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Hi there. My name is Gwen. I am new to this community and still waiting on my LapBand surgery date. Very frustrating. I thought they would have called by now. Anyway, I am just trying to get some feedback from anyone who has already had the surgery. How long did it take to lose weight, etc? I am 5 ft and 203 pounds, 40 BMI. Any tips and information would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Are you waiting to hear from your insurance or your doctor?  I called my insurance comapny direct when I was waiting to find out about my approval.  I knew before the doctor. LOL

As far as how fast you lose it really depends on the person and their body.  Plus with the lapband you won't lose as fast as a person that has had bypass.  So hopefully some of the good people on here who have had a lapband will step up and give you some words of advice.  The best thing any of us can tell you is to listen to your body and follow your surgeons advice.

Good luck and keep coming back here and letting us know how things are going.

I am waiting to hear from the doctor's office. I never thought about calling the insurance, I have Tricare prime. I guess I can do that. Thanks for the information.

Called Tricare and now I'm PO'd. They have not received anything from Scott and White requesting authorization. When I had my last appt on 29 Jan they told me they would be sending my packet up. So I call S&W bariatrics and find out my packet has not even been approved through the business.
So I call the businee office and, of course, get a voicemail message, no one has called back yet. I'm calling back on Monday!

I'm not sure where you live in Texas but Scott & White isn't too far from me. I went to Wilford Hall in San Antonio to have my RNY.  They also do Lap and the sleeve.  I'm Tricare and did not have any problems getting it done at a Military facility.  

I live in Temple, 2 miles from S&W. So it is very convenient for me to go there. A friend of mine got it done here on post (Ft Hood) with no problems at all. If this drags out much longer I will go that route. I work on Ft Hood, so another convenience for me.

I'm going to throw some stuff out here for you - please don't be offended

if you have tri care prime and are NOT 100 pounds over weight you must have co morbiditys (high blood pressure, diabetic, etc and be 80 pounds over weight)

if you meet their criteria tricare always aproves wls - it pays for itself

if your spouse (assuming that is why you have tri care prime) is active duty please please think about how you will find doctors to do your fills

I am almost 4 years post of from RNY - would do it agian in a heart beat!!!  - however we are at our 3rd duty station in those almost 4 years and each time I have to fight to find a doc that will even do my labs much less any other follow up and heven forbid I have any other problems related to my bypass or to my guts b/c not only am I not near my surgoen I get refered to a GI doc who will be glad to see me in 2 to 3 weeks (that was very helpful when I had very active bleeding ulcers)

What I am saying is I love my surgery - I NEEDED RNY and have lost more than you weigh right now :) but please talk to your wls doc about how realistic you getting a band is if you will be moving.

and by all means call them back and leave mesg till they answer you - anoying people - tricare will pay for anything you can get approved and they know that there is NO excuse for not turning your paperwork in yet

hang in there
Danni

Thanks for the information. I have Tricare Prime because I am retired military. I retired 3 yrs ago. I live 2 miles from S&W hospital so getting the fills will be no problem for me. According to the charts I am right at the 100 lbs mark although I don't really want to lose 100 pounds. I am happy with myself at 140. I do have the joint pain, though. I will be calling the business office again today to bug them.

Thanks All,
Gwen