Hi, I live in Orem and was banded almost 3 weeks ago. I am loosing weight now because I can't think on anything to eat so I eat very little. Not good to get into such a habit because you get discouraged too quick. Just wondered if anyone has any good ideas for the mushie stage, still have a week left. Sometimes when others tell about things to buy and try they name places only back east, if you know what I mean. I would love the hear from anyone here in utah. :confused:

Hi Jill, I also have IHC and my band was not covered, I had to self-pay. Good luck with your appointment.

I'm new to this forum and have not been banded yet, but I'm hoping to be soon. I will attend first seminar next week, and I'm hoping that they'll be able to tell me how to get IHC to pay for my banding. If insurance won't pay I probably won't be able to have the surgery, can't afford to self pay.

A little about me... I'm 34, Iv'e lived in SLC all my life, went to Skyline High, live in Sugarhouse, and I'm a Sleep Tech at LDS hospital. Love my job, but working nights sure doesnt do much to help my metabolism and weight!

Everyone here seems so supportive, I'm really excited to have stumbled across this site!

Jill

Hi there I am new here and I have ALOT of questions. My name is Dawn and I am a parttime student and stay at home mom to 3 little ones, I have been married for8 yrs and we live in utah county.

Ok so I think this is the WLS I have decided on but I am really confused with the fills I'm not quite sure I understand that. Also who are good doc's to go to here in utah and how much does it cost?? I have looked into a doctor in Monterey mexico and he does it for $10,900 I believe it is and the gastric is $14,900, It will probably be a while before I can get it done due to the whole money issue but I want to be well informed when the time comes that I can do it. SO I have ALOT to loose I am in the 300's not the lower end of them so do you think that the weight will come off fast at first and then slow up or does it start out slow and get faster or is it pretty balanced all the way? I hope this makes sense I am trying to type this with a wiggly baby all over me. OH also how long after you have it do you have to wait to get pregnant?? :help:

I'm new to this forum and have not been banded yet, but I'm hoping to be soon. I will attend first seminar next week, and I'm hoping that they'll be able to tell me how to get IHC to pay for my banding. If insurance won't pay I probably won't be able to have the surgery, can't afford to self pay.

A little about me... I'm 34, Iv'e lived in SLC all my life, went to Skyline High, live in Sugarhouse, and I'm a Sleep Tech at LDS hospital. Love my job, but working nights sure doesnt do much to help my metabolism and weight!

Everyone here seems so supportive, I'm really excited to have stumbled across this site!

Jill

Good luck with your insurance--I had to self pay and it's tough but very worth it. We had to use our retirement but I decided that if I died early because of obesity then the retirement wouldn't be worth it anyway.

I went to Skyline, too, but graduated about 25 years before you! Did you happen to know Tiffani Strong or Kori Lambert? I think that one of them may have been in your class--one is my sister and the other my daughter. Let me know!

Yes, this is a great site. Glad you dropped by. Good luck on your approval! Karen

Hi there I am new here and I have ALOT of questions. My name is Dawn and I am a parttime student and stay at home mom to 3 little ones, I have been married for8 yrs and we live in utah county.

Ok so I think this is the WLS I have decided on but I am really confused with the fills I'm not quite sure I understand that. Also who are good doc's to go to here in utah and how much does it cost?? I have looked into a doctor in Monterey mexico and he does it for $10,900 I believe it is and the gastric is $14,900, It will probably be a while before I can get it done due to the whole money issue but I want to be well informed when the time comes that I can do it. SO I have ALOT to loose I am in the 300's not the lower end of them so do you think that the weight will come off fast at first and then slow up or does it start out slow and get faster or is it pretty balanced all the way? I hope this makes sense I am trying to type this with a wiggly baby all over me. OH also how long after you have it do you have to wait to get pregnant?? :help:

Welcome, Daisy! Glad you are here--I live in Utah county, too (at least for a few more days--we are moving to Midway soon).

There is a whole discussion topic on here about fills--you will get lots of info there. Basically, the band is not inflated when it is put on. Depending on the doctor, you can start having fills around six weeks. It has taken me a while to get restriction (6 fills) but finally seem to have a bit since Tuesday. It's sometimes difficult to find the right fill level--not too tight where you can't eat anything but tight enough that you have help controlling your hunger and food intake. If you are banded in Mexico you will need to go back for fills or find a place where you can get fills. I have no idea how much fills are in Utah or where you can get them.

I went to Dr. Hansen in Sandy and was very happy. I self payed and it cost around $13,000, which includes fills for a year plus seminars and consultations. I'm glad I haven't had to pay for a fill every time I've gone!

As far as weight loss--it really depends on a lot of things. I haven't lost a lot but I am older and started with a lower BMI. Others who were banded when I was in March have lost lots more--maybe 60-70 lbs! And some without fills yet. People do lose weight slower with the lapband than with other WLS but it is safer surgery and reversible. Check this out for a great comparison of surgeries: Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared

I don't know about pregnancy but some people on here have had lapband babies by being unfilled during their pregnancy. I'm sure there are threads on here about that.

Hope this answers some of your questions--there is a plethora of info on this site so take a few days and explore. Let me know if I can help in any way. Good luck!

Welcome, Daisy! Glad you are here--I live in Utah county, too (at least for a few more days--we are moving to Midway soon).

There is a whole discussion topic on here about fills--you will get lots of info there. Basically, the band is not inflated when it is put on. Depending on the doctor, you can start having fills around six weeks. It has taken me a while to get restriction (6 fills) but finally seem to have a bit since Tuesday. It's sometimes difficult to find the right fill level--not too tight where you can't eat anything but tight enough that you have help controlling your hunger and food intake. If you are banded in Mexico you will need to go back for fills or find a place where you can get fills. I have no idea how much fills are in Utah or where you can get them.

I went to Dr. Hansen in Sandy and was very happy. I self payed and it cost around $13,000, which includes fills for a year plus seminars and consultations. I'm glad I haven't had to pay for a fill every time I've gone!

As far as weight loss--it really depends on a lot of things. I haven't lost a lot but I am older and started with a lower BMI. Others who were banded when I was in March have lost lots more--maybe 60-70 lbs! And some without fills yet. People do lose weight slower with the lapband than with other WLS but it is safer surgery and reversible. Check this out for a great comparison of surgeries: Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared

I don't know about pregnancy but some people on here have had lapband babies by being unfilled during their pregnancy. I'm sure there are threads on here about that.

Hope this answers some of your questions--there is a plethora of info on this site so take a few days and explore. Let me know if I can help in any way. Good luck!

Thanks so much for answering my questions it did help me out. I will do what you said and take a couple of days to explore the site. OH and another question do you have to have 13,000 upfront if you are paying outta pocket?? or is there a payment plan??

Thanks so much for answering my questions it did help me out. I will do what you said and take a couple of days to explore the site. OH and another question do you have to have 13,000 upfront if you are paying outta pocket?? or is there a payment plan??

Unfortunately, it all had to be paid at once. Well, almost at once. Half was due at the office visit before surgery and the other half the morning of surgery, if I remember correctly.

Hi all you Utahn's...I'm also from Utah...currently So. Jordan. Born and raised in SLC. Dr. Hansen is my Dr., but have really only seen him on the very first follow up visit. Nurses only from then on. Best part is...all of his nurses have all been banded, so they totally know what you're going through..they can give you personal hits etc. Kind of cool. Good to hear from my neighbors! (8 fills...30 lbs. lost but a lower BMI to begin with) About 25-30 lbs to go. So far, so good

Unfortunately, it all had to be paid at once. Well, almost at once. Half was due at the office visit before surgery and the other half the morning of surgery, if I remember correctly.

Thats good to know thanks so much.

the packet that Dr. McKeen gave me for the insurance coverage said that you have to be on a Doctor supervised diet for at least a year, psych eval, etc etc etc - just making you jump through all the hoops - definately easier to self pay - they also gave me info on a payment plan - so you don't have to come up with it all at once - I'll see if I can dig it up - banded is the safest route - the way McKeen explained the difference to me was GB weight comes off faster but after you still have to do the work to maintain (portion control, excercise) and with the band the weight comes off slower but with the good habits - bottom line at the end you're still at the same point - I think LB is the healthier choice by far IMO

Hi, I am 28 years old and trying to decide if I should do the lap band. My mom suggested it on Sunday, and since then I have been searching everywhere online to find the pros and cons. Can you tell me what the pros and cons are?

I am afraid. Pretty much afraid of a lifestyle change. If I do the surgery, will I be unable to go out on a date and eat normal at some time in the process? I am a very closed person, and would prefer for not even my roommates to know. Is that crazy (or impossible)?

Also, I am really concerned about the emotional eating. I know that is why I am so heavy, but haven't found a way to control it. Does anybody help you with that after the surgery?

Any insight would be great.

Thanks!

I do want a lifestyle change. It would be amazing if I could get a grip on my weight (aka eating), and actually do the things that I love to do (i.e. ride rollercoasters, go four wheeling, snowmobile, swim etc). BUT . . . I am afraid of drawing attention to myself because of my eating habits. Does that make sense? I don't want to have to explain to everyone I associate with the reason why I am only eating 2 ounces of food. How are you all handling this situation?

Also, any pros and cons would be really appreciated. I analyze everything, and something as simple as buying a car stereo takes me months to decide. This is HUGE, and any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

:tea:

Good luck with your decision--it is a tough one. You ask some good questions but I only have a second here to respond to let me be quick and if you have more questions or need clarification, let me know and I'll have more time later.

I don't have any problem going out to eat with friends. I order a small meal or an appetizer or I share dinner with my husband--that works for us since we are older and people know we can't eat as much. Anyway, if anyone asks (I didn't tell anyone but my husband and children) I just tell them that I'm "cutting back" on my eating or "trying to watch what I eat." Since I've been on diets all of my life, no one wonders about this.

I'm away from home and using someone else's computer but if I can get mine working, I'll send you a link to a site that compares all the weight loss surguries. That may help you with the pros and cons. There are also lots of threads on this site about that topic.

Good luck!

This is a hugh decision and you need to research alot. But most of us eat more than 2 oz. just be ready to share food with others and ask for a to go box as soon as you get your meal served. I sometimes take at least 1/2 of the meal and put it in the box first. Set the box on another chair or next to your purse. At that point it looks like you have already ate alot. Waitress will ask " is the food ok" so removing some of it helps there. Most of us have been on diets for years so just say "I am cutting way back on what I eat right now."

Thanks for your comments. After searching the internet for about 2 weeks straight, today I scheduled to go to the introductory meetings for 3 different clinics here in Utah. I am so nervous!

I do have one more question for anyone/everyone. How are you handling the emotional side of eating? I know that I struggle with that a lot. I don't necessarily eat because I am hungry. Any insight would be appreciated!

Thanks!