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Hi! I'm the same, would love the weight loses of gastric bypass but not the procedure!! But in saying that i would be very happy if i lost 2lbs a week if i got banded. I am still trying to loose weight at the mo, but my problem is: i loose it, put it back on again, loose it, put it back on again. How much did your doc ask you to loose before you had the procedure?

I would also question your Dr about why he doesn't feel your a good candidate...my BMI was over 70 and i wanted gastric bypass when i first went in and my Dr. suggested lap-band which i chose and have had my band for 4 months and lost 104 pounds.

Offended? Are you kidding?? You just made my day!! I'll be 42 in November and am taking my older daughter to kindergarten for her first day today. I don't know how I got so old, but I sure feel better now! :banana Actually, one of the side effects of being so overweight is that I've always looked young. I'm afraid that when I start to lose significant weight I'll start to look my age or older. Time to invest in some Oil of Olay, I guess.

I also switched job positions right when my approval went through in November. I delayed my surgery until after lots of training, mandatory meetings, ect. When I thought I was in the clear I called the surgeon, who called my insurance & said my approval was still valid. My surgery is may 11th. It's taken almost a year because of the job issue, but I do not regret it at all. Job security!

I had the same problem. My patient navigator was supposed to give my file to the insurance coordinator on November 26. 2 weeks of waiting and a call to Anthem, and it had not been sent to insurance. Turns out there was som3thing the surgeon had to complete and he had been busy. They finally texted the doctor, he did it, the insurance woman finally sent it to Anthem this past Thursday. So, maybe there is a piece that still needs to be completed. I'd put it in writing and send them a letter if they won't return phone calls. Good luck, and keep us posted. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

For me, two things came together this year to make getting banding the absolute right answer. Ya see..I am a pediatrician and for years I have watched parents and patients battle weight just as I have. I also have seen the greatest long term successes with WLS ( bypass). I have a history of pulmonary emboli ( blood clots in my lungs) during my last pregnancy and the risk of gastric bypass just seemed to high for me... so I basically gave up on battling my weight any more. But then there was a friend at church who told me about Lap Band abd her success. It started the wheels turning, but I still wasn't ready .. Then this spring, I decided to talk to a therapist to help get some balance back in my life. I have this tendency to put way to much on my committment plate and let taking care of my self fall to the bottom of the to-do list... I was able to let go of some of those un-needed stressors and get out of my rut. Time to get my emotional, spiritual and physical act together.. Time for the band!!!

Hi, My mom had the gastric bypass, and wishes she had the band. She lost a dangerous amount of bone density, 60%, now she is on daily injections she does herself to stimulate bone growth. Also, nutrition is a huge problem for gastric bypass. I like the band, I view it just as permanent, but without many of the irreversable issues.

Medicare does cover the band, but only in what they call A Center Of Excellence. This is tough to find in a lot of places and limits the hospitals that are equipped to do the surgery. A Center Of Excellence would be a full-service, five-star hospital that does open heart surgery for one. It would also be a hospital that has done thousands of lap bands and RNY's. If Tricare follows Medicare and makes that ruling, it could be tough. A lot of surgeons are not doing the lap banding for Medicare patients because they are with smaller hospitals that have not been approved and may never be approved. In my case I'm going to my daughter's in Tennessee to go to Vanderbilt which is a Center Of Excellence. Please make sure and google this before proceeding with your choice of physician/city and make sure you have one of these Centers or be prepared to travel to one. I wish you the best of luck. I have a friend who has Tricare. They approved her for bypass when she wanted the lapband; she fought them but she didn't win; and she had the bypass. She's had lots of problems that don't come with the band, but the band has a different set of problems for some and for others it seems they have few problems. Tricare pays for plastic surgery one time after your weight loss, which is a great thing, but this is on RNY. I'm curious if anyone on here had Tricare and fought and won to have the lapband. Maybe if you are tenatious as a bulldog you can get them to do it.

Awesome! Happy New Year. I have Bypass on the 31st. I totally get where you are coming from in regards to losing weight as you get older. I wish you the best of luck! See you on the loser bench. Loving Me

Hi. I had CDPHP last year. This year I have MVP, and I was denied with a BMI of 35 with 2 co morbidities. They said on Sept 9th my BP was controlled. For over a year, it's been poorly controlled. I'm now on 2 meds for it. It's been a month and I'm still waiting on my dtr to do a peer to peer. My surgery is scheduled for November 14th. I had neck surgery last year and CDPHP was excellent! Good luck !!

I'm looking at a surgery date in November as well! I'll finish pre stuff in October and it'll be submitted on the 5th or so Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Im in Manitoba, Canada and am hoping for a November date. I see the surgeon at the end of the month and will find out then. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi All, I am new to this and i think i have some how found my way on to a USA site oops!! hope you dont mind having me? I am from Rayleigh,Essex in England. I am a 35 year old mother of 4 i have been following the route of getting a gastric bypass for 2 years now! I have finally been approved by the nhs for my surgery which will be taking place on the 22/06/12. I am very excited and nervous all in one go.i Have had to pack my kids of to my parents in Spain for a few weeks to give me a chance to recover as you can imagine having a 10,6,4,3 year old i am on the go all the time! I really want to meet like minded people and be supported and be a supporter!!! If you dont mind me being over the pond? Much love to you all and hope all is well xxxxx

Thanks kids for all the kind words and especially the unfailing support. Last July I found LBT, with no real plan for banding, just curiousity, but not really thinking it was something I'd ever really do. I was sure I'd have to get bypass since my insurance doesn't cover the band, and I was terrified about it. In the beginning I spent hours here, reading stories like my own, and thinking ohhh how great banding could be. I read about the american surgeons, and then got my curiousity piqued about the mexican surgeons and groups. Prior to LBT, going to Mexico for anything had never even crossed my mind. But the more I read here, the more clear it became to me that this was it, this was what I needed to fix the mess I'd made of my body and my health. Mexico just might be something I could actually do! Once I knew I'd found what I'd been looking for I began seeking a way to get it done. That was in the beginning of September. I researched Drs across the USA and Mexico. I researched the different bands, and decided I liked the Midband, and then after a couple of phone conversations, and many emails from previous patients, decided on Obesity Goodbye's package. Once all that was decided; I brainstormed with my husband to gather funding for the procedure and trip. I read posts from others and how they did it without insurance help. How money was borrowed, begged, saved, financed, multiple credit cards maxed etc... Like many others, we put up some from savings, and financed the rest through a medical loan company. We realized my husband couldn't really go as the kids were in school, and he had no vacation time left for the year. I asked my mom to go and she gave a resounding YES! The senior bandsters gave me great packing advice, what to do/not do, what to take/leave at home, what to look for, what to buy/avoid, and what to expect in general while in Tijuana... I do believe Delarla gave me sound advice regarding the donkeys/alcohol/mexicali's... though I can't find it, I remember laughing my ass off... and in the end feeling very prepared and barely nervous about it all. We got to Tijuana on Sept 20 and I was banded on Sept 21. Weight loss successes aside, I'm so very proud of myself for taking this on, and getting it done. I'm very happy about the success with it all, but proud mostly that I actually went through with such a previously unbelievable thing. The rest is just bonus bang. During my research, and initially after banding I wasn't absolutely convinced it would work for me. Every other promising weight loss venture had failed me, and hadn't cost nearly as much, so my mind had a hard time accepting that the band wouldn't fail me too. One year later, I get it. It will work for me if I work with it. If I don't it's gonna sit there waiting patiently until I do. I bought more Vitamins and Protein powder today at walmart. I've still got work to do!

Elektralite Buddy, don't give up hope. Your GP (Aussie-talk for doctor) has already told you that he doesn't know much about the band, but then says he wouldn't recommend it anyway!?!?!? You know from your research that for YOU, the band is the safest way to go, with the option of being reversed should complications (God forbid) arise. As for the bypass being a 'fast' way to lose weight (as your GP advised), did he also mention that studies have shown that after a 5-year period. weight loss for both banding & bypass patients is relatively the same anyway? If you already have your referral, as hard as it may be, you may have to agree to disagree with your GP, and go ahead & make your appointment with the surgeon. He (surgeon) may know of a GP who can see you regarding any banding appointments/issues. (?) I don't have a regular GP so just went to my closest bulk-billing medical centre. The poor old GP I saw there had to ask me 3 times what I wanted the referral for, and even then I'm not sure if he was 100% sure on what it was. He didn't seem that interested in hearing what research I'd done, so I ended up not saying much to him at all about it (had the 'spiel' prepared & everything too, darn it) I used to have a regular GP, who I'd been going to for years. I last saw him 15 years ago about suffering hypos (low blood sugar). He actually said to me "What are you worried about. Diabetes skips every second generation - your mother and sister already have it, so I doubt that you will 'get' it. Stop worrying". :faint: I suppose what I'm trying to say is even those he's your GP & you respect him for all the training/experience he has, GP's are not infallible and don't always have the best/most extensive knowledge on a certain illness/procedure - that's what specialists are for. If you've done the research, and you (& your family) feel that this is the best step for you to take, and are happy with your decision, go for it Buddy. We're all there for you too - that's what these forums are all about, hey?

Hello Robin: Sorry about not checking my messages. First of all, i want to say this. SAY HI TO YOUR SON FOR ME AND TELL HIM EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE, JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT AND FOLLOW ALL DOCTORS ORDERS. THIS BAND IS A HELPER TO LOSE WEIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH IT, BUT IT DOES WORK! I researched for months about all the weight loss methods and found that the lapband was the less evasive surgery out there and was a proven method! I had my surgery done in Scottsbluff Nebr. By two of the top rated surgeons in the USA. That hospital offers all weight loss procedures: gastric bypass, stomach stapling and the Lapband. I ASKED MY DOCTORS IF THERE FAMILY MEMBER HAD TO HAVE A WEIGHT LOSS PROCEDURE DONE, WHICH ONE WOULD THEY DO? THEY BOTH TOLD ME IT WOULD BE WITHOUT A DOUBT THE LAPBAND! I already had my mind made up to have the banding done anyway because it had less risks plus you still lose weight. I'm over two years out and i eat anything, but just a lot less and i really have to chew my food up. He will find that it may be a bit discouraging at first because you want to eat, kinda like you did before and this band will not let you. Tell him to make sure he goes back to doctor to get regular band fills until he finds that sweet spot where he is losing weight but not hungry all the time. You will have some pain with the band for a while, its normal. Tell him to keep his head up and when his band gets adjusted to him, he better be prepared for a ride of a lifetime! Have any more questions, feel free to ask. Rock

I had my gastric bypass on Aug 21st and am feeling awful. I can't get in all of the liquids, Protein, or vitamins! I am ALWAYS tired and am now wondering what did I do to myself? Has anyone else felt this way? Please help me. SD:8/21/13

Before having the lap band, I had the gastric bypass in 2003. I have had nothing but trouble with chinese food. It would stick, ball up, and it didn't matter how small of bites I took. It is extremely frustrating.

I haven't been on this forum in forever so thought I'd make a post. :-) I will be 9 months post op in 3 days after being sleeved on 11/21/16. I started the WLS process on April 11, 2016 after basically being overweight my entire life. At my highest weight I was 398 pounds wearing a size 28W pant and 4X top. I lost 100 pounds over a few years and would always regain and lose down to around 300 after that. In Feb 2016 my PCP told me my blood work showed that I was just points away from being diabetic (runs in my family) and that unfortunately my BP meds were no longer working even though they were now at the highest dose I could go. She said if things didn't change drastically and quickly I may not see my 40th birthday. (My family has a history of heart issues and death before 40). I had already completed a full year supervised diet and workout program and had lost and regained the same 20 lbs. My body was just happy between 280 and 300. She suggested WLS and I had my first consult a few months later. At the consult I weighed in at 298.6 pounds and was wearing a size 24W pant and 3X top. After my 7 months waiting period due to insurance requirements I was sleeved on November 21, 2017. This morning I weighed in at 175 pounds and I am in a size 12 pant and can wear both a women's L top or a Juniors XL. I am off my BP meds, my blood work is amazing and I just feel so much better. I turned 33 this year and have 4 children and feel better now than I did in my 20's pre kids lol. Anyways here are some before/after pics. Some are highest weight to now and some are post op to now follow me on Instagram @sleevedsummer

Hi Mike - I am from Long Island. I am being banded this Monday, November 24th with Dr. Braithwaite at Winthrop University Hospital. Best of luck to you. I am getting a bit nervous as the date is getting closer, but I am also excited and even more excited to see some results! Best of luck to you!

The Lap-Band is adjustable and is customized to be a tight as best for YOU! The sleeve is "one size fits all" and there's no turning back. While the Lap-Band is meant to be for life as well, it can certainly be removed if complications arise (which is quite rare). Also, REALLY look at the long-term data -- same percentage of weight loss with the Lap-Band, Sleeve, and Bypass over 3 years. Why would you not go with the option that doesn't reroute your organs? As for the fill process with the Lap-Band, it is not something to discount the surgery. If you can't handle getting fills, if that's too *inconvenient*, then perhaps you are not ready for a weight loss surgery. There will be many changes in your life, regardless of which surgical option you choose, and getting to a doc a few times for a fill is the LEAST of them! You will still have to have regular visits to your surgeon with the sleeve as well. Follow-up appointments are part of any surgery. Please educate yourself on all the options and their LONG TERM results!

I’ve been having a hard time adjusting to my medications lately had to have them changed still not 100% hoping to feel better soon. My surgery was last November and it hit me all of sudden lately. I’m having a really hard time dealing with negative people including family it’s been rough.

Can't you have 1 piece of dark choc a day? The people I know that had bypass usually allow themselves that.

I never realized or read how hard the first few days were going to be. The gas hurts, it hurts to walk. I can't stand straight up. I'm running a low grade fever, they said to increase my fluids which I have been. I'm not having any trouble getting my protein or clear fluids down. It's just the constant pain in my abdomen! How long does it last?