most part. slow, small bites, chew very well, lets me eat anything. Dole whips will go down just fine. probably should still only have a few bites for weight loss concerns but, I have no doubt it would go down fine.

As for hypothyroidism, yes I do have it. I take armour thyroid and it just wasn't enough to spur weightloss. It was enough to regulate other symptoms etc. I love my band, it keeps me accountable.

Feel free to PM me for more information.

Good luck on your journey. Please remember this is a personal choice and you will be met with mixed reactions. You know what is best for you. Get lots of information.
Smile- Jo