Tropicana

I am doing my research on getting the band and what the success rate in weight loss is for African AMericans. I have found limitied medical articles on how response to the band. Going on obesityhelp and clicking under black and african american, I saw that most of the banded people lost but struggled a great deal (seemed that the typical story was 40 pounds over a year period with the same struggles as yo yo dieters). I also joined a yahoo group of african american bandsters but have not found that to be helpful at all. Can someone point me to a website, medical article, or anything else that I might not be thinking of that might be helpful?

I am concerned about this also. Does anyone else have a BMI less than 40 with no comorbidities and still got coverage?

Anybody prone to keloids?

i need a lap band mommy. Someone to hold my hand and direct on the right way to go. How do you startthis. I am under my mother's UHC PPO so i don't need a referral to see a physician (or so she says) as long as he is in our network. So do I just call and make an appointment? I do most of my research on this site and obesityhelpcenter also. people have recommended writing down a list of questions. My problem is that I never think of good questions on the spot and don't really know what to ask.

I come from a very athletic family. My siblings are all college athletes, while I'm the overweight nerd. Even my father, who has never truly exercised a day in his life and eats crap, but has still managed his weight is giving me advice on how to lose by "eat less, exercise more." What most people don't realize is that overweight people are EXPERTS on nutrition. We've tried EVERYTHING. I've given it honest work. I joined this site and saw ppl losing weight but I decided that cutting myself open should be a method of last resort. So I devoted myself by joining weight watchers and revamping my eating habits and exercise. I will admit that eating more Fiber and nutritious stuff made me feel so much better. My skin cleared up,I had more energy, I felt better. But I was becoming all too consumed and my weight was not changing. Counting and recounting points in my head, grocery shopping took me hours, weighing out food to make sure I was having 4 oz. of chicken instead of 6. Even exercising became a chore. Was this hour of aerobics worth 6 activity points? I got very very busy (I'm a medical student) and just couldn't keep up with it anymore. I lost 10 lbs after being on the program for 8 weeks (7 pounds were lost week 1, after that it was a stand still). The week I went off, I gained 5 pounds. What's the point? I tried cutting my carbs, but I have a job where I am dependent on thinking fast and well on my feet. Eating lots of Protein and reduced carbs isn't good for my brain functioning. So now I'm back at this. There are so many issues that I really have been reflecting about. What if the surgery goes wrong and I am in a worse position than I am today? I'd rather be overweight than disabled. How will I afford it? How will my family react? How will ppl treat me differently as an under 100 lbs. person? Honestly, my sister is the only one I feel comfortable telling. My parents are very big on not lying and I know when someone asks them how I am doing or how I lost so much weight, they will reveal things about me that I don't want out there. If not for people's narrow mindedness I would not be concerned. But I got a pretty soft ego and the first person who doesn't know me or know what I've done and makes a comment that I took the easy way out.....that will make me so sad. I really do believe that this surgery IS the easy way out for me. Some (if not most) of you will argue with me on this point. But that is just my own opinion, I hope I do not offend anybody by saying that. I immensely respect those who can lose weight in less invasive, less dangerous methods. I really wish I could be like them. I don't know. If I ever get the confidence enough to do this, I would not tell a soul other than my sister. Even the people who love you, who would die for you....if they got mad enough at you and blurted it out in the heat of the moment.... Sorry for the long post. Seems as though I'm trying to clear my own head.

Thanks for the info. $16,000 seems like a good deal.

What do they say is bad about it?

I would like to know how much lap band costs? I hear Dr. Barker is the least expensive at around $10,100. Is that including hospital stay and whatever? What are the costs of other surgeons?

I've been "lurking" around this site for about a year now. I post pretty infrequently, since I'm not banded (unaffordable to me). I just want to say that you guys seem to get along so well, are so courteous and supportive to one another. I think it's great! Alot of other sites, little cliques form and there is a lot of harrassment but I don't think I've ever seen that on here. Just a note.

Your doctor may be tactless but isn't he correct in a sense? I thought people with extreme BMIs responded better to gastric bypass than to Lap band. At 450 lb (dependent on your height, of course) it seems as though you be a better candidate for bypass. Maybe if you could lose more weight (get down to 375 perhaps?) lap band would be a safer choice. If I'm wrong, please educate me. Regardless, your doctor should not have upset you enough to make you cry. As with anything else that pertains to your health...get a SECOND opinion.

Sometimes you have to see it from the other person's perspective. I've worked as a waitress before and very overweight people LOVE to eat (duh!) so to see a plate that has been barely touched you figure there's something wrong. When the person replies that nothings wrong, you get paranoid about whether something really is wrong and then you get FURTHER paranoid that the customers dissatisfaction will be reflected in the tip. So don't be offended. Next time just ask for a carryout plate ...you shouldn't be forced into telling ppl about your surgery if you don't want to.

Once you dedicate yourself to making it a priority, it will become one. Do you have time for television? If so, why not by a step from Walmart (cheaper than a treadmill or other machine) and just climb up and down from the step for 30 minutes during a show? It's amazing the amount of exercise you'll get. During your lunch break at work you can take 20 minutes and walk around the perimeter of your building. As soon as your body adjusts to the exercise you can up your routine. Exercise has a whole bunch more benefits than just your waistline. You might even find that it gives you time to seperate from the chaos of the rest of your day.

Oh I see...

Oh just saw it...$10,100. Hmm..hopefully his prices won't increase dramatically between now and October (when i can get the money).

How much was your surgery if I may ask?

I think I'm going to check out Dr. Wade Barker. he seems to be within my affordability range.

Why can't you chew?

How much did you surgery cost by the way? I'm trying to get a feel for how much DFW doctors are. I am a graduate student and will be poor for a very long time. My decision is to postpone surgery for 3 more years while I save up some money to at least have half of it. (I am living strictly off financial aid). I'm hoping that after 3 years WLS will be like Lasik where there will be more options and much more inexpensive. Currently I don't have any morbidities (thank God) and I don't have a high enough BMI (34) to qualify for health coverage. I'm going to just do my best to stay my current weight (and maybe even lose it all!) But if by 3 yrs time I don't do that, I'm going to go for the surgery.

Does anyone know of any DFW lap band surgeons that have financing options for those who won't be covered by insurance and want to self pay?

How much have you lost thus far?

...bump...

Thanks you two. being fat is driving me insane. I work in a field where most of my colleagues are of normal weight and being obese is frowned upon. Yet, companies sponsor extravagant meals for us on a daily basis and even though i know what effect the food will have on me...i can't control myself. I had an ex that told me that he can't respect someone who can't exhibit more self control (even though he was addicted to porn ). I'm the fattest person in my family, including my linebacker football playing brother. I wake up thinking about food and go to sleep happy that something is in my belly but if you really ask me if the food tastes good, i couldn't tell you...I scarf it down so fast. I'm sick of being a size 20 and I'm sick of people telling me how pretty i could be. I can't stand fat people...self hatred I wonder? Most....no ALL...of my friends are thin. I guess I keep the hope that if i emulate their behaviors maybe i'll start looking like them. the problem is that most of my thin friends are slobs...they never work out...they always eat junk food...yet...they manage to stay thin. I have great blood pressure...yesterday it was 114/70 something...no morbidities. I'm in perfect health other than my weight and back pain. I'm just sick of being fat. i hate looking at my reflection in the mirror and wondering what I can do.... I'm having a shitty day.

i am fat cause I truly am frightened of being hungry. I graze throughout the day. A cookie here...a glass of juice fifteen minutes later....a slice of bread..snack snack snack throughout the day. Would getting lap band surgery actually resolve this problem? how can i lose weight if i am always eating? I'm afraid that if i get the surgery all that will happen is that my brain will switch...I'll eat smaller portions more often. I'll just end up in the same situation I am in now...just with scars. Am I the only one with this problem or what?

Darn it! I'll be out of town that entire week.

How do they do fills? Or maybe I should ask what are they? People keep mentioning ports and stuff. Is there something sticking out of your body that the surgeon tightens back up or something?