VBLOC Therapy.. Interesting..

Is this the thing at the top of ourpage a few months agao?  I could not get past the first few questions as a not good candidate. Somebody said it was about 7K and is only good for the final 20-30#.  So, for the price, and the effect, not worth it. I would be surprised if insurance would cover it. I know that some say that the MO and OW do not eat much, but i would say that is the very rare case - sorry - somebody is keeping starbucks, mcDs', burger king, keebler, mars, hershey, etc. alive and growing.  Not to say it is all fat peeps, but i think most Americans born after the 80's simply do not know a healthy portion when they see it. Lots of people get away with it, our bodies cannot possibly porcess foods like that in those amounts!

Yeah I actually found the add in one of the OH banners.  The site says that if your insurance won't cover it they will cover the costs minus any co-pays you paid for insurance covered visits/exams.

I decided to be a guiniea pig, lol.  I enrolled in the empower study and had the device implanted this morning, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.    I have am 5'10, and weighed 260 this morning., bmi of 37-38 but for the first time in my life my cholesterol was over 200 (220) so I qualified for the study.  I have always been overweight since I was a chid but the last year has been an all time high for me.  The study is a placebo controlled trial in that only 2 of 3 are turned on the first year.  After 1 year everyones device is turned on.   The other thing worth noting is they do put everyone on an eating plan, and you get lots of one on one counsling with a nutritionist/dietitian.  So the way I figured even if the device is off the first year at least I'm getting top notch support by a nutritionst from Washington Universtiy School of Medicine.  Any questions please feel free to shoot me an email.

Mark

Mark,
How did the study go? I was just called and am a possible candidate. Just curious what you think.
Thanks!
Rita

Hi Mark:

I have started the screening for this study.  Can you give me an update on how you are doing?  Recovery?  What did they tell you to expect for weight loss?

Rene

Mark:

Just curious how the VBloc is working for you.  Can you please post an update?

I decided to be a guiniea pig, lol.  I enrolled in the empower study and had the device implanted this morning, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.    I have am 5'10, and weighed 260 this morning., bmi of 37-38 but for the first time in my life my cholesterol was over 200 (220) so I qualified for the study, if no comorbidites BMI had to be >40.  I have been overweight since I was a chid but the last year has been an all time high for me.  The study is a placebo controlled trial in that only 2 of 3 are turned on the first year.  After 1 year everyones device is turned on.   The other thing worth noting is they do put everyone on an eating plan, and you get lots of one on one counsling with a nutritionist/dietitian.  So the way I figured even if the device is off the first year at least I'm getting top notch support by a nutritionst from Washington Universtiy School of Medicine.  Any questions please feel free to shoot me an email.

Mark