This is my ONLY reason for not promoting the Lap Band

I am one of the lucky ones (some would say) because my journey has been great so far.   I say that the lap band is doing exactly what I was told it was going to do for me.    I knew from day one of my decision to have this type of WLS that it is only a diet tool and won't do squat without me doing most of the work.   I also knew going in that it was going to require lifetime maintenance.   When I meet newbie’s at my support group and I get the comments of " Wow, you've done great"  I say yes I have done great because the lap band did not make me get out of bed before work at 5 am and get on my treadmill.  Did not make me turn into the Gym parking lot after work and make me work out.  The Lap Band does not choose the food I put into my mouth. That is all me.  OK Bread - the Lap Band defiantly chooses that I do not eat bread because there is going to be pain - as in a big owie dough ball in my tiny tummy.  I can eat high calorie soft crap all day and I am never going to feel restriction and have the stop mechanism.

Sorry I digress.  This is the purpose of my post.  "ONGOING MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE"

The lap band is an implant in your body and the possibilities of things going wrong are real.  All the other WLS types are not a sure thing that problems will not occur as well.  No WLS is totally maintenance free, but if you want the best out of your Lap Band then you need to be able to put the maintenance in.

Over the years I have seen so many posts, and also people in real life who knew they were having trouble with the lap band - starts out small.  PB'ng regularly, not being able to get in solid food, eating runny soft food day after day etc.  This are serious warning signs that the band needs checking on by a professional.  Not all but a large majority have let these symptoms go on way too long simply because they have medical insurance issues... Have either lost there insurance or there deductible is too high.

Today I took my son for a CT scan.  He is constantly getting sinus infections and he needs to get this fixed.  When I made the appointment I made sure that the imaging center was in network.  We show up for the appointment, fill out the paperwork.  The receptionist calls me over to say that someone would like to talk to me on the phone.  I get on the phone.  She says, this is so and so from the billing department.  (I was expecting her to say that they had not been paid by the insurance company for my other son's x ray that he had a month ago- LOL)  She says to me "I just got the approval for the  CT scan procedure but you have a $1000.00 deductible .  After I picked my self up from the floor, I say to her " Um we also have secondary insurance"  I hear papers flick on the phone and she says" oh so you do, never mind" 

Because it is my child that is hurting I would have found the $$ if I needed to.  On the other hand if it was me I would live with my problems and put others in my family 1st.  I think that is what most parents would do. 

Although I absolutely love my results I have had with my band, I always stress to people who ask me about the Lap Band "IT IS CALLED ADJUSTABLE BAND" for a reason.  It means life long maintenance.  Yes the maintenance gets less times per year the further out but you will, need follow up care forever.  I remember one lady who when I said this to, she said "Oh I work for the City of LA so that is no problem.  "HELLO" has she been living under a rock.  Seems every week there is a story on the news with City of LA budget cuts and pink slips galore. 

In countries like Australia, Europe and the UK where they have Universal Health insurance the band stat’s are so much better it seems then here in the US.

I can only talk for myself but if I had to come up with $200.00 + every time I needed a fill, I just would just keep putting it off.  Because I have no cap on how many fills I get, and they are fully covered I never think twice about making an appointment.  When my surgeon says to me I want to see you again in 3 months, I say okky dokky because I don't have the $$ out of pocket expense to worry about.

Please if you are doing your research on WLS think really hard on the Life long maintenance the Lap Band requires.   I personally love the accountability factor that the maintenance forces on me.  When I know that I will be seeing my surgeon is XXX amount of weeks it is easy to say no to the crap that calls my name.

Ok I know this was not the purpose of the thread, but just wondering what the CT scan indicated as being the source of your son's sinus issues. I have chronic sinus issues as well. :-(

Today he had the CT scan of his sinus passages.  Next stop will be an appointment with a ENT surgeon.    He has always had trouble with his sinuses ( just like me)  my other 2  boys, no problems at all.

He can only every breathe out of one nostril at a time.  Which side varies from day to day.

My boss has had sinus problems all his life and just had corrective surgery last month.  He said he feels amazing and wished he had done it years ago.

My kids and I have all had sinus issues. Especially my daugter and I. We both had deviated septums. She had hers corrected, but needs it done again. I will probably get mine done next year. I can totally relate to the the "varies form day to day" part as well!

Saline rinsed help, but I hate doing them. Gotta do what you gotta do though.

Hope his problems will be resolved soon!!!

Thanks.  Yes he has a deviated septum as well as the sinus issues.   If he isn't a snot monster he is dealing with a headache and not being able to breathe. 

Believe me when I say we have tried all the OTC med, nasal sprays, steam etc.  They are just a band aid at the time then it is back to Mr Stuffy again.

Have you done a saline rinse? Not just a saline spray. They have products like Netipot to administer it, but I just mix the saline solution and use a bulb syringe or a regular syringe. Hate doing it, but it works.........temporarily. Like you said..........just a bandaid though.

No I have asked him if he would try it if I bought it for him, and as he is 19 he just gives me the look - like NO.  If he was still little he would let me do it for him .  Where did my cute little guy go lol.  Now he is 6' 2 and doesn't want his mum anywhere near his nose. 

The funny thing is that while living in Australia we both had blocked sinus.  We both had the same symptoms.  Pressure, headache for a week and just not being able to breathe.

Since we moved here we both have the headache (especially when the winds are blowing) and the constant runny nose. I have to tell you the runny nose is the better way to be.   I can usually control my symptoms with OTC meds, a box of Puff tissues and my nasal spray.  He will go thru a box of tissues a week - every week.  The kid is costing me a fortune  in tissues.

Start giving him a case of Puff's for birthdays and Christmas! lol

 Bubbles S....but you have to UNDERSTAND.....MANY PEOPLE DO NOT CARE....

I HONESTLY DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT AN ADJUSTABLE BAND REALLY IS? THERE SHOULD BE AN IQ and TEST GIVEN prior to banding....I think some surgeons are now doing it....

Yes you are so right.  Too many people make this life changing decision but don't think of the long haul.  My PCP would only sign off on my paperwork if I only went to Cedar Sinai Medical  Center in LA.  She said she was comfortable in doing it because she new I was going to get the best care that she new of.  Cedars has a huge Bariatric department that is only a phone call away if I need to ask a question. 

I made it my mission to educate myself on what it was going to take on my part to make this a successful journey.  I told my boss what it was going to  entail, and thankfully he is a great boss and gives me as much time off as I want. 

So many people go into there chosen WLS  with stars in there eyes and it sad to read some of the stories on here.  I was given a huge binder full of information to get me started.  It just amazes me when people come on here and say, I just had surgery - now what do I do?