Question:
WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH BEFORE HAVEING THE SURGERY?
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAD THE LAP-BAND SURGERY AND IF SO WHAT ALL YOU HAD TO DO BEFORE YOU HAD THE SURGERY IT SELF? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW STEP BY STEP CAUSE THATS THE SURGERY I'M GOING TO HAVE.... — EASLEYLOVE (posted on April 14, 2008)
April 14, 2008
A lot from having a lap band put on that should have not been placed due to
me having a hiatal hernia to finally having gastric bypass surgery.
— Tasha T.
April 14, 2008
I was supposed to have the gastric bypass and ended up changing surgeons
due to turmoil in his practice and I had lots of blood work done, chest
xrays, egd, ekg,echocardiogram, suppose to have done a stress test but I
had had a Heart Cath done and they used the results from that, I had to go
to nutrition classes (insurance requirements) and a psych evaluation and go
to support groups to learn how to use the tool that you are going to be
given. When I went to see Dr. Watson Roye, my new surgeon, I just had to
get my medical records from my doctors to show I had been overweight for
five years or more (which I was never asked for by the first surgeon's
office). I saw Dr. Roye on March 26, 2008 and his office set up my Lap
Band procedure for April 16, 2008. No new test..
— dyates2948
April 14, 2008
It really depends on your insurance and your doctor. I originally had
insurance that required 6 months of physican overseen diet along with a
list of all the past diets I had tried. Then switched insurance companys
that required nothing and was approved in 1 day and had surgery 3 weeks
later. Lots of blood work, a physical(not by your primary care but someone
they send you to), a psych exam, meeting with a nutritionist were all
requirements of the doctor prior to surgery. It was actually very easy.
My dr gave a step by step list at the consult and you just worked you way
down the list until all the items were done. So find out what your
insurance requires first, then find out if your dr has a check list. Lap
band is a slow process but don't get discouraged if this is the right
choice for you. When I wish the weight loss was faster I remind myself I
didn't gain it all at once and that I don't have hanging skin from losing
too fast and that I would not have lost 45 lbs in 14 weeks any other way.
Good Luck and feel free to contact me if you have other questions.
— changemyshape
April 14, 2008
I have HMO Blue through MA and just had to have an endoscopy, nutrition
appt, pysch eval and blood work. I met with the doctor in Nov of 2007 and
was banded on March 19th. I had qualified for Gastric Bypass but I opted
for LapBand and had to lose 36 lbs and worked my butt off for it and was
finally banded and its been 4 weeks (tomorrow) and I am down 22lbs since
surgery and feeling great. --Karen
— Karen M.
April 14, 2008
I am still per op and researching. I also use Lapbanktalk.com
I find them very helpful, supportive and informative. Another good site I
use is Sparkpeople.com. They are all about nutrition, support and doing it
the old school way, I do not tell them I am considering LapBand. Good luck.
Feel free to contact me for support or to just B.S. Michelle
[email protected]
— chell1957
April 14, 2008
Your surgeon's office should be able to give you a printout of the steps
you need to take to be approved. I was a self pay so it was a rather quick
process for me. I had to begin eating less and moving more to get myself
in the best shape I could before surgery... I lost 19# pre-operatively
myself. It wasn't easy as I was 402# and could only do 2 minutes on the
treadmill initially. I had a borrage of labs, CXR, EKG, nutrition
consultation and psych evaluation, and anesthesia consultation. Liquid
diet for 3 days before surgery and about a week after surgery. The liquid
diet before surgery is extremely important to shrink your liver size down
so that you have the best shot at having your surgery done
laparoscopically. Follow your surgeon's orders to the letter and you will
do well.
Good luck,
Dawn Vickers
— DawnVic
April 14, 2008
Visit www.lapbandtalk.com for the answers to all of your questions. It is
a wonderful website.
— Pam-TX
April 15, 2008
Congrats on taking the first steps to a healthier you! I had to do a lot
before my lapband surgery. Much of it was done ahead of time because of
health problems that I was having checked out, but most lapband surgeons
want tests done within a month of surgery. I had a list of about 15 labs
(Creatnine, thyroid, Arterial blood gases, CBC, urine check, etc. A sleep
study, echocardiagram was good from prior year, EEG, chest xray, upper GI,)
and I spent close to $1000 out of pocket that my blue cross blue shield
didn't cover. The surgery itself was $100 co-payment. I really feel it
was worth it. I had to follow a very low carb diet the month before
surgery and I lost 21 lbs. I was told that surgery would be postponed if I
did not lose 5 to 10% of my weight beforehand. I only had to drink liquids
for one day, the day before surgery. I didn't have to do all the
bariatric cleaning like you do for a colonoscopy. I had already had the
colonoscopy and endoscopy done a few months before but I don't think they
were required. The bypass surgery also requires a gall bladder ultrasound,
but that wasn't required with my lapband surgery. The hardest part was the
arterial blood gases test and then following up with everyone to make sure
that all of the results were sent to my surgeon's office in time. I
started at 343 lbs last Dec and I'm now down to 280 and feel so much
better!!! I have a lot further to go but it's a day at a time. Best
wishes for your success! Regina
— Bigwyfan1964
April 15, 2008
Congrats!! I am having my lapband on 4-28-08. i just started my protein
diet today. It took me 60 days to get my approval thru bc/bs of illinois.
The process was quick! I had to see a cardiologist, pulmonologist, stress
test, sleep study and psychologist. I started the process on 2-28-08 with
my initial consult with my wls doctor, I was finished all my appts on
3-17-08, and I was approved thru my insurance within a week. I received my
surgery date on 3-21-08 for 4-28-08. Good luck!!!
— savoy7658
April 15, 2008
Hey, I had my lapband on 2/29/08 and my Dr. wanted me to do the liquid fast
for 10 days prior to surgery. I really didn't make the whole 10 days, I
did good for about 5, but he didn't have trouble placing my band. I also
lost about 31 lbs prior to surgery because my insurance was very strict
about the bmi and I had to be between 40 and 50. My bmi was 54. So I
really worked hard to get there. Then after surgery I lost and gained,
lost and gained, but in the end, was 336 the day of my first fill. Since
then, however, I have lost another 20 lbs. So try really hard to do what
your doctor tells you to do. It won't be easy, but the reward will be
worth it.
— largeangel
April 15, 2008
Seminar, doctors visit, visit to dietician, visit to therapist, surgery!
Quick and Easy! BLue Cross BLue Shield of GA
— Dale Elaine S.
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