New here and need advice...

Hi everyone.....I'm new and have been researching the lap band. I was wondering if anyone can give me information on how to get the ball rolling.....I called my insurance which is United Health Care and the lady on the phone has told me it would be covered 80%. She told me to start with the consultation....so I was wondering if anyone could tell me their experience and if was an easier process than it sounds. I have read about the tests that are required and so on, but do you go to the consultation first, or do the tests first and does insurance usually cover those tests? I think I've read so much my brain is fried and everything seems to just not make any since anymore....and also with the lap band, how long do you do follow ups? Is it for life? Do you have to have fills and unfills forever, or is there a stopping point? This has crossed my mind and makes it seem a little easier to just get the gastric bypass instead, even though I dont like the idea of rerouting my insides....so anyway, any info is appreciated.....and for all who have already had the surgery CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I hope to be there one day! Thanks!

Hey there!  Welcome to the boards and congrats on making the decision to have WLS.  I am having the RNY so I can't really answer your specific questions regarding the lap band but thought I'd share my journey with you so far anyway!  The first thing I did was to call my insurance to see if it was a covered benefit.  I know that you said that you have already done this.  Many people say get it in writing so that if they try to change their mind on down the road, you will have proof that it is a covered benefit.  Then I contacted my surgeon of choice and his office sent me their info packet which consisted of what seemed like a book of forms that I had to fill out.  It mainly consisted of my diet history, medical history, family illnesses and diseases and stuff like that.  I then sent that in and his office called me to set up a consultation appointment.  I was also required to attend an informational seminar that detailed the surgery and what to expect before, during, and after surgery.  Once I had completed the consult with the surgeon, I was then told to schedule my psych eval and nutrionist consult.  I did those and was then scheduled for a gall bladder and liver scan.  I started all this in December 2006.  I finished all these appointments by mid March.  I then waited and waited and waited some more before finally getting the call about the middle of May saying that everything had been submitted to insurance.  Four days later, I got the call that I was approved.  My surgery is scheduled for July 10th. Things differ from surgeon to surgeon.  Some people's journey takes only a couple of months and I've read of others who have taken up to a year or longer from beginning to surgery.  There is a wealth of information here on all the different types of surgeries and it can all be very overwhelming trying to take everything in.  Just take your time and you will know what is best for you and your body.  I find that reading people's profiles helps a lot. I hope I haven't confused you any more!!  Good luck to you and if you have any other questions, just ask! Donna

Hello - I had the lap-band 2 yrs ago and I can tell you in those 24 months I have probably had 5 - 8 fills/unfills. Most docs require you to go to a seminar before an initial consult w/ them. Then I would say the average time after that is anywhere from 3 - 6 months before you are having your surgery. It all depends on the test of the surgeon...some require a little extra then your insurance requires because they have to make sure medically you are ok. I have lost just over a 100 pounds and I have been very happy with my journey. I would do it over again in a heart beat.

Good Luck....It's exciting and worth everything that you might have to go through.

Thanks so much....that was helpful.....I guess with a good nights sleep, and hearing from people who explain it so much better than the insurance co and medical staff, it seems a little less nerve racking, which I'm sure it still is to some point......but thank you all so much, I really appreciate it.....I've sat here on the computer and read for days on end about the lap band, and now dont know if it would be the right one for me considering all of the aftercare that has to be done for adjusting it off and on....and the RNY seems more drastic, but, it seems like the aftercare is not as hectic.....I guess it's more reaserch for me.....Thanks again....