? for lapbanders who have lost alot with the band

Yes I will definetley appeal if they deny the sleeve.The lady at the office said it will not do any good to appeal but I can try.Would love to prove them wrong.My last appt is next month so i will go from there and maybe get some help on my appeal letter from those who have appealed...

 
MD offices do not like to appeal because it is very time consuming for them.

I say... tough.  Who cares?  That's their job and your job is to stay on top of them and make sure they are doing everything they can for you.

SO if I appeal they have to help me or can they refuse to help me and tell me to go elsewhere..

 
Just hit the wrong key and my response to you went away.

You apply for the sleeve, they will deny you.  They will say some such nonsense as it is investigational.  Then you counter that in your appeal, you prove it is not investigational.  Finally after you have lost all appeals you do a peer to peer review where your doctor talks to the ins co doctor and if that doesn't work you contact Diana Cox.  She's a lawyer on the DS board and she can help you pursue it legally through some such agency in your given state.

Thanks for the info..

NOPE, no way, no how I could have lost my weight on my own.  Sure, I've lost 50 pounds here and there on WW and JC but I've always gained it back and then some.  The band provided that TOOL and restriction that I could never have on weight management programs.  And the band gave me the extra motivation and restriction that I longed for and needed.  The band basically gave me my life back.... actually, gave me a life that I've always wished for (healthy and able to move without feeling so tired and exhaused all the time!)!!!!  YES, I do LOVE and CHERISH my band.  I take care of it as it were family.  It has helped me lose a whole person and then some, 175 pounds.

Good luck to you in whatever you choose.
Janice

My response is same as Janice's.  50lbs here or there on WW, Curves, JC, but it always came back and brought its friends. 

All WL surgeries take work.  They take a lifestyle change.  I LOVE my band!  Yes, my WL would likely have been faster if I would have had bypass or VSG.  I'm actually a self-pay because my ins would only cover bypass and it just didn't seem like the surgery for me. 

My band and I have been working together for one year as of tomorrow.  I have no regrets.  I am looking great (not yet recognizing it myself, but that is what I'm hearing).  I AM FEELING GREAT! Off all medications & meeting with sleep specialist this month to see if I can formally kick my CPAP to the curb.  I even started Karate last week and that is something I never ever dreamed I'd be able to do.

Do your research and go for whatever you are comfortable with.  All surgeries have their positives and negatives.  One of my good friends just had the sleeve on Monday and I'm excited for her.  Another close friend was just approved for the band today.  We're all taking positive steps for our health.
Take care!

Could I have lost the weight with out the band (yes) but I know I could not keep it off. The band gave me a tool to help me. It did not do it for me hard work and good food choices do that, it just really helps make those choices  easier when you are not real hungry.

I had lost alot of weight without the band many times but was never able to keep it off. I don't think that my weight loss this time can be totally attributed to the band either, I did alot of research and changed alot of things before I was ever banded and because of that AND with the help of my band I believe this time I will be able to keep it off.

No, I never could have lost the weight without the band. In my entire life I never got below 230 from diet and exercise. I spent most of my life in the 240s-260s and got down to about 231 once after a summer as a counselor at fat camp.

I know how to diet and excercise and I know how to follow rules, but my body just refused to cooperate and plus, I was always hungry. Before banding, I never knew what being satisfied felt like.

8.5 months since surgery and I've lost 85 lbs.  I've had to bust my ass a bit to do it but I'm not opposed to hard work and discipline. I'm just opposed to hard work and discipline when it is futile, pointless, and makes no difference. The band has given me the leg up my body needed in order to let go of the weight.

I'm sure I would have done just as well with any WLS I chose, so I'm not saying the band is the best, just that I couldn't have done this without some sort of surgical help, no question in my mind.