New here and I have questions.

Hi, I am considering Lap Band surgery. I'm almost 40, 6'1", with 340 lbs. of gigantic belly. Why is it that over the 20+ years since high school I've gained weight everywhere but one place, much to my wife's dismay, LOL! So far I've been healthy as far as no diabetes(I'm sure it's coming) and heart rate/blood pressure. My knees and back are another story. I hope that having this surgery will put me in a position to avoid diabetes and heart problems before they appear. I will be switching companies next year(ours was bought out) and this means new insurance. Anyone have any suggestions as to which one I should sign up with, provided it's offered?

Hi Allan I don't have any personal experience with Lapband, but welcome and best wishes on your WLS journey. Hugs, Mo

Hi Allen and welcome I had Open RNY so I am not familiar with Lap-Band and the Insurance with that. You are making the right step in your health. I was on Blood Pressure meds for 2 years and a month after m surgery i was taken off them and have felt great since. Best wishes on our journey and keep us posted

Allan - Welcome to the MD Board! Please feel free to join us anytime!!! I had lap rny in 8/05, and have lost about 140 pounds so far, so unfortunately, can't really answer any questions about lap band and insurance as it relates to that. I work for the State and have Bluechoice (HMO), and had literally instant approval and no insurance hassles. Obviously, you're going to want to do some homework ahead of time as far as which insurance covers which surgery. Dealing with the insurance companies can be a pain in the heinie, so make sure you document everything. On the "plus" side, let your wife know that in my lurks to the men's forum, I've read that once the fat/skin around "certain" areas is reduced, "certain" areas seem larger. I've not done any personal research in that area, though!!!! HTH, Teresa (Tia)

Alan, I had lap band surgery on 9/14/06 at bayview (hubby had his band on 5/18/06). We had United Health Care at the time. If you have insurance that is not self insured the surgery should be covered because of the state mandate. Although, I have heard that some insurance companies only pay for RNY which makes no sense to me. I am 5'11" and WAS 306 (Now I'm 245) and mostly all belly. I called my body shape like humpty dumpty. All middle with skinny legs! My diabetes is GONE (was taking pills AND insulin), my BP is better so the meds have been cut in half, my arthiritis in my back hasn't been acting up, and I have a ton of energy. I can't wait until another 60 pounds is gone. I'll have so much energy then that I'll be bouncing off the walls!

Allan, Do your research on the insurance that your new company offers. Once you know what plan it is, find out what people have to say about it here. Personally, I got the run-around with Kaiser Permanente and Aetna, before switching to my wife's insurance. She works for Johns Hopkins, so being on the Johns Hopkins Employee Health Plan was a no-brainer once I knew that I wanted Dr. Schweitzer as my surgeon. And, by the way... about that other area... yeah, things will change after the weight starts coming off. Check out the men's forum if you have more questions. Jay