NWgirl

Actually the Realize band is standard with the low profile port, and the Lapband can either use the normal size port or the low profile port. Realize is still smaller- 11.6 mm vs 11.9mm.

The Fitbit is awesome, you won't regret it!

Hopefully your bloodwork will tell the Dr. why you are feeling so low. I was taking a multivitamin before bloodwork, but it still came back that I was very deficient in iron and Vit D. I have now been taking extra supplements and I do notice a definite positive increase in how I feel.

Great to hear from you! I am in Portland and am waiting on insurance approval- hoping to get banded at the end of the month/early next month

I would also throw out there that you could be lacking some vitamins. Are you taking a multivitamin?

I know my significant other was hesitant at first as well, but after he watched an actual video of the surgery, he was more at ease. Even though I had explained to him that it was very minimal, he didn't really buy it until the video. If you'd like to watch one, search youtube.

I did see a post a while back about the no straw policy due to the air. Someone had purchased a Camelback water bottle that doesn't let air into the straw, so they were still able to drink from the straw, but not have the influx of extra air...

That is too bad to hear- do you have an out of pocket max per year? My OOP is $3000, so I should be pretty much covered without the surgery. I am still waiting to see the claims appear for my sleep study consult and the actual study and the surgeon. After my OOP, all in-network care will be paid for the rest of the year. I plan on being at the surgeon's office as much as necessary until December 31

I am waiting on approval and then will receive a surgery date.

I think we all need to remember that long term complications are something that little is known about. The Lapband is not new, but has been improved since first use. Honestly, who knows what will happen another 20 years down the line. The worst is that it will have to come out. Other than that, no one knows about what unforseen complications will arise so long down the line because in the world of medicine it is still a relatively new thing.

I called my insurance with this particular question a few weeks ago, and when I spoke with my case manager, she said that insurance only looks at the number the surgeon submits in the pre-certification papers. I then called my surgeon's office and verified that they use the starting BMI. I would call insurance first, and then ask the office.

I would look over their policy to a T, and if you satisfy all requirements and your Dr has deemed it medically necessary, then do whatever you need to do. I saw a post yesterday about a person who went through http://www.obesitylaw.com/index.php after being denied and they were ultimately granted approval. I know if I am denied in my state, I can go to the state insurance review board and file a report against the insurance company because in Oregon if you meet all standards set forth in the policy and you are denied, it will not be looked at lightly. Good luck and keep moving forward.

Hi Charlie. I think you are doing the right thing. I am 23 and have been overweight the majority of my life too... I have dieted and lost some weight, but have never been able to lose enough or keep it off. I look at this like a new adventure and a new chapter, where I can experience new things and really be an active participant in life and not just the person on the sidelines. I ultimately made the decision when I saw my Aunt, who yo yo dieted her whole life, lose a majority of her weight and keep it off for over two years with the Lapband. I don't want to feel defeated each time the newest diet fails, and I don't want this demon on my back for the rest of my life. At this point in time, this is the only thing I can do to assure I get to a healthy weight. I have gone through all of the emotions, and still feel a little ashamed that I have to resort to surgery to lose this weight. I am one of those people that has always excelled in everything I've done, so admitting I'm a failure in this department is still hard. I'm sure a year down the road I will not feel any remorse over this decision.

If you are using insurance, you should check if the insurance covers bariatric procedures. If they do, sometimes there are stipulations on types of centers you can go to. My insurance will only pay if I go to a center of excellence. Some insurance companies require a letter of medical necessity from your primary care Dr. Regardless, it is a good idea to talk to your primary care and see what they say. Mine was supportive, but also wanted to run other tests to make sure I did not have any other medical problems affecting weight loss. I am also 23 and approx 40 BMI.

There will always be people who wished they hadn't, wished they had, and so on. This is a decision you need to make on your own and you shouldn't let other people's opinions sway you. If you are still not sure, sit down and write a list of all the things you are worried about and all the positives you will obtain with the band. This should help you make your decision.

I am not banded yet, but I would tend to agree with Cazzy... Sometimes I will take a pill and swallow it wrong, and then even after a ton of liquids it still feels like it's there, even though I know I've washed it down.

It leads to being too tight because people end up only being able to eat slider foods...

Like it's been stated, this is your decision. Don't forget that there are also negatives about the sleeve: higher complications, longer recovery time, possibility of weight gain after the body learns how to reabsorb things. Have you thought about the Iband? It's a procedure where they take the stomach and suture it into the shape of the sleeve without removing the stomach portion, and then a band is placed at the top. From what I've read, this lowers the risk of slippage with the band due to the stomach shape and also requires less maintenance/fills because the plication of the stomach only allows for so much to be held. The negatives of the lapband are easily found too: hard to eat breads/rice/pastas, fibrous veggies, some leaner meats. You must go in for regular visits with the Dr. to get fills and check ups. You may get a leak, a flipped port, an erosion, or a slip. Recovery time is a lot less than the other WLS because you are not getting anything cut or rerouted. I just look at it like this: if any of the above complications occur with the band and prove it to be a tool I cannot use, I can always petition to insurance to have a revisional procedure. But, if it does work as planned, I have my whole anatomy and I lose weight. And, maybe in the future they will have developed an even better way to lose/maintain weight and I can upgrade then. Just really analyze the pros/cons of both.

lapbandgal (http://lapbandgalsjourney.blogspot.com/) has a blog and didn't have her first stuck episode until recently- I believe she has had her band for over two years now. It is possible if you are super careful and mindful.

I believe I read that Dr. Ortiz in Mexico is about 8-9k. He seems to be recommended most, but is one of the higher priced Mexican Dr's. I also remember seeing a post awhile back about a Dr in Colorado who did the procedure for about 9k. I would think this would be the better bet, as many practices seem to shy away from Mexican bandings but will take on patients from other US Dr's.

You can also try to find the breads in grocery stores called Flatouts. They advertise on the package that they are good to make a pizza with. They are super thin, but am not sure if they would remain soft or get crispy with baking.

I had to gain 10lb to be covered. I don't really have any other "real" comorbidities (I have borderline high cholesterol and hypertension but am not on medication for either). I go in for my sleep study on Wednesday, which is a requirement from my practice's office for anesthesia.

remember that you won't be stripping down, so your clothing will also add weight. Also, depending on what time you made your appointment for, you may weigh more (I weigh 5-6lb more in PM). Good luck.

Just don't freak out! I have read on here about people getting denied for TOO much information provided in the documents. Just realize it's a game, and if you meet the requirements set forth and they still deny you, call the department that oversees insurance in your state and report them.

What is your BMI? Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea etc are all comorbidities. Usually insurance would rather give you the run around and deny you, hoping you will not appeal. Make sure you satisfy all insurance requirements and if you do, call them and ask why you were denied. If they tell you the BMI was too low (and if your BMI is within their acceptable range, which is usually 35 BMI with two comorbidities or 40 BMI without) but you saitisfy what they say, then you need to appeal. Sometimes they just want more information. Don't give up. Have your PC write a letter of necessity, if they have not done so already. What do the people at the place you want to get surgery say?