Wanting Lap Band - New Here

Hey, I'm new here.
I want Lap Band/Slim Band...whatever its called.
My only problem is, cost. I'm in Ontario, Canada and I don't think OHIP covers it. Hope nobody minds me asking, how much is it?
Anybody have any negative side effects, or anything negative afterwards?
Does it really work? 

I just want to encourage you to research all your options, particularly the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and duodenal switch (DS). www.dsfacts.com

I was self pay for my band and it was around 20 grand for me.

It includes these things

tons of blood work done dang vampires is what I called them lol  I had blood work done 3 times
upper gi done
EKG done
lap band itself
paying the doctor fee
all the hospital stuff like staying over night all that junk they charge you for
Chest Xrays
I have free appts for the first yr after my surgery
my doc replaces the band or the port up to the first yr if something happens
it paid for the person putting me to sleep for the operation

I'm sure there some little odds and ends that I have forgotten to mention .

I did not have any side effects from surgery or the band so far and I'm a little over 5 months in.  I have lost 50 pounds and 30 inches since then .

I had a easy  surgery, easy recovery and so far its been pretty easy with the band .

I have to work at it dont get me wrong all the band does is curb your hunger and manage your portions size but it dont matter what kind of restriction you have you can always always eat around the band .

The band dont stop head hunger, the band dont stop you from eating unhealthy foods, the band dont make you get up and exercise, the band dont make you stop eating !!!  

I have been very lucky with my band , I haven't had a fill yet since my surgery .  You may be like that but then again you might need one every month till you find your own green zone or whatever your doc calls it lol.

I can eat my meals and stay full for a good 3-5 hrs at a time.  It really depends on what I eat also if I eat something that dont stick with me I'm hungry in about 3 hrs.

I usually  eat around 10 am then dont eat again till around 2 pm and then dont eat again till 7 pm that night.

I eat a snack between lunch and dinner and its usually yogurt or something with carbs because of my exercise I do that night .

and then sometimes I eat another snack at night it depends on how late I stay up at night if I get another snack or not.

I dont regret getting my band but this will be my one and only WLS done so its this or nothing .  And because Im self pay , I dont have insurance to fall back on , and I really dont want to go get a loan for another 20 grand Im careful on what I do .  I stick with the portion sizes and follow the rules 90% of the time.  I have my days where I eat bad or over eat but its not very often because Im to scared to , to be honest . 

20 grand?  Holy cow!  That's about what I self paid for my DS, and that included REMOVING my lap band at the same time.  I hope you're doing well.

I can't comment on OHIP, but I will say that my band has worked exactly as it was described to me (I was told that it would help to dim my appetite, and make my feel satisfied on less food than before).

I paid 12,000.00 USD for my band -- that included pre-op appointments, and 3 months of post-op care.

I now pay for every office visit and fill/unfill out of pocket.

The band does not work well (for most patients) without consistent, frequent follow up for the first several months -- up to a year or more.

Some doctors will not take patients that they did not band -- for follow up care.  So, if you decide to go outside of Canada for your surgery, you must make sure that you have access to good follow up care close to home.

You should reseach all of your surgical options (especially if you are going to have to self-pay and travel to do it).  The band is not your only option, and while it may seem to be the least expensive, it can get pricey once you include follow up care.
It also has the highest incidence of post-op 'complications'.

 Thanks for answering my questions, I really appreciate it! :)
I've been working out for a year and things haven't been getting the results I want. I have been eating a lot better then I have in the past, but no change.

*  yehuda - I'll look into the link you posted. I do want to research all of my options.

*  steelerfan1 - Sounds like success! Congrats!! 

*  kathkeb - Thanks for the advice, and congrats on hitting your goal (the ticker in your siggy)!!

I am also from Ontario Canada - Burlington.  I had my surgery done at the Credit Valley Weight Loss Clinic in Mississauga - Google it and you can see profiles on the Doctors - they are wonderful!  I had Dr. Woolfson.  It's $16,000 and that includes everything expcept the pre-op with my family Doctor I had to pay $75 if I remember correctly because it's considered cosmetic.  All of your after care is covered for 5 years with the $16,000 you do not have to pay extra for fills and you get monthly check ups and access to a nurse and Nutritionist.  They also have an exercise physiologist who you can work with but that does cost extra - totally worth it.  I have done Spinning classes with her and one of the ladies I met at one of the Group meetings (which are very helpful - lots of good information) are sharing the personal trainer - what a workout!  I was 331 pounds last September (2010) and now I am 253 - down 78 pounds!  feel free to message me directly and send me your phone number if you would like to talk. 

Good luck!

Lori

Yes, the lap band has a high rate of post-op complications often requiring a second surgery for removal or repair. Being a self-pay, you must really take this into consideration as you may end up paying for multiple surgeries. Please take the time to fully research all options.

I would also encourage you to check out the failed WLS board, revision board, and the new failed lap band group: http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/#my_groups _main:0

I hope no one takes offense to my post, but it is truly heartbreaking to come on OH and read about self-pay bandsters who can't afford the follow-up surgeries required to correct complications. Please be careful.

In full disclosure, I had a Lap Band for just under 3 years. The first year it was great and I lost weight. At the beginning of the second year, I began to have complications and had a thousand adjustments trying to correct the situation. During this time, I regained weight. I ended up having to have the band completely emptied several months prior to my revision to the sleeve and gained nearly everything back.

I am only 5 months out of the sleeve, but it is much more comfortable and successful than my band ever was, even in the first year when it was working. So, that is my story.

Best of luck,
Lindsey

 To clarify the previous post. There are and can be complications as in ANY surgery. This was discussed fully by my surgeon before consent as I assume it also was by every other surgeon before consent. And the rate of complication is very low, not very high. And there are tons of stats out there to support that. Do your research, find a surgeon you like, expect to be a team player ( there is no I in lap band) and yes things can go wrong for a small percentage. To be successful, you must change your eating habits, and the band will help you do that, BUT it is a major lifestyle change, not a miracle cure. And if you eat too fast or too much you will have pain and other discomforts, and possibly damage your stomach or need your band removed. And there can be complication just because your body couldn't adjust to having the band in place. 

Does your surgeon actually have a band ? I ask this because although he may have the experience to install the band...that does not give him experience living with the band.

A nurse who is administering a chemo treatment is experienced administering the treatment, but has no IRL experience living with the physical pain of a chemo treatment unless she has personally experienced a chemo treatment.

The rate of complications for the band is not very low. For many years those that were not successful with their bands were ridiculed and run off of OH. One only has to visit the following boards/videos and spend some time reading/watching and they will see that most revisions are band to another WLS

www.youtube.com/results  OVER 7 PAGES OF REVISION SURGERIES.....

www.youtube.com/results

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/failed_wls_second_time_around/

www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/discussion/

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/board_id,5360/

www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/discussion/4382873/For-those-of-you-having-referred-left-shoulder-pain-youre/



There are very few revisions to the band.

Where are your links to these " Tons of stats " ?

You have been successful with your band by changing your eating habits, but what if the band doesn't allow you to eat more then 2 or 3 small bites of dense protein ? Most of the time I can't keep dense protein down no matter how small, thoroughly chewed, or well spaced out my bites are.

My DD had her band out due to the same reasons. I have been able to maintain my weight loss, but was never able to fully get to goal. I'd still like to lose some more weight, but am at a loss as how to accomplish this.

I was just told on Thursday that the band has to come out.