More Questions

Okay I am back again with more questions. I want to know if anyone has had the Lap Band or what your opinion is on this procedure?????

I have a friend that had the lap band done in Late Feb or early March of this year. I have almost caught up to her in losing. The lap band you do not lose as much and it takes longer for you to lose...they told her that it would take her up to 2 years to reach her goal weight where when you have RNY it takes a shorter amount of time to get to your goal. She also found out the her insurance paid for the Lap Band to be put on but not the fills so where she is at the fills range anywhere from 150-200 per fill. That can add up if you are getting one every 6-8 weeks. Check with your insurance if you are leaning more this way. I think on here there is a forum for Lap Banders you can always ask questions there too. Deanne

Deanne, thanks so much for that information. I am leaning towards tha Lap RNY more than anything but wanted to keep my options open. I can not wait until next week I get to go to the classes and make a choice on which one and which dr. I am ready to get this done now!! But know that is not how it works....

I think the waiting part of the whold process is the worst of all of it. Are you going to the class at Mercy Capital or somewhere else?? You will get there it will just take time and patience (which is something I never had before this) Keep us posted on how the process is going and PLEASE ask questions as it will better prepare you for the whole journey that is ahead of you!! Deanne

Yes, I am going to Mercy Cap and IA Bariactrics as well. One on Friday and one on Saturday. I hate the waiting game and I do not have patience either but I figured it would help me in that area.

Velda, Just some information to think about, I started looking into this (RNY Lap)in May of this year. My first thought was that I wanted to do this close to home so I wouldn't have to travel far from home since I have 3 small children. So I went to Des Moines Bariatrics with Dr. Eibes, went to the seminar on a Friday, during the class I told him that I wanted to have the procedure done laproscopic? and not open. Which open is the way that he does all of his surgerys. He told me that he could probably do that becasue they were going to hire someone on that was trained to do the surgery that way. So I went through the whole process which is kind of funny that it didn't take very long to because all they have you do is a pshy eval and get your information from your primary doctor about any weight loss trys that you have done that they have documented. I guess since I didn't have any problems with sleep apnea that was a bonus for me that was all my iinsurance needed to send the apporval through. I got approved about 2 weeks later called the office and told them I was approved and also that I wanted to have the surgery lap instead of open. They had a meeting that afternoon called me back and said that they wouldn't be able to help me, The hiring on the person that would assist in that type of surgery fell through. Don't let him fool you with the facts of open verses lap. I thought you have got to be kidding me and this was in July, I have to start all over again. So I did, I went to Mercy Capitol meeting I had to wait until I think Sept. One I knew that Dr. Smolik was there I felt better since he did surgery on my husband 2 yrs ago for a hernia. I knew that this was the place for me. You do have to remember that all programs are different and this one is great. They did exstensive training and testing prior to surgery to make sure that everything is perfect before they perform. I thought when I was at the meeting my goodness this is going to take awhile but, Oct 30th is when I had my surgery but I was already pre approved with my insurance. It was worth the wait and even though I am just a month out, I can say that I would do it again I have had no problems and have lost 30 lbs so far. So as far as your choice on which one I think that even though both of them are supposed to do the same thing that the RNY Lap is the way to go. Good Luck with your decision, Holly

Holly, I am going to go both places, I just am not really feeling the open thing at this point. I need a quick recovery time. Although I can work from home it is still not what I want to do at all times. Sounds crazy I am sure but I want to be mobile something I have not done in a while. So I want the quickest recovery. And from what I can see it is the Lap RNY. All of the information you gave helped so much. But here is the other thing. I just got off the phone with my insurance company and I am so VERY UPSET!!!!! They told me that I would need three years of documented weight loss attempts. I am not sure I have that much with my doctor or on my own. I can not believe this!!! I could just cry, but I will not give up.

in the 3 yr insurance info, sit down and write out everything you have ever done to try to lose weight, weigh****chers, diet pills of any kinds, try to remember how long you tried them and about how much you lost and regained. I did that, gave my dr who treated me for diabetes, i had complained to him about hip and joint pain so that was in my file as well as my, so with my memory records and his records he wrote a letter to my insurance company and I was approved. stick with it! It is so worth it in the end!

Good advice, I have to see my primary doctor next week I will have him go through the chart with me and try and help so that I am prepared. Hope that I can get a consult this month. That would be great. But who knows how busy that Mercy will be.

Velda, Mine wanted the same thing, when you got to the seminars they give you a sheet to fillout that has most of the weight loss products, such as Slim Fast, Adkins, Weigh****chers, Dexatrim etc. on them you just have to mark which ones you have tried approx of dates and the amount of weight you lost. All of this during my process was in the last 15 yrs and no one can remember back that far so I had to try to guess!? and that worked for me. Do you have any other problems, I had borderline high blood pressure? The insurance company takes all that into consideration, so I don't get worried yet.. Holly