Hi. This is my first post. I am going to ask my endocrinologist tomorrow about the lap band. I am diabetic and 270lbs. Any suggestions as to the questions I need to ask? I am nervous about starting the process but am ready to begin. Should I call my insurance people first? What will happen if he says I am medically in need of this procedure? I don't know anyone who has had this so I dont even know what to expect. Any advice is MOST welcome. TIA

Welcome!

The first thing I'd do is a find a seminar about Lap-Band in your area. There you will find out a lot more details about it that will help you make a decision.

Great idea. A little late for me to hit one before tomorrow though. Will see if any in my area after though for sure.

Hi Tia and welcome to the forum, I would suggest that u make an appointment with a bariatric surgeon and go to one of the information seminars thaat many of the bariatric surgeons run. U also need to check with your insurance company if they cover this surgery and what the requirements are to get approval. I sounds like u will meet the criteria most have due to your co-morbidity of diabetes ...

Reading this forum will also help you get the information u need to make an informed decision.

LOL. My name is Kris (TIA was saying thanks in advance.... Guess I shouldn't use obscure acronyms. ) I have a few surgeons I have looked up to call after talking to my endocrinologist tomorrow. I will give my insurance a call as well. I have BCBS care first PPO. It is pretty good I've just never looked up bariatric issues in their manual. So I have no clue on their coverage.

Def. call your insurance. They will either cover bariatrics or they won't. While each BCBS policy is differnt (depends on what your employer wrote into the policy); I had a very good process with BCBS Anthem NY PPO.

Talked to insurance today. Six month evaluation. Wow. What can I expect to be evaluated on. Oh boy. Going to seminar in 10 days. Gathering info and beginning. This is going to be quite a process.

Talked to insurance today. Six month evaluation. Wow. What can I expect to be evaluated on. Oh boy. Going to seminar in 10 days. Gathering info and beginning. This is going to be quite a process.

The evaluation is pretty much a six month supervised diet under your Doctor. Some surgical practices have you do this in house and others allow you to use your PC. You must go to all appointments monthly and if you miss one, you start again.

What if you suck at diets. Hence why most consider the surgery. Just wrapping my head around it all. So glad I found this site.

What if you suck at diets. Hence why most consider the surgery. Just wrapping my head around it all. So glad I found this site.

usually the 6 month diets/supervision are to show insurance you are serious about doing what is required to be successful.