DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Nope, doesn't sound a bit steep at all, sounds really steep. I wouldn't hesitate to spend 250 on a fill with fluoroscope, but anything else than that is a real hit and miss scenario and should be considerably cheaper IMHO. Shop the other Dr.s in the area, and then talk to yours. I have found them willing to deal.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You're all so encouraging and I am loving the positivity. Truly. Some of the numbers you are all quoting as weight lost is phenomenal, I can only hope to be half as successful as you have been. I've done it and confirmed with the DR that the lap-band is the one for me. It was my first instinct and my gut feeling and I have to trust that. He is going to contact me at the weekend with a date and then I just need to get the rest organised.

This is so, so exciting. It will probably be the best investment I can make for my long-term future health. Roll on 2014 now, New Year, new achievements.
DP
xx

80% of mine is covered by insurance. I have a $20 copay each time I go in for a fill, so that would put my fill cost at $100. And, that fill is done by my surgeon, not a PA or nurse.
I think that's very reasonable.

There has been some discussion lately about being able to afford fills, if your insurance doesn't have bariatric coverage, so I thought I would post my costs.
I was self pay, and the procedure came with 12 months of fills. After 12 months, my Dr. charges 75.00 a visit, or 300.00 for unlimited fills/unfills throughout the year. These are non fluoroscope fils.
Personally I find this a very reasonable rate.

Jaye,
Actually, many of the forum members would support your comments but we recently had this discussion till the topic was frozen by admin due to some nasty comments on both sides. Your "in your face" approach doesn't really fit in here and even though I agree with your view on Obamacare there's no need to be rude and nasty.
Just agree to disagree.

My best advice is to thoroughly research both procedures and do what is best for you.
Btw, I too was originally told I couldn't lose enough weight with the Lap Band. My BMI was 72 and I had over 260 pounds (117kg) to lose. I knew I wanted the Lap Band, not the other surgeries, so I found a new surgeon that supported my decision.
I have lost over 230 pounds (114kg) in less than 20 months with the help of my Lap Band- which is about 89% of my excess weight. I'm still losing, too. (though slower as I get close to goal)
My point? Don't listen to the BS that you can only lose a certain amount of weight. How much you lose, or don't lose, is 100% up to YOU.
Best wishes

The thing is, if you read the long range stats, turns out, Lap Band is comparable with other surgeries as far as weight lost. Yes, people who have RNY and the sleeve can loose more weight, faster, in the short term but when you go out a few years... Hello! Here is our little silicone friend, hanging tough, doing the job and producing results. That was one big reason why I chose the Lap Band. Not just short term but going out long term. I need this baby to keep on keeping on for me.

Call your doctor. If your having new problems you need to call. If food is just sitting on top your band it's dangerous and can lead to erosion.
Either way, you need to let your doctor decide what is wrong and what's best.

Please, remember to keep your responses civil and respectful. We will not tolerate any rudeness, intolerance, etcetera. If you wish for this thread to remain open, then keep the discussion going in an intelligent and respectful manner.

"And yet so many Americans go yo Mexico for healthcare. So much for your logic." Apples and oranges?
Canadians pay for their healthcare in the form of much higher taxes and expect 100% coverage for all citizens. This does work for some provinces but not for the majority. So, they pay for services that are not available to them in a timely manner.
This is not the expectation here nor will it be with the new ACA rules. It's logical for Canadians to cross the border to avoid the long waits and/or denials as well as Americans to cross the border to find affordable surgery that may not be a provision of their own insurance policy.
tmf

Canada? Lol ok. Is that why so many Canadians come to the US for healthcare? Canada can't even afford their own military. How many people are in the military now 4 or 5? Socialism is a bankrupt, discredited, and flawed nineteenth century theory that has failed miserably in countries around the world. The only thing socialism has brought is poverty, misery and tyranny. It doesn't work in Cuba, China, Europe (except Poland), East Germany, Venezuela, Soviet Russia...Canada cant even afford its own damn military!
Number one reason it doesn't work
GREED. The people writing the policies create loopholes for themselves to take advantage of. Our socialist government recently fid that.
Let's not forget LAZINESS. People are no longer as motivated to work for their success, because their basic needs are met. Socialism has failed in other countries because it eliminates the incentive to work. Australia and Britain, have briefly flirted with Socialism. Needless to say they are no longer a socialist society! We need more capitalism! 3 reasons
Only businesses create wealth by selling goods and services. This creates jobs. Government cannot create wealth; it can only transfer resources. Free enterprise, not the government, reduces poverty and generates jobs. The government’s War on Poverty begun in the 1960s has been an abject failure and has led to dependency, not to employment self-sufficiency. And that is the goal!!

You said this is ever since a fill? Did the doctor remove some Fluid?
If not, not only do you need an unfill but you need a new doctor desperately. You should never, ever be allowed to go years with a band too tight.

I too find I'm tighter at my time of the month. Very often, it may feel like food sitting above the band when really it's only swelling. If you had food sitting there, it would be clogging the path through the band and it's unlikely you'd be able to even drink liquids.
With that said, food sitting above the band is very dangerous and can lead to band erosion. If you do think this is happening, it's really important to figure out a way to see your doctor.
I'm no doctor, but I'd go on liquids for a day or two to see if that resolves the problem.
Btw, you're one of many being screwed thanks to Obamacare. I fear there will be many, many more hurt as you are being before they get a clue and undo this healthcare hell they've created.
Best wishes

You said this is ever since a fill? Did the doctor remove some Fluid?
If not, not only do you need an unfill but you need a new doctor desperately. You should never, ever be allowed to go years with a band too tight.

Some facts:
-Over 12 million (not 5 million) have lost their insurance coverage due to Obamacare
-Over 7 million will remain uninsured because they don't make enough to qualify for the tax credit but make too much to qualify for Medicaid.
-Obamcare doesn't only have minimum care standards but maximum. All policies must not only meet minimum standards but they can not exceed the care offered either. If an insurance carrier offers too little or too much, they are fined heavily.
-The average insurance cost increase is 41% due to Obamacare.
The worst is yet to come: "In 2010, the Health and Human Services Department estimated that 40% to 67% of individual plans would eventually lose their "grandfathered" status, which only was conferred if a plan was purchased before the health care law was approved in 2010."
The insurance increases and cancellations ARE because of Obamacare and Obama himself freely admits it. Obama's sorry excuse for an apology for all the loss of policies and idea of fixing it? He gave them a 1 year reprieve. That's it. And that does nothing for policies already canceled.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/politics/obama-obamacare-apology/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/11/04/49-state-analysis-obamacare-to-increase-individual-market-premiums-by-avg-of-41-subsidies-flow-to-elderly/
Of course, I have been encouraging everyone who is still drinking the Obamacare Koolaid to read the actual bill. Yes, it's over 1000 pages long. Yes, it took me months but I did read it entirely. But, if you read it and get the facts versus the media bytes being fed to everyone, you'll see the horrible truth for yourself.

Thank you all so much, your advice is really encouraging. I am definitely all still about the band, I think its the right one for me. I can control it which is more than a sleeve, the idea of having my stomache removed really freaks me out, its so permenant.

The Doctor, I like, he is nice I just think because I am paying for this myself of course he is going to push the procedure that is the most expensive, I understand that. It was just the comments he was making about not losing much that confused me as I have been reading so many successful and positive stories on this forum. It made me actually doubt if having a lapband would not work for me, but it literally has to. I truly don't mind how long it takes to come off, as long as it comes off but most importantly stays off. I am such a stubborn and determined person that I am positive I would make a band successful.

He gave me a reference for one of the patients he has that had it done recently, so I am going to drop her a call to ask her how it has gone for her and the results she is seeing.

Thanks again for all your advice, without this forum, I would have no idea what I am doing. I'll keep doing the research but I am sure the band is for me

xx

UPDATE: My band has completely settled down. In my opinion it tightened up due to my monthly cycle. I haven't had a cycle in two years so this was my first one with the band. I'm guessing it's because of Water retention. Everything seems fine now and if I have another cycle I'm going on liquids!!!! Thank you to everyone that responded!

Mia 73I am also very sorry to hear about your daughter. You are one of the nicest people I have encountered on this forum. Many blessings your way!

Hi there, I think this is the Dr. Simpson who wrote an excellent piece that a few people here have links to in their signatures -- The LapBand Is Not About Restriction. I've gotten a lot out of that article and I'll bet there's lots of free Simpson stuff on-line.

I agree with Terry. I recall the first 60 days after surgery I could eat anything but the band still held me back from eating as much as I could before. But, when it had no saline in it steak, chicken, pizza, anything passed through with no problem.
You might also try to find another doctor who has a clue?

i have a question. is your band still filled? instead of removing it, can you deflate the band so food moves through it more easily. i am truly sorry you are going through what you are. and you did so well. i hope you get the answers you want tomorrow.

The average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds per week. You've lost about 5 pounds per week.
You didn't gain the weight overnight and it won't come off overnight, either. It takes time and patience.

The average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds per week. You've lost about 5 pounds per week.
You didn't gain the weight overnight and it won't come off overnight, either. It takes time and patience.

My best advice is to thoroughly research both procedures and do what is best for you.
Btw, I too was originally told I couldn't lose enough weight with the Lap Band. My BMI was 72 and I had over 260 pounds (117kg) to lose. I knew I wanted the Lap Band, not the other surgeries, so I found a new surgeon that supported my decision.
I have lost over 230 pounds (114kg) in less than 20 months with the help of my Lap Band- which is about 89% of my excess weight. I'm still losing, too. (though slower as I get close to goal)
My point? Don't listen to the BS that you can only lose a certain amount of weight. How much you lose, or don't lose, is 100% up to YOU.
Best wishes

The average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds per week. You've lost about 5 pounds per week.
You didn't gain the weight overnight and it won't come off overnight, either. It takes time and patience.