Hello, I am 39, my BMI is 48 and I am beginning to have medical issues because of my obesity. I have started researching bariatric surgery and am hoping to be a lapband candidate. I am in Kansas and have been researching clinics and doctors in Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka.

Any one have info for Kansas or Kansas City, Mo?

I have gotten info from my insurance company on their requirements to approve the procedure and am going to see my primary care doctor next week to discuss a referral.

I go to a seminar at the end of August to learn more.

How long can I expect the approval processs to take?

Dear Spam, by the way you need to change your screen name. No one working a computor wants anything to do with "Spam" Anyway with that said, I wish you luck on the approval process. Any lap-band Doctor should be able to tell you if you are a candidate. I got banded back on 1/9/06. I started the process in July and then had to visit many doctors. The pulmanary doctor is who held me up for 6 weeks. I kept calling for him to write a letter after I had the physical with him and for some reason he wouldn't write it. So, I took matters into my own hands and booked another visit with him and paid my co-pay again and got in his face to make him write the letter. MY BMI was 40. I was 220 lbs and I'm 5'2" but I have big boobs and thin legs so no one really believed that I weighed that much even though the doctors weighed me each time. I passed his physical no problem but he didn't believe I needed the surgery. I told him It wasn't for him to decide. I told him that my father died of Diabetes and my sister was just diagnosed with it and I had such sugar, weight related issuses as well. I asked him why if my insurance company was willing to pay for it, why do I have to gain another 50 lbs and have more medical problems for him to approve the surgery. I explained to him that I was trying to head off any more complications and I have been over weight since I was 11. I still had 90 lbs to loose. Finally he wrote me my letter and my insurance paid 100%. I am so happy I did this. I'm down 61 lbs and have 29 more to go. It is still work and I still have to diet but the band makes it so much easier to be successful.

If you are looking for a doctor in KS then you should check out a website called obesityhelp.com. There are so many people from all over the country who use that one and you will get much more advise from you area. May I suggest again for you not to use the "Spam" word if you want someone to answer.

Good Luck,

Judy