ShelleyB

Hi! Wow, your story is touching. You have had a bad experience, but it may have a silver lining. I don't have BCBS, but I know someone who does and they have already had their surgery and required very little. I can't be 100% sure of the details, and you should call their benefits number as soon as find out your membership info. I have to say I think it is crazy that some insurance companies make it so hard to get this surgery done, when clearly people are in need of the surgery. I have united healthcare and so far, they are pretty good. I have not had my surgery yet, but I know their requirements are 5 years of medical records, a BMI of 40 or BMI of 35 wtih comorbidities. I have to see a nutritionist and a pyschologist. They are looking for 5 years of medical records showing my weight. So, I wish the best and hope it all turns out for the better for you!! Keep your chin up...only good things happen when you do!

Hi! Welcome to the lapbandtalk forum! This forum will really help you become acquainted with the pros and cons of lapband. I myself have not had the band yet, but I have my surgery consult appt scheduled for next week and have been doing alot of research on this subject. It's a really big decision, so take your time and find out all that you can about it. Some of the surgeon's offices offer seminars, I would recommend that. Congratulations on being cancer-free and for beating the odds with your beautiful daughter! You deserve to take care of yourself now and be the person you want to be! Your story is very inspirational! Just remember that the lapband is not a magic wand and it is only a tool. You still have to be committed to a new lifestyle of eating good and exericising, the band only helps reinforce those good habits! I wish you so much luck!! P.S. I am a fellow Libra! : )))

Congratulations! You are amazing! I would love to hear more about your story as well. I have not had the band yet and am in the process of getting one. I would like to know what your #1 tip would be to someone who is just getting started with the band? What was your hardest obstacle?

Gina, I am right there with you! I am also weighing the pros and cons and so far, the pros are on the upside. I too, have been overweight for most of my adult life, but not as a kid or teenager. I barely even remember being "skinny"! So, this will be such a new experience for me. I have an appt with a surgeon next week and I am really excited about it. I think the most important thing that I have learned from reading this forum and other resources, is that this is NOT a magic wand, it is only a tool and you still have to be committed to lifestyle changes to be successful. Your world will be forever changed with the lapband, but I think the good outweighs the bad. Good luck in your decision and if you want to talk more about it, email me at tntreg2@aol.com.

Thank you Jacqui for your response. It is so wonderful to see that 3 years out, you are doing so well and have adjusted to life with the band. I live in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas and have SO many doctors to choose from, that it was really an important part of the decision for me. I chose a surgeon who is within 10 miles of my house, so it will be very easy to continue my postop care. Congratulations on your success!! It's people like you that are such an inspiration to me! Keep up the good work! : )))

Thank you very much for your response. I am interesting in the long-term, as well as the short-term of the lapband. At 5 years, do you still get check ups and fills? Like you, I have several comorbidities and I am afraid that if I don't change my lifestyle, it will change me! I do realize that there is so much more to the band than just getting it done. I am learning from this board and other things I read, that this is a BIG committment. I haven't had the band done yet, but this is really helping me in my decision. Thank you again and best of luck in losing that last 30 lbs. and congradulations on all you have accomplished!

I haven't actually seen the doctor yet, but I did talk to him on hte phone and he was a little "flat"! But do you find that you can talk to him okay and feel that your postop care is good? I picked him because he was close to my home.

Thank you so much for the ticker information!

Hi, I wish you luck this week on the pre-op diet. I have to say of all the things I know about the surgery and everything to do with it, I think the pre-op diet scares me the most! I have never been on a liquid diet before and I hope it goes well. Just hang in there and keep remembering why you are doing it! I will be here cheering you on! Yes, I am still learning this site too, but the people are really helpful and supporative here! Best of luck and email me to let me know how you are doing. Tntreg2@aol.com Best wishes! Shelley

So how do you like Dr. Veninga and his staff? I am excited about meeting him for my consultation next week! It seems like it will never get here!

I was wondering if anybody on here has had their band for 2-3 years or longer and if so, can you tell me about life with the lap-band after the initial weight loss. And do you find that support groups and check ups are key to success? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You are awesome!! I love, love, love your story and you have answered alot of questions for me! I have not been banded yet and are in the beginning stages of lap-band procedure. I have really done some research on this and everything you are saying has to be true! I also think it is the difference between success and failure with the lap-band. Thank you again for showing me the way! You rock!

Hi! I have my initial consultation scheduled on 1/29/09 with Dr. Veninga in Carrollton, Texas. I have been jumping through hoops to get all this done! I have my nutritionist appt scheduled for Monday and my psychologist appt scheduled for Thursday of this week! So, I am finally getting the ball rolling. My primary care doctor has been dragging his feet getting my records to the Dr. Veninga. It's frustrating, I had no idea how much would be involved. But one thing is sure, it gives you time to make sure that this is what you want to do. And I am sure that is why they do that! I am really excited about the prospects of this lap-band. The biggest question I have is...would you do this over if you had the chance? Also, what are the long-term effects of being banded? I have dieted for 15+ years and are ready for a change in my life. I have 70-80 lbs. to lose. Wish me luck!

Thanks for the tip! I need all the help I can get! I am still trying to figure out how to get the ticker factory on my profile! Congradulations on your success!

You're welcome, I hope everything works out for you too. I agree with you about gastric bypass being too harsh and just not for me. I beleive that everybody needs to do their homework on this subject and find what is right for them. It's alot to undergo and alot to think about it. I think it's actually good that it takes so much time to get it done, that way you should be 100% sure when you go into it. Good luck again and I hope we are soon to be "success stories" on this site!

Sorry about that, I should have checked it first, was going by memory! Ha ha...senior moment! Thanks for catching that!

Hi, I don't have any news or information about Tricare, but I wanted to wish you luck with your search for weight loss through lapband. I, like you, have some impending health issues that I know would improve with weight loss. There is alot posted on this forum with some really helpful information. If you don't get the information you need, post another thread in another category, sometimes it takes awhile for the right people to see. I have not been banded yet either, but I am in the process of getting approval from my insurance company, pyschologist visit, nutritional visits, etc. It's a lot of work, but hopefully it will be worth it all in the end and we will be healthy for 2009! Best wishes! Tracey from Texas

Try Wade Barker in Dallas at Wade Barker | Photographer

Greetings from Texas as well! Sounds like we are the same path! I have been researching lap-band for several months. Each year for the past 2-3 years, I have considered it, but never like I am now. My bmi is 37, but I have several comorbidities; sleep apnea, hypertension, etc. I have my first consultation scheduled for 1/29/09. My surgeon requires a psychologic and nutritional evaluations...mine are scheduled for next week. I am feeling the same emotions...excitement, fear and impatience!! Hang in there and keep reading the lapband forum, they have some great posts!! Warmest wishes from the Lonestar State!

Hi! I have my initial consultation scheduled on 1/29/09 with Dr. Veninga in Carrollton, Texas. I have been jumping through hoops to get all this done! I have my nutritionist appt scheduled for Monday and my psychologist appt scheduled for Thursday of this week! So, I am finally getting the ball rolling. My primary care doctor has been dragging his feet getting my records to the Dr. Veninga. It's frustrating, I had no idea how much would be involved. But one thing is sure, it gives you time to make sure that this is what you want to do. And I am sure that is why they do that! I am really excited about the prospects of this lap-band. The biggest question I have is...would you do this over if you had the chance? Also, what are the long-term effects of being banded? I have dieted for 15+ years and are ready for a change in my life. I have 70-80 lbs. to lose. Wish me luck! :wink: