Hi guys! I am kind of at a crossroads in my life right now and trying to decide how to handle my weight issues as well as fertility issues. I live in Alabama and BCBS will cover the lapband for me b/c I have a BMI of 37 and have severe sleep apnea. I would like to begin getting the ball rolling for the lapband surgery but I am worried that we may get pregnant in the middle of the process b/c we are going to start fertility meds next month. Now, I realize that it can take some time to get pregnant as it did previously for us but still, I am concerned that it could mess up things w/ my insurance and the lapband. I would put off the fertility treatments but we are very ready for a third baby. I have one 5 year old son and last November I lost a son at 15 weeks due to chromosomal issues. I will be 36 in a month. Honestly, my husband and I don't want to put off trying anymore. We don't want too much space between sibilings and my eggs seems to be dwindling. I would hate to put off pregnancy to do the lapband at this point. I know that it could make me healthier and so on as well as help w/ my sleep apnea (I wear a CPAP) if I had the surgery before having a baby but like I said, we are ready now and feel time may be running out for us. I want to have the lapband as soon as they will let me after having our next child. I just don't want to mess up the process by jumping the gun and meeting w/ doctors and then get pregnant and mess things up. What do you guys think??? Thanks for any advice that can be given!!

Over eating is not what makes a baby grow healthy. Vitamins and proper nurtician does. These can be acheived while banded. Doctors say not to get pregnant for at lease one year post surgery. I'm not a doc, but have studied a lot on the net and many women have become prego whithin weeks post surgery and had healthy babies with now pregnancie complications.

I'm sure you will get a post from someone who has experienced this.

I had my first at 32, I am more worried about my agen than the band. I know without a doubt, I can consume the proper nurtrician to have a healthy pregnancy. The first few weeks is iffy....lol I can't fit three shakes down in one day.

Thanks for the advice! I am on a strict Vitamin regimen from my doctor w/ specilized folic acid enzymes in them to help w/ choromosomal issues. I know I would be fine if I had the lapband now but what I am saying is that I don't want to do it till I am done w/ pregnancy. However, I'd like to get the ball rolling now so that after I am done w/ my pregnancy all I have to do is the 6 months of dieting and then submit for insurance approval and get the surgery. If I can go ahead and attend the seminars and meet w/ the doctor ahead of time that will speed up my process after I have a baby. Still, will that mess up the insurance process. I would die if I jumped the gun and started the lapband process, then got preggers and BCBS said I had to start over or even more said I didn't qualify for any given reason. So, I need advice on how to go about getting the lapband. Should I just wait or should I begin already even though I know it will probably be interrupted by pregnancy. Hope that makes sense!

HELP!

I would suggest that you go to a seminar and when you get to the question and answer part ask the surgon how long after child birth does he reccomend waiting for the surgery. Some Dr wont do it till a year or more because of the scar tissue left if you have c-section. The time may be different for a uncomplicated vaginal birth.

That will at least give you a idea of the time frame if you do it after pregnancy.

You may want to do it before and give your body time to recover from your miscarriage and get the vitimins in your system. There is a forum here with lots who are pregnant with the band.

I am trying for my 3rd and last at 36 so I can understand some of the fears you may have.

I had a c-section and my doc was going to do my surgery as soon as he could. I first saw him 6 months post c-section. I'm sure it just depends on the doc. Sorry I can't answer the question about the insurance company, but I do however know that all the things you have to complete before surgery are good for one year. At my doc's anyway.