brittu

Thanks for this article! I picked my doctor based on one patient referral and the fact that he was willing to go to bat with the insurance company for me. When I saw the picture of the patients abdomen I lifted my shirt and looked down at my 3 day old scars (just had the surgery Monday) and was pretty darn excited to see that my incisions are an exact match. Looks like my surgeon is as up on the current techniques as he seemed to be. Thanks! That meant a lot to me on recovery day 3. Britt :clap2:

Well I had my surgery yesterday so I can only spek for day 2. I feel a lot better tonight than I did yesterday or this morning. But to stay alert I have to drink children's ibuprofen. To get the pain manageable I have to take the prescription medicine that makes me sleepy an unable to drive. If my brain works then my body hurts. If I cut the pain I can't think clearly enough to work well. I figured I'd probably be able to go back to my desk job on Thursday but I'm glad I planned for the whole week off just in case. I was a little surprised at how badly I felt yesterday and today. I've had several surgeries and thought I'd be able to deal with the discomfort a little better than I have. But I can tell I'll just keep feeling better every day. If you can, I might suggest asking for a week off but coming back early if you're feeling well enough. Britt

Hi all, I'm hoping to be approved for band surgery later this summer. Looking over my doctor info I see that he requires 6 weeks of liquid (various stages) after surgery. This seems like a really long time to me and I was just wondering if bandsters would want to share how long they were on a restricted diet after surgery... Thanks! Britt

Hi there, Had an appointment with Dr. Neal in Olympia last week and am hoping to be banded this summer. I originally intended to use NWWLS in Mill Creek but they weren't willing to fight for insurance for me (I'm a 35 BMI). Dr. Neal was happy to help out and we'll see what happens. I'm worried though that if we can't get coverage I won't be able to use him as a self-pay patient since his self-pay cost is about $17k and moe than I can spend. Just wondering if anyone has worked with Dr. Neal and if they'd like to share their experience either here or via direct email. I can't find much about him on the boards... Thanks! Britt

I'd really love to get some input with lower-BMI banded folks. My BMI is right around 35. Unless I happen to get pregnant, I'm not going to gain enough weight to qualify for insurance coverage. I've got about 70ish pounds to lose at this point. I've been overweight all my adult life save for about 2 years that I lost weight and maintained it before heading up above 200lbs again. I had a baby last year and lost 36 pounds in the first 6 months but am back up about 18 to my pre-pregnancy weight. I've been reading a lot about the band and went to a local seminar. My insurance covers the band for a BMI of 35+ with co-morbidities but the doctor's insurance specialist said it wasn't worth even trying to get coverage unless I had severe diabetes or other medical issues. So then I found other less expensive doctors including a few in Mexico that seem to have good reputations. My husband will support me going ahead with the band but I just can't seem to make up my mind... I worry about the risks, even though I know they're small, because I have two tiny boys to raise. The idea that I might not ever be able to eat bread or rice or Pasta is a little disconcerting. The potential cost if something show go wrong is scary. On the other hand I worry that even if I gear up and lose the weight on my own, I won't be able to keep it off unless I do something like the band. I feel like I'm stuck. For anyone who chose the band but had less than 100lbs to lose I'd love to hear from you: why you went ahead, how it's been working for you, and any other input you might have for me as I try to make my decision. Thanks! Britt

Boy, I sure hope more people can weigh in. I'd like to know what the advantage of the mid-band is but, aside from a general description, it's hard to figure out. Britt

Interesting info. I called Dr. Tersigni's office and the cost is $10,200. There's an initial consult and some lab work which insurance covers for some patients because it's coded to their co-morbitities. The psych eval is $300. I left a message for the Wish Center for someone to call me back with their current rates. I've never heard of any U.S. doctor less than $10k. At these prices I might be more likely to do the surgery locally (if I finally get up enough nerve) than to go to Mexico. Britt

Thank you! That's not too far for me and that seems like a really good price. Now I just need to be brave enough to actually do it! Britt

Well I was excited when I read that my insurance covers lap band surgery. I went to the seminar and decided it was the thing for me. But when I called for my appointment they told me that I'd have little chance of getting insurance coverage unless I had 2+ severe co-morbidities. My grandmothers both died of obesity related illnesses but so far I only have high cholesterol and joint pain. Has anyone had success getting their surgery covered with a 35 BMI? Or should I just give up and go pay for it myself in Mexico? Thanks! Britt

I'm considering a lap band procedure in Mexico. My insurance covers the lap band here at home but I'd have to gain weight to qualify and I'm just not up for it. I figured I'd better find someone here at home who does fills before I make my appointment. If you know of any doctors in the Seattle area I'd love to find out who they are. The only doctor I could find on the internet is in Richland which is about a 4 hour drive away. Thanks! Britt