Lap Band Surgery.... - Dallas,TX

I have lap-band. I had my surgery in September of 2010. I've lost 96 pounds. My highest weight was 375.

I'm glad I got my band because I feel better than I have in a LONG time. However, when I'm not willing to do the work, the band doesn't work. Period. It doesn't do the work on it's own. I'd say that losing weight with the band is about 90% your effort, and 10% the band. A lot of people wonder why they got it in the first place, since you still have to diet & exercise diligently to lose the weight. For me, it gave me a sense of hope that I wouldn't otherwise have had, so I was able to lose the weight.

My insurance didn't cover it so I paid cash. The fills are $200/pop. I don't know if medicare covers it or not, though I doubt it.

Medically I haven't had problems with it. I do spit up food now & then when I find myself eating too fast. You have to take very small bites and chew a lot, and there are some foods that I just can't eat any more at all.

Do you know for a fact that your MIL isn't willing to change? If she's not, then lap-band truly isn't for her. It won't do her any good.

I have three friends who had this done. It really depends on the insurance and reason for it as to who will pay for what. The doctors who do it won't do it on her if she doesn't listen and understand what she has to do. It's not an "easy" fix and it will NOT work if she doesn't change her habits.

OH -and she will also have to go on a liquid diet for about a month before the procedure. If she can't hack that, then she can't have it done. They can tell if you cheat.

My friends all have had great success, but they followed instructions!

I don't know if Medicare will pay for it, but insurance companies have a strict set of guidelines that people have to meet to qualify (trying 3 different diet plans for a specified amount of time, exercising, meeting with a psychologist and a nutritionist). If you don't follow the nutritional criteria you will stretch the pouch and be back to your original weight. I think it is an okay surgery if you have tried to loose weight legitimately. Also, if you have the surgery, the fast weight loss usually causes a lot of loose skin which will later require surgery to remove.

Weight loss surgery is not an easy fix and does not guarantee weight loss. Even with Gastric bypass people can and do eat through it and stretch the pouch back out, causing all the weight to come back. That is even easier with the band. If she is not willing to make some major lifestyle changes and to put in a lot of hard work, the surgery will do nothing for her.

Before doing something so drastic, there is a new weight solution out. It burns fat from the inside out, burning it the fat that is around the organs. It has been changing lives since launched this January. A friend of ours knows a young 20 something year old who has lost 60 pounds so far. He has another 40 to go. I can share success stories and pictures if you get back to me. There is a money back guarantee if not pleased. If you want to know more, let me know by an eamil back. It is a healthy weight solution, and there is nothing like it out there. Tastes great!

My sister got this surgery, and she pukes all the time. Sorry TMI. But you asked. Anyway, if she eats too much bread or a pop, which i don't believe you should be having after the lap band, or not so much anyway. Anyway, you can fill up from your stomach up and it can get backed up and you'll have to throw it up, and throwing up is just a way of life it seems. I know 2 people who have got it, and they both throw up lots. I think if you just allow yourself to eat the amounts that you can eat before you get the lapband, and do that type of a diet, you won't need the lapband. I know it's not much food but it would be a start. I don't know anything about the financials of it though, sorry. Good luck to your mom.

She will go thru a WHOLE bunch of tests pre surgery including seeing a therepist that will see her attitude of this is the easy way out and decline her for the surgery. My mother had the gastric and my sister the lap band. My mother went from a 30/32 to a 12/14 over a period of 5yrs. There were times when she followed it correctly the whole time and times when she pushed it causing a delay in her weight loss. Had she included daily movement and was a good girl she would be down even more and not need a full body tuck. My sister did the lap band and found out that she could eat cheetos puffs and that became her food of choice - wow what did she learn? She did put on a good show for the doctors, good enough to get the procedure done, but she did not keep up with it. I knew she was not going to, I was with my mom for the first year of her surgery and knew what to look for in my sister. Health insurance paid for both of them, but again there are hoops to jump thru, in TX I know some counties are making it much easier for people with Medicare to get the surgery because they figure in the long run it is cheaper for them. I remember when I lived there are few years ago they were considering giving it for free to people who really needed it that were on medicare - in Tarrant County. Not sure if that ever came to be, but is something to look into. However, with her attitude about it - it will be a waste.

http://all-about-lapband.com/pre-op/insurance.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCGNTtXVH0I&amp

You Tube has a TON of video diaries of lap banders this may help it is the good, the bad and the ugly of it all.

She'll NEVER get past the psych eval.

Those surgeries are more MENTAL than physical when all is said and done.

Hubs had it done in August. He has lost 70 lbs. Seems to be working well for him.

Long process for pre-qualifiction. Covered by our insurance, thankfully. DH had always eaten healthy foods, he just ate too much of them. The lap band has helped him get saited more quickly. He is tickled to be able to eat lots of fruits and veg, meat, and the occassional glass of wine.

He can't manage beer anymore, nor can he handle bread. He says he doesn't miss them at all. Once he wrapped his head around how much he can eat comfortably, and got used to the new, reduced portion size, and the slower pace at which he must eat, the nausea and vomiting has been all but eliminated.

Best fringe benefit, is with his weightloss, he has more energy, and more drive.

Good luck to your MIL,
F. B.

Check out www.weightlosssurgeon.com. They answer a lot of questions about it and talk about changing eating habits before the surgery, etc. Ditto on what everyone else has said.

I had gastric bypass about 9 yrs ago but have several friends who have gotten the LB. The thing with any of these, yes, they give you a jump start, but you still have to change your eating habits and be willing to exercise. It won't help in the long run if you are still eating cheeseburgers every day, just in smaller amounts. Everyone I know that has had it has had problems and ended up taking all the liquid out and then they gain all their weight back, plus some. I hope she finds something that works for her. Good luck.