Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself, everyone calls me flea, I am from texas and as of January 1st my husbands insurance will change to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas PPO. (My current insurance is a no go with ANY type of weight loss procedures)

I am 5'5 and weigh in at 260. My BMI is 43 and yes along with this joyous weight I have health issues.

I have high blood pressure, hypothyroidbism, and undiagnosed sleep apnea. I am miserable. Its a pain to be out of breath from just walking down the hall of my house.

4 years ago I went to my Dr. to ask for a specialized diet or at least the number to a good nutrionist and well he simply laughed and gave me a referral to gastric bypass surgeon....no personalized nothing.

I was rather upset so I tried LA Weigh Loss and lost about 54 lbs. At that time I actually weighed 250 and it took a little over a year to lose the 50+ pounds (I got down to 196) then I did what most do, I started slacking off... just little things. Skipping the gym because it was too far to drive, skipping a workout because I was tired and had to get up early the next morning, a cookie here, a whole chocolate cake there and the weight started slowly creeping back on.

When I hit 260 I decided I was going to try another weight loss program. (LA Weight Loss had closed down by this time) I went on Nutrisystem, only lost 11 pounds over a 4 month period. It was too expensive to stay on and I'm on the go way to much to eat at home for every meal so I decided to do Weigh Watchers. I did have some success there, in 8 weeks I lost 15 lbs. BUT then I got bronchitius and I wanted comfort foods.

So yes I can lose weight through conventional diet and exercise! But my problem is the keeping it off. I have talked to my new Dr. (I changed Dr's) and she also has broched the idea of LAP-BAND® instead of the other surgery. Less invasive etc..

So anyone have any pro's or con's about LAP-BAND®? Any insurance info I can use? Anyone from my area? (Lake Jackson Tx)

Thanks alot!

Contact a local bariatric surgeon in your area and make an appointment for a consultation. There is a link for surgeons at the top of the page here.

The visit should only cost you a copay.

The surgeon will give you a high level description of the process and what is to be expected. He will also tell you if you are a good candidate for the lapband.

Their will be a specialist(s) in the surgeon's office that will be familiar with your insurance company and they will tell you exactly what needs to be done.

Usually a 3 - 6 month supervised diet where you log everything you eat; log what exercise you do and meet with a nutritionist once a month. The nutritionist should give you pointers on eating right and how you'll have to eat once banded.

See a psycologist for a psyche evaluation.

Participate in a sleep study.

It's a little overwhelming but the supervise diet period gives you plenty of time to think it over.

I'm in North Texas so I can't give you any recommendations for surgeons or shrinks.

Time to go to a seminar and get some info. I have bc/bs ppo and they paid for most of it. I also have hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, COPD (don't smoke, its from chronic bronchitis), Asthma and a heart condition. The best thing about the Lapband for me has been the end of the yo-yo try everything new dieting. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Time to go to a seminar and get some info. I have bc/bs ppo and they paid for most of it. I also have hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, COPD (don't smoke, its from chronic bronchitis), Asthma and a heart condition. The best thing about the LAP-BAND® for me has been the end of the yo-yo try everything new dieting. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Thats something I need to have looked at, I smoked off and on for 15 years. Never very heavy but never as light as not smoking. I got bronchitius this past June (end of it) and put down the cigs and have not and will not pick them back up!! But I am still out of breath, I am thinking its the weight, but then again maybe I messed something up permenantly with all the smoking.

I have an inhaler from the bronchitius that I do use on occasion, especially after I have been working out at the gym. I feel like someone is sitting on my chest or just wrapping something around my chest.

Thats what I am wanting, something that will stop the yoyo-ing.

I have to get my butt to a seminar!!

Yes. They are very informative and helpful. Also, when you are there really pay attention to the folks that are doing it. If they are nice informative, etc. If you choose them, you will be putting yourself in their hands not only for surgery but for aftercare. If you are not comfortable with them, keep attending seminars and researching until you find surgeon and staff that you are happy with. It means so much for your care post-op. You will find that exercising really helps clear your lungs as much as possible. Even though I never smoked, I had scarlett fever when I was a kid and it scarred my lungs forever, hence the asthma and the COPD. So I know what you are dealing with. When you exercise, it really gets rid of the extra fluid that hangs out down in the bottom of your lungs and you will feel so much better and you will breath a lot better too.